Chapter 145

The trio in this group looked like master and servants.

The leader resembled a young scholar from a prominent family, with clear features and not a trace of malevolence.

The other two were ordinary—a middle-aged man and a young man, both dressed as servants, yet their expressions betrayed they were no common folk.

Hearing the scholar's words, the younger man on the left asked: "Master, Zheng Fa is merely a rising name in Jiushan Sect, a Qi Refining cultivator—why should we care so much?"

The young master glanced at him but said nothing.

"... nough!" The elder slapped the speaker across the face, scolding: "The Master has interest in this man—we go investigate. Do we need your permission?"

"... our servant knows his fault."

The young man, though struck, dared not show anger—only bowed his head in submission.

Hearing this, the young master studied them for a long moment before speaking: "It's not just Zheng Fa. The Holy Sect will not tolerate any genius from the Hundred Immortals Alliance—or even the Xuanwei Realm."

The other two exchanged glances, still puzzled.

"Last time spiritual energy waned, Tianhe Sect produced an unparalleled genius. Our Holy Sect paid him no mind at first—yet he nearly unified the entire Xuanwei Realm." The young master's face betrayed either fear or longing as he continued: "That time, our Holy Sect nearly went extinct."

"Had our sect not been deeply rooted and protected by our Ancestral Masters, our lineage would have been severed. We cannot repeat the mistake of ignoring such geniuses again."

"So… that's why Master cares so much about Zheng Fa?"

The other two began to understand.

"Caring? Not quite. Our sect fears most the famed geniuses of the Five Great Sects. Among the Hundred Immortals Alliance, only a handful—like Zhang Wuyi—merit our attention." The young master shook his head: "Zheng Fa is merely rumored to be the greatest talisman prodigy in the Hundred Immortals Alliance's ten-thousand-year history, and now he's been taken as a disciple by the Jiushan Sect's Sect Master. That piques my interest."

"Our sect's techniques excel at disguise. You two go to Jiushan Sect and…" The young master paused, then added: "If the chance arises, kill Zheng Fa."

"Yes."

…

"Sister Zhang wants me to stay at her home?" Zheng Fa stared at Sister Yuan, surprised by the news she brought.

"Yes." Sister Yuan nodded, then recalled: "She said the Xuanwei Realm isn't safe lately—several young cultivators with reputations have died mysteriously. Your current lodging is too close to the marketplace; it's easy for villains to strike."

Hearing this, Zheng Fa glanced toward Sister Zhang's small courtyard.

He almost saw her figure in the lone pavilion, smiling at him.

"I've been staying at Sister Zhang's too," Sister Yuan patted her chest. "I promised her I'd watch over you—no, protect you!"

Zheng Fa understood Sister Zhang's kindness.

Her courtyard brimmed with spiritual energy and was far safer than his current lodging—anyone would envy him.

Yet he didn't immediately agree—he turned to look behind him at Young Master Qi.

"Zheng Fa, I'm returning to Qingmu Sect."

As if sensing Zheng Fa's thoughts, Young Master Qi suddenly spoke.

"What?"

Young Master Qi pursed his lips, pulled Zheng Fa a few steps away, then whispered: "Is my sister's trip to Taiyang Commandery dangerous?"

"…."

Zheng Fa couldn't help grinning.

Clever Young Master Qi was back in form.

"She's given me so many spirit stones and elixirs, saying she doesn't need them anymore." Young Master Qi lowered his head, voice heavy: "Do you think I'm stupid?"

"... t's not that dangerous. Zhao Shijie is careful—she'll survive, and Sister Zhang will look after her."

Zheng Fa couldn't help offering reassurance.

"I know my sister is exhausted…" Young Master Qi cut him off: "She trains herself, gathers resources for me, expands my connections—my Master? She begged countless people to arrange it for me. Zheng Fa, I want to return and cultivate."

"…."

"When I reach Foundation Establishment, I can help my sister."

"When I reach Golden Core, I can give her anything she wants."

"When I reach Nascent Soul, heh—I'll bring you along for the good life, and my mother… oh, and Gao Yuan!"

"... 'll wait."

Zheng Fa smiled, watching Young Master Qi.

He'd always thought Young Master Qi had it easy in Qingmu Sect, unchanged.

But now he saw—he'd changed.

