Hua Country Capital, Shangjing City.
White Crane Temple is not the largest Daoist temple in Hua Country, nor is it located on a renowned mountain or in an otherworldly cave estate.
Yet, within the Daoist Sect, it reigns as the uncrowned king; in terms of status, it even stands above the Ten Great Daoist Mountains.
The reason is simple: White Crane Temple's Daoist grounds are in Shangjing, representing the highest authority.
It's no exaggeration to say that any Daoist mountain sect or organization wanting to hold an event must report to Shangjing City for White Crane Temple's approval—the extent of its status and power is evident.
In the early morning, a ray of sunshine pierced the leaves, spilling into the courtyard.
A chubby Daoist sat cross-legged on a meditation mat, his eyes seemingly open yet closed, leaving only a thin slit through which a faint gleam slipped, forming a thread of light that entered his gaze—making him resemble the gods and buddhas enshrined in temples.
At this moment, ripples of mystical phenomena emanated from the chubby Daoist's body, attracting birds nearby to land and chirp softly.
Within the Daoist Sect, only those who have stepped into the High Skill realm, invoking Descent of Truth and Returning to Life, can manifest the phenomenon of "Fragrance Emanating from the Body."
Anyone capable of comprehending this realm is no longer of common stock.
In ancient times, many great figures were believed to be Immortals reincarnated, and at birth, many portents occurred—such as "indoor fragrance manifesting."
"Senior Brother, news has come from Jiangbei Province—the Zhenwu Mountain Jade Scroll Transmission Ceremony should be over."
Just then, a tall, thin Daoist walked in from outside.
"Did it go smoothly?" asked the chubby Daoist, eyes still closed, his voice mild.
"Not sure. From the looks of it, nothing unusual happened, so probably it went well," the tall Daoist said uncertainly.
"End or extinction, at the seventy-third generation there comes a pause..."
"Was the verse left by Zhenwu Mountain's Ancestral Master just nonsense?" The chubby Daoist slowly opened his eyes, showing a hint of doubt.
"Senior Brother, Chu Chaoran is a living Zhenren of our era—the foremost in the mortal world, peerless in the Daoist Sect. With his presence, how could Zhenwu Mountain's inheritance ever break?" The tall Daoist whispered solemnly.
"Barring surprises, that Zhenwu Jade Scroll ought to be in Xia Weisheng's hands now."
Xia Weisheng is Chu Chaoran's closed-door disciple. When she was accepted, a grand ceremony was held, with guests from all sides invited to witness.
"Xia Weisheng..." The chubby Daoist narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Our White Crane Temple has been suppressed by Zhenwu Mountain for sixty-odd years—wasn't it all because of Chu Chaoran? This generation, it's time for White Crane Temple to take its place."
Though White Crane Temple leads Daoism nationwide, Zhenwu Mountain produced Chu Chaoran, who is acclaimed as number one under heaven—making White Crane Temple's standing awkward.
"I hear that girl has entered the High Skill realm—barely out of her twenties and already High Skill." The tall Daoist sighed.
Within the Daoist Sect, reaching the High Skill realm before thirty is one-in-ten-thousand rare—a miracle. Yet she achieved it in her early twenties; that's a power almost snatched from fate itself.
"So what?"
The chubby Daoist sneered, "The inheritor of White Crane Temple in this generation is unparalleled in history; soon, none beneath heaven will be a match."
"Junior Brother Li..." The tall Daoist's gaze grew focused, and a shadow flashed through his mind.
Since ancient times, of the ten greatest Daoists, nine bore the surname Zhang, one Li.
Just the surnames alone are extraordinary. But the current inheritor of White Crane Temple is blessed with a destiny surpassing all previous Ancestral Masters—compared to which, Xia Weisheng's achievement at twenty is nothing.
"Eighty years ago, the great tribulation—the Daoist Sect suffered, and Dragon Tiger Mountain's gates have been sealed for eighty years... It's been decided above: next year, Dragon Tiger Mountain will reopen."
At this, the chubby Daoist spoke gravely.
"Is it really to reopen Dragon Tiger Mountain?" The tall Daoist's face changed abruptly.
The disaster eighty years back caused Dragon Tiger Mountain—revered as the Daoist Ancestral Court—to shut its gates, and ever since it's been a forbidden zone. Not even the tourist site is developed past the outer edges—barely a 4A grade attraction.
"Senior Brother, I hear during that tribulation all the Dragon Tiger Zhang Family members died out. Now, do they truly..." the tall Daoist couldn't help but ask.
The Dragon Tiger Mountain Zhang Family are the descendants of Ancestral Celestial Master Zhang Daoling—once famed as number one in cultivation, an Immortal Family within the Daoist Sect.
"It's set. Next year, Dragon Tiger Mountain opens again. Whatever Zhenwu inheritors—none will shine beside us," the chubby Daoist said coolly.
The tall Daoist nodded reflexively at these words.
This generation, the inheritor of White Crane Temple is unrivaled in talent; any cultivator born alongside him is fated only to be a backdrop.
...
Jiangnan Province, Yujing City.
The gilded land of the Six Dynasties, ten-mile-long Gilded River.
As one of China's most famous ancient capitals, Yujing City is one of only two cities nationwide with "Jing" in the name.
"Let me drive you home,"
Having just gotten off the plane, Li Yishan immediately insisted on driving Zhang Fan back.
"No need, my dad's home today. I'll just buy some groceries to take back."
"Uncle Zong's back?" Li Yishan couldn't help asking.
Zhang Fan comes from a modest family; at age twelve, his mother died in a car accident, leaving only him and his father Zhang Lingzong.
Since Zhang Fan started high school, Zhang Lingzong has always been away, working at construction sites, scrimping and saving every penny just to get Zhang Fan through four years of college.
