Chapter 196: Launch

Zheng Fa had never been a particularly secure person—or rather, he found almost no sense of security in the Xuanwei Realm.

Without the contrast of modern society, this feeling might have been bearable; but in truth, his sense of security in the modern world was built step by step—his ten Yuanfu Dao Foundations in the dantian were the true source of his growing confidence.

But the Jiushan Sect in the Xuanwei Realm was different.

His Yuanfu Dao Foundations, his cultivation base—none of it made him feel safe.

Zheng Fa believed that everyone in the Jiushan Sect now stood by him, but wasn't there still the Grand Zizai Demon Cult standing firmly against him?

The Jiushan Sect could hold off the Grand Zizai Demon Cult only because it had luckily stumbled upon Lei Chi.

Because of this, he constantly thought of his mother and sister, yet dared not bring them here—Jiushan Sect was too far, and Lei Chi Market was too close to the Grand Zizai Demon Cult.

Only if his vision for the Heavenly Stele World could come true would he feel he had a secure base—and only then could he begin implementing many of his planned initiatives.

"Your idea stems from the Grand Zizai Demon Cult's secret realm, doesn't it?"

Zhang Shijie spoke after a moment of thought.

"Yes, the setting sun Immortal Swordmaster's warning was vague, but after entering the Heavenly Stele World, I made a guess—if only the Grand Zizai Demon Cult's techniques function within their secret realm…"

Zheng Fa had not finished speaking.

Both Zhang Shijie and Yuan Shijie's faces instantly twisted with horror.

Even a touch of revulsion.

That meant as long as the secret realm existed, the Grand Zizai Demon Cult was nearly immortal… and Jiushan Sect would inevitably face their retaliation.

"So you want to turn the Heavenly Stele World into Jiushan Sect's secret realm?" Zhang Shijie asked.

"Yes. The Heavenly Stele World's rules are unique—it can serve as our refuge," Zheng Fa explained his idea: "Even if we dare not enter the Grand Zizai Demon Cult's secret realm, if we truly control the Heavenly Stele, the Grand Zizai Demon Cult's people would dare not enter the Heavenly Stele World either—and Jiushan Sect would be secure within it."

"It doesn't sound entirely problematic…" Zhang Shijie said slowly.

"It's a huge problem!" Yuan Shijie snapped, eyes wide: "After all this talk, haven't you first got to seize control of the Heavenly Stele World for Jiushan Sect?"

"Since Brother Zheng proposed this idea, he must already have some plan in mind?"

Zhang Shijie understood Zheng Fa's character better.

Zheng Fa smiled. In the Heavenly Stele World for a month, besides surveying his own fief's condition, he had mostly studied the thunder techniques within the Divine Sealing Scroll—and he already had some ideas.

…

At the Heavenly Stele.

Yan Wushuang and Chu Tianque had emerged a step later than Zheng Fa, likely to leave together.

The three walked together, their conversation still centered on Zheng Fa.

"Yan Shixiong, you say Zheng Fa was granted a Silver Scroll from the start—he might one day rival you for control of the Heavenly Stele World," Chu Tianque said, his expression wary.

"What rivalry?" Yan Wushuang sighed. "You know I haven't even touched the surface of the Heavenly Stele Thunder Techniques—this world isn't mine."

"... till." Chu Tianque was unconvinced: "Yan Shixiong, you're the most gifted thunder cultivator I've ever met."

"The Divine Sealing Hall is extraordinary. Zheng Brother is only at Foundation Establishment, yet he holds five thousand li of fief territory like me," Yan Wushuang countered: "His talent may even surpass mine."

"... an Shixiong, why do you always defend Zheng Fa?"

"Chu Shidi," Yan Wushuang sighed: "I know you come from the Five Xuanwei Sects—you're a bit arrogant, looking down on other sects."

"I shouldn't say this," Yan Wushuang added, seeing Chu Tianque's gloomy face: "But we've known each other for years—I know you mean well. Yet before my ancestor rose to power, the Tianhe Sect was just a minor clan."

"Besides, looking down on others won't raise your cultivation."

"..." Chu Tianque clenched his lips and muttered: "Yan Shixiong."

"I've long known my own talent," Yan Wushuang sighed: "I can't match my ancestor—even not my father."

This left Chu Tianque speechless.

Yan Wushuang's father, as Tianhe Sect's Sect Master, had been the undisputed top talent among the sect's true disciples in his day—but Yan Wushuang bore no such reputation.

"I may never surpass my father in cultivation—but if I befriend the world's heroes, I may still accomplish great things. Aren't you two among those I've sincerely befriended?"

"Yes."

"Zheng Fa has already shown talent, and he's close to me," Yan Wushuang smiled: "The better his talent, the higher his realm—even if he truly controls the Heavenly Stele World, I'll be disappointed, but I'll be happy for him."

At these words,

Chu Tianque fell silent.

Beside them, Xue Zhuanzhuan chuckled: "If not for Yan Shixiong's magnanimity, how could we have such a bond?"

"True…" Chu Tianque scratched his head, realizing Xue Shimei's pride matched his own—if Yan Shixiong hadn't been free of envy and jealousy, the three of them would never have forged a bond nearly as deep as life and death.