…

As Zheng Fa saw Young Master Qi off at the dock, the latter suddenly asked: "I heard the Hundred Immortals Alliance holds a Hundred Immortals Dharma Assembly every ten years, where disciples from all sects exchange and duel. Will you go?"

"Probably."

Zheng Fa had heard of the Hundred Immortals Dharma Assembly.

He now understood the nature of the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

More than a sect, it was a commercial city-state alliance.

Trade between sects was frequent.

But mostly, each went their own way.

The Hundred Immortals Dharma Assembly was where they bonded—and competed for profit.

The next one was less than two years away—usually held two years after the Immortal Goods Fair, when the newest disciples with exceptional talent had begun to stand out.

A chance to show off.

Zheng Fa remembered how Sister Zhang, decades ago, had won the title of Top Talisman Expert at the Hundred Immortals Dharma Assembly, defeating all peers while still at Foundation Establishment.

"I'll probably go too," Young Master Qi's eyes gleamed: "After two years of hard cultivation, I'll likely reach Foundation Establishment."

"Hmm."

Zheng Fa didn't quite grasp what Young Master Qi meant.

"You can do it too," Young Master Qi declared with bold ambition: "Let's meet again as Foundation Establishment cultivators!"

"... sually when I say something this passionately, I'd at least say Golden Core."

Zheng Fa couldn't help teasing.

Seeing Young Master Qi's frozen face, Zheng Fa burst out laughing.

In the Xuanwei Realm, only with a handful of people did he ever feel young.

"Zhao Jingfan," Zheng Fa's expression grew solemn: "Do you know what I'm hoping for?"

"Huh?"

"Nascent Soul."

Young Master Qi struggled for a long time before whispering: "... wouldn't dare dream that."

After seeing Young Master Qi onto the boat,

he suddenly leaned on the rail and shouted toward Zheng Fa: "Nascent Soul!"

Zheng Fa waved back with a smile.

Nascent Soul was hard—especially for someone like Young Master Qi, whose talent wasn't top-tier—but Zheng Fa still hoped that people like him

might live longer.

Passersby, drawn by the shout, turned to stare.

"Uncle, are those Immortal Sect cultivators?" A young man and an old man in the crowd watched them—the youth who'd been slapped on the boat earlier chuckled softly:

"Nascent Soul? So foolish, unaware of heaven and earth."

The middle-aged man shot him a glare, signaling silence in this crowded place. As they walked toward the marketplace, passing Zheng Fa, the youth glanced back once more.

"Immortal Sect cultivators are nothing like us, nephew," the middle-aged man said when they were alone: "Our Holy Sect reveres bloodline. Ancient Saint blood is nobler than ours."

"With our bloodline, we advance swiftly—but without Saint Blood Elixir, neither of us has a chance to reach Nascent Soul."

"These Immortal Sect cultivators face no such limits." The middle-aged man sighed: "Our Holy Sect grows strong through bloodline, yet is bound by it—even the Holy Heir is no exception. That's why we fear these unbound geniuses."

The youth nodded, gazing at distant Jiushan with a hint of fear: "But Jiushan Sect still has three Nascent Soul cultivators—we're only Foundation Establishment…"

"That's why the Master didn't come."

"…." The middle-aged man glanced at his discontented companion: "Don't feel wronged. Isn't this how it is everywhere in the Xuanwei Realm? Jiushan Sect is no different."

"..." The middle-aged man glanced at his uneasy companion and said, "Don't feel wronged—doesn't my Holy Sect operate this way? Where in the Xuanwei Realm is it any different? Even the Nine Mountains Sect is no exception."

The middle-aged man smiled, as if pitying his ignorance: "In our Holy Sect, low-cultivation, low-bloodline folk serve as slaves to geniuses. Don't the Immortal Sects do the same? They just wear a veneer of righteousness."

"Enough. Jiushan Sect isn't something we can provoke. Let's not delay—find Zheng Fa's residence."

The two arrived at Zheng Fa's courtyard.

The middle-aged man chuckled at once: "This place is a den of thieves and rogues. We just need to find an opening to eliminate him quickly—harder is escaping."

The youth scanned the surroundings and nodded.

This area housed new disciples, their families, and many outsiders drawn by Jiushan Sect's bustling marketplace.

A perfect place to strike.

Afraid of delays, they rented a room at an inn nearby, watching Zheng Fa's home daily through the window.

One day passed.

