Chapter 124: Looking at the Mountain

Hearing the Sect Master’s words, Zhang Shijie and the other woman wisely moved to take their leave.

But the Sect Master waved his hand, signaling they need not go.

“There’s no need to avoid it—I truly have nothing to teach him,” he said, seated calmly on his mat, addressing the three: “The Xuanwei Realm during my Qi Refining days is nothing like it is now.”

Zheng Fa blinked, beginning to understand the Sect Master’s meaning.

“I originally cultivated the Five Thunder Body Art, but back then, Xuan Thunder Stones were plentiful!” the Sect Master recalled. “Now? This damn thing costs a fortune—Five Thunder Body Art is nearly lost.”

“Not just Xuan Thunder Stones—even spiritual herbs, elixirs, and spirit talismans were cheaper back then…” The Sect Master’s tone carried nostalgia: “During my Qi Refining days, who cared about ten or eight spirit stones?”

The Sect Master’s words left all three in silence.

“If you ask me how I reached Nascent Soul, I have no idea—I just trained casually!”

Looking at the Sect Master’s candid, almost innocent face, Zheng Fa pondered his words and finally understood his master’s meaning—the good times are gone.

He now knew why the Sect Master said he couldn’t teach him.

The shift in the environment meant the Sect Master’s success methods from his Qi Refining days no longer applied to Zheng Fa today.

“As for guiding your cultivation, you practice the Red Sky Scripture. Countless people have trained this method—it’s nearly impossible to suffer qi deviation,” the Sect Master added, his tone tinged with resignation: “I have nothing to teach you.”

Zheng Fa’s expression couldn’t help but show disappointment.

The Sect Master seemed to feel he’d taught nothing, and after thinking it over, suddenly raised his brow: “Fine, today I’ll tell you about my talisman array art.”

“Talisman array?”

The Sect Master smiled proudly: “I, your Pang Shu, and Zhang Shijie’s master, Huang Shimei, each have our own views on talisman arts.”

“Your Pang Shu relies on the Hollow Void Spirit Eye—he prefers to strike last, plan carefully; in my view, it’s the old turtle tactic.”

“Huang Shimei… hmm, her method isn’t for those afraid of death.”

Zheng Fa glanced at Zhang Shijie and noticed her expression held no surprise—as if she was used to this assessment.

“As for me, I specialize in talisman arrays.”

Zheng Fa nodded—he remembered the Sect Master had called the Chamber of Heaven and Earth technique a talisman array.

“A talisman array is an array formed with spirit talismans—unlike ordinary arrays, talisman arrays have lower requirements but equal power,” the Sect Master continued. “For example, the Chamber of Heaven and Earth uses ten spirit talismans to form an illusion array; compared to a single talisman, this array lasts longer and affects a wider area.”

“But what I’m best at is the killing array!” Zheng Fa heard the Sect Master boast: “Give me time to set up the Zhou Tian Divine Thunder Array—and as long as the enemy’s realm doesn’t exceed Nascent Soul mid-stage, I’ll make him wish he’d never been born!”

Holy hell.

His master had quite the big mouth!

Zhang Shijie and the other woman also looked astonished.

Clearly, they hadn’t expected this thousand-year-reclusive Sect Master to possess such power.

“May I ask, Master—what quality of spirit talismans does the Zhou Tian Divine Thunder Array require?” Zheng Fa suddenly remembered something.

“Heaven-grade talismans.”

“And how many?”

Zheng Fa felt a bad premonition.

“Three hundred and sixty-five.”

Zheng Fa didn’t fully grasp the value of Heaven-grade talismans, so he glanced at Zhang Shijie.

Zhang Shijie thought for a moment, then said: “With that much spirit stone, you could just throw it at their face—it’d be about the same effect, and you might even gain an ally.”

Got it… no wonder this old man is so poor!

“Back then, Nascent Soul cultivators weren’t this cheap…”

The Sect Master muttered, sounding frustrated.

“Master, have you stayed sealed away for a thousand years because…”

“The times have changed!” The Sect Master sighed deeply, utterly desolate.

Clearly, due to spiritual energy decline, this lavish style of combat had become outdated.

“By the way, if you ever leave the mountain and travel the Xuanwei Realm, don’t mention my name.”

Huh?

Why did this sound familiar?

“Master, I’m not the type to cause trouble everywhere.”

Zheng Fa spoke, slightly wounded.

“...I mean, I still have a few old enemies,” the Sect Master waved his hand. “Not everyone I can obliterate.”

“Then… will these big figures come after me?” Zheng Fa asked, puzzled.

That’d be awfully low-class.

“Do you underestimate your master?”

“?”

“I can’t kill them—but neither will they have peace!” the Sect Master said, smugly: “Those few have spent at least a thousand years recovering from their injuries.”

“….”

Couldn’t kill.

That meant his master’s enemies were strong.

Long recovery.

That meant the grudges were deep.

So it was you who caused all the trouble?

After a long silence, Zheng Fa said dryly: “I now think Pang Shu is actually quite good.”

“Him? With him, you wouldn’t even learn how to practice the Spirit Mountain Art.” The Sect Master sneered.

“Huh?”

“The Spirit Mountain Art you hold was created by the Nine Mountains Patriarch…”

Zheng Fa suddenly remembered the incomplete version of the Talisman Foundation Establishment Art.

“Master, are you saying…?”

The Sect Master tossed him two jade cylinders, sneering: “The version I modified is the one meant for people to practice.”

