Book 2: Chapter 23: Journey to Hanyuan City

Vol 2 Ch 23: Journey to Hanyuan City

“As long as Teacher doesn’t abandon me, I am willing to follow him for life, unwavering and steadfast!”

The first to speak up wasn’t Hong Yi or Yu Xiaoyu, but Liu Mingyue, who previously had been the most reluctant to become Zhang Xuan’s student.

Her eyes were still red from grief over her father’s death, but they shone with an unparalleled resolve.

“Before I met Teacher, I was just an insignificant person without talent or background, someone others looked down on everywhere I went. Now, no one in the academy dares speak ill of me; some even go out of their way to curry favor... Experiencing the better side of life has made me realize just how dismal it used to be.”

“I don’t want to return to that life, so like Senior Sister Mingyue, I will go wherever Teacher goes! Even if it means death, I will never regret it.”

Hong Yi also nodded with a smile. “As for danger... life must bloom to be meaningful. Without facing challenges, how could one grow stronger?”

“Mm!”

Zhang Xuan felt a twinge of surprise. This student, whom he had once not paid much attention to, had matured considerably in just a few days. Sёarᴄh the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Looking at Liu Mingyue, he nodded in satisfaction. The once-proud and headstrong girl had gone through significant trials and was now like a polished gem beginning to shine.

“And you?”

His gaze turned to Yu Xiaoyu.

“I...” Yu Xiaoyu raised her head, the bells on her body jingling, her long black hair swaying with the wind. “Actually, when I returned to the City Lord’s Mansion earlier, my father asked me this question.”

“My answer was that I didn’t know. I grew up in White Roc City and have never traveled far. Leaving home without knowing when I’ll return fills me with anxiety and resistance.”

“It’s not that I’m afraid of the dangers following Teacher, or of being judged by the Destiny Hall. I’m afraid of leaving home and losing familiarity; afraid of not having friends and being surrounded by strangers; afraid of thunderous nights without my doll to hold.”

“I told my father these worries. He said... it was my choice to make, to follow my heart. He didn’t wish for me to become an unmatched expert or to bear any family burden. He only wanted me to be happy.”

“So I reflected on my life, comparing how it used to be with these past few days.”

“I was well taken care of by my father, living a good and happy life. Even when problems arose, they quickly faded. I thought I was content.”

“But a few days ago, after breaking through and sending Mo Yanxue flying with a punch, easily surpassing all my peers... the sense of accomplishment from hard work filled me. The respect I earned not from my father’s status but from my own merits reached deep into my heart. Only then did I realize my past happiness was shallow.”

“True happiness comes from achieving goals and pushing oneself beyond limits.”

“So... I’ve already said my goodbyes to my father. I’ve decided to follow Teacher, come what may, life or death, sharing joy and sorrow. No matter how dangerous it is, I won’t waver.”

Yu Xiaoyu’s pure face was filled with determination.

At that moment, she was no longer the slightly dazed and pampered young lady but a warrior striving for her dreams and goals.

“Since you’ve all made up your minds, take tonight to say farewell to your family and friends. We leave tomorrow morning!”

Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

“Yes!” The three of them saluted in unison.

After they left, Zhang Xuan turned to head back to his room to absorb the three newly obtained Destiny Disks, only to see Dao Li approaching from the distance.

The famed horse now wore an apron it had found somewhere, tied around its waist. It came over and placed its front hooves on Zhang Xuan’s shoulders, starting to massage him.

“Just say what you need. There’s no need to butter me up...” Zhang Xuan frowned.

“Neigh... Neigh...” Dao Li continued its massage, slightly embarrassed.

“You want to come with me?” Zhang Xuan realized.

It wasn’t a bad idea. For long-distance travel, the Black-Scaled Phoenix Eagle was ideal, while for shorter distances, Dao Li was more convenient. The best part was that it could cook, give massages, and serve tea.

Seeing his hesitation, Dao Li’s large eyes looked at him with a pleading expression.

“Fine, you can come along,” Zhang Xuan said with a wave.

The Black-Scaled Phoenix Eagle’s back was already crowded with him, Sun Qiang, and the three disciples. There was no room for the horse. However, with his growing power and ease in opening the Xuan World, taking Dao Li along, even with all the feed he had bought, was not an issue.



“Oh, by the way, here’s the Source Beast I just killed. Prepare it for roasting,” Zhang Xuan said, flicking his wrist as a large corpse dropped to the ground.

Dao Li nodded excitedly, dragging the carcass to the kitchen with no trace of resentment or reluctance about staying on as the resident cook.

