Chapter 259: New Jiushan Sect

The morale of the Jiushan Sect disciples in Lei Chi was somewhat low.

"Senior Brother Sun... can we still get out?"

Standing beside Sun Daoyu, Zhou Qianyuan asked softly.

As soon as this question was asked, the hundred or so disciples around them all turned to look.

Now, Senior Uncle Pang and Shijie Zhang have returned to the sect.

Zheng Fa and Huang Guanshi and others have entered the Heavenly Stele.

These Jiushan Sect disciples have been practically left to fend for themselves.

Sun Daoyu looked around at the fellow disciples nearby, and sighed in his heart—

Lei Chi is relatively safe, but absolutely not suitable for living.

Inside Lei Chi, they also had to be extremely cautious, avoiding places with many Lei Ting, leaving almost no time for cultivation.

Not to mention the mental pressure.

On the other hand, they also had to block the entrance to the secret realm of the Great Zizaimo Mo Sect...

These past days, fellow disciples have probably all been exhausted.

"I don't know either."

Looking at Zhou Qianyuan's expectant face, Sun Daoyu shook his head gently.

"Before Master left... the words he said to us." Zhou Qianyuan lowered his head and said, "We can't go back, can we?"

Sun Daoyu opened his mouth, but had no words, simply raising his hand to pat Zhou Qianyuan's shoulder.

This was the reason his fellow disciples were so depressed—even though Zheng Fa and the others had not told them everything.

But these people were elite disciples of the Jiushan Sect.

Who couldn't see clearly?

The Sect Master left, Senior Uncle Pang left, and finally even Shijie Zhang left...

Zheng Fa and Huang Guanshi frowned every day, busy and bustling, never getting a moment's rest.

They crouched in Lei Chi, daring not to show their heads.

Everyone knew that the Jiushan Sect had probably reached the moment of life and death.

"Actually, the Jiushan Sect isn't very good either."

Sun Daoyu was stunned, looking at the speaker—this was Yang Shixiong, originally a disciple of Shijie Zhang.

The two had some disputes in their early years, and things were better these days, but interacting still felt somewhat awkward.

"The Sect Master doesn't manage affairs, and Senior Uncle Pang is biased."

"Shijie Zhang wears a stern face every day, and Shijie Yuan comes up with new ideas on a whim."

Yang Shixiong continued to mutter.

"There are many people and many matters in the market, noisy and clamorous every day, exhausting."

"Zheng Fa also likes to make new things, messing around blindly, making it even more tiring."

"At first I listened to Shijie Zhang, then to Shijie Yuan, and finally I still had to listen to Zheng Fa—truly working like an ox and a horse for half a lifetime."

As Yang Shixiong spoke, the expressions of the crowd varied.

"But... I want to go back..."

Sun Daoyu suddenly felt there was nothing awkward about it.

Everyone was the same.

He wanted to too.

The True Person Qian from the Qianhe Sect was currently standing slightly apart, obviously somewhat estranged from these original disciples of the Jiushan Sect.

He had no regrets in his heart either—

Who could have thought that just after boarding the Jiushan Sect's big ship, the big ship was about to capsize?

He glanced at the few disciples around him; they obviously thought the same thing as him, and their looks at him held a hint of hidden resentment.

True Person Qian took a deep breath, suppressing the unease in his heart.

He also had some reflection in his heart—

When he was in the Qianhe Sect, the Qianhe Sect fell.

Now coming to the Jiushan Sect, watching the Jiushan Sect face disaster...

Is it not that the Jiushan Sect is incapable, but that I am incapable?

"Fellow disciples... that we can be here is the favoritism of Master and the Sect Master." Sun Daoyu said softly, "Some disciples did not have the opportunity to come here; who knows what would have happened."

The other fellow disciples nodded upon hearing this, obviously understanding he was right.

