"Among you all, there are my parents, my wife, my sister, my disciples, my followers, and my lifelong friends. You are all the most important people in my life." Zhang Fan's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Qin Luoshui, and then he continued, "Perhaps in your hearts, you have some doubts. I am just an ordinary person from a declining planet in the Wushan Star Domain. How could I have reached this point? What right do I have to be here?"
"This is a secret I have hidden in my heart, and today I shall tell you all."
This doubt had always been in everyone's minds. Zhang Fan was born on Earth, yet he could teach the Blood Demon Flood Dragon, Lin Haotian, the Southern Venerable Body Technique. He could cultivate the rules of the Dao to perfection at the Nascent Soul stage. He could reach the peak of the Chaos Realm in a mere hundred years. This was no longer achievable solely through talent.
"In truth, I am still me, but also not the me of before." A hint of reminiscence flashed in Zhang Fan's eyes as he recounted his past life's experiences to everyone. Even Zhiwu and the others found it incredible.
"No wonder I always said this brat seemed like a different person after returning to the family that time. So, in a time and space we didn't know, you had already lived for over a thousand years," Zhang Xingan realized with a sigh of enlightenment.
Su Yun looked at Zhang Fan with doting eyes. She hadn't expected he had endured so much hardship in his past life. At the same time, she felt relieved. Whether in his past life or this one, Zhang Fan was her child.
"Zhiwu, in my past life, you accompanied me on adventures in the True Thunder Underworld. We experienced life and death together in the True Thunder Emperor's Palace, which is why I understand you so well," Zhang Fan said, looking at True Immortal Zhiwu.
"So that's how it is. No wonder you could easily solve the problems I couldn't in my cultivation, Southern Venerable. The methods of an Immortal Emperor are truly unfathomable," Immortal King Zhiwu said, chuckling at Southern Venerable.
He never imagined that his good friend would become Zhang Fan's disciple, and that Zhang Fan had once obtained a fortuitous encounter he left on Earth. Thinking of this, Immortal King Zhiwu 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 asked Immortal King Zhiwu and Immortal King Yan, smiling.
"Brother Zhang Fan, where might that eighth True Thunder Emperor Seal be?" Immortal King Zhiwu inquired curiously.
"It is in the starry sky north of the Sacred Diagram Star Domain." Zhang Fan estimated the time and said, "In about a few decades, a Cave Mansion of an Immortal Venerable will appear, and the last True Thunder Emperor Seal will be within that Cave Mansion."
Immortal King Yan nodded and said, "No wonder the 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 already be able to sever the karma involved."
"Originally, I planned to seize that final True Thunder Emperor Seal and venture into the True Thunder Emperor's Palace."
As Zhang Fan spoke, Immortal King Zhiwu and Immortal King Yan couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. If Zhang Fan were to accompany them, they would be the greatest winners in their journey to the True Thunder Emperor's Palace.
"However, I have changed my mind. My Dao technique and state of mind are now complete. With a single thought, I can overcome the heavenly tribulation. There is no need to compete for it anymore." Saying this, Zhang Fan turned his gaze to Immortal King Luohe and said, "Immortal King Luohe, I will seize this last True Thunder Emperor Seal and give it to you. It can be considered repayment for your decades of guidance to Luoshui."
Immortal King Luohe was surprised by this unexpected boon and quickly clasped his fists, "Many thanks, fellow Daoist Zhang Fan."
"Today, I am reunited with my wife and gathered with old friends. Yan Huang, why don't you bring out your good wine? Let us all get drunk!" Zhang Fan said to Immortal King Yan.
"Haha, Brother Zhang Fan truly knows me well." With a wave of his hand, Immortal King Yan instantly produced a table in front of everyone, laden with immortal fruits and spiritual wine, even better than the brews Zhang Fan himself had collected.
In an instant, a rich aroma of wine filled the small courtyard. The Blood Demon Flood Dragon licked its tongue, its saliva almost flowing out.
True Immortal Zhiwu picked up a wine pot and sniffed it, shaking his head and laughing, "Thanks to Brother Zhang Fan, Yan Huang is unusually generous today. I rarely get to drink this kind of wine."
"Who told you you're too carefree? With your strength, you easily occupy a high-level star domain and rule over a region, so countless fine wines are naturally offered to you," Immortal King Yan teased playfully.
"I have another friend I'd like to introduce to everyone." Zhang Fan waved his hand, and a bald man in a black robe appeared in the courtyard. His aura was ordinary, like a common monk. However, to the eyes of Immortal King Zhiwu and the others, they could perceive the terrifying nature of this bald man in black.
"Everyone, please meet the Evil Buddha Immortal Venerable," Zhang Fan introduced to Immortal King Zhiwu and the others.
"Greetings, Immortal Venerable!" Immortal King Zhiwu and the others immediately rose and bowed respectfully.
Zhang Fan had cultivated in the Infinite Pagoda for nearly a hundred years, and the Evil Buddha Immortal Venerable had been nurtured in Zhang Fan's inner universe for nearly a hundred years. His soul power had now completely recovered, and he was in the process of reconstructing his physical body. Soon, he would be fully restored.
"Fellow Daoists, there is no need for such formality." After perfecting his Dao technique, the Evil Buddha Immortal Venerable's demeanor became even more unpretentious, devoid of any trace of evil.
"Evil Buddha, your Myriad Buddhas Sect doesn't have any precepts, does it?" Zhang Fan raised his wine pot and teased.
"The Myriad Buddhas Sect naturally seeks to taste the bitter, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors of the world to comprehend the myriad Daos of the universe. Therefore, there are no precepts," the Evil Buddha Immortal Venerable said, casually sitting down. Immortal King Yan quickly added another place setting for him.
"Today, I am reunited with my wife and have met 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 Myriad Buddhas Sect's Dao is complete. The day your physical body is reconstructed will likely be the day you master the Heavenly Dao. What are your plans for future cultivation?" Zhang Fan asked, clinking glasses with the Evil Buddha Immortal Venerable.
"Originally, I thought the Heavenly Dao Realm was the limit of cultivation. It wasn't until I met Senior that I realized how long the path of cultivation truly is. I wish to follow in Senior's footsteps. Please grant my request," the Evil Buddha Immortal Venerable said earnestly.
Immortal King Zhiwu and the others knew that Zhang Fan was a being who had mastered the Heavenly Dao and reached the level of an Immortal Emperor in his past life. But to have an Immortal Venerable, who could break through to the Immortal Emperor realm at any moment, be so devoted, what level had his Dao truly reached?
"Very well. If you wish to follow, I naturally welcome you," Zhang Fan nodded.
By the end of this feast, everyone else had passed out drunk, leaving only Zhang Fan, the Evil Buddha Immortal Venerable, Immortal King Zhiwu, Immortal King Yan, and Immortal King Luohe. With their strength at this level, it was almost impossible for them to get drunk.
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