He looked at Yan Wushuang, who smiled at him, and felt embarrassed; he glanced away, fixing his eyes on the Heavenly Stele: "I want to see how much Heavenly Merit this Brother Zheng has accumulated."

"Hm?"

After a moment, all three faces showed confusion.

On the Heavenly Stele's leaderboard, Zheng Fa's name was unmistakable—the very last.

"That can't be right," Xue Shimei frowned: "With his five-thousand-li fief, his Heavenly Merit should be accumulating fast."

Chu Tianque also looked at Yan Wushuang, who pondered long before guessing: "Perhaps Zheng Brother is newly at Foundation Establishment and still unfamiliar with thunder techniques—his progress is just slow."

Chu Tianque muttered: "It's just thunder techniques. With our talent, we should've mastered them long ago. Does he really need this long?"

Yan Wushuang glared at him, and Chu Tianque fell silent, staring again at the Stele: "Who's this Li Shi? How did he accumulate Heavenly Merit so fast—he's nearly caught up to you, Yan Brother."

"Li Shi…" Xue Shimei murmured twice, then remembered: "Isn't that the old copper coffin man's alias before he became famous? Legend says he attained Dao through ancient corpse cultivation—he was surnamed Li, so he named himself Li Shi."

"Him? How dare he come here?"

Chu Tianque's mouth hung open in disbelief.

The thunder near the Heavenly Stele was merciless—it punished higher cultivators more severely. And the old copper coffin man was from the Grand Zizai Demon Cult, utterly suppressed by heavenly thunder.

Coming here was practically suicide.

The other two didn't know why—but soon, they understood.

…

"What is that?"

Zheng Fa was discussing the terrain and spiritual energy conditions he'd surveyed in the Heavenly Stele World with Zhang Shijie when Yuan Shijie suddenly gasped.

He looked up and saw someone racing through Lei Chi—not driving a vehicle, but a coffin.

The coffin was unmistakably familiar—it was the same one used by the old copper coffin man who had attacked Master Pang.

The old man didn't show himself; the coffin lid was sealed shut. He simply lay inside, driving without looking, weaving wildly through the thunder.

The heavenly thunder didn't spare him—but each strike against the copper coffin seemed to have no effect.

On the contrary, he clearly knew Lei Chi's terrain intimately, moving far faster than any normal cultivator, and in an instant, he arrived before the three of them.

Zhang Shijie immediately summoned her life-weapon, the Flying Immortal Brush, and prepared for battle.

"Is this man… coming out of the Heavenly Stele?"

Yuan Shijie whispered, as if doubting her own eyes.

Zheng Fa and Zhang Shijie exchanged glances, both startled—Zhang Shijie had previously heard rumors of the copper coffin man in Lei Chi, and had suspected some scheme.

But now it seemed he had no scheme at all.

He simply had a grand dream—who said a Grand Zizai Demon Cult cultivator couldn't master thunder techniques?

The old copper coffin man dared to dream it!

Not only dared—he was heading straight for the Heavenly Stele!

The old copper coffin man seemed to notice the three of them and halted beside them.

"Zhang Wuyi? I heard you were hunting me, seeking revenge for your master's humiliation?" A cold chuckle came from the coffin: "You've followed me here?"

Zhang Shijie's Flying Immortal Brush glowed with divine light, ready to strike.

"Dare you attack?" the old man laughed: "My divine coffin is unbreakable to anyone below Nascent Soul! And above Nascent Soul—dare you strike here in Lei Chi?"

His tone was utterly confident.

But Zhang Shijie studied the coffin for a moment, then said: "You dare not leave that coffin, do you?"

"..."

Understood…

A mobile version of Xuanguan Mirror.

No wonder this demon cultivator loved hiding in Lei Chi.

He was playing defense.

Having his weakness exposed, the old coffin man didn't grow angry—he laughed: "Even the setting sun Immortal Swordmaster himself couldn't threaten me now! What can you do?"

With that, he seemed uninterested in further conflict, continuing to move as he laughed: "Once I uncover the true nature of the Heavenly Stele World for the Holy Cult, Jiushan Sect will lose the protection of Lei Chi—then…"

Zheng Fa reached out—his Five Elements Divine Light shot from his palm, striking the retreating coffin.

As the Five Elements rotated, the coffin suddenly halted—the lid snapped open, revealing a withered old man's body—

Launched out!

The old man looked up at the heavenly thunder.

Then at his beloved life-weapon behind him.

His face wore an expression of utter despair—hard to say whether it was from the thunder's approach or his own weapon's betrayal…

Zheng Fa could only disrupt the coffin for an instant.

After that instant, the coffin seemed to regain its conscience, returning like a prodigal son, eager to cradle its master again.

But Zhang Shijie gave them no chance at reconciliation.

Her Flying Immortal Brush danced, instantly drawing three Thunder-Calling Talismans that struck the old coffin man.

…

Yan Wushuang and the other two watched this dramatic turn in silence.

After a long silence, Chu Tianque finally spoke, his tone tinged with genuine admiration: "Zheng Fa possesses such a technique… could it be he looks down on cultivating Thunder Art?"

"…"

This speculation was absurd, yet somehow it made sense.

"Elder Brother Yan, your insight is truly remarkable; I am utterly impressed."

"I'm pretty impressed with myself too, though I'm not sure what exactly I should be impressed by," Yan Wushuang said after a pause.