"Among those present are my parents, my wife, my sister, as well as my disciples, my followers, and my lifelong friends. You are all the most important people in my life." Zhang Fan's gaze swept across everyone, finally resting on Qin Luoshui, and then he continued, "Perhaps in your hearts, you all have some doubts, no matter how small. Why can an ordinary person from a declining cultivation planet in the Wushan Star Domain reach this point, and by what right can I reach this point?"
"This is a secret I have hidden in my heart, and today I will tell you."
This doubt had always lingered in everyone's minds. Zhang Fan was born on Earth, yet he could teach the Blood Demon Flood Dragon, Lin Haotian, and the Southern Exalted Saint Body Arts. He could cultivate the rules of the Great Dao to perfection at the Nascent Soul stage. He could cultivate to the peak of the Chaos Realm in just over a hundred years. This was no longer something that could be achieved solely through talent.
"In truth, I am still myself, but I am not the me I once was." A trace of remembrance appeared in Zhang Fan's eyes as he recounted his past life's experiences to everyone, even making Zhi Wu and the others incredulous.
"No wonder I always felt this brat changed so much after returning to the family that one time. So, in a time and space we didn't know about, you've already lived for over a thousand years." Zhang Xingan suddenly realized.
Su Yun looked at Zhang Fan with eyes full of love. She never imagined he had endured so much hardship in his past life. At the same time, she felt relieved. Regardless of past or present life, Zhang Fan was her child.
"Zhi Wu, in my previous life, you accompanied me on adventures in the True Thunder Underworld. We experienced life and death together in the True Thunder Emperor Palace, which is why I understand you so well," Zhang Fan said, looking at True Immortal Zhi Wu.
"So that's how it is. No wonder I couldn't resolve the issues you easily solved regarding my cultivation, Southern Exalted. The methods of an Immortal Emperor are indeed incredible," Immortal King Zhi Wu said with a smile, looking at Southern Exalted.
He also never expected that his good friend would become a disciple of Zhang Fan, and that Zhang Fan had once obtained a fortunate encounter he had left on Earth. Thinking of this, Immortal King Zhi Wu couldn't help but shake his head and laugh, "Fate is truly wondrous."
"Now that seven True Thunder Emperor Seals have appeared, I presume you are all searching for the eighth one?" Zhang Fan said, looking at Immortal King Zhi Wu and Emperor Yan Immortal King with a smile.
"Brother Zhang Fan, where is that eighth True Thunder Emperor Seal?" True Immortal Zhi Wu asked curiously.
"It is in the starry sky north of the Sacred Map Star Domain." Zhang Fan estimated the time and said, "In about a few decades, an Immortal Venerable's cave dwelling will appear, and the last True Thunder Emperor Seal will be within that Immortal Venerable's cave dwelling."
Emperor Yan Immortal King nodded and said, "No wonder Old Ghost Hei Mu couldn't deduce the location of the last True Thunder Emperor Seal. With the means of an Immortal Venerable, they would be able to sever the karma involved."
"Originally, I planned to seize that last True Thunder Emperor Seal and explore the True Thunder Emperor Palace."
As Zhang Fan spoke, Immortal King Zhi Wu and Emperor Yan Immortal King couldn't help but look forward to it. If Zhang Fan were to accompany them on their exploration, they would be the biggest winners of the True Thunder Emperor Palace journey.
"However, I have changed my mind. My Dao laws and state of mind are now complete, and I can cross the heavenly tribulation with a single thought. There is no need to compete for it anymore." As he said this, Zhang Fan's gaze turned to Immortal King Luo He, and he said, "Immortal King Luo He, I will seize the last True Thunder Emperor Seal and give it to you. It will be repayment for your decades of teaching Luo Shui."
Immortal King Luo He was surprised by this unexpected bonus and quickly cupped his fists, "Thank you, fellow Daoist Zhang Fan."
"Today, I am reunited with my wife and my old friends. Emperor Yan, aren't you going to bring out your good wine? Let's all drink until we are drunk!" Zhang Fan said to Emperor Yan Immortal King.
"Haha, Brother Zhang Fan truly knows me well." Emperor Yan Immortal King waved his hand, and immediately, a table appeared before each person, laden with immortal fruits and spiritual wine, even better than the brews Zhang Fan had stored himself.
In an instant, a rich aroma of wine filled the small courtyard. The Blood Demon Flood Dragon licked its lips, its saliva nearly flowing out.
True Immortal Zhi Wu picked up a wine pot, sniffed it, and chuckled, "Thanks to Brother Zhang Fan, Emperor Yan is unusually generous today. These wines are rarely available to me."
"Who told you to be so carefree? With your strength, you easily occupy a high-level star domain and dominate one side, naturally attracting countless fine wines," Emperor Yan Immortal King teased.
"There is one more friend I wish to introduce to you all." Zhang Fan waved his hand, and a bald man in a black robe appeared in the courtyard. His aura was ordinary, like that of a common monk, but to the eyes of Immortal King Zhi Wu and the others, they could understand the terrifying nature of this bald man in black.
"Everyone, allow me to introduce His Venerable Evil Buddha." Zhang Fan introduced him to True Immortal Zhi Wu and the others.
"Greetings, Venerable!" True Immortal Zhi Wu and the others immediately rose and bowed respectfully.
Zhang Fan had cultivated in the Infinite Tower for nearly a hundred years, and Venerable Evil Buddha had been nourished in Zhang Fan's inner cosmos for nearly a hundred years. His divine soul power had fully recovered, and he was now in the process of reconstructing his physical body. He would fully recover before long.
"Fellow Daoists, there is no need for such formality." After completing his Dao laws, Venerable Evil Buddha's demeanor became even more unpretentious, without a trace of evil energy.
"Evil Buddha, your Ten Thousand Buddhas Dao doesn't have any precepts, does it?" Zhang Fan raised his wine pot and teased.
"The Ten Thousand Buddhas Dao naturally must taste the joys and sorrows of the world to comprehend the myriad paths of the universe. Therefore, there are no precepts." Venerable Evil Buddha sat down naturally, and Emperor Yan Immortal King quickly refilled his cup.
"Today, I am reunited with my wife and meet my old friends. This is truly a great joy in life. Please, everyone, drink with me!"
Everyone raised their cups and drank. After several rounds, the atmosphere in the courtyard became even more lively.
"Evil Buddha, your Ten Thousand Buddhas Dao is complete. The day your physical body is reformed will likely be the day you master the Heavenly Dao. What are your plans for future cultivation?" Zhang Fan asked after toasting Venerable Evil Buddha.
"Originally, I thought the Heavenly Dao Realm was the limit of cultivation. It was only after meeting Senior that I realized how long the path of cultivation is. I am willing to follow Senior's side. I implore Senior to grant my wish." Venerable Evil Buddha said sincerely.
True Immortal Zhi Wu and the others knew that Zhang Fan, in his past life, was a being who had mastered the Heavenly Dao and reached the level of an Immortal Emperor. But for an Immortal Venerable, who could break through to Immortal Emperor at any moment, to be so loyal, what level had his Dao reached?
"Very well, if you are willing to follow, I naturally welcome you." Zhang Fan nodded.
The feast continued until the end. Everyone else had fallen drunk, leaving only Zhang Fan, Venerable Evil Buddha, Immortal King Zhi Wu, Emperor Yan Immortal King, and Immortal King Luo He. With their level of strength, getting drunk was practically impossible.
...