Chapter 119: Bird Lineage

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

Sister Zhang, as if not understanding his words, explained further.

“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 a different lineage; becoming Master Pang’s disciple would make him unpopular on both sides.

“When you exchanged the ‘Charter Foundation Method’ for the thousand-year purple bamboo tear, Master Pang brought it up again.”

Zheng Fa said bluntly: “Sister Zhang, I have no intention of becoming Master Pang’s disciple... I was brought into the sect by you.”

He had thrived in Sister Zhang’s lineage.

Sister Zhang valued him.

Sister Yuan also got along well with him.

He was doing well in the marketplace too.

He had powerful backing and popular support.

Only a fool would switch to the other lineage.

But what Zheng Fa didn’t expect was that Sister Zhang shook her head—she was actually defending Master Pang: “This time, Master Pang is truly sincere.”

“Sincere?”

“Why were you unwilling to join Master Pang’s lineage before?”

“Since I entered the sect, I’ve been deeply indebted to you, Sister.”

“The Five-Element Talisman has already repaid that debt,” Sister Zhang said, her tone softening slightly. “You owe me nothing.”

“Sister, everyone in the sect knows Master Pang favors Brother Zhou the most,” Zheng Fa thought for a moment and spoke honestly. “If I join his lineage, I’d still be behind Brother Zhou.”

“Master Pang says that if you become his disciple, he will regard you as his sole true heir,” Sister Zhang said, looking directly at Zheng Fa. “All his resources will be directed toward you—some even include spiritual materials capable of helping you form a Nascent Soul.”

Zheng Fa froze.

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

An Nascent Soul True Person wouldn’t lie about such a thing.

He might forget, but she remembered.

“Think it over carefully...”

“Sister Zhang, are you saying...” Zheng Fa looked up, meeting her eyes.

“I won’t stop you,” Sister Zhang said, gazing at Zheng Fa with deep meaning. “This is the sincerity of a Nascent Soul True Person.”

Zheng Fa froze.

His expression turned thoughtful.

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

“Sister, you really... let Brother Zheng go to that lineage?”

“Even if I didn’t want to, I had to. Master Pang... is using a straightforward strategy,” Sister Zhang rubbed her temples, looking exhausted.

“Huh?”

“Master Pang can give Brother Zheng resources straight to Nascent Soul. Can I?” Sister Zhang smiled bitterly. “I’ve already asked my master—he refused.”

Sister Yuan fell silent.

“If I hold him back now with gratitude, what then?” Sister Zhang sighed. “Even if he stays, there’ll be tension between us. When he reaches the point of forming a Nascent Soul and lacks spiritual materials, he might even resent me.”

“Maybe Brother Zheng will agree?” Sister Yuan said optimistically.

“This is the sincerity of a Nascent Soul True Person,” Sister Zhang repeated.

“Sister Zhang?”

“Sister Yuan, if Master Pang shows this much sincerity and still fails to win him over, don’t you think he’ll see Brother Zheng as ungrateful?”

“Will Master Pang suppress Zheng Fa?” Sister Yuan suddenly understood.

“A Nascent Soul True Person’s disfavor—even without deliberate suppression—is enough to crush a Qi Refining cultivator,” Sister Zhang turned, gazing toward the seventh peak atop Nine Mountains. Rarely, her face showed frustration.

She didn’t see that Sister Yuan was also looking toward the peaks, her eyes thoughtful.

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

To be honest, he had no desire to join Master Pang’s lineage.

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

No one in that lineage would truly welcome him.

The two lineages were already at odds; he’d go from former rival to the Nascent Soul True Person’s favored disciple looming over him.

How would the senior disciples see him?

Besides, no matter how close he was to Sister Zhang, after becoming Master Pang’s disciple, their relationship would inevitably sour—he understood the tension between the two lineages well.

Sister Zhang and Master Pang didn’t fight on sight like the lower ranks, but they weren’t on good terms either; there was clear rivalry between them.

His experimental lab hadn’t even warmed up yet—and he was about to leave!

Think of the easy, pleasant days he’d finally earned in Sister Zhang’s lineage.

Think of how he’d plunge back into power struggles if he joined Master Pang’s side.

Just thinking about it made him weary.

Deep down, he preferred spending time exploring the mysteries of cultivation, not scheming against others.

But if he refused... would he really ignore a Nascent Soul True Person’s face?

Master Pang’s actions bordered on coercion.

To others, a Nascent Soul True Person offering this was already generous—they’d likely be overwhelmed with gratitude.

But Zheng Fa still disliked the feeling of having no choice when a Nascent Soul True Person spoke.

“Bang bang bang!” The courtyard gate was knocked. Sister Yuan called out urgently: “Brother Zheng, open up!”

“Sister Yuan?”

“Come with me!” Sister Yuan grabbed Zheng Fa and pulled him outside.

“Sister Yuan, what do you need?”

Zheng Fa stumbled after her as she dragged him toward the gate.

“It’s urgent! Very urgent!” Sister Yuan, sensing Zheng Fa was moving too slowly, shifted her form—suddenly transforming into a massive blue phoenix before him.

“Sister?”

“Aren’t you getting on?”