"Uncle… is Zheng Fa really living here?"

The youth couldn't hold back, asking the middle-aged man.

"I confirmed it—this is the courtyard." The middle-aged man was baffled, staring at the empty courtyard, murmuring: "Zheng Fa is well-known in Jiushan Sect."

"Uncle… does Zheng Fa really live here?"

The young man couldn't hold back and asked the middle-aged man beside him.

"I checked—it's this courtyard," the middle-aged man muttered, staring at the empty yard. "Zheng Fa is well known in the Nine Mountains Sect."

"But…"

"Wait two more days!"

"…"

Three days later.

The uncle and nephew stood by the window, staring at each other.

"Uncle, the shopkeeper's been asking me what I do in my room every day…"

"... et's go ask around the marketplace again!"

"Then… shall we go watch the play?" the young man suddenly suggested. "It's been all the rage lately, and there's a show tonight!"

Seeing his nephew's pleading gaze, the middle-aged man hesitated, then finally nodded.

…

When the uncle and nephew arrived at the theater, the entrance was packed, everyone buying tickets.

The young man squeezed through the crowd and barely managed to grab two tickets; when he turned to look for his uncle, he found the man studying the surroundings.

"Uncle, what are you looking at?"

"I heard this play was created by Zheng Fa. Judging by this, Jiushan Sect must be making a fortune from it."

As they entered the theater, they found nearly all ten thousand seats filled.

The uncle did a quick calculation in his mind, then sighed to his nephew beside him: "This show alone, Jiushan Sect must be clearing at least three hundred spirit stones."

His nephew nodded, but didn't take it to heart—his eyes darted eagerly left and right.

The middle-aged man watched his nephew's expression and sighed softly; he knew his nephew's nature was still unformed, drawn to excitement.

Yet the Holy Sect was rigidly hierarchical, leaving no room for such indulgence.

This was his first time leaving the Holy Sect, and he'd already gone too far.

Thinking of this, his heart softened, and he let his nephew have his way.

After a while, "Saving the Young Cultivator Pang Qian" began.

The play seemed to pass in a flash; after it ended, the uncle and nephew walked out with the crowd, silent.

They still seemed lost in the story.

After a long while, the middle-aged man suddenly heard his nephew mutter: "Jiushan Sect is different."

"Hmm?"

"In this play, the people of Jiushan Sect are willing to spend such a great cost to rescue a single Qi Refining cultivator," the young man said softly. "It's not like our Holy Sect."

"..." The uncle's mouth twitched as he looked at his nephew, feeling a headache coming on…

I know you've always been rebellious—we in the Demon Sect don't care about loyalty or righteousness.

But… isn't this a bit too far?

"It's a play! Adapted from a novel!" he whispered. "It's fake!"

Hearing this, his nephew fell silent.

After leaving the theater, they wandered through the marketplace, still hoping to gather news about Zheng Fa.

The middle-aged man glanced at the bustling crowd and sighed again: "This marketplace is so lively—when we came here a few days ago, it wasn't like this. It must be drawn here by the play—Jiushan Sect is making a killing."

His nephew didn't care about economics—he just kept his eyes darting everywhere, drawn to wherever there was noise.

As they walked, they noticed a shop with extraordinary business—many people crowded at its entrance, even forming a long queue.

A sign stood before the shop: "Half a stone per person—no more sold!"

As the uncle and nephew approached, they saw it was a spirit rice shop.

"Brother, why is this shop so popular?" the young man asked a cultivator at the end of the line.

"First time in Jiushan Sect?"

"Yes."

"The Huangya rice here is cheap! Jiushan Sect negotiated a special price with Qianhe Sect just so ordinary people can afford spirit rice."

"..."

The uncle and nephew stared at the winding, endless queue.

"We came to watch the play—why not buy some spirit rice to take home? Eat it ourselves, or resell it—it's still profit," the cultivator continued. "But each of us can only buy half a stone. I heard Jiushan Sect disciples aren't limited—lots of people are buying to resell at higher prices. Real heartless bastards."

"But what can we do?" the cultivator sighed. "Jiushan Sect says it's a benefit for their lower-tier disciples—eat it, sell it, just make their lives a little easier."

Hearing this, the young man glanced at his uncle and whispered: "Uncle, Jiushan Sect is different."

His uncle said nothing.

He simply stood silently behind the cultivator…