Chapter 190: Junior

Zheng Fa didn't misread it.

This Crimson Sunset Sword Immortal treated him in an extremely odd manner.

"This is…"

Looking at the several jade boxes before him, Zheng Fa turned to the two.

Yan Wushuang looked helpless and pointed to Han Lao beside him.

The old man smiled warmly: "I'm visiting for the first time; I can't be rude. These are just humble offerings."

Beside him, Master Pang scratched his head, his expression confused and troubled.

He kept feeling this amiable old man wasn't the same one who'd refused to draw a second sword to save him…

Thinking of this, his expression grew wary: Could these two be demons in disguise?

"This… Master Han…" Zheng Fa was also bewildered: "You've done our Jiushan Sect great kindness; we should be the ones visiting you. Earlier, we merely feared disturbing your cultivation."

"Great kindness?" Master Han blinked, as if understanding something, then glanced at Master Pang: "Saved him? No matter. His life isn't worth much—I just swung my sword at random."

Master Pang's wariness slowly faded; his expression even grew relieved—this old man speaking like this felt right!

"Look here…" Master Han pointed to the jade boxes before him.

Zheng Fa couldn't refuse, so he opened a few jade boxes and took a look.

His expression grew even stranger.

"Master Han… this gift is far too generous."

There weren't many jade boxes—only three.

Two contained elixirs; one held spiritual materials.

Zheng Fa didn't recognize all of them, but the ones he did recognize were of considerable value.

"Generous?" Master Han waved his hand: "I heard you cultivate Thunder Art, and wanted to buy some thunder-affiliated spiritual materials—but…"

Master Han tilted his head toward Master Pang, as if remembering something, then forcibly turned his neck to continue: "I don't know who bought up every single thunder-affiliated spiritual material on the market…"

"Master Han, I can't accept this." Zheng Fa fell silent for a moment, then refused: "You came to Jiushan Sect; our sect is honored. We're barely able to repay your kindness—how could we take your things?"

Logically, this Crimson Sunset Sword Immortal was utterly baffling.

Moreover, gifts given with intent always carry hidden demands.

A Nascent Soul cultivator rushing to build ties with him—Zheng Fa felt genuinely uneasy.

Seeing Zheng Fa's firm refusal, Master Han looked slightly dejected, but quietly gathered the jade boxes, frowning in thought, his short frame somehow appearing almost wounded.

Yan Wushuang, however, began speaking with Zheng Fa.

"Seal marks?" Zheng Fa, hearing Yan Wushuang mention seal marks, set aside the odd Sword Immortal and nodded slightly: "Brother Yan, how do you propose we cooperate?"

He had already promised Yan Wushuang; he never intended to break his word.

"I've thought it over," Yan Wushuang said smoothly: "I can provide seal paper, spiritual ink—even demonic blood—and help with sales. You just handle production… the profits split fifty-fifty!"

Zheng Fa nodded slightly.

This arrangement was fair; Yan Wushuang didn't seem to be seeking advantage.

Under this plan, Jiushan Sect would essentially be making profit with no upfront cost.

Previously, each seal mark could earn about ten spirit stones.

Now it's roughly half—just a few spirit stones.

But the issue is—they face almost zero risk.

No need to invest capital upfront.

It's essentially technical equity.

Zheng Fa had another consideration—

This cooperation would establish a preliminary link between Jiushan Sect and Tianhe Sect.

After this turmoil, he had little faith in the Hundred Immortal Alliance.

It was worse than going solo.

Now, tying ties with Tianhe Sect—even if useless—was still better than nothing; after all, with the strength of both sects, real cooperation should resemble Changchun Sect's relationship with Jiushan Sect.

That wasn't cooperation—it was paying protection money.

Thinking this way, the deal became even more favorable.

He and Zhang Shijie exchanged glances; Zhang Shijie simply said: "You decide."

Master Pang nodded beside him.

Hearing this, Zheng Fa felt reassured and nodded to Yan Wushuang: "I accept your terms."

Yan Wushuang smiled and nodded, unsurprised.

With preliminary agreement reached, the rest were minor details; Zheng Fa had his own people, Yan Wushuang wasn't alone—let their subordinates negotiate.

But Yan Wushuang raised another question: "Brother Zheng, how many types of seal marks do you currently have?"

Now that they were partners, Zheng Fa didn't hide it: "We can now reliably produce fourteen types of seal marks."

"All related to the soul?"

"Yes." Zheng Fa hadn't expected such keen observation.

"Brother Zheng, I have an idea… soul-related seal marks are in high demand, but we could also develop others."

"That… the blood of the Great Freedom Demon Cult won't work."

Zheng Fa was also helpless.

The Great Freedom Demon Cult disciples were just useless.

"You mean…" Yan Wushuang instantly understood, his eyes gleaming: "Try other demon sects?"

Master Pang's face turned pale at this.

He stiffly turned his neck, scanning his own Wulong Palace, as if calculating how many demon sects he could withstand.

"Brother Yan!" Zheng Fa hurriedly stopped him: "One Great Freedom Demon Cult is already enough to give Jiushan Sect headaches!"

Logically, if the Great Freedom Demon Cult hadn't been entrenched in Taiyang County with no room for compromise, Zheng Fa wouldn't dare play with seal marks so boldly.