Zheng Fa climbed onto the phoenix’s back. It spread its wings and shot skyward, heading toward the peaks of Nine Mountains.

“Sister, where are we going?”

“To see the Sect Master!”

“The Sect Master?”

“I recommended you to the Sect Master!” Sister Yuan’s tone was proud, almost boastful. “I talked until I was hoarse—he finally agreed to see you!”

Wow.

His Bird Lineage was something else.

“Sister... how many Nascent Soul True Persons are there in Nine Mountains Sect? Why only two lineages?”

“Nascent Soul True Persons? Only three,” Sister Yuan said as she flew. “Master Pang, Master Huang—Sister Zhang’s master—and the Sect Master.”

“Why only two lineages? Because the Sect Master’s disciples all died—his lineage has no one left!”

“...”

Zheng Fa’s eyes widened. Was the Sect Master really that deadly to disciples?

“So your recommendation means...”

“I told the Sect Master you’re the perfect candidate to be his disciple!”

That was an ill omen.

“Why say that, Sister?”

“Because you’re just as timid as he is!”

“...”

Sister Yuan flew swiftly.

In an instant, they reached the ninth peak, where the Sect Master resided.

The place was familiar—Zheng Fa had once met the Nine Mountains Patriarch here.

But this time, Sister Yuan took him to the mid-slope of the ninth peak—he’d never been here before.

“Here?”

Zheng Fa stared at the thatched hut before him.

Was the Sect Master of Nine Mountains Sect really living here?

This was too humble.

Sister Yuan nodded, pointing to the slightly ajar door, urging him forward.

Zheng Fa stepped up and gently knocked on the wooden door.

“Enter.”

Zheng Fa pushed open the door and found the interior surprisingly spacious—indeed, it was another world entirely.

Before him stretched vast, interwoven rice fields, stretching endlessly.

Outside, it was still daytime, but the world before him was shrouded in night, with stars scattered across the sky.

A carriage raced through the darkness.

“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 as youthful as a child, 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, speaking with a hint of pride.

“Is this real?”

To be honest, Zheng Fa saw no flaw at all—he simply felt such a scene shouldn’t exist here.

“Fake.” The Sect Master waved his hand.

Suddenly, several black-clad figures emerged from the rice fields at Zheng Fa’s feet; they acted as if they hadn’t seen Zheng Fa or the Sect Master, drawing swords and rushing toward the carriage.

The carriage driver, seemingly expecting this, pulled out a knife and fought back against them, clashing in a furious melee.

Zheng Fa: … What the hell is this?

He turned his head and saw the Sect Master watching with great enthusiasm.

“Sit.” The Sect Master pointed to the mat beneath Zheng Fa’s feet, gesturing for him to sit and watch: “That damn bird’s been screeching for days, giving me a headache—I haven’t had time to properly enjoy my Inner Realm.”

“Inner Realm?”

Zheng Fa froze.

“Just wait—you’ll love this story! These men kill the driver, then kill the woman in the carriage, but they miss the baby hidden underneath! Twenty years later, that baby grows up and returns for revenge!” The Sect Master excitedly spoiled the plot.

This plot felt familiar…

“I adapted it from the most popular folk tale circulating among mortals right now!”

Wow… you’ve got a director’s dream too?

“I’ve heard of you—you’ve done well,” the Sect Master suddenly said. “Your senior, Pang Shi, and your fellow disciple, Zhang Shijie, are both pillars of our Jiushan Sect. They trust you, and I trust your ability and talent.”

“…Sect Master, you flatter me.”

“But I don’t want to take on any more disciples.”

The Sect Master suddenly said.

“...” Zheng Fa blinked, realizing he had been turned down.

“All my previous disciples—they all died…” The Sect Master sighed.

“Sect Master, please accept my condolences.”

Zheng Fa thought he understood—the grief of outliving one’s own students was unbearable; he could easily comprehend the desire to avoid it again.

“Only after they were all dead did I finally have peace for a thousand years!”

“Huh?” Zheng Fa looked up, stunned.

“Taking disciples is such a nuisance—they cause trouble outside, and I have to go out and fix it for them.”

“Every time I leave, I’m terrified—Xuanwei Realm was never peaceful, and now it’s worse than ever.”

Zheng Fa stared at the Sect Master, dumbfounded—where was the sorrow he expected?

This didn’t match what he’d imagined at all.

“When my Master made me Sect Master, I refused, refused, refused—but Huang Shimei and Pang Shidi wouldn’t accept each other’s authority; the Jiushan Sect would’ve split apart if I hadn’t taken the role. So I gave the Administration Hall to Huang Shimei and the Discipline Hall to Pang Shidi, told them to sort it out themselves, and all I asked for was peace.”

“Then they told me to take disciples again—why take disciples now? Spiritual energy is this bad—do you want to bring someone in just to suffer? Haven’t we suffered enough already?”

The Sect Master sighed: “I just want to stay here in Jiushan Sect, never leave, and enjoy my Inner Cave Heaven—why is that so hard?”

Zheng Fa gazed at this devotee of the Gou Dao path, this proponent of spiritual eugenics.

This old man—he was meant to be my Master!