"Even if the sect is probably facing a catastrophic disaster now, the Sect Master didn't leave, my Master returned, and Shijie Zhang also returned..." Sun Daoyu said hoarsely, "Only leaving us, these unambitious disciples, here..."

"..."

"I don't know what you think, I can only speak for myself... I also want to go back, I also want to cultivate freely. But I... am willing to stay in this Lei Chi for a lifetime..."

As he spoke, he raised his head and glanced at the fellow disciples around.

Sun Daoyu's words made the faces of the senior brothers gradually calm down.

"Before Master left, he told me, they guard the land of the Jiushan Sect, we guard the people of the Jiushan Sect..." Zhou Qianyuan added, "As long as even one of us is alive, the Jiushan Sect still exists."

"So, I am afraid of death."

"..."

Zhou Qianyuan looked at Sun Daoyu, feeling that this senior brother was becoming more and more like Master.

……

Just as everyone's thoughts diverged, the air in Lei Chi suddenly trembled—then they all felt Lei Chi seemed to be slowly shrinking and moving gradually.

"Lei Chi is changing?"

Zhou Qianyuan suddenly looked up, staring at Zhou Qianyuan; Zhou Qianyuan's face was also panicked.

Everyone understood they no longer wished to stay in Lei Chi, yet now Lei Chi was also the place they relied on for survival.???? Not to mention, without Lei Chi, how could they possibly hold back the people of the Great Zizaimo Mo Sect?

Just as everyone panicked, the air before them trembled lightly, and a glowing portal appeared before the crowd.

Sun Daoyu let out a low cry, turning to Zhou Qianyuan and the others, saying: "I fear the Great Zizaimo Mo Sect is attempting to emerge again! Zhou Shidi, you retreat first!"

He held several talismans in his hand, staring fixedly at that portal.

The other senior and junior brothers' faces were equally solemn—they had previously barely managed to block the enemy relying on the Great Zizaimo Mo Sect being able to emerge only two or three people at a time.

Now that the Great Zizaimo Mo Sect has one more exit, their defensive pressure doubles...

More importantly, does the Great Zizaimo Mo Sect have only one new exit?

Thinking of this, Sun Daoyu's face also turned gloomy; he said to Zhou Qianyuan: "Zhou Shidi, the Master's inheritance is in your hands; remember to protect yourself later."

Zhou Qianyuan's face grew even dimmer, yet he spoke not, only nodding.

Just as everyone felt uneasy.

Inside the portal, suddenly an impatient but pleasant voice came through.

"Come in! What are you standing there stupidly for!"

This was Senior Sister Yuan's voice!

Sun Daoyu was stunned for a moment, then saw Senior Sister Yuan poke her head out from inside the portal, waving to the crowd and saying:

"Hurry up; we are returning to Jiushan Sect to pick up Senior Sister!"

Hearing this, Sun Daoyu seemed incredulous, murmuring:

"Returning to Jiushan Sect?"

"Yes! Zheng Shidi now wields the Sun and Moon Bell; this Heavenly Stele Realm is perfectly safe!" Senior Sister Yuan explained, "We won't stay in this broken place anymore! We return to Jiushan Sect!"

"Eh? Why are you crying?"

Sun Daoyu wiped the corner of his eye, said nothing, and simply led Zhou Qianyuan and the others into the portal.

Behind them, Qianhe Sect's True Person Qian hesitated somewhat, yet approached the portal with trepidation, seeming unsure whether he could enter.

"Hurry up!" Senior Sister Yuan waved, saying, "Zheng Shidi said he wants you to help research farming!"

True Person Qian's face lit up; he turned back, glanced arrogantly at several disciples, and strode proudly into the portal.

……

Entering the Heavenly Stele Realm, Sun Daoyu and the others saw Zheng Fa waiting for them in the main hall.

Junior Uncle Huang and Senior Sister Yuan stood aside, yet both vaguely felt Zheng Fa as the center.

