Chapter 250: Jiushan Sect, Zhang Wuyi

Tongming Shiren did not move forward.

As the Qingyun Dasheng had said, the two of them drank together.

But Master Pang was frantic, heading toward Jiushan Sect—and the Qingyun Dasheng paid him no mind.

The final scene in the water curtain showed Master Pang's back as he rode the Five Dragon Heavenly Palace toward Jiushan Sect.

Above Jiushan Sect before him, the sky was dark red.

"Master Huang, who is the other Nascent Soul…?"

After a moment of silence, Zheng Fa asked Master Huang.

"Your Master Pang made some guesses in his message—it seems to be Xuehe Laozu, a demonic cultivator from ten thousand years ago," Master Huang's voice was restrained, "but back then he was only at the late Golden Core stage, and had long ceased to appear in Xuanwei; rumors say he perished long ago…"

"Then…"

"At least when he sent the message, your Master Pang was still unharmed."

Master Huang, as if knowing what he would ask, spoke directly.

Seeing them still silent,

Master Huang continued: "Tongming Shiren… has also bought us time by holding off one Nascent Soul."

"Your Master Pang sent this back because the matter is of grave importance—it cannot be explained in words. He wants to warn us… we must prepare."

"Not only do we now have another Nascent Soul, but the Yuling Sect and the demonic beasts have allied—our side may not be safe either."

Hearing this, Zheng Fa said to her:

"Please, Master, give the order."

"Wuyi, you do it."

Master Huang spoke to Zhang Shijie. Zheng Fa understood: though Master Huang held higher seniority, he had long remained on the Seventh Peak and lacked the authority Zhang Shijie commanded among the disciples.

Zhang Shijie nodded, stepped forward, and ascended onto the clouds; her clear voice echoed throughout the encampment:

"All disciples of Jiushan Sect, pack your belongings and gather here."

Soon, all nearby disciples assembled beside Lei Chi.

Their faces were puzzled; some seemed to have anticipated this, yet none spoke—only stared at Zhang Shijie. Zhang Shijie hesitated slightly, then turned to look at Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa blinked, then spoke: "All disciples below Golden Core, enter Lei Chi."

"Those above Golden Core, follow Master Huang!"

"Abandon Lei Chi Market for now!"

It was a contingency plan they had long agreed upon.

Though all were startled, seeing Zhang Shijie and Master Huang standing by, none dared speak—they followed Zheng Fa's orders without question.

Watching the disciples enter Lei Chi one by one, Master Huang sighed softly.

But Zheng Fa kept watching Zhang Shijie—he felt something was off about her today, as if she harbored hidden thoughts.

Zhang Shijie's eyes remained fixed on the disciples, as if unaware of his gaze—

Or perhaps, avoiding it.

…

Zhang Shijie slowly walked into Master Huang's courtyard.

Master Huang showed no surprise at her arrival, only watched her silently.

Zhang Shijie stood before her, then suddenly knelt and bowed her head lightly.

Master Huang gently closed her eyes.

"Speak."

"I ask my master to watch over Zheng Shidi more closely in the future—do not let him take risks, especially… do not let him seek me out."

"You're going back?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Earlier, Shidi gave me several books—I came to understand something…" Zhang Shijie whispered, "Our Jiushan Ancestor may have lost consciousness during his Nascent Soul transformation."

"How do you know?"

Zhang Shijie hesitated, then spoke the truth:

"I guessed."

Master Huang pressed: "How certain are you?"

"Fifty percent…"

"…"

"You want to return and awaken the Ancestor?"

"Yes."

Master Huang stared at her disciple, silent for a long while.

"What do you plan to do?"

"Right now, Xuehe Laozu has not attacked Jiushan Sect—for reasons unknown. I want to try awakening the Ancestor. If I fail, I'll find a way to escape."

Hearing this, Master Huang immediately flew into rage:

"How do you escape? How? He's a Nascent Soul!" Master Huang snapped, "One is Yuan, one is Pang—you're going back too, leaving me alone here—do you think I'm afraid of death?"

Zhang Shijie said nothing.

Seeing her expression, Master Huang gritted her teeth: "Can you bear to leave Zheng Shidi?"

Zhang Shijie lowered her eyes and whispered:

"Zheng Shidi is truly good… I know he has worked hard studying Spirit Wood Thunder, and now he's even found a way to protect me—even if Jiushan Sect falls, I can still survive in the Celestial Stele Realm."

"Then why go back?!"

Zhang Shijie looked to the side: "Master, I've thought about it—I could be happy hiding with Shidi in the Celestial Stele Realm."

"…"

"But since I first walked the Dao, I have never taken a single step back…"

"Yes, you're so mighty! Always stirring trouble! Anyone says a word to you, you must fight back!"

"If there were no way to awaken the Ancestor, I might convince myself that a Nascent Soul is beyond me, and hiding isn't so bad… but I know I can." Zhang Shijie said, "If I take this step back, I'm no longer me."

"The dead aren't you either!"

"Master, since I joined, I've consumed the most spiritual materials, and whenever I caused trouble, the elders always protected me…"

"..." Master Huang suddenly spoke: "If you leave, I'll crush Zheng Fa with one palm!"

