Chapter 119

"... What special interest? Master Pang intends to take you as his disciple."

Zhang Shijie seemed not to understand his words, and instead explained.

"Take me as a disciple? Didn't I already refuse?"

Zheng Fa frowned. This wasn't the first time Master Pang's lineage had brought this up.

Sun Daoyu had already spoken to him about it before.

He had already refused.

The reason was simple—he belonged to another lineage; becoming Master Pang's disciple would make him an outsider in both camps.

"When you exchanged the 'Character Dao Foundation Method' for the thousand-year purple bamboo tear, Master Pang brought it up again."

Zheng Fa said bluntly: "Zhang Shijie, I have no intention of becoming Master Pang's disciple... I was brought into the sect by you."

He was doing better and better in Zhang Shijie's lineage.

Zhang Shijie valued him.

Yuan Shijie also got along well with him.

He was thriving in the marketplace too.

He had powerful backing and popular support.

Only a fool would go to the other lineage.

But Zheng Fa didn't expect Zhang Shijie to shake her head and speak up for Master Pang: "This time, Master Pang is truly sincere."

"Sincere?"

"Why didn't you want to join Master Pang's lineage before?"

"Since I entered the sect, I've been deeply indebted to you, Shijie."

"The Five-Element Character Talisman has already repaid that debt," Zhang Shijie said, her tone softening slightly. "You owe me nothing."

"Shijie, everyone in the sect knows Master Pang favors Zhou Shidi the most," Zheng Fa thought for a moment and spoke honestly. "If I go to his lineage, I'll still be behind Zhou Shidi."

"Master Pang says that if you become his disciple, he will regard you as his sole true heir," Zhang Shijie said to Zheng Fa, earnestly. "That means all his resources will be directed toward you—some even include spiritual materials capable of helping you condense a Nascent Soul."

Zheng Fa froze.

He finally understood why Zhang Shijie said Master Pang was truly sincere this time.

An Nascent Soul True Person speaking those words meant they were without falsehood.

He might forget, but Zhang Shijie would remember.

"Think it over carefully..."

"What do you mean, Zhang Shijie?" Zheng Fa looked up, meeting Zhang Shijie's eyes.

"I won't stop you," Zhang Shijie said to Zheng Fa, her gaze profound. "This is the sincerity of a Nascent Soul True Person."

Zheng Fa froze.

His expression turned thoughtful.

Watching Zheng Fa gradually walk away, Yuan Shijie emerged from behind the house.

"Shijie, you really... are willing to let Zheng Shidi go to that lineage?"

"Even if I don't want to, I have to. Master Pang... is using a straightforward strategy," Zhang Shijie rubbed her temples, looking exhausted.

"Huh?"

"Master Pang can give Zheng Shidi resources straight to Nascent Soul. Can I?" Zhang Shijie smiled bitterly. "I've already asked my master, but he refused."

Yuan Shijie fell silent.

"If I hold him back now with obligations, what about later?" Zhang Shijie sighed. "Even if he stays, there will be tension between us. When Zheng Shidi reaches the point of condensing a Nascent Soul and lacks spiritual materials, he might even resent me."

"But maybe Zheng Shidi will agree?" Yuan Shijie said optimistically.

"This is the sincerity of a Nascent Soul True Person," Zhang Shijie repeated.

"Zhang Shijie?"

"Yuan Shimei, if Master Pang shows this much sincerity and still fails to win him over, don't you think he'll see Zheng Shidi as ungrateful?"

"Will Master Pang suppress Zheng Fa?" Yuan Shijie suddenly understood.

"Even without deliberate suppression, a Nascent Soul True Person's displeasure—Zheng Shidi is only a Qi Condensation cultivator. How can he bear it?" Zhang Shijie turned her head, gazing at the seventh peak above Jiushan. Rarely, a look of frustration crossed her face.

She didn't see that Yuan Shijie was also looking up at Jiushan, her eyes thoughtful.

Several days later, Zheng Fa sat in his study, still pondering the matter.

To be honest, he was very unwilling to join Master Pang's lineage.

Sure, there were spiritual materials—but that was the only advantage.

No one in that lineage would likely welcome him sincerely.

The two lineages were already at odds; he went from being a former rival to becoming the favored disciple of a Nascent Soul True Person towering over him.

How would those senior brothers see him?

Moreover, no matter how close he was to Zhang Shijie, after becoming Master Pang's disciple, their relationship would surely sour—he understood well enough the tension between Jiushan Sect's two lineages.

Zhang Shijie and Master Pang didn't fight on sight like the lower ranks, but they weren't on good terms either; at least, there was some personal rivalry.

His human experimentation lab hadn't even warmed up yet, and he was about to leave!

Think of how relaxed and joyful his days had become in Zhang Shijie's lineage.

Think of how he'd likely plunge back into power struggles if he joined Master Pang's lineage.

Just thinking about it made him weary.

Deep down, he preferred spending his time exploring the mysteries of cultivation rather than scheming and intrigue.

But if he refused... would he really treat a Nascent Soul True Person's face as if it meant nothing?

Uncle Pang's approach carries a hint of coercion.

To anyone else, a True Person of Nascent Soul is always aloof and above; such behavior already shows great sincerity, and they would likely be flattered and surprised.

But Zheng Fa still did not quite like the feeling that with a single word from a True Person of Nascent Soul, he had no choice.

"Bang bang bang!" The courtyard door was knocked upon, accompanied by Elder Yuan's urging: "Junior Brother Zheng, open the door quickly!"

"Elder Yuan?"

"Come with me!" Elder Yuan grabbed Zheng Fa and walked out.

"Elder Yuan, do you need something from me?"

Pulled by her, Zheng Fa stumbled as he walked out the door.