"Why fear them? Those people…"

"Be cautious!" The Crimson Sunset Sword Immortal suddenly spoke, after long silence: "Demon sects aren't so simple."

His words left everyone stunned.

Given his status, his words carried high credibility.

Master Han frowned: "Our Ancestor once truly slew several Demon Ancestors—but this calamity, their legacies have reappeared."

"…."

The implication was terrifying.

"On another note," Master Han warned: "Demon sects' secret realms operate under rules different from the Xuanwei Realm. Demon sect disciples' performance in secret realms is incomparable to their behavior in the Xuanwei Realm."

"Never underestimate demon sects."

Zheng Fa didn't know why, but he felt this man was subtly warning him.

"…This… sounds just like the Heavenly Stele," Yan Wushuang murmured.

"…Not just you think so." The Crimson Sunset Sword Immortal smiled strangely: "Our Ancestor thought so too."

"Our Ancestor once left a saying."

"What?"

"Among the Demon Ancestors, at least one was a Dao-Opening Ancestor—but their path, our Ancestor simply chose not to take."

"…."

Zheng Fa couldn't help but feel a toothache.

Think of his own Yin-Yang Five Elements Divine Light.

According to this, he'd just become Xuanwei's number three—temporarily ranked?

"Remember: don't enter demon sect secret realms unless you've reached Nascent Soul! Even then, you can only say you have a chance to survive." The Sword Immortal repeated it again; Zheng Fa felt no mistake—he was looking directly at him as he spoke.

This left Master Pang and the others with grave expressions.

They'd suppressed the Great Freedom Demon Cult within the secret realm; Zhang Shijie had even reached Nascent Soul—they'd grown somewhat complacent.

Now, hearing the Sword Immortal's words, they realized the secret realm lay right beside Jiushan Sect.

Their hearts grew heavy.

"I can't fully explain the true nature of the demon sect secret realm," the Sword Immortal continued: "If you wish to learn more, use the Heavenly Stele."

The Heavenly Stele.

Zheng Fa and Zhang Shijie exchanged glances.

They understood each other's thoughts.

They must go see the Heavenly Stele.

First, it clearly had deep ties to the demon sect secret realm.

Second, because of Lei Chi.

If the Heavenly Stele caused Lei Chi to change, and the Great Freedom Demon Cult lost its restraint and escaped…

Better to know early and flee.

…

Yan Wushuang chatted with Zheng Fa a while longer, then left with the Sword Immortal.

After leaving Lei Chi Market, both wore thoughtful expressions, seemingly puzzled.

The Sword Immortal spoke first.

"You say..." he frowned and asked, "If you want to befriend someone, what's the best way?"

Yan Wushuang's expression turned peculiar as he spoke:

"Han Lao... in the Heaven River Sect, you were famous for looking down on everyone. Now, at your age, is it not too late to start learning human relations?"

"..."

"Today, you're again bringing gifts to Brother Zheng."

"Again reminding Brother Zheng not to enter that demonic sect's secret realm."

"You even advised him to go to the Heavenly Stele." Yan Wushuang spoke faster and faster: "You only said that because you've seen Brother Zheng cultivating Thunder Law, and you know the Heavenly Stele would benefit him greatly, right?"

"..." The Setting Sun Sword Immortal stammered: "Is it that obvious?"

"... Brother Zheng is merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet you're hiding things from him—how could anyone not suspect?" Yan Wushuang sighed: "Still, Han Lao, I understand you. This can't be rushed."

"... Hm?"

"Is Brother Zheng your descendant? Which generation?" Yan Wushuang stroked his chin, convinced his theory was sound: "Did you abandon your wife and child back then? Now you feel guilty?"

"..."

"But why does he bear the surname Zheng?" Yan Wushuang's gaze toward Han Lao grew dismissive: "Didn't you even give him your real surname back then?"

"... Be his elder?" The Setting Sun Sword Immortal gaped: "I wouldn't dare dream of such a thing!"

"Huh?"

Modern times.

Zheng Fa had just stepped out of the room when he saw Teacher Tian frowning at the same few blades of grass.

She seemed puzzled about something.

Old Bai stood beside her.

As Zheng Fa approached the two, he saw Teacher Tian tear off a leaf and place it into Old Bai's mouth.

In his mouth?

Zheng Fa watched as Old Bai chewed the leaf twice, spat it out with a "Pah!", and shook his head.

"Teacher Tian... what are you two doing?"

Zheng Fa asked, baffled.

"I'm pondering a question," Teacher Tian stood up, clapped her hands, and declared firmly: "Though spiritual energy has made these grasses grow deep-rooted and leafy, they're worlds apart from the spiritual plants you described."

"... These grasses contain no spiritual energy?"

"Correct. Not just this one—every one of them." She pointed to the wheat seedlings: "They're all the same."

"Teacher Tian, I understand your point—but just one question... to confirm whether there's spiritual energy, you could just use the Spiritual Eye Technique. Why make Old Bai eat the grass?"

"... He wanted to."

"Huh?"

Old Bai grinned smugly: "The grass Teacher Tian picked is sweet!"

"..."

Zheng Fa studied Old Bai's expression and felt it clearly bore an unspoken message:

You've got it coming, kid!