Chapter 453: Chapter 229: Divine Power Association Investigation Team! Are You Zhang Fan? (2)

He had just finished dinner with friends and was heading home when he was blocked on the road, and then suddenly someone rushed out and killed everyone.

No matter how you put it, it had absolutely nothing to do with him.

"Jiang Hu, this is Jiangnan Province, the very foundation of our Maoshan."

At this moment, Fang Changle seemed to see through Jiang Hu’s thoughts.

Since ancient times, in every dynasty, the struggle between the Central Imperial Court and local Gated Communities had practically spanned the entire history of empires.

The Daoist Alliance Headquarters sits high above, but Maoshan is itself a member of the Daoist Alliance—Jiangnan Province is ultimately its home turf.

"If even he can’t be protected, how will Maoshan Taoist Skill ever flourish?"

Fang Changle’s words were charged with an overwhelming momentum that seemed to fill the heavens and the earth, boundless and infinite.

Hearing this, Jiang Hu felt somewhat reassured, stepped on the gas, and the car sped up wildly.

...

Yujing City.

Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance Headquarters.

At this moment, a group of guests had arrived at Lou Hechuan’s office.

Two men and a woman, all quite young—the lead man wore a jacket, a Cyan Jade Ring on his right pinky, with fair skin and a refined, gentle look.

The man sitting on the sofa wore a Daoist Robe, tall and slender, his eyes narrowed to slits, as if only a single beam of light penetrated through.

The only woman was coldly beautiful, smartly dressed in casual clothes, with gold-rimmed glasses on her face.

"Elder Lou, it might take a while longer for our people to organize the files we brought. Sorry for the trouble," the man in the jacket said with a light smile, his tone filled with respect toward Lou Hechuan.

"Song, I didn’t expect that after a few years grinding in the Daoist Alliance, you can already carry things on your own." Lou Hechuan looked at this young man, brow slightly furrowed.

Song Yunqi—a disciple from White Crane Temple—his reputation was much lower than those latecomers like Xia Weisheng, An Wuyang, Qi Delong, and Qi Dongqiang.

But Lou Hechuan knew well: the more low-profile and nameless the disciples of White Crane Temple, the deeper and more unfathomable their cultivation.

"Elder Lou, you flatter me. It’s all because the leadership gave me opportunities. After two years of experience, I’m still a junior in front of seniors, much to learn." Song Yunqi glanced at the document directory in his hand and then paused suddenly.

"Elder Lou, it seems this file on someone called Zhang Fan isn’t among these transferred dossiers."

"Oh, that young man has nothing to do with the case. Besides, he’s somewhat associated with our Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance—he’s helped crack several cases. When you apprehended Yin Hu last time, he was very helpful," Lou Hechuan said, seemingly offhand.

"Our orders are to investigate all suspicious persons."

At this moment, the man sitting on the sofa spoke, his voice icy—no hint of joy or anger—yet his words instantly darkened Lou Hechuan’s expression.

"Ji Haisan!"

Before Lou Hechuan could react, Song Yunqi’s brows shot up and he said sternly,

"Show some respect before your elders. Out of Shangjing, have you forgotten how to talk?"

With that, Song Yunqi looked at Lou Hechuan, apologizing: "Sorry, Elder Lou. He practices the Forgetfulness Technique—bit lacking in the head, honestly."

"Forgetfulness Technique!? He’s a disciple of Sanqing Mountain?" Lou Hechuan looked at Ji Haisan with genuine surprise.

Supreme Forgetting Emotions isn’t truly emotionless—existing in the world, every thought and feeling consumes heart and drains the Primordial Spirit.

Precisely because of this, among the Ten Great Daoist Mountains, Sanqing Mountain possesses this "Forgetfulness Technique."

All thoughts disappear, all emotions forgotten. One locks in their vitality to nurture their Primordial Spirit—subtle and profound.

However, this isn’t an ordinary technique. Throughout history, precious few have truly mastered it.

Lou Hechuan wasn’t sure if this young man before him had mastered it, but to choose such a Daoist Skill, well... his mind had to be a little off.

"Elder Lou, please hand over Zhang Fan’s records to me. We’re merely investigating—innocent or guilty is not yet determined." Song Yunqi spoke politely, but there was an undisguisable air of command in his tone.

Lou Hechuan looked at Song Yunqi; the latter’s eyes were clear and bright, meeting his gaze steadily, not avoiding in the slightest.

"Truly daunting, these youths."

Lou Hechuan sighed softly, took a file folder from his drawer, and placed it on the desk.

Song Yunqi picked up the file and flipped through it casually.

"A disciple of Zhenwu Mountain—so, from a reputable sect?" Song Yunqi smiled faintly, showing no emotion.

"Yan Qiu..."

At that, Song Yunqi called out,

The only girl among the three stood and walked over calmly.

"I want you to bring Zhang Fan in for questioning."