They exchanged a glance, sensing something in their hearts, yet revealed nothing.

"Senior Brothers have worked hard in Lei Chi." Zheng Fa bowed to them, saying, "Later, I will arrange for the Senior Brothers to settle."

Although the Tiangong is now shattered into several pieces, there are still places for these disciples to live.

For instance, the former residences where those Immortals and Gods once dwelt.

"But there are some matters I wish to remind everyone to note."

"This Heavenly Stele Realm, uh, Senior Sister Yuan suggested that henceforth this small world be called Nine Mountains Realm; I think that is very good." Zheng Fa explained, "Currently, the rules are not perfect, so only Thunder Arts and Lei Fu are effective; Senior Brothers will likely need to cultivate more spells in this area in the future."

Previously, he had been quite puzzled why only Thunder Arts were effective—

Now he understood; mainly, the spiritual energy circuit within the Sun and Moon Bell itself contains only these spells.

That is to say, no other talisman diagrams exist in the void, rendering any other spells ineffective.

"Senior Brothers proficient in Lei Fu should help the other Senior Brothers; those not proficient in Lei Fu need not worry; I will soon reactivate the Talisman Theory Pavilion to let all Senior Brothers learn."

"Speaking of which, the Talisman Theory Pavilion will undergo reform—I will launch a series of courses; you may regard them as secret techniques for all Senior Brothers to study."

Only then did they remember that Zheng Fa was still, vaguely, the future Pavilion Master of the Talisman Theory Pavilion.

Sun Daoyu and Zhou Qianyuan exchanged a glance; they had long known Zheng Fa would likely change the face of Jiushan Sect, yet they never expected it to begin now.

"Henceforth, the Talisman Theory Pavilion will serve for study, research, and discussion; therefore—I hereby declare, the Talisman Theory Pavilion forbids private duels."

Sun Daoyu felt a chill in his heart, looking toward Senior Sister Yuan beside him.

Senior Sister Yuan leaned against Zheng Fa, rubbing back and forth, extremely happy, paying no attention whatsoever to what he was saying.

Junior Uncle Huang's face beside them remained ordinary.

"The Affairs Pavilion will also undergo reform; on this point, I will consult with Senior Sister Zhang..."

Zheng Fa intended to link the Affairs Pavilion with the development of the mortal world of Nine Mountains Realm—

By developing mortal incense and faith, nurturing various spiritual plants, and thereby rewarding all Senior Brothers.

This could construct a relatively healthy internal circulation...

Hearing this, Sun Daoyu turned his head, glanced at Zhou Qianyuan—they had previously vaguely sensed that Zheng Shidi probably had one's own idea.

But constrained by various factors, this idea could not be implemented.

Now that Nine Mountains Realm exists, Zheng Shidi no longer hides it.

But... not everyone can accept it.

Sun Daoyu glanced around; some Senior Brothers' faces showed a bit of confusion or said bewilderment.

Yet no one spoke.

Everyone understood that when Zheng Fa held command of Nine Mountains Realm.

The current Jiushan Sect already bears the surname Zheng.

Moreover, at this time, Jiushan Sect has only Junior Uncle Huang as a Nascent Soul.

Who doesn't know that Senior Sister Zhang, the beloved disciple of Senior Uncle Huang, and Zheng Shidi are so close they might as well be sharing a single quilt...

After stating these two points, Zheng Fa, seeing the exhausted expressions on his fellow disciples, spoke up: "Let me guide Senior Brothers to rest."

As he finished speaking, he tapped the jade seal, and suddenly a rainbow bridge arched across the Tiangong, leading to an island in the void.

Just as Sun Daoyu and the others stepped onto the rainbow bridge, they felt the Tiangong shake, all of them slightly startled.

"Zheng Shidi?"

Sun Daoyu asked.

"Senior Brothers, do not panic," Zheng Fa reassured them. "We... are going home!"

(End of Chapter)