Perhaps feeling pressured or just motivated, Dao Li’s roast this time was perfectly seasoned, tasting exceptionally good. Pleased, Zhang Xuan wrote down recipes for traditional dishes like Sweet and Sour Pork, Red-Braised Pork, and Kung Pao Chicken, handing them to Dao Li for future study.

Knowing they would leave the next day, Zhang Xuan made a final visit to the Chen Family. There, he tamed their horses in the lower-ranking stables marked “B,” “C,” and “D” and taught some taming techniques from the Master Teacher Continent to Zhou Qun and others.

Lastly, he guided Chen Xiao in his cultivation, helping the Chen Family Patriarch break through to the initial stage of the Divine Soul Realm.

Chen Xiao earnestly invited him to become an honored guest elder and even paid a large sum for Dao Li—a debt Zhang Xuan was determined to repay.

As for Yu Longqing and Lu Mingrong, he helped resolve some hidden injuries from past training, ensuring their paths forward would be smoother and their future potential greater.

The night passed without incident. By dawn, the three students arrived, ready for departure.

Knowing it was pointless to linger any longer, Zhang Xuan summoned the Black-Scaled Phoenix Eagle, donned his Ling Buyang disguise, and, along with Sun Qiang and the three disciples, mounted the eagle and took off.

Though the Black-Scaled Phoenix Eagle was strong, carrying five people, including Sun Qiang, whose size equaled two or three men, was still taxing.

But just when the eagle was about to falter, it felt a warm current of energy flow from its master’s feet, instantly clearing its blocked meridians, and its stamina surged.

“Chirp chirp...”

Its large eyes gleamed with excitement.

Whereas before its submission had traces of unwillingness, now there was only contentment. Following this new master might not just save its life but potentially help it break through to the Dharma Aspect stage.

The distance between White Roc City and Hanyuan Dynasty’s imperial capital, Hanyuan City, was over ten thousand miles. Even with the Black-Scaled Phoenix Eagle, it would take at least a day of flight. With this time, Zhang Xuan began instructing his students in cultivation.

Dao Li’s prepared Source Beast meat was not only delicious but also infused with rich energy, more potent than some rare herbs and pills.

Having never consumed such nourishment before, Hong Yi’s progress was unexpectedly faster than Yu Xiaoyu’s, despite her higher natural talent.

This spurred the girls to push themselves harder in their training. Though the scenery along the way was beautiful, none of them paid it any attention.

Zhang Xuan didn’t bother to look either, focusing instead on the power within his own body.

Since reaching the late stage of the Organs Easing Realm, his strength had been capped at 99 horsepower. Even now, at the peak of the Jade Bone stage, it remained the same. It was as if an invisible force had sealed his strength.

There was no doubt it was one of the effects of the Heaven’s Fate Lock, limiting the power of Jade Bone stage cultivators in the Source World to 99 horsepower. No matter the opportunity or talent, surpassing this limit was impossible unless one broke into the Divine Soul stage.

Like with the Black Dragon Palm technique, high talent and comprehension were useless; once grasped, the Heaven’s Fate would steer one off course, leading further down a false path...

“In the Source World, cultivation is influenced by Heaven’s Fate, capping strength at 99 horsepower. The New World isn’t restricted, but the power gained there can’t be brought here...”

Zhang Xuan rubbed his temples.

He had tested this numerous times. In the New World, his strength could instantly surpass 100, even reaching 200 horsepower. But upon returning, it would be suppressed again.

This meant that bypassing Heaven’s Fate by hiding in the New World was pointless. He would need to break through this barrier in the Source World itself.

If he could truly accomplish this, a Jade Bone stage cultivator capable of surpassing 99 horsepower would be formidable enough to defeat a Divine Soul stage opponent with a single punch, even without using techniques like the Pathos of Heaven.

“Young Master, it looks like there’s a fight up ahead...” Sun Qiang’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

Zhang Xuan looked over and indeed saw Source Energy swirling atop a distant mountain peak, where two groups were engaged in a chase. The fleeing

figure was a woman clutching a three- or four-year-old child whose eyes were closed and face pallid.

A young man, presumably her husband, was trying to hold off their pursuers—a group of over ten wielding long sabers, their strikes leaving him battered and bleeding, barely holding on.



“Stop! We’re willing to surrender the **Red Leaf Grass**... just spare us!” The woman, seeing her husband’s worsening injuries, glanced down at the child in her arms, bit her lip, and cried out.

“Too late! We’ll take the Red Leaf Grass and your lives!” A cold voice rang from the pursuing group.

Zhang Xuan’s expression darkened at the declaration.

Author's Note