Chapter 179: Quiet

Dao?

Zhang Shijie, that's quite an exaggeration.

Zheng Fa paused in surprise.

His thought was actually quite simple—

The Five Element Sub-symbols are inherent properties of spiritual energy.

The material basis of the symbol foundation is spiritual energy.

Thus, perfecting the symbol foundation requires only the Five Element Sub-symbols.

As for the other two types of sub-symbols, they are not essential to the symbol foundation; what they are—Zheng Fa cannot yet determine.

Right now, Zheng Fa leans toward Tang Lingwumin's theory of sub-symbol interaction:

These two types of sub-symbols determine how spiritual energy interacts with other matter, but exactly how, Zheng Fa still has no clue.

Zheng Fa's current position is this—I won't concern myself with what these two types of sub-symbols represent, because the symbol foundation is fundamentally spiritual energy, so I focus on the Five Element Sub-symbols, which adequately explain the interplay of yin and yang.

And since the phenomenon of yin-yang interdependence implies that once the Five Element Sub-symbols emerge, the other two types will naturally arise as well.

This point is quite simple to state.

But the problem is, without having discovered the Five Element Sub-symbols, this idea could never have arisen.

Without understanding the relationship between yin-yang and hand-nature, this idea would be impossible.

…

Zhang Shijie had fallen silent.

Her entire body turned transparent like lapis lazuli, and two lotus platforms appeared within her, their bases joined together.

This time, the two twin lotus platforms slowly merged into one.

At the center of the lotus platform emerged a Jin Dan, like a lotus seed, embedded in the heart of the blossom.

Within the Jin Dan was a tiny figure resembling an infant, eyes closed as if in deep sleep.

The face of this figure bore eight-tenths resemblance to Zhang Shijie.

Yet its body proportions were the standard three-heads-tall, its face childlike, utterly adorable.

On the petals, the portions corresponding to the Five Element Sub-symbols transformed into a five-colored halo, slowly floating upward to rest atop the "little Zhang Shijie," like a five-colored hairband.

The remaining petals gradually detached from the lotus platform, wrapping around the "little Zhang Shijie" to form a pale pink and white gown.

The other two types of sub-symbols became golden patterns on the hem of the gown, appearing mysterious.

The "little Zhang Shijie" seemed to sense Zheng Fa's "affectionate" gaze, opened her eyes, and looked toward him.

Her expression was rather stern.

But paired with her tiny frame and plump cheeks,

it only made her seem even more adorable.

Zheng Fa felt no fear whatsoever.

"Go back now!"

Just as Zheng Fa was lost in watching, Zhang Shijie suddenly spoke.

Zheng Fa somehow sensed a hint of shyness in her words.

"Zhang Shijie?"

Zheng Fa asked, puzzled.

"I've had a sudden insight—I'm ready to form a Nascent Soul," Zhang Shijie said softly. "Forming a Nascent Soul may bring a heavenly tribulation. You staying here is dangerous."

Zheng Fa was startled, nodded, and prepared to leave.

"Don't rush to establish your Foundation," Zhang Shijie added before he could move. "Wait until after I've formed my Nascent Soul—then I'll check whether the Symbolic Foundation Method has any hidden dangers. Only then should you establish your Foundation."

Zheng Fa froze.

He hadn't expected Zhang Shijie to have such thoughts.

"Zhang Shijie."

"You won't abandon the Symbolic Foundation Method, will you?"

Zhang Shijie smiled as if she could see right through him.

"No."

Zheng Fa could never abandon the Symbolic Foundation Method.

The reason was simple: his greatest asset in the modern world was not that he was a cultivator, but the Symbolic Foundation Method.

The nine spirit symbols within the Symbolic Foundation Method were the very foundation of his existence in the modern world.

The Ling Shan Method required the Awakening Symbol.

Healing and saving lives required the Yangshen and Taiyi Symbols.

Cultivating spirit plants required the Changqing Symbol.

Added to a few self-defense symbols, it was clear: without the Symbolic Foundation Method, he would lose nearly eighty percent of his abilities in the modern world.

Zhang Shijie watched him silently.

Zheng Fa felt a touch of embarrassment.

Zhang Shijie had likely been thinking entirely of his benefit, hence her idea of using the Hualing Pill to dissolve the Yuanfu Dao Base—this was nearly the safest path.

But he had reasons he could not speak of.

"I won't ask why, nor force you," Zhang Shijie said after a long silence. "But I have one demand: after I survive my Nascent Soul tribulation, then you may establish your Foundation."

"Zhang Shijie?"

"Let me test whether your theory holds true first…"

"Yes…"

Hearing Zhang Shijie's words, Zheng Fa clenched his lips, unable to speak.

In the end, Zheng Fa's idea was merely a theory.

Whether it was truly valid, Zheng Fa himself could not be certain—Zhang Shijie's words likely meant she intended to take the risk for him.

Or at the very least, she wanted to confirm this method could truly lead to Nascent Soul formation.

…

As Zheng Fa stepped out of Lei Chi, he realized Zhang Shijie's Nascent Soul formation had created a massive disturbance.

He turned to look: above Lei Chi, five-colored auroras cascaded like waterfalls, spiritual energy surged like tidal waves.

The spectacle stretched across hundreds of miles of sky, visible to all.

He furrowed his brow slightly, looking worried, and slowly walked back toward the marketplace.

