Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Chance Encounter at the Wine House

  Zhang Zhiyuan's character is indeed unclear to Chen Yuan.

  He was also a small monk, mixed in the lower class, and those messy things he had done. It's not an exaggeration to say that he used to sell fake goods.

  However, the old man said that the demon-suppressing talisman was a fake, but Chen Yuan did not believe it, because although this demon-suppressing talisman in his hand was roughly made, its power could indeed suppress a second-level demonic beast.

  Chen Yuan took out the demon-suppressing talisman he had bought from other monks, and without saying a word to Da Lao Wu, he activated his true energy and the talisman was instantly activated.

  In an instant, the yellow talisman dissipated and transformed into six blue positive energy light pillars, trapping Da Lao Wu.

  "What... what are you doing?" Da Lao Wu found himself trapped, his true energy also being sealed, and he asked with a drastically changed expression.

  "This is the power of the Demon-Suppressing Talisman, it's not that it doesn't work sometimes, but your method of using it is incorrect. And as Zhang Zhiyuan said, this talisman can only be kept for fifteen days, because the formation is not complete. He reminded you to use it within the time limit, but you forgot and ended up getting your brother killed by the demon beast, how can you blame him? Here's a hundred high-level demon crystals, I respect your sense of justice, but don't make any more unreasonable demands. Use these crystals to take care of your brother's aftermath." Chen Yuan said, taking out a hundred demon crystals and dispelling the Demon-Suppressing Talisman formation.

  "Me!" Da Lao Wu looked at Chen Yuan, wanting to retort back, but he calmed down and thought carefully. Indeed, it was himself who was too impulsive. He finally nodded and said: "I was wrong. No wonder it's the surname Zhang. I owe my brother an apology!"

  After his words fell, he had already been crying sadly, a nine-foot-tall man, with hot tears rolling, this kind of brotherly affection, really moved people.

  Although Da Lao Wu was impulsive, Chen Yuan appreciated his emphasis on relationships and righteousness. After comforting him, he explained his intention to win him over, but Da Lao Wu was in a bad mood, shook his head and refused, soon disappearing into the crowd.

  "What a pity." Chen Yuan shook his head helplessly. Even an ordinary minor repairman wouldn't easily follow someone, no wonder Fang Shi and others had been recruiting for so long without getting even ten people.

  "To get a lot of recognition, you still have to pass the first test of the tide of monsters!"

  Dà Lǎo Wǔ is considered a good man, but his true value isn't high, so he left and that's it. Chen Yuan doesn't need to take it too seriously either. Turning around to face Zhang Zhi who was still behind him, he smiled and said: "Zhang fellow, want to have a chat with me?"

  "Senior is proficient in the way of symbol arrays, Zhang naturally agrees." Just now Chen Yuan's hand gesture to urge on the demon-suppressing symbol was skillful, more than this cultivator's own hands moving in response, Zhang Zhihuan couldn't wait to ask for his guidance.

  Two people looked for a wine building, ordered some fairy family dishes and fairy wine.

  At the beginning of Chen Yuan's practice, although he and Zhang Ziyu were about the same age, in the cultivation world, those with higher cultivation levels are considered seniors. So even though Zhang Ziyu was eager to ask for guidance, he was afraid of offending Chen Yuan and could only hold back, his eyes darting around anxiously.

  "What do you want to ask?" Chen Yuan looked at him and let him speak.

  "Could it be that Senior is a Formation Master?" Zhang Zhiyao immediately blurted out.

  He was called "senior" by people who were almost the same age as him, Chen Yuan felt a bit awkward and said: "My surname is Chen, my name is Yuan, I am a second-level array master, don't call me senior, just call me brother. Our age difference is not big."

  "The Second Level..." The entire chapter was shocked, a cultivator of Qi would be terrified to show respect, now still a second-level Array Master, he didn't dare to call him brother, hastily shaking his head: "No way, no way, I'm not worthy."

  Zhang Zhi called out to this person, who was clearly somewhat timid. Chen Yuan also stopped being concerned and asked in return: "Is the Demon-Subduing Talisman something you refined?"

  "Yes." Zhang Zhiwu nodded in agreement.

  "Do you want to become a formal Array Master?" Chen Yuan asked directly.

  Zhang Zhiyong suddenly raised his head, and a pair of eyes stared straight at Chen Yuan. Chen Yuan held up his wine glass with a slight smile, responding to the doubt revealed in Zhang's eyes.

  Zhang Zhiyuan immediately stood up from his chair and was about to kneel down: "Master..."

  "Wait!" Chen Yuan hastily reached out with one hand to stop him, saying: "There's no need for you to become my apprentice. Just follow me and I'll teach you the art of array cultivation."

  "I've seen the master!" Zhang Zhiyuan immediately changed his words.

