Chapter 160: Heavenly Stele

"White Grandpa, Teacher Tian didn't invite you."

On the ride to Teacher Tian's house, Tang Lingwumin sighed and said to the old white man.

"Whether she invited me or not, I'm an old friend—can't I even come over for a meal?"

In the front passenger seat, the old white man grunted, clearly displeased.

"She said… she wanted me and Zheng Fa to have dinner, and specifically said not to bring you."

"Can she really block me at her door?"

The old white man insisted firmly.

"White Grandpa, are you really that fond of Teacher Tian?"

Glancing at Zheng Fa beside him, Tang Lingwumin curiously asked.

"Not particularly—I'm quite affectionate toward everyone."

"Then why are you so persistent?"

"Isn't it your fault?"

"Huh?"

The old white man lifted his eyes and gave them a disdainful look through the rearview mirror: "You've eaten too much dog food—even eunuchs want a partner."

"Besides, there are only a few people in this nursing home. Who knows if newcomers will suit my taste? I've got to find someone I like and feel some attachment to, don't I?"

"… "

"What if Teacher Tian doesn't welcome you?"

The old white man patted the snake-skin sack beneath his feet and grinned smugly: "Didn't I bring a gift?"

"… "

Teacher Tian's house was in a remote suburb of Jingcheng.

A place resembling an urban village.

The place was sizable—three single-story houses, a small courtyard.

But it looked quite old.

As soon as they got out of the car, Zheng Fa saw Teacher Tian running out with a cleaver.

"Why are you here?"

"Why can't I be here?"

"Didn't I tell you not to come to my house? I'll treat you anywhere outside—go, go, go!"

Seeing the cleaver in Teacher Tian's hand, Zheng Fa turned to look at Tang Lingwumin.

Both their faces wore identical expressions of confusion.

Does Teacher Tian really hate White Grandpa that much?

Why didn't we notice that last time?

"Who's here?"

An elderly woman emerged, leaning on the doorframe.

"Mom!"

Seeing the old woman appear, Teacher Tian gave up and stopped trying to shoo away the old white man.

The moment she saw the old white man, Teacher Tian's mother beamed—clearly familiar with him.

"Little White's here? Come in, come in!"

She warmly ushered the three inside.

Teacher Tian, by contrast, seemed resigned, walking into the kitchen to cook.

In the courtyard stood a stone table with several round stone stools; Zheng Fa and the others sat beside it chatting.

The old white man called her Aunt Wu; Zheng Fa and the others followed suit.

Aunt Wu was likely ninety years old, yet she looked robust—no hearing or vision loss. But her speech was slightly slurred, as if she'd lost many teeth.

After a few small talk exchanges, Aunt Wu's eyes flickered, as if casually addressing the old white man: "Aren't you going in to help?"

"Huh?"

"Go!"

Hearing this, the old white man's eyes lit up and he hurried inside.

Teacher Tian, upon hearing him enter, wasn't surprised—she merely glanced wearily out the window at Aunt Wu, then let the old man stand beside her.

But she clearly didn't want to talk to him.

Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwumin now understood why Teacher Tian always tried to drive the old white man away.

Clearly, it was because of her meddling mother.

…

"Aunt Wu, are you… trying to match White Grandpa with Teacher Tian?"

"Match them?" Aunt Wu sighed: "Little White may be unreliable, but he's kind-hearted. I used to want to bring them together."

"Now…"

"Now that she's ill, pushing them together would just burden Little White, wouldn't it?"

"Then what do you want?"

"I just want them to stay apart—but if Little White comes to keep my daughter company, that's good enough… and I get to enjoy a few more snacks."

"Snacks?"

Zheng Fa turned to look at the two inside, then at the eager Aunt Wu, hardly believing his ears.

"Don't get it?" Aunt Wu grinned, slightly proud: "Kissing candy! Kissing couples! Get it?"

"… "

"I get it… but you're ninety—still this trendy?"

Aunt Wu pulled out her phone and unlocked the screen.

Sure enough, it had shopping apps, social media, food delivery apps—all present, even more than Zheng Fa's phone.

"You're truly up-to-date."

"I didn't understand any of this before—I didn't even have a phone. Now I'm learning more so my daughter feels more at ease."

Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwumin fell silent.

Then Aunt Wu chuckled: "But I learned too late!"

"… "

"Phones are so fun!"

"… "

Saying this, Aunt Wu raised her phone and took two photos of the two inside.

Afterward, she put the phone down, glancing at the photos with mild disdain: "Little White can't even say a word. If you've got nothing to talk about, bring a small gift—something he likes, and then you'll have something to talk about!"

"… "

"By the way! White Grandpa brought something for Teacher Tian!"

"Has Little White improved?"

Aunt Wu beamed as Zheng Fa walked over from the doorway, carrying a large snake-skin sack.

On the sack were written four large characters: XX Cement.

"Looks like he hasn't improved much…"

Aunt Wu muttered, eyeing the sack.

Zheng Fa handed the sack to White Grandpa in the kitchen.