Upon reaching Wu Long Tian Gong, he was immediately blocked by Master Pang.

"Is Zhang Shijie about to form a Nascent Soul?"

Clearly, he understood the source of the sky's display.

"Yes, I had a sudden insight," Zheng Fa nodded lightly. "She's attempting to form a Nascent Soul."

"Excellent!" Master Pang exhaled deeply, speaking loudly, his expression genuinely joyful. "With Zhang Shijie's talent, once she takes this step, she gains three-tenths more certainty than others!"

Other disciples of Wu Long Tian Gong also broke into smiles.

No one was foolish: no matter how domineering Zhang Shijie was within the sect, that was an internal matter.

Outside, she was the anchor of the Nine Mountains Sect.

The current situation was obvious to even the blind—the Nine Mountains Sect faced grave threats from the Great Freedom Demon Cult. An additional Nascent Soul was of immense significance.

Moreover, this Nascent Soul, formed at the Jin Dan stage, could rival ordinary Nascent Soul True Persons.

"Is it you?"

After his joy, Master Pang suddenly seemed to recall something, looking at Zheng Fa with a strange expression.

"I… made only a small contribution," Zheng Fa said humbly. "It's still Zhang Shijie's exceptional talent."

Master Pang nodded slightly, neither confirming nor denying belief, yet his expression held traces of inner turmoil.

"Master Pang?"

"Do you think I misjudged that Huang fellow?"

"Huh?"

"You, a Qi Refining cultivator, helped Zhang Shijie break through to Nascent Soul," Master Pang said slowly. "My friend tried to save his wife and ended up getting crushed in the process…"

"Huh?" Zheng Fa didn't follow Master Pang's logic.

"Perhaps it wasn't that the Huang fellow was too impulsive… but that my friend… wasn't talented enough?"

A look of relief appeared on Master Pang's face.

Zheng Fa couldn't help but want to scratch his head.

Had his psychological burden just been resolved?

The logic didn't seem entirely flawed…

But I see your friendship with him is still just as thin.

…

Master Pang shook his head, quickly set the matter aside, and turned to another topic: "Zhang Shijie forming a Nascent Soul is certainly good news, but I fear the Great Freedom Demon Cult won't just watch."

Zheng Fa nodded lightly.

Previously, the Great Freedom Demon Cult's Nascent Soul cultivator had pursued Zhang Shijie; though blocked by Xuanguan Mirror, they still held the initiative.

If Zhang Shijie trapped herself in this process, it would suit them perfectly.

Even if they waited until Lei Chi changed, then surrounded and killed her, it would be like catching a turtle in a jar.

So they weren't in a hurry.

But now the Lei Chi still exists, while Zhang Shijie is about to advance to Nascent Soul.

Naturally, they could no longer endure it.

This was precisely what Zheng Fa had feared.

"Core Formation takes only about ten days. In these ten days, the marketplace and the Lei Chi may see major upheavals!" Master Pang's face was grave as he instructed the disciples in the hall: "Carry out my order: from today, the marketplace is under lockdown. No disciple may leave without permission!"

Hearing this, the disciples' faces tightened with tension, their eyes filled with fear—

Everyone knew these words carried mortal danger.

In the following days, the Five Dragon Heavenly Palace grew unusually quiet, footsteps dwindling.

Everyone was preparing for a great battle.

…

Modern day.

4: 0 a. .

Zheng Fa opened his eyes precisely on time, gently pulled back the covers, stepped off the bed with care, and walked into the bathroom to wash up.

With his current cultivation and agility, these movements made no sound except for the trickle of water from the faucet.

In truth, washing up held little necessity for him now.

He did it daily only to avoid arousing suspicion from his dorm mates.

After getting ready, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and left the dorm around 4: 0.

By five o'clock, he arrived at a secluded lawn and sat cross-legged to cultivate.

One major inconvenience of university life—on weekdays, since he had to live on campus, he had no place to cultivate.

Unlike at Qing Shui High School, where he could cultivate at home at night.

In the dorm, his roommates might ask questions.

So he settled on this lawn beside the sports center—it attracted little attention.

Mainly because he noticed there were plenty of oddballs at Beijing University.

Some came at dawn to practice vocal exercises.

Others danced with unsharpened long swords.

A couple practiced martial arts.

All of them were students.

His own meditation seemed almost normal among them…

After cultivating until nearly eight, Zheng Fa stood and headed toward the university library. If he had no morning classes, he usually went there.

The library had not yet opened.

But many students were already lining up.

Zheng Fa stood behind a male student, who turned and spotted him, smiling and greeting: "Again so early? You're a freshman, yet you're more punctual than we seniors rushing to finish our theses!"

He was a graduate student in physics, surnamed Yang, recently buried in his thesis, coming to the library every day—he and Zheng Fa had become familiar faces.

"You're only a freshman—why not enjoy university life?" Yang Senior seemed to recall his own past: "Let me tell you, the first two years of university are the most comfortable of your life… You can wait to suffer through library nights later."

Zheng Fa shook his head.

Suffering?

He didn't think so…

He loved the library.

One reason was that he enjoyed reading there.

Sometimes, when tired from reading, he liked watching the other students—some reading, some solving problems.

Others simply used laptops or phones in the library.

Overall, everyone was quiet.

Very much like the silence in the Five Dragon Heavenly Palace lately.

But since the reasons for this silence were different, it only made him love the library more.