Chapter 262: What Are You Waiting For?

With Zhang Shijie's soft cry, the nine peaks rose from the ground, circling her body, connected by spiritual energy pathways in the void, seeming to merge as one.

"Does Jiushan Sect have a Soul Transformation?"

Blood River Patriarch's face turned pale; he no longer cared about the Sacred Ancestor's orders.

The sword before him flashed through the void toward Zhang Shijie, but was blocked by the spiritual energy surrounding the nine peaks—there was a sense of perfect equilibrium.

Seeing this, Blood River Patriarch's expression darkened further.

He gestured, and both swords snapped back, as if cautious.

…

"Did you truly awaken your original form?"

On the surface of the ninth peak's belly, a face appeared.

The face resembled Zhang Shijie closely, but the voice was that of Jiushan's Founder.

Clearly, Blood River Patriarch's earlier strike had wounded him severely, forcing him to cling to life through the mountain's body.

"No… the Founder long ago transcended into the Dao." Zhang Shijie sighed softly.

"Then who are you summoning?"

"… "

"Me?"

Zhang Shijie nodded.

"No, I'm just borrowing your face—do you expect me to fight a Soul Transformation?"

With the situation urgent, Zhang Shijie had no time to explain; she merely said, "Forgive me!"

Circuits wove across her body; from the rear mountain, four True Form Talismans of Rivers and Mountains burst through the rock and soared into the sky, illuminating all directions.

The spiritual energy circuits seemed to come alive.

Various talismans flew out from the True Form Talismans, then landed on the nine peaks below, and returned into Zhang Shijie's body.

The three became faintly fused as one.

The face on the mountain vanished.

…

As Zhang Shijie merged with the True Form Talismans and the Nine Peaks.

Across the sky for three thousand li, golden and crimson auroras spontaneously surged.

Seeing this celestial phenomenon.

Qingyun the Great Saint slowly turned his head to Tongming the Upper Man: "Is Jiushan Sect undergoing a Soul Transformation?"

"I've studied Jiushan's Founder's condition—impossible…," Tongming frowned, deeply puzzled. "That Jiushan Founder stumbled onto the Soul Transformation path, but his original form was too unique, bound too deeply to this world's karmic threads—he long ago transcended."

"Then what is this phenomenon?"

The two exchanged glances and flew straight toward Jiushan Sect.

Blood River Patriarch stared at Zhang Shijie, frowning.

"Soul Transformation? No… it's a failed, aberrant path to enlightenment…"

"You, an early-stage Golden Core, replaced your obliterated true self with your own body?"

"Zhang Wuyi… Zhang Wuyi."

Blood River Patriarch sighed. "No wonder the Sacred Ancestor values you so highly…"

Tongming the Upper Man and Qingyun the Great Saint, who had just arrived, exchanged glances—both stunned, their expressions saying only one thing—

Is this something an early-stage Golden Core can do?

…

Zhang Shijie ignored his words and turned to Tongming the Upper Man.

Tongming understood her intent—she wanted to join forces!

Upon further sensing her power, he realized it was already three-tenths stronger than his own.

Especially the vast spiritual energy within the mountain's veins made his eyelids twitch.

He thought, and the treasure mirror reappeared—its blue radiance now three times brighter, beams of talismans shooting from it straight at Blood River Patriarch.

As Tongming moved, Zhang Shijie instantly raised her hand; the nine peaks around her suddenly stacked together in layers.

The True Form Talismans of Rivers and Mountains plunged straight into the highest peak, merging once more with its summit, glowing brightly on the cliff face.

Zhang Shijie pressed down with her slender hand.

The mountains, as if obeying a command, charged toward Blood River Patriarch.

Before him now rose towering, crashing peaks.

Behind him, Tongming the Upper Man attacked.

He was not alarmed; one sword shot forward, the other backward, each meeting a strike—mountain and radiant light—both blocked.

But Blood River Patriarch's face twisted suddenly in agony.

"Zhang Daoist, impressive! Again!"

Tongming the Upper Man saw his opening, cried out, and prepared to strike again.

Qingyun the Great Saint's face turned even more horrified.

He saw clearly: earlier, Tongming had barely held off one sword; now, with Zhang Wuyi's aid, Blood River Patriarch had suffered a heavy blow.

So by this reckoning—

Is Zhang Wuyi stronger than Tongming the Upper Man?

Remembering Zhang Wuyi had only been an early-stage Golden Core, yet now, through unknown means, surpassed a veteran Soul Transformation.

This talent…

Unheard of!

At last, he understood, as Blood River Patriarch did, why the Great Zizai Demon Ancestor valued Zhang Wuyi so.

"Qingyun! Are you just watching?"

Unexpectedly, Blood River Patriarch spoke to him.

He glared at Qingyun the Great Saint, clearly growing impatient.

"The Sacred Ancestor's pact with you was to block Tongming the Upper Man!"

"I blocked him—he was about to leave," Qingyun said. "You provoked him…"

"… "

Blood River Patriarch's expression flickered twice.

Qingyun the Great Saint was indeed displeased.

After all, he'd expended considerable effort—even managed to seize the Hundred Immortal Alliance without a single drop of blood.

Now Blood River Patriarch, meddling again, beat up Tongming the Upper Man…

And won't let him fight back?

Zhang Shijie and Tongming the Upper Man watched from the side.

Seeing they were not aligned, Tongming the Upper Man's eyes darted and said, "Qingyun Daoist, you've seen it now—the depth of the Immortal Sects is beyond your imagining…"

Qingyun the Great Saint remained silent.

This struck him right at the heart.

Jiushan Sect had always been obscure, never worth his notice.

Now suddenly, a Soul Transformation emerges…

It's terrifying… monstrous.