"Something! An urgent matter!" As Elder Yuan walked, apparently feeling Zheng Fa was too slow, her form shifted, transforming into a massive green luan bird before Zheng Fa's eyes.

"Elder?"

"Are you not getting on?"

Zheng Fa climbed onto the green luan's back; the bird spread its wings, shot into the sky, and headed toward Jiushan.

"Elder, where are we going?"

"To see the Sect Master!"

"The Sect Master?"

"I recommended you to the Sect Master!" Elder Yuan's tone held a touch of pride and a hint of seeking credit: "I wore out a lot of my tongue before the Sect Master was willing to see you!"

Good heavens!

My bird lineage is extraordinary!

"Elder... how many True Persons of Nascent Soul does our Jiushan Sect actually have? Why are there only two lineages?"

"True Persons of Nascent Soul? There are only three." Elder Yuan introduced as she flew: "True Person Pang, Elder Zhang's master True Person Huang, and the Sect Master."

"As for why there are only two lineages... because the Sect Master's disciples are all dead; that lineage has no one left!"

"..."

Zheng Fa's eyes widened slightly; was this Sect Master so jinxed to his disciples?

"Then what Elder means by recommending me is..."

"I told the Sect Master that you are the most suitable person to be his disciple!"

That was not an auspicious thing to say.

"Why does Elder say that?"

"Because you are like him; you are timid!"

"..."

Elder Yuan's speed was very fast.

In an instant, they arrived at the Ninth Peak of Jiushan where the Sect Master resided.

This place was very familiar—Zheng Fa had seen the Jiushan Ancestral Master here before.

Only this time, the place Elder Yuan brought him to was on the mountainside of the Ninth Peak, a place he had not visited then.

"Is this it?"

Looking at the thatched cottage before him, Zheng Fa was stunned.

The dignified Sect Master of Jiushan Sect lives here?

This is far too simple.

Elder Yuan nodded, pointed to the slightly ajar door of the cottage, and signaled him to approach.

Zheng Fa walked to the door and gently knocked on the wooden door.

"Enter."

Zheng Fa pushed the door open and found the inside was very spacious—it could be said to be a world within a world.

Before him were crisscrossing paths and continuous, sprawling rice fields.

Outside it was still daytime, but the world before his eyes was dark, with twinkling starlight in the sky.

A carriage sped through the night.

"Zheng Fa?"

A voice suddenly appeared beside Zheng Fa's ear.

He turned his head and saw an old man with white beard and white hair, his face like that of an infant, standing behind him.

"Sect Master?" Zheng Fa bowed.

"What do you think of this place?"

The Sect Master pointed to the scene before Zheng Fa and said with a hint of showing off.

"Is this all real?"

To be honest, Zheng Fa could see no flaw at all, but felt that such a scene should not appear in this place.

"Fake." The Sect Master waved his hand.

Suddenly, several men in black emerged from the rice fields at Zheng Fa's feet; as if they did not see the two of them, they drew their swords and attacked the carriage.

The carriage driver on the carriage seemed to have expected this, drew a knife, and fought fiercely with the several men, clashing with a clatter.

Zheng Fa:... What is all this?

Turning his head, he saw the Sect Master watching with great interest.

"Sit." The Sect Master pointed to the cushion at Zheng Fa's feet, signaling him to sit and watch together: "These past few days, that bird has been so noisy it gave me a headache; I haven't had time to properly enjoy the world within my cottage."

"The world within the cottage?"

Zheng Fa was stunned.

"Just wait and see, this story is thrilling! This group killed the carriage driver, then killed the woman on the carriage, but they missed the baby under the cart! Twenty years later, when this baby grows up, he will return for revenge!" the Sect Master excitedly spoiled the plot.

This plot feels a bit familiar...

"I adapted this from the best-selling storybooks in the mortal world right now!"

Good heavens... do you also have a director's dream?

"I have heard of you; you have done very well," the Sect Master suddenly said. "Senior Brother Pang and Junior Niece Zhang are the backbone of our Jiushan Sect. Since they think highly of you, I also believe in your ability and talent."

"... Sect Master, you flatter me."

"But I am unwilling to take disciples anymore."

the Sect Master suddenly said.

"..." Zheng Fa paused, realizing he had been rejected.

"So many of my previous disciples... one by one, they all died..." the Sect Master suddenly sighed.

"Sect Master, please accept my condolences."

Zheng Fa felt he understood—sending off the younger generation while still alive is a sorrow one does not wish to experience again; it was truly understandable.

"Only after they were all dead was I able to have a thousand years of peace!"

"Hm?" Zheng Fa looked up, dazed.

"Taking disciples is so troublesome. If they cause trouble outside, I have to come out of seclusion to settle it for them."

"Every time I come out of seclusion, I feel terrified—the Xuanwei Realm was already unstable before, and now it is even worse than before."

Zheng Fa stared blankly at the Sect Master; what about the agreed-upon sorrow?

This sounded quite different from what he had imagined?

"Back then, when my Master asked me to become Sect Master, I said I wouldn't, I wouldn't. But Senior Sister Huang and Senior Brother Pang both refused to yield to the other; giving the Jiushan Sect to either of them would have caused a split, so I had to take it. Later, I handed the Administrative Hall to Senior Sister Huang and the Jielutang to Senior Brother Pang, letting the two of them play on their own while I just sought peace."

"Later, they asked me to take disciples again. What is the point of taking disciples now? With the spiritual energy in such a state, would you take them in just to make them suffer? Hasn't our generation suffered enough?"

The Sect Master sighed: "I just want to stay peacefully in the Jiushan Sect, go nowhere, and play in my cave heaven within the hut. Why is this so difficult!"

Zheng Fa looked at this enthusiast of the path of caution, this advocate of eugenics in the Cultivation World.

This old man was simply meant to be his Master!