“…”

Zheng Fa immersed his spiritual sense in the jade cylinders and found the cultivation methods between the two versions were nearly identical.

But one problem stood out—the Sect Master’s version of the Spirit Mountain Art required an actual mountain!

The two jade cylinders he’d given him contained one modified Spirit Mountain Art, and another called the Spirit Vein Theory.

It explained how to locate suitable mountain ranges, using the flow of mountains and rivers to cultivate the Spirit Mountain Art.

“Then the Patriarch…”

“He was the mountain itself!” The Sect Master sounded frustrated, as if he’d been burned by the original Spirit Mountain Art: “You don’t need to find a mountain at all!”

“...Master, so to cultivate the Spirit Mountain Art, you must live in the mountains?”

Remembering this old man had stayed sealed for a thousand years, Zheng Fa grew concerned.

How could this be practiced in modern times?

“Not necessarily. Only by leveraging specific mountain ranges can you convert your internal spiritual power into spiritual energy that disperses into the void.”

The Sect Master’s explanation was vague; Zheng Fa studied the modified Spirit Mountain Art again and finally understood—

To put it simply:

The Spirit Mountain Art was like turning oneself into a giant human battery.

But he needed a signal tower to convert his internal spiritual power into spiritual energy in the void.

The reason the Nine Mountains Patriarch never noticed this was because he himself was a spiritual vein—a product fused with the talismans and the Nine Mountains.

Every technique created by the Nine Mountains Patriarch was a trap!

“Do you know why I agreed to take you as a disciple?” the Sect Master suddenly asked.

Zheng Fa looked down at the modified Spirit Mountain Art in his hand.

“I spent so long modifying it—if no one cultivates it, wouldn’t it be like pearls hidden in the dark?” The Sect Master nodded, confirming Zheng Fa’s guess: “But fools willing to practice the Spirit Mountain Art are hard to find!”

“…”

They discussed for a while how to revise “Saving Little Cultivator Pang Qian”—though in Zheng Fa’s view, his own version still had many flaws.

One was his poor memory—he hadn’t tried to memorize every scene when he watched the original, so many parts remained blurry.

He planned to rewatch it carefully in the modern world.

Another was the format.

He’d watched it on a computer—no 3D even.

The Sect Master’s version was in full-holographic projection.

The experience differed.

The Sect Master had many ideas—he’d played with the Chamber of Heaven and Earth for so long.

When Zheng Fa took his leave, Zhang Shijie suddenly remembered something and said to the Sect Master:

“Master, a spiritual vein has appeared in Taiyang County—the Changchun Sect has already sent envoys to request aid from our Nine Mountains Sect.”

Upon hearing this, the Sect Master’s previously carefree face turned grave.

“What do you think?”

“A spiritual vein’s emergence will draw the attention of all sects in the Hundred Immortals Alliance—and may even attract the demonic sects,” Zhang Shijie said slowly. “The Changchun Sect has always been respectful to us, sending annual tribute—we cannot ignore their plea.”

The Sect Master nodded: “Since your master entrusted you with the Shuwudian , he trusts your ability—do as you see fit.”

“Yes.”

As Zhang Shijie and the other woman descended the Ninth Peak, Zheng Fa looked at Zhang Shijie, wanting to ask something.

“Zheng Shidi, your task now is to cultivate diligently,” Zhang Shijie said softly, as if she knew his thoughts.

“I understand.”

Zheng Fa fell silent for a moment, then replied.

The three walked side by side for a while, none speaking.

Only when it was time to part did Zhang Shijie suddenly speak: “You’ve already helped.”

“Huh?”

“The Five Elements Talismans have greatly increased my strength,” Zhang Shijie gazed into the distance, her eyes seeming to burn with flame: “If those petty villains still think I’ve stagnated these past decades and dare to stir trouble in the shadows...”

Zheng Fa blinked, watching as Zhang Shijie turned to him with a smile: “The Nine Mountains Sect still has me, and three Nascent Soul True Persons. Shidi, don’t rush.”

He watched Zhang Shijie’s figure recede into the distance.

But Zheng Fa knew this matter was not so simple.

The Sect Master’s expression had been unusually grave.

He recalled how Zhang Shijie had once wanted to transfer Yuan Shijie away—likely for this very reason.

Clearly, this matter was no small thing in Zhang Shijie’s eyes.

In the modern era, Zheng Fa sat in his seat, lost in silent thought.

He felt his cultivation was not slow.

But compared to the troubles Zhang Shijie and the others now faced, it was likely of little use.

If he truly wanted to help quickly, he could no longer delay establishing a spiritual energy laboratory in the modern world—even if he couldn’t use the results immediately, they would still benefit Zhang Shijie and the others.

But—Lingshan Fa requires mountains!

Where could he find a suitable mountain range?

“Zheng Fa, my mom had the maid make soup and sent me to bring you a bowl.”

Tang Lingwumin’s voice came from the front row.

Zheng Fa looked up, his eyes brightening.

There it was—the mountain came to him!

“A bowl of soup makes you this happy?” Wang Chen muttered enviously from beside him.

“You don’t understand—I see a mountain!”

“Pah! I don’t understand? I treat you like a brother—I know what’s proper and what’s not!” Wang Chen stared straight ahead, refusing to look at Tang Lingwumin, wearing an expression of righteous loyalty: “A friend’s wife is not to be touched!”