Song Yunqi’s tone cooled, his words shifting, using "questioning."

"Can I search his Primordial Spirit?" Hua Yanqiu asked flatly.

"That’s enough!"

At this, Lou Hechuan’s white brow shot up: "What do you think this place is?"

"I’ve told you: Zhang Fan has nothing to do with the case. You come on behalf of the Daoist Alliance—fine, we’ll cooperate as required—but you dare talk about searching someone’s Primordial Spirit in front of me?"

"Don’t be upset, Elder Lou. My junior sister’s a bit reckless with her words," Song Yunqi quickly apologized.

"Junior sister, mind your methods. If he cooperates, there’s no need to search his Primordial Spirit."

Song Yunqi’s eyes turned sideways, his voice chilling again.

How could someone of Lou Hechuan’s rank fail to see that these juniors were here, nominally to scrutinize Zhang Fan, but really to let the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance leader know the higher-ups were dissatisfied with his work—a classic case of "beating the grass to scare the snake."

"Understood." Hua Yanqiu nodded, turned, and walked straight out of the office.

"Song, you’d better remind your junior sister to show some courtesy. After all, Zhang Fan is a disciple of Zhenwu Mountain," Lou Hechuan said coolly.

"Don’t worry, Elder Lou. Zhenwu Mountain’s Techniques are formidable, but my junior sister... heh heh..."

Song Yunqi smiled, radiating confidence unrestrained.

"Besides, we only want Zhang Fan to answer a few questions. If he doesn’t cooperate, perhaps he really has something to hide."

Song Yunqi looked at Lou Hechuan, seemingly implying something more.

"Hmph!"

Lou Hechuan gave a cold snort and said no more. Looking at this brat before him, he felt a deep aversion from the bottom of his heart.

...

Bright Road.

Invisible Mountain Cafe.

"What the hell, why do I feel like you’ve changed somehow?"

Lin Jianyue looked at Zhang Fan and immediately felt something uncanny—a sense of drifting emptiness, a sense of illusiveness, unstable and hard to pin down.

Right now, Zhang Fan appeared in her eyes like flickering particles, constantly shifting, hard to grasp.

Zhang Fan grinned, saying nothing more.

He had unraveled the Golden Radiance Treasure Box’s secret, reached the Mahasattva Realm, undergone a Primordial Spirit transformation, awakened Sexual Light, and was now in a state of Divine Techniques’ Great Success, high-spirited and naturally different from before.

"How’s your Elixir refinement coming?" Zhang Fan asked offhandedly.

Originally, he’d hoped Lin Jianyue could master Elixir-making to help strengthen his Primordial Spirit and explore Mahasattva’s mysteries, but now he no longer needed that. There was even a sum of money left unused.

"Still working on it." Lin Jianyue, both surprised and doubtful, studied Zhang Fan as if trying to discern the changes in him.

"Take your time." Zhang Fan laughed lightly.

"Was this the reason you asked me out?" Lin Jianyue asked.

"Have you heard from Zhao Jie Xuan lately?" Zhang Fan pressed on.

This was what mattered most to him. Now that he’d become a Mahasattva, and mastered the Golden Radiance Treasure Box’s secret, he might try Divine Fusion. With things as they were, his chances looked good.

"No. Ever since I told you last time, he hasn’t contacted me again." Lin Jianyue replied solemnly.

Last time, she’d already told Zhang Fan—Zhao Jie Xuan hadn’t reached out in ages. Such a disappearance was very abnormal.

"Out of contact!?" Zhang Fan frowned.

"Could something have happened?" Lin Jianyue couldn’t help but ask.

"Probably not." Zhang Fan pondered. Zhao Jie Xuan was his Evil God’s incarnate—cunning, capable, powerful. Last time he managed to trap and kill Li Changgeng, that was proof enough of his skills.

If not for Li Changgeng’s unpredictable fate and miraculous luck, any ordinary person would’ve been killed by him a thousand times over.

The chances of someone like him meeting trouble were low—but if he ever did...

Zhang Fan would definitely be dragged down with him.

"Alright, with things tense in Yujing City, I suspect the Daoist Alliance’s investigation team will arrive any day now. It’s unsafe for you to stick around—leave as soon as you can, and try to track down where he is," Zhang Fan decided after a moment’s thought.

After all, Lin Jianyue was the "Rabbit" among the Thirteen Zodiacs—her identity far too sensitive. If picked up by the Daoist Alliance’s experts, it’d be real trouble.

"Alright." Lin Jianyue nodded, agreeing to Zhang Fan’s suggestion.

They chatted briefly, then stood to leave.

As they reached the door, a coldly beautiful woman appeared—none other than Hua Yanqiu of the Divine Power Association.

Her eyes were bright. She looked at Zhang Fan and, confirming a match, knew he was the one she sought.

"You are Zhang Fan? Come with me."