"..." Zhang Shijie whispered, "Master, you know what Zheng Shidi means to Jiushan Sect."

"Moreover… if I truly cannot return, then… Master."

"Hmm?"

"Treat Zheng Shidi as if he were me."

"..."

"Did Zhang Shijie leave?"

Zheng Fa had been taking spiritual materials in his quiet chamber when Master Huang burst in and told him Zhang Shijie had departed.

Master Huang glared at Zheng Fa, teeth clenched: "What books did you give her? What did you teach her?!"

But Zheng Fa ignored Master Huang—he activated Wind-Thunder Body and vanished, rushing to chase after Zhang Shijie.

"Come back!"

A massive blue hand suddenly appeared in the sky, gripping Zheng Fa in its palm, immobilizing him.

"Master Huang?"

"Wuyi's greatest concern before leaving was you! I'll watch over you!"

"..."

"Tell me what you taught her," Master Huang said. "By the way, these jade cylinders are what she left for you."

Zheng Fa took the jade cylinders and probed them with his spiritual sense—he immediately understood the full story—

He had once suspected that the current Jiushan Ancestor was more like the original Ancestor's spirit treasure.

And the current Jiushan Ancestor seemed to be in a Nascent Soul state.

He hadn't expected Zhang Shijie's research into the spiritual energy circuits went deeper than he imagined.

She had studied the flow of spiritual energy within the Shanhe Zhenxing Talisman, and discovered missing or flawed nodes.

In simple terms: Zhang Shijie went back to fix the computer.

She didn't tell him because she didn't want him to face this choice…

"What's the deal with these spiritual energy circuits in the jade cylinder? Explain them to me. When I learn them, I'll go to Jiushan Sect, awaken the Ancestor, and bring her back."

"... aster Huang, there's no time…"

"... o you really think I can't understand? I just wasn't interested before. You're nothing but Foundation Establishment—do you think you can stump me, a Nascent Soul? Wuyi's math was all taught by me!" Master Huang snorted, offended. "Speak!"

…

Three hours later.

"Master Huang?"

Seeing Master Huang's bewildered face, Zheng Fa whispered.

"..." After a long silence, Master Huang spoke: "What was that Nascent Soul method you mentioned earlier?"

"..."

"What if I try that one?"

……

In the courtyard, Zheng Fa pulled out the jade pendant Xiao Yuying had given him and infused it with spiritual energy.

A green light flared from the pendant, coalescing in midair into Xiao Yuying's form, landing before Zheng Fa.

"You're already calling me? Did Jiushan Sect run into trouble?"

Zheng Fa told Xiao Yuying about the obstruction faced by Tongming Shangren and the apparent emergence of Xuehe Laozu.

"Two Soul Transformation cultivators?" Xiao Yuying frowned, thought for a moment, then smiled, "Then you really should've come to me quickly. I'll get you out of Taiyang Commandery as fast as possible—they won't chase a Foundation Establishment cultivator like you…"

"No, Lady Xiao, I'd like to ask you for a favor…"

"No way!" Xiao Yuying refused outright. "Two Soul Transformation cultivators are here. This ends now."

"…"

"Zheng Fa, I can guarantee saving your life, but as for anything else, I'm powerless…" Xiao Yuying said plainly. "Besides… you're not worth the risk of opposing two Soul Transformation cultivators."

That was very Xiao Yuying.

It was also why Zheng Fa had hesitated so long before bringing it up with her—

She probably wanted a clever, useful subordinate, and the condition she offered was merely to spare her own life…

Zheng Fa had never expected anything more.

But now was different from before…

Zheng Fa spoke: "What if I could offer you something that would satisfy you, Lady Xiao?"

"You?" Xiao Yuying laughed. "Of all the people in Jiushan Sect, you're the only one I find even slightly interesting…"

"Lady Xiao, doesn't your Electromagnetic Track Body often generate uncontrolled lightning?"

"…"

"When you use thunder techniques, don't you feel an inexplicable pull?"

"... ow do you know that?"

"..."

"Lady Xiao, do you know what… electromagnetic induction is?"

"What kind of induction?"

"Exactly. If I told you my understanding of thunder techniques isn't due to any special talent, but because I know a little more than you do—would you believe me?"

Xiao Yuying stared at Zheng Fa, as if grasping something, yet still confused.

"Lady Xiao… if you want to know, come find me."

Zheng Fa watched the pendant before him fade out, and let out a quiet breath.

He'd been thinking—what could possibly move Xiao Yuying? In the end, besides himself, only modern physics knowledge might.

To be honest, he'd hesitated—his relationship with Xiao Yuying wasn't nearly as close as with Sister Zhang.

But…

Zheng Fa gazed toward Jiushan Sect. Sister Zhang was nowhere to be found.

…

Sister Zhang arrived at the entrance of Jiushan Sect. The sect's protective array was fully activated—even she, a member of the sect, was barred outside.

"Who is it?"

The Sect Master's voice came from within.

"Jiushan Sect, Zhang Wuyi."