Chapter 222

Everyone fell silent.

The Sect Master is sending even the remaining disciples to Lei Chi—he must have prepared for the worst.

Yuan Shijie puffed out her cheeks, staring at the Sect Master with tears in her eyes, whispering: "Old man, if we can't win, can't we just abandon Jiushan Sect?"

She had been raised by him; she had never shown it before, but now her true feelings could not be hidden—she was reluctant to let go.

The Sect Master sighed lightly and said: "How can we so easily abandon Jiushan's spiritual vein? The Heavenly Stele Realm hasn't been secured yet—Jiushan's spiritual vein remains the foundation of our sect."

Pang Shu stretched out his mouth and said: "Maybe I should go back instead."

"Pang Dizi, you and Huang Shimei are still young—you can hold out longer for Jiushan."

Pang Shu fell silent.

After speaking, the Sect Master turned his gaze toward Zhang Shijie.

"Zhang Shijie, since Zheng Fa has not yet grown strong, you are already a Nascent Soul—you must be the pillar of Jiushan Sect. You'll have a heavy burden ahead."

Zhang Shijie pressed her lips together and bowed slightly to the Sect Master.

He then turned to Zheng Fa.

"Disciple."

"Yes."

"You've taken me as your Master, but I have little to give you—I don't even have many spirit stones, and your cultivation technique has gone awry." The Sect Master smiled. "Do you blame me?"

"No," Zheng Fa said sincerely. He paused, then added: "I've never once regretted joining Jiushan Sect."

The Sect Master nodded with a smile, as if those words were the highest recognition he could receive from his disciple.

He said nothing else, only told them: "If Jiushan Sect becomes empty, those people may not even bother coming to fight an old man like me."

The group nodded.

The Sect Master's words held merit.

After all, whether it was the demonic clans or the Demon Cult, their first attack on Jiushan Sect would be out of vengeance.

The second reason would be to see if they could tie down Jiushan's disciples here at Lei Chi, giving those trapped in the secret realm a chance to escape.

If Jiushan Sect were left with only the Sect Master and the Ancestor—two elderly Nascent Souls—

attacking Jiushan might not be worth the cost…

"Remember," the Sect Master said seriously, "no matter what happens to Jiushan Sect, no matter what news comes—do not move! If the Great Freedom Demon Cult finds an opening to escape, that's when our sect's survival is truly at stake."

They nodded.

The Sect Master glanced once more at those in the hall, turned, and slowly walked out of Wu Long Tian Gong.

Zheng Fa couldn't shake the feeling that he saw a death wish in his Master's back—or rather, a resolve to fight to the end.

…

When his figure vanished beyond the door,

Pang Shu fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said to Zheng Fa: "Disciple, when will you hold your Sect Master ceremony? How many Nascent Souls should you invite?"

"Huh?"

"No, that won't do," Pang Shu shook his head himself. "Your cultivation is too low—becoming Sect Master would draw too much attention. Why not let Zhang Shijie lead Jiushan for now? You two are close anyway—you can switch back later?"

Zheng Fa hadn't spoken yet.

Outside the door came the Sect Master's furious voice: "I'm not dead yet!"

Pang Shu froze, as if just noticing the Sect Master hadn't left far, and exclaimed: "Huh? You're still here?"

The Sect Master outside glared at Pang Shu, teeth clenched.

"You're about to die—why care about this?" Pang Shu retorted confidently.

"Even if you die, I won't!"

The Sect Master snorted coldly, as if unwilling to speak further with his younger brother, and flew out of the marketplace.

Pang Shu watched his retreating back, then suddenly smiled.

"Shu?"

Zheng Fa whispered beside him.

"Zheng Fa, you all say I care about Jiushan Sect—do you know what I truly care about?" Pang Shu suddenly asked.

"What?"

"I entered the sect at twenty—your Master was already a Golden Core True Disciple then… Now, I've known him for nine thousand years."

"That Huang woman—I've argued with her for over a thousand years."

"Just now, I was thinking—if those two are gone, if this Jiushan spiritual vein I've lived beside for millennia is gone… is Jiushan Sect still Jiushan Sect to me?"

Zheng Fa understood Pang Shu's meaning.

"Shu, you're going back?"

"Once Huang Shimei arrives and settles you all, I will return," Pang Shu nodded.

…

After leaving Wu Long Tian Gong's hall, Zheng Fa and the other two fell silent.

"What do you think?"

"Sending ordinary disciples here is right—they're safest at Lei Chi now," Zheng Fa said first. "As for the Sect Master and Pang Shu, unless a Soul Transformation appears, Jiushan's three Nascent Souls, plus the sect's protective array, mean ordinary foes won't easily kill them."

Zhang Shijie nodded in quiet agreement.

Yuan Shijie still had tear tracks on her cheeks; she whispered: "I want to go back too."

Zheng Fa sighed softly, reached out, and patted Yuan Shijie's round head.

The fusu wood aura on his body made Yuan Shijie's eyes half-close; her head instinctively rubbed against his palm, a sly smile tugging at her lips.

"Still want to go back?"

"No…"

Zhang Shijie watched this scene, shook her head, and said nothing.

But Zheng Fa spoke again: "Zhang Shijie, your future is bright, while my cultivation is low—Pang Shu and the others won't let us return…"

Zhang Shijie nodded slightly, as if agreeing with Zheng Fa's judgment.