Usually, the busiest time on construction sites, Zhang Lingzong only came home for New Year's at year's end.
"I've graduated now. Probably he's worried about me, came back to check in," Zhang Fan said casually.
Though father and son only reunited at the turn of the year, Zhang Fan knew well how much effort and care his father gave him.
"Before Uncle Zong leaves again, make sure to let me know—I'll treat him to a meal."
Saying goodbye to Li Yishan, Zhang Fan took the subway home alone.
He'd just missed rush hour; on Line 2 there weren't many people left, especially further out from the city center, where it got emptier.
"Did you bring me home last night? I was drunk,"
Just then, a sweet, coquettish voice came from nearby, dripping with allure.
Zhang Fan glanced sideways instinctively—a twin-tailed girl came into view: tall and slender, JK mini skirt, white straight socks, black leather shoes, carrying a cute fox-shaped backpack, talking on her phone.
"You brought me home, but you didn't touch me—you're so nice,"
The twin-tailed girl's eyes brimmed with spring, her voice softly teasing, making the guy on the other end flush with excitement. A resolute voice came back:
"I like you, so I respect you..."
"I like you so much, I promise to be with you..."
"No lie—I tested ninety-nine guys, only you held back..."
"Fine, don't be jealous, the others left the very next day..."
"Be good…I promise, our kids will take your surname..."
The twin-tailed girl's rosy lips shimmered under the subway lights—especially seductive.
"Hmm!?"
Right then, Zhang Fan arched his brow, surprise flickering in his eyes. He'd clearly just seen a furry tail flash out from under the twin-tailed girl's skirt, but it vanished instantly.
"What a player," Zhang Fan muttered aside.
At the same time, the twin-tailed girl finished up her call, then turned to Zhang Fan—their eyes meeting, her gaze shimmering with moisture.
The twin-tailed girl smiled gently, and walked right toward him…
Before she even reached him, a faint perfume wafted over—smelling just like spring's revitalizing breath.
"Ouch..."
Suddenly, as she passed Zhang Fan, the twin-tailed girl lost her footing and nearly fell.
Zhang Fan reacted fast, catching her; she leaned into his chest, one hand resting on him—a soft, tingling sensation.
"Are you okay..."
"Thank you, big brother..."
The twin-tailed girl looked up at Zhang Fan, politely innocent, harmless as a kitten.
"It's so nice meeting big brother..."
Just then, the subway stopped; the twin-tailed girl glanced at Zhang Fan, asking timidly, "Big brother, this is my stop. Are you getting off too?"
"Next stop for me," Zhang Fan shook his head.
The twin-tailed girl paused in surprise; as the doors prepared to close, she gazed a moment longer at Zhang Fan before stepping off, still puzzled.
Through the window, Zhang Fan watched the twin-tailed girl fade into the distance, subconsciously touching his chest.
"Huh? There's some fur here?"
He raised his hand—on his chest was a tuft of hair, red and short, with an odd musky scent.
"Gross," Zhang Fan sniffed, then flicked the tuft away.
Meanwhile, the twin-tailed girl, just off the train, slipped into a deserted corner and began talking to her own shadow.
"What's going on? I borrowed him a Peach Blossom Debt, why didn't it work? He actually rejected me?" Gone was the frail act; the twin-tailed girl now looked fierce.
"Kid, working with Out-of-the-Box immortals isn't as easy as it seems…After burning only a few sticks of incense, do you expect to wield the method granted by our Hu Family Elder whenever you please?"
A sinister chuckle echoed, and the girl's shadow twisted into the shape of a fox's head.
Out-of-the-Box Immortal practice isn't but borrowing the deceitful power of spirit monsters for cultivation—most famously the Hu, Huang, Bai, Liu, Hui five families.
Among them, the Hu Family's skills are most varied—Peach Blossom Debt is the easiest to train.
Any who borrow Hu Family's Peach Blossom Debt are sure to encounter romance—admirers flock, and the one they long for most will usually yield to them.
However, those who borrow Peach Blossom Debt fall under the Immortal Family's control—most importantly, repayment requires their Yang Qi.
"I used your fox fur; how come my spell failed!?" The twin-tailed girl gritted her silver-white teeth.
"Hehe, it's because your Dao practice isn't strong enough. You want to blame me?" The sinister laughter came again.
"I'll help you…But tonight you'll need to offer a chicken for me."
As the spirit spoke, the fox-head shadow rippled, a patch of shadow on its brow shone like a petal of peach blossom, and a faint fragrance spread, drawing distant passersby to a halt...
"Peach Blossom Debt, Peach Blossom Debt, unpaid in life, unburied in death, Yang Qi is currency, Ten Evils and Great Defeats..."
The shadowy voice echoed—mysterious and profound.
The twin-tailed girl's face broke into a wild smile; her favorite pastime was hunting targets on the subway, hearts aflame with lust, all eager to admire her body—she'd make them borrow and pay the debt…
The deity she worshipped, Hu Xiaojiao, was the highest prodigy among all the Hu Family kits...
"You like sneaking glances at me, don't you? Granny will let you gawk all you want..." The twin-tailed girl sneered coldly.
"Ah..."
Just then, a bloodcurdling scream rang in her ears.
The twin-tailed girl's face changed suddenly, looking down—to see the fox-head shadow's brow's peach blossom mark erupt into flames, and a pool of stinking blood ooze out.
"What happened? You…you're hurt?" Twin-tails stared, shocked and suspicious.
"He…that boy…"
The sinister voice was no longer cocky, but wary and frail.
"What about him?"
"Profound Sect orthodox, Daoist bloodline…That boy—he's one of the Daoist Sect!!?"