Chapter 31: "Longevity" Through "Wisdom"

"The spiritual mountain ahead is our Moon Embracing Sect."

Wu Xingyun finally allowed herself a small sigh of relief as they neared their destination, though she didn't let her guard down completely. The final stretch was often the most dangerous.

Fortunately, no further incidents occurred.

Just as she prepared to take Lin Fan and Fan Jianqiang directly to the mountain peak, Fan Jianqiang suddenly called out, "Second Elder, wait!"

"What is it?" Wu Xingyun slowed down, puzzled.

"Ahem." Fan Jianqiang cleared his throat. "Second Elder, as you know, I have some knowledge of divination, which shares similarities with the art of feng shui. If you and the Sect Master don't mind, why not let me take a look around the area first? I'd like to assess the feng shui of Moon Embracing Sect."

'Here we go,' Lin Fan thought, barely suppressing a grin. 'The cautious protagonist's signature move—fortifying his new home.'

At least for the foreseeable future, this would be Fan Jianqiang's "home." How could he not take measures to ensure his own safety? If he was "steady," wouldn't the security of the entire Moon Embracing Sect skyrocket?

Lin Fan wanted to laugh, but he quickly schooled his expression. 'No, I have to play along. If I scare this cautious protagonist, it'll backfire.'

So, he pretended to consider the request seriously before nodding. "You're quite meticulous. Very well, Second Elder, let's humor him and take a brief tour."

"As you wish, Sect Master." Wu Xingyun agreed, though she didn't see the point.

Feng shui and geomancy were mostly concerns for mortals. Cultivators, by nature, defied heaven and earth, striving against fate itself. The very essence of cultivation was about changing one's destiny. Why would they care about feng shui?

Still, she had no reason to refuse.

After completing the circuit, Wu Xingyun asked, "Well? How's the feng shui?"

"No major issues," Fan Jianqiang said, stroking his chin like a seasoned fortune-teller. "Just some minor flaws. If the Sect Master and Second Elder permit, I'd like to take care of them."

Wu Xingyun glanced at Lin Fan, who smiled faintly. "If you're willing, go ahead."

He acted oblivious, as if he had no idea what Fan Jianqiang was planning.

"Now that we've finished inspecting, let's return to the sect," Lin Fan said. "Fan Jianqiang, you'll pay respects to our ancestors and officially join the sect."

He was eagerly anticipating this moment. 'A cautious protagonist—what's his true cultivation level? First level of the Condensing Yuan Realm? Yeah, right. I wouldn't believe that even if my life depended on it. I wonder how much my own cultivation will improve once I share Fan Jianqiang and Xiao Ling'er's talents and strengths…'

…..

Inside the Sect, everything was prepared. Xiao Ling'er had arrived, and the seven "mascots" of the sect were present—all except the Supreme Elder, who was still in seclusion, attempting his breakthrough.

Fan Jianqiang knelt solemnly before the statue of the sect's founder, holding incense. With a grave expression, he began, "Ancestors, this disciple, Fan Jianqiang, has been fortunate enough to earn the Sect Master's recognition and now seeks to formally join the Moon Embracing Sect. I pledge to…"

"Wait!"

Lin Fan suddenly interrupted, drawing confused looks from everyone.

"You…" Lin Fan's expression was odd. "Are you sure you're using your real name?"

The entire hall fell silent.

Wu Xingyun stared at Lin Fan, baffled. From the moment they'd met until now, the three of them had been together constantly. How had she never heard Fan Jianqiang mention another name?

Faced with their questioning gazes, Lin Fan didn't explain. He simply watched Fan Jianqiang with an innocent look.

Fan Jianqiang chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Ahaha, my apologies. Force of habit. Thank you for reminding me, Sect Master. My real name is actually Fan Jian."

"But I've never revealed it to anyone before, so… I slipped up just now."

"Why?" Li Changshou, the Third Elder, was astonished. "You'd rather use a fake name than your real one?"

"Third Elder, you're mistaken!" Fan Jian—now Fan Jianqiang again—shook his head vehemently. "How dangerous is the Divine Martial Continent?! A cultivator can't use their real name!"

"Why not?" Li Changshou was even more perplexed.

"Every cultivator has enemies! Who knows what methods those enemies might possess?"

Once on this topic, Fan Jianqiang became animated, speaking with fervor and conviction.

"Even if everyone knows your name now, who's to say what tricks your enemies will learn in the future? What if they master some terrifying curse that targets your true name? Curses are insidious and have no upper limit—we have to guard against them! That's why, whenever I go out, I give a fake name to everyone I meet. I take it very seriously. No one knows my real name. That way, no matter how powerful my enemies become or how bizarre their spells are, they can't touch a hair on my head! And they can't deduce anything about me through divination either. Using a fake name is the key to longevity! By the way, Third Elder, you're named 'Longevity,' yet you don't even know this?!"

At the end, Fan Jianqiang sounded genuinely surprised. 'You, a man named "Longevity," don't understand such basics? How can you live long if you're so reckless?!'

Li Changshou's face went blank. 'Why did this suddenly become about me?'

"Ahem." He cleared his throat. "Naturally, I'm aware. But as cultivators, we should face challenges fearlessly. If you're this cautious about everything, you'll lose your momentum. Cultivation is like sailing against the current—if you don't advance, you'll fall behind. Losing your drive is detrimental to your progress!"

He spoke earnestly, but Fan Jianqiang wasn't convinced.

"You're wrong. What we cultivators seek is eternal life and peace of mind! As long as we live long enough, stability is natural. Haven't you heard the saying? No matter how talented a genius is, until they grow up, they're just a potential corpse… Oh, and elders, fellow disciples—please don't mention my real name to anyone. From now on, just call me Fan Jianqiang."

After his impassioned speech and final warning, Li Changshou was left speechless. The other elders exchanged bewildered glances, while Xiao Ling'er stifled a laugh.

'This guy is really something,' she thought, though she was puzzled. "Teacher, won't this mindset hinder his cultivation?"

Liang Danxia's voice echoed in her mind. "Cultivation paths vary. Some charge ahead boldly, others advance quietly, and some build their Dao on 'invincible belief'—one loss can shatter their Dao heart. But there are also those who keep fighting despite setbacks."

"Everyone has their own way. For most, such fearfulness would cripple their progress. But he genuinely believes in his approach. To him, it's not cowardice—it's wisdom. So, it won't hold him back."

"I see," Xiao Ling'er murmured.

Then Liang Danxia added dryly, "That said, this is the first time I've seen a cultivator this terrified of death."

Xiao Ling'er: "…"