Chapter 251: A Moment of Splendor

Today's Jiushan Sect felt foreign even to Zhang Shijie, who had grown up here.

The once-bustling marketplace was now empty; the streets that used to be lively and chaotic were now utterly desolate.

The grass and trees on Jiushan carried a faint air of solitude.

She exhaled softly and flew toward the Ninth Peak.

Yuan Sect Master had already been waiting there; he stood with his hands behind his back, watching Zhang Shijie approach, shook his head, and said nothing.

But Pang Shu nearby couldn't help speaking: "Why have you come back?"

"Disciple wishes to try awakening the Jiushan Ancestor."

Zhang Shijie bowed.

"Awaken me? I'm right here."

The nearby "Jiushan Ancestor" exclaimed in surprise.

"I mean the original Ancestor."

This statement left all three puzzled—they knew nothing of Zheng Fa and Zhang Shijie's views on Soul Transformation.

Moreover, Zheng Fa and Zhang Shijie had never sent them any messages—transmission talismans were unsafe, and given Jiushan Sect's current peril, they dared not commit such matters to writing for fear of exposure.

So when Zhang Shijie revealed to them the secrets of Soul Transformation, the new method of the Heavenly River, and even the concept of the Life-Bound Magic Treasure,

the three elders' gazes flickered with unmistakable astonishment.

The Jiushan Ancestor was even more startled, exclaiming: "So I am Soul Transformation?"

Zhang Shijie shook her head: "Perhaps the original Ancestor never intended to achieve Soul Transformation—but by accident, he walked this path…"

"And because of this, the Ancestor's Soul Transformation method is incomplete… hence he never awakened."

"Did you and Zheng Fa guess this? How can you be sure your idea is correct?"

Zhang Shijie lowered her head and explained: "When Brother Zheng first said these spiritual energy circuits could generate sentience, I didn't believe it…"

"But when I truly discovered these circuits could solve mathematical problems…"

The Sect Master and Pang Shu exchanged a glance, then finally sighed and said:

"I know your mastery of mathematics, but this matter… this matter…"

Pang Shu interjected:

"This is simply unbelievable. Since our Jiushan Sect's founding, not a single soul has achieved Soul Transformation—trying to secure a Soul Transformation legacy is harder than climbing to heaven… yet you two…"

Zhang Shijie shook her head:

"It's Brother Zheng's exceptional talent."

"Zheng Fa…"

Pang Shu sighed softly: "I always said Zheng Fa was gifted… but I never imagined he was this far beyond me."

Yuan Sect Master suddenly laughed.

"What are you laughing at?"

"For days I've been thinking Jiushan Sect is about to perish under my watch…" the Sect Master said, "I felt ashamed to face our ancestors—then I found a worthy disciple!"

"Bad luck!"

"You're just jealous!"

Pang Shu grunted beside them.

Seeing the two elders jesting, Zhang Shijie's lips curved into a faint smile.

…

Watching Zhang Shijie fly up to the heights of the Ninth Peak, the Sect Master and Pang Shu exchanged a glance; their smiles slowly faded, and both sighed.

"What's wrong?"

The Jiushan Ancestor asked, bewildered.

"This matter… the odds are slim."

Pang Shu said, dejected.

The Sect Master nodded, whispering: "Throughout history, cultivation methods have been refined bit by bit, generation after generation. Though their idea may be right, to perfect the Ancestor's Soul Transformation method… how difficult is that?"

"And our Jiushan Sect's lineage is shallow—we have no precedent of Soul Transformation…"

Hearing this, the Jiushan Ancestor understood.

"Then how can you…"

"Zhang Shijie has returned—what can we say?" the Sect Master sighed.

Pang Shu fell silent for a moment, then said: "In recent days, I've tested it—we Jiushan Sect may be sealed in, unable to let anyone out… luckily, Brother, you already sent the disciples away."