  "It's enough to be called the master."

  "Yes! Master Zhuang." Zhang's voice was trembling with excitement, a second-level Refiner wanted to guide him, this undoubtedly raised his hopes infinitely.

  Chen Yuan was also delighted in his heart. He went out on a trip and unexpectedly met a young man with the talent of Lianzhen, and he even successfully recruited him. Shanling Village finally had a member with potential for the future. Of course, Zhang Zhihuan still needed to be slowly nurtured. As for how far he could grow, Chen Yuan couldn't see it for now.

  Zhang Zhihuan gained appreciation, Chen Yuan gained talent, both were in a good mood, and naturally they ate, drank and chatted. Chen Yuan was originally born into a minor official's family, and when talking to Zhang Zhihuan, he felt at ease. After a round of eating and drinking, their relationship had already deepened.

  After having enough wine and food, Chen Yuan ordered Zhang Zhi to sing:

  "You go deal with your mundane affairs at Nightwood Manor, gather your belongings, and then come back to travel with me!"

  "Master Zhuang, I have an impertinent request." Zhang Ziyu said with a pleading expression.

  "Speak!"

  "I want to bring my sister along and follow Master Zhuang to settle in his estate."

  "Okay!"

  "Thank you, landlord!"

  Zhang Zhi bid farewell and left with a smile, returning home to pack his luggage.

  Chen Yuan sat in a wine house sipping fine wine, feeling leisurely when he heard from the store a familiar voice that had been on his mind.

  "Shopkeeper, bring us good wine and meat!"

  "Yongcui, we're sending you out to gain experience and temper your mind. Not for you to go gallivanting around, eating and drinking excessively."

  "Master, isn't it hard to practice Taoism without eating and drinking well? Why didn't we disguise ourselves as beggars when we left? Wouldn't begging along the way be even better for tempering our minds?"

  Chen Yuan suddenly looked around and saw the blue-clothed girl still shining with a pure and lovely light that was beyond compare.

  After thinking about it for many days, I finally saw you again, Chen Yuan directly opened his mouth and called out:

  "You're younger than Haizhe!"

  "Huh? Chen Yuan!?" Hai Youchan was also greatly surprised, and stood up with joy, just about to walk towards Chen Yuan, but Hai Yueyan let out a light cough, and the young men and women suddenly became aware of something improper, and their faces all turned red.

  "Long time no see, senior!" Chen Yuan immediately bowed politely to Hai Yue.

  "Thanks for taking action, Qingxiangbao's demonic tide." Haiyue nodded in gratitude for the kindness of Chen Yuan who guarded the fort with him that day.

  "It's nothing," Chen Yuankui humbly said.

  "It's nothing to worry about, thanks to you fixing the Bright Moon Formation on the sea, Qingxiang Fortress was able to safely pass through the demonic tide three days ago," Hai Youchan said.

  The Hai family's master and disciples were all very grateful to Chen Yuan, after all, he was the one who saved Xiangxiang Fortress. If not for his ability to repair the formation, the demonic tide three days ago would have made it impossible for Xiangxiang Fortress to hold out.

  Chen Yuannaturally didn't want them to just thank him, and this topic seemed unable to be opened up, so he turned to ask the two of their reason for being here:

  "Why is Hai and Yuzao here?"

  "It's just bringing up a young and inexperienced person." Haiyue Nian replied.

  Chen Yuan knew that in the entire continent of Jiuzhou, all the successors of large family forces would be led by their elders to travel around when they were 16 to 18 years old. In the past six months, Haiyue Xian had already taken Haishao Yan on a tour of the Hai Laocheng region and was now heading to Rui Mu Cheng.

  Learning they were seasoned travelers, Chen Yuan invited them: "I am about to build a villa soon, I wonder if I can invite the two of you..."

  "I'm going!" Hai Youchao didn't wait for him to finish speaking and readily agreed.

  Haiyue gave him a slight glare, but also understood Chen Yuan's value and was willing to get along with him: "Our next stop is Julong Fortress, you'd better use the jade tablet to notify us."

  "Hmm!" Chen Yuan nodded.

  Although they met by chance, Haiyue Nian and Hai Youchan also walked very quickly. They had many places to go for their training and didn't have much time to linger.

  Hai Jia's master and apprentice had just left when Zhang Zhiyuan pushed a frail girl in a wooden wheelchair to appear before Chen Yuan.

  "Little girl Zhang Shuxue has seen Master Chen Zhuang."

  The girl was slender, with a waxy complexion and dark eye circles that seemed to have no vitality. Her long hair was dry and her exposed palms were just skin and bones. Such a gaunt appearance made Chen Yuan feel pitiful. Chen Yuan nodded at her and directly asked Zhang Zhihuan:

  "What's wrong with your sister's body?"