White Grandpa tapped his forehead, opened the sack, and revealed the gift inside.

It was a flowerpot, carefully planted with a single herb—a plant dug up from the nursing home.

"This herb? Why does it look so familiar?"

When Zheng Fa returned to his chair in the courtyard, he heard Aunt Wu muttering, her eyes drifting toward the courtyard's corner—where a nearly identical plant grew, only smaller.

"Fine, don't bring flowers—but why bring a plant?" Aunt Wu slapped her thigh in exasperation: "If you're bringing a plant, why bring a weed? Is Little White missing a brain cell?"

"… "

Inside the kitchen, Teacher Tian also paused upon seeing the herb.

She didn't reject it—instead, she carefully examined its leaf shape, as if noticing something odd. She quickly stepped out of the kitchen, retrieved a small shovel from the courtyard corner, and returned.

She dug up the soil in the pot, gently extracted the root system, and studied it intently for a long time.

As she examined it, she enthusiastically spoke to White Grandpa beside her.

"Is this even possible?"

In the courtyard, Aunt Wu blinked, confused, glancing between Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwumin: "Is this some new internet trend? How do I not understand these young people's romance?"

Looking at the two inside, totaling one hundred and twenty years old.

Zheng Fa felt that the term "young people" carried the aura of the Xuanwei Realm.

…

Xuanwei Realm.

The Sect Master summoned Huang Yu and Zheng Fa and the others again.

"Huang Shimei has sent another message."

"Good or bad?"

Master Pang asked further.

"Alright."

"Did you find Zhang Shijie?"

"No."

"Then what kind of good news is that?" Master Pang snorted, clearly dissatisfied.

"She found a Heavenly Stele."

Master Pang's face froze. His eyes first went blank, then after a moment, his lips twitched upward—but halfway through, his brows sank again, twisting his whole face into a knot.

This mix of joy and sorrow was like a face-changing act.

"A Heavenly Stele?"

He seemed doubtful, asking again.

"Yes."

"This news… is too good."

Zheng Fa could hear that in Master Pang's "too good" lay deep unease.

"It is too good," the Sect Master said with an unusually grave expression: "I've already sent word at once to all Nascent Soul sects of the Hundred Immortal Alliance."

Master Pang's face showed reluctance, his expression pained, yet he offered no objection to the Sect Master's decision: "That's exactly right."

"What is a Heavenly Stele?"

Several others nearby listened in confusion; Master Yi couldn't help asking.

The Sect Master glanced at them and said: "This concerns you too. The Heavenly Stele… is an ancient magic treasure."

"Ancient?"

"Better said—it's said the legend of the Heavenly Stele predates even the second heavenly tribulation."

"…"

"Legend says the Stele contains the ultimate Dao resonance; those who comprehend it can become invincible under heaven."

"Someone actually believes that?"

"Not just someone believes—it's someone who actually did it."

A name suddenly flashed into Zheng Fa's mind.

"The River Heaven Venerable—legend says he attained his dominance over Xuanwei by comprehending a Sword Dao Heavenly Stele from the River Heaven Sect."

"…"

Zheng Fa and the others now understood the Stele's value.

After all, its most famous disciple was the River Heaven Venerable!

"What's the origin of this Heavenly Stele?"

"Unknown. Legends say it was forged by ancient masters lost to history—but since no records remain, some claim it formed naturally from heaven and earth."

"Brother," Master Pang interrupted the Sect Master's explanation: "Which Stele is it?"

"Sister Huang speculates in her letter that it's the Thunder Dao Heavenly Stele. The Lei Chi was formed from this Stele—that's why its power is so terrifying."

"…"

Zheng Fa now understood why Master Pang felt both joy and dread upon hearing the news.

The Heavenly Stele sounded incredibly powerful, thanks to the River Heaven Venerable's reputation.

And Taiyang Commandery was unquestionably within the Nine Mountains Sect's sphere of influence—this was truly a divine treasure falling from the heavens.

But…

The Lei Chi was too uncontrollable; the Nine Mountains Sect could not conceal the Stele's existence.

If someone ruthless showed up, it could bring about their death.

"Brother, are you thinking…?"

"Such a magic treasure belongs to the worthy. I've notified all Nascent Soul sects of the Hundred Immortal Alliance: Taiyang Commandery is open for anyone to come and comprehend it—of course, our own disciples may go too."

"…"

Understood: set aside disputes, develop together.

"I fear representatives from all five Heavenly Sects will come."

Master Pang sighed.

"Then what do you suggest? Can we forcibly block them?" the Sect Master shrugged.

Zheng Fa suddenly said: "Master, shouldn't we open a new marketplace around the Lei Chi?"

"Hmm?" The Sect Master's eyes lit up: "Explain."

"My point is: anyone may come to the Lei Chi to comprehend the Stele—but we must ensure our marketplace's safety, and that no other marketplace exists near the Lei Chi."

"... ow the hell did you think of that?" the Sect Master fell silent for a moment, then exclaimed.

How did he think of it?

Not everyone who panics for gold gets rich—but everyone who sells shovels does.