"Heh… the Blood River Ancestor would be delighted if more of us came to die."

The Sect Master gazed beyond the mountain.

"What are your plans, Brother?"

"I have only a hundred years left—my death doesn't matter… but I still want to protect Zhang Shijie."

I have only a hundred years left to live; my death doesn't matter—but I still want to protect Master Zhang's disciple.

"She's always been the most gifted among us—and now she's touched the threshold of Soul Transformation…" the Sect Master continued, "but the Blood River Ancestor is a true Soul Transformation…"

Pang Shu fell silent, then suddenly pulled out a jade cylinder.

"What's this?"

"It's what Sister Huang gave me when I came—her method of Shacha Fanghua." Pang Shu whispered. "You, Brother, awakened the talisman array from the Heavenly River True Form Talisman; I discovered the Linked Talisman technique. But now it seems Sister Huang somehow grasped the true essence of the Heavenly River True Form Talisman…"

Yuan Sect Master froze, staring at the jade cylinder, then after a long silence, raised his head: "Is this… Body-Turned-Talisman?"

"Yes… I never fully understood why this Body-Turned-Talisman method was so powerful yet inevitably fatal—until I heard Zhang Shijie's words. It's clearly a forced Soul Transformation technique… but Sister Huang didn't grasp its essence, and her cultivation was insufficient—she died the moment she used it."

The Sect Master nodded, tucking the jade cylinder into his palm.

He understood what Pang Shu meant by giving him this—should things go awry, he must use this method to sacrifice himself and save Zhang Shijie.

He understood what Master Pang meant by giving him this—should things go awry, he must use this method to sacrifice himself and ensure Master Zhang's disciple survives.

"Your Shacha Fanghua… aligns perfectly with our thoughts." Zheng Fa studied the method, then looked at Huang Shu with new eyes.

"I had no thoughts…" Huang Shu was calm. "I was filled with rage when I studied the Heavenly River True Form Talisman—I stumbled upon this method. Now, hearing you speak of Soul Transformation's secrets, I finally understand its true nature."

"I had no grand thoughts…" Huang Shu was remarkably candid. "Back then, I was filled with resentment, and while contemplating the True Form Talisman of Mountains and Rivers, I gained a fragment of insight—that's how this method came to be. Now, hearing you speak of the secrets of Soul Transformation, I finally understand its true nature."

Huang Shu had given him a tremendous surprise—her Shacha Fanghua method, in essence, used her own meridians to replace the spiritual energy circuits, simulating part of the current Jiushan Ancestor's state.

But she herself understood only the how, not the why; moreover, her cultivation was far from Soul Transformation, and she lacked a Life-Bound Magic Treasure.

Using this method meant certain death.

At that moment, Zheng Fa recalled his master's three-word evaluation of Huang Shu: "No fear of death."

Huang Shu nodded and spoke: "You know… I never taught this method to Wu Yi."

Huang Shu nodded and said, "You know… I never taught this method even to Wu Yi."

"I thought she was different from me… she should live carefree, proud and joyful." Huang Shu looked at Zheng Fa. "She should never need to use this method."

"But now I've lost my partner—and now I'm about to lose my disciple…"

Zheng Fa fell silent.

Huang Shu gazed into the distance and said: "Long ago, I was impulsive and reckless, convinced the world had no place I couldn't go—until I was trapped in a forbidden array, helplessly watching my partner die, too late to save him."

"I told myself: never again be impulsive. So I confined myself to the Seventh Peak, rarely leaving the sect, and refused to teach Wu Yi Shacha Fanghua—afraid I'd doom her…"

"But just now, I wondered—if I'd taught her this method earlier, would she have had a better chance today?"

"But just now I was thinking—if I had taught this method to Wu Yi long ago, would she have had a better chance today?"

"Am I always wrong, no matter what I do?" Huang Shu asked Zheng Fa.

"Is everything I do always wrong?" Master Huang asked Zheng Fa.