Zhang Yan nodded slightly and said, "Very well." Then he sat down.
He looked at the child, feeling a deep sense of emotion in his heart. Seeing this obedient demeanor, who could associate him with the once majestic Great Demon who dominated the winds and clouds?
No matter how profound one’s cultivation is, after reincarnation, the memories of the past life fade like passing clouds, leaving only traces of a former self that cannot be reclaimed.
After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Yan smiled and said to Mrs. Chen, "I notice that this child’s features are clear and refined, his temperament honest and sincere. When he walks, his steps are firm and stable, as if carrying the weight of a thousand jins of strength. I shall give him the name ’Kun.’"
Mrs. Chen murmured it softly twice, "Tian Kun, Tian Kun."
She nodded gently and then gave her child a fierce glare, chastising, "How dare you! Kneel and bow immediately to thank your master for bestowing a name!"
Tian Kun, who feared his mother greatly, quickly knelt down and soundly kowtowed with loud "thumps."
But in truth, Mrs. Chen’s concern was needless. Zhang Yan and Gui Congyao shared a profound karmic connection—one that could not simply be dismissed. Even if this child proved incapable of cultivation, Zhang Yan would ensure a lifetime of affluence and honor for him.
What Mrs. Chen saw as "simple-mindedness," Zhang Yan perceived as a raw jewel of pure gold and jade, perfectly suited as a vessel of Dao.
Accepting Tian Kun’s repeated bows, Zhang Yan noticed the child didn’t stop out of ignorance, continuing to kowtow repeatedly. With a laugh, he helped him up and addressed Mrs. Chen, "Mrs. Chen, this visit is merely to see how my disciple fares. I have other pressing matters to attend to, but rest assured, whether it be three to five years or as long as seven to eight, I will return and bring Kun’er back to the Mountain Gate. For now, I will leave Zhang Pan here to care for you both."
Mrs. Chen, who grew up under her uncle’s guardianship and had some understanding of cultivators the likes of Zhang Yan, knew they were unlike ordinary Taoists, often bound by fate and opportunity, imperceptible by common logic. Assuming his arrangements carried deeper meaning, she hurriedly said, "It’s no trouble at all. I will teach this child well. Daoist, please attend to your business first."
Zhang Yan nodded in affirmation, then stood and spoke to Tian Kun, "Kun’er, you are still young and cannot yet learn the superior techniques. However, I am giving you this Daoist spell; study it carefully."
Saying so, he raised his hand, conjuring a talisman, and gently slapped it onto the back of the child’s head. The talisman flashed briefly before vanishing entirely.
The origins of this talisman were far from ordinary—it had been hand-drawn by Gui Congyao himself back then and now was placed upon the reincarnated body through Zhang Yan’s hands.
Tian Kun stood there dazed for a moment, suddenly struck by an intuitive clarity, as though grasping many profound truths. He knelt respectfully and said, "Thank you, Master, for bestowing this technique."
Zhang Yan laughed heartily, shaking his robe sleeves. He scattered numerous elixir pills on the ground before transforming into a breeze and leaving the underground cave mansion, ascending to the skies amidst the clouds, and determining his direction toward Shendu Peak.
Shendu Peak was situated in the northern part of East Splendor Continent, and the distance from here was vast. Zhang Yan, still having two unopened Qi nodes, wasn’t in a hurry. He traveled leisurely, stopping frequently to admire the scenery and contemplate Heaven’s Heart.
When he set off, it was early spring—a time when all things stirred alive and frozen rivers began to thaw. Large rivers and mighty streams carried broken ice downstream, a grand spectacle of nature’s majesty and overwhelming force.
By the time he arrived at Shendu Peak, a month had passed. It was late spring, with grass thriving and orioles singing. Everywhere, the landscape was alive with verdant mountains and blooming flowers, filled with boundless vitality.
Standing atop a mountain peak, he gazed into the distance. The main peak of Shendu disappeared into the clouds, the mist swirling and twisting, rainbow hues flaring upwards.
Surrounding the main peak were around a hundred majestic and perilous mountains, their summits shrouded in mist like floating islands, faintly visible through the haze. Beyond these vast mountains, fifteen thousand miles further north, lay the demon-infested region of Beiming Continent.
Perhaps because this area marked the convergence of two continents, the peaks of Shendu held many peculiar wonders. Every peak nurtured a Thunder Marsh Heavenly Pool. During the summer, when heaven and earth entwined, clouds formed, and rain descended, the pools would quiver, unleashing flashes of lightning and earth-shaking thunder.
These bolts of thunder were not destructive but nurturing, capable of invigorating all living things. For untransformed demons, they could cleanse their impurities, refine their marrow, and strengthen their inner qi. Consequently, each year during this season, countless demon birds and beasts from Beiming and East Splendor gathered here to bathe in the thunder for cultivation. The more times demon birds endured this cleansing, the more superior their "Hidden Marrow Refinement" essence became within their spines.
Before coming here, Zhang Yan had examined the book given to him by Yan Zhengting, which described in detail various methods of harvesting the "Hidden Marrow Refinement."
However, while seemingly straightforward, the process came with numerous taboos and challenges, often leading to fierce conflicts among cultivators. Therefore, careful planning was essential.
Zhang Yan pondered, "Summer has yet to arrive, and for now, there’s no urgency. Perhaps I’ll first visit a few Immortal Markets, request the crafting of a Thunder Capturing Gold Plate, and then make other preparations afterward."
Since this area continually saw cultivators passing through, several floating island Immortal Markets had been established. Even exceptional Hidden Marrow Refinement could be acquired here. Still, Zhou Chongju had once cautioned him that Hidden Marrow Refinement and Que Jue Thunder were complementary substances. If not harvested within the same hour, even the highest-quality materials would degrade significantly. Thus, Zhang Yan had no intention of purchasing these items at the market. Follow current novᴇls on novel⟡fire.net
Yet the bustling Immortal Markets aboard flying boats could attract undue attention. He considered the possibility that someone—perhaps from the Hou Family or other factions scouring East Splendor Continent—might lie in wait there to ambush him.
Given this, he couldn’t use his current appearance.
After brief contemplation, he lifted his sleeve, took out the Thousand Illusion Atlas, flipped a few pages, and selected the image of an unassuming young man. With a faint shake and a spoken spell, a flash of golden light enveloped him, transforming his visage into that of the figure in the illustration. Then, he soared into the skies and flew off as a streak of azure tunneling light.
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)