"What we can do now is first arrange for those disciples," Zheng Fa said as he walked. "I wonder if we can gather more intelligence on the Great Freedom Demon Cult and the demonic clans."

"Yes—we're blind while the enemy hides. We're too passive."

Zhang Shijie nodded lightly.

Both turned their gazes to Yuan Shijie's Golden Crow.

"Gaa?"

…

"I really don't know the Great Freedom Demon Cult's plans!" the Golden Crow was indignant. "I'm only Foundation Establishment—they only covet my body—why would they tell me anything else?"

Zheng Fa and Zhang Shijie exchanged glances and nodded.

Zheng Fa asked again:

"Where did you escape from?"

"Where?" The Golden Crow thought. "The south—something called Fengcheng County."

"Fengcheng County."

Zheng Fa frowned.

He glanced at Zhang Shijie beside him.

He saw her face was grave.

The name Fengcheng County was not unfamiliar to them—it lay within Taiyang Commandery.

Most importantly, the spirit vein's spirit stone mine was there.

Right now, it was a chaotic mix of all kinds of people.

The Great Freedom Demon Cult's presence there made them nearly impossible to find.

But their threat to Jiushan Sect and Lei Chi Market was immense.

And now that this Golden Crow had escaped—if those people were cautious, they'd have moved already.

It would be nearly impossible to pick them out from the crowd.

As both struggled with this,

a Jiushan disciple arrived at the door and reported to Zheng Fa:

"Lady Lingye is here to visit."

Zheng Fa froze—this news from the Golden Crow had been so sudden, he'd completely forgotten about Xiao Yuying.

"Quickly, invite her in!"

Xiao Yuying entered, her gaze sweeping over Zhang Shijie, then settling on Zheng Fa. Sensing Yuan Shijie's presence, she asked vaguely:

"Zheng Dao you, have you decided?"

A smile played on her lips—as if she already knew his answer.

"I'm sorry, Lady Xiao, I can't help you."

Zheng Fa refused Xiao Yuying outright.

He had never intended to go.

Now, with the Great Freedom Demon Cult's threat, he had no desire to invite more trouble.

Xiao Yuying stared at him, stunned. After a long moment, she said: "Then… what of that person's legacy?"

Her tone betrayed utter disbelief—as if she thought she'd misheard.

"Lady Xiao, thank you for your trust, but I truly have no intention."

Zheng Fa declined again.

Xiao Yuying fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "Do you think I'd betray you after using you?"

"Lady Xiao, you misunderstand…"

"I can swear a Soul Bond with you," Xiao Yuying added.

Zheng Fa froze, looking at Xiao Yuying.

A Soul Bond was no ordinary thing.

It was essentially a temporary mutual soul seal—in simple terms, if one dies, both die.

Could this Xiao Yuying really be so determined to have him?

As if sensing Zheng Fa's confusion, Xiao Yuying shook her head: "In the Xuanwei Realm, the only person I know who can surpass me in Thunder Art—you."

"But in that hidden realm, my Thunder Art cultivation isn't sufficient…"

Xiao Yuying's explanation made Zheng Fa suddenly understand.

He thought for a moment, then suddenly said: "Lady Xiao, I'll agree to your proposal."

Xiao Yuying's eyes lit up.

"But I have another demand."

"What demand?" Xiao Yuying frowned, clearly displeased by Zheng Fa's audacity.

Zheng Fa paid no mind to her expression, saying instead: "I'd like you to do me a favor, Lady Xiao."

Xiao Yuying paused. Zheng Fa glanced at Zhang Shijie, who nodded to him.

Zheng Fa then told her of the Great Freedom Demon Cult's collusion with the demonic races, and their possible designs against the Jiushan Sect.

"What do you want me to do?"

Xiao Yuying didn't rush to agree, but asked again.

Zheng Fa thought for a moment, then said: "Lady Xiao, I'd like you to go to Fengcheng County and spread a piece of news."

"What news?"

"You encountered the Emperor's Dew emerging—right beside Lei Chi."

"That's it?" Xiao Yuying frowned. "Will they believe you?"

She now understood Zheng Fa's plan—the Emperor's Dew was a supreme treasure for demonic races, capable of evolving their bloodlines.

Zheng Fa merely shook his head: "I'm not certain myself—but given the demonic races' hunger for bloodline evolution, and your reputation, I believe they'll at least be tempted."

Xiao Yuying nodded slightly. "If I help you with this, you'll come with me to that hidden realm?"

"Without a single doubt!"

"Fine! This is simple," Xiao Yuying agreed readily. "When we reach that realm, I won't shortchange you!"

"Lady Xiao! I swear here and now—I will take not a single thing from that realm!" Zheng Fa's expression turned solemn.

Honestly, he didn't want anything—and if he could avoid stepping into that realm entirely, he would.

His goal was to pass by without entering.

He had no intention of touching the new method.

Xiao Yuying stared at Zheng Fa, stunned.

"I'll help the Jiushan Sect uncover the demonic and cultists hiding in Fengcheng County—and that's all you ask?"

Zheng Fa nodded.

"I've entered countless hidden realms, met ten thousand or more cultivators," Xiao Yuying said with genuine admiration. "A cultivator like Brother Zheng, wholly devoted to his sect and utterly selfless—I've never met one before."

Zheng Fa hadn't spoken yet.

Beside him, Zhang Shijie froze, her face saying one thing: Ancestors above, I wouldn't dare praise him this much.

(End of Chapter)