"It's not too late to turn back now…"

Zhang Shijie said nothing.

She now understood—Qingyun the Great Saint was a man of many thoughts…

But honestly, she didn't trust Tongming the Upper Man.

"Qingyun!" Blood River Patriarch sneered. "That day, your Seven Great Saints of the Demon Clan made a pact with my Sacred Sect… are you now regretting it?"

Qingyun the Great Saint's face shifted repeatedly—he clearly cared more for the title of the Seven Great Saints than for the Great Zizai Demon Ancestor.

After a moment's thought, he sighed, transformed into a golden-winged great roc, and flew toward Tongming the Upper Man.

Tongming the Upper Man reached out, recalled his mirror, and clashed with him.

Blood River Patriarch smiled, turned, and his two swords' qi linked—his power now doubled from before.

"Zhang Wuyi… the Sacred Ancestor values talent. Surrender now, and I'll spare your life."

Clearly, despite his earlier setback, without Tongming the Upper Man, he was confident he could capture Zhang Shijie.

Zhang Shijie said nothing; the nine peaks before her shifted and coalesced, refusing to relent.

…

Blood River Patriarch frowned, looking troubled: "I don't know how you've managed to channel Soul Transformation power with only an early-stage Golden Core…"

"Your talent compels even my admiration."

"But you're like a three-year-old swinging a great hammer—how long can you hold on?"

Hearing this, Tongming the Upper Man turned back—and saw the spiritual energy circuits on Zhang Wuyi's body were fraying, barely holding.

He looked at Zhang Wuyi's silent, gritted-teeth expression.

He understood: Blood River Patriarch spoke no falsehood.

To wield power beyond oneself demands a price.

Below, the Sect Master and Master Pang exchanged a glance, their expressions even more troubled.

But at this moment, neither could lend any aid.

Suddenly, the Sect Master's eyes lit up, and he whispered to Zhang Shijie: "Zhang, you may now take the Nine Mountains and leave."

Originally, they had returned only for the Nine Mountains' spiritual vein.

Yet now, seeing your condition, you can move these nine colossal peaks.

Why fight here?

Unexpectedly, Zhang Shijie gently shook her head—as if rejecting his suggestion.

The Sect Master was utterly baffled.

Seeing her shake her head, the Blood River Patriarch mistook it for a rejection of himself.

He shook his head and said: "If you refuse to yield, don't blame me!"

As his words fell, two flying swords shot out in parallel from his hands; their qi resonated, forming twin beams of crimson and black light that struck the Nine Mountains.

Unlike before, the True Form of Mountain and River talisman atop the peak flickered dimly, as if struggling to hold.

Zhang Shijie clenched her silver teeth, yet pain still crept across her face.

It seemed the Blood River Patriarch's confidence was not unfounded—Zhang Shijie still could not match his full power.

"How about it?"

The Blood River Patriarch still seemed to wish to capture her alive, and asked again.

Zhang Shijie said nothing, only raised her hand once more; the Nine Mountains shimmered with spiritual light.

……

Tong Ming Shiren watched their clash, then turned to look at Qing Yun Dasheng.

Qing Yun Dasheng was truly an odd one—he flickered, transforming into a Confucian scholar, stepping aside.

As if letting him escape.

"..."

Tong Ming Shiren's expression shifted constantly; he bowed, then flew off without looking back.

Qing Yun Dasheng made no move, merely standing at a distance with his hands behind his back, watching the battle between the Blood River Patriarch and Zhang Shijie.

Golden light flickered in his eyes; his face bore a thoughtful expression—he too refused to intervene.

As the Blood River Patriarch had said:

Zhang Shijie was only Nascent Soul Early Stage; the longer the battle dragged, the harder it became for her to control Soul Transformation power.

Gradually, she fell clearly into the disadvantage.

The Blood River Patriarch still hoped to capture her alive—or perhaps feared her territory—so he was content to prolong the fight.

They battled from sunrise to sunset, then from moonrise over the willow branches to the faint dawn light; before they knew it, days had passed.

Zhang Shijie was clearly at her limit; the glow atop the Nine Mountains dimmed steadily.

Qing Yun Dasheng shook his head, as if slightly disappointed.

A faint smile appeared on the Blood River Patriarch's face.

Zhang Wuyi was too strange; that unenlightened alien's spiritual power was truly immense.

Fortunately, time was on his side...

"Blood River Patriarch..." Just as he smiled, Zhang Shijie suddenly spoke: "I'm waiting for my younger brother..."

"Waiting for what?"

The Blood River Patriarch froze—then above his head, brilliant light blazed. He looked up to see two suns hanging in the sky; not only that, but a crescent moon and scattered stars appeared in the heavens.

The next instant, a golden bell's shadow materialized amid the starry expanse.

The golden bell swayed twice in the void.

The sky filled with thunderclouds; countless lightning bolts fell like rain.

The Blood River Patriarch had not yet recovered his wits.

Beside him, Qing Yun Dasheng let out a startled cry: "Lei Chi! A Heaven-Sphere magic treasure!"

Before he finished speaking, he transformed into a golden-winged roc, shot a beam of golden light, and fled into the distance—swift and decisive.

Hearing this, the Blood River Patriarch's face turned ashen.

The lightning first shattered the blood river in the air.

One of his flying swords let out a mournful cry, as if grievously wounded.

Zhang Shijie seized the chance—before her, the nine mountains drew together, then shrank slowly into the shape of a seal; on its base, the four characters "True Form of Mountain and River" glowed.

The seal spun and pressed down upon the other flying sword; that sword offered no resistance, frozen in place.

Yet Zhang Shijie's pain intensified threefold.

Clearly, this move placed immense strain on her soul.

In an instant, one of the Blood River Patriarch's flying swords was pinned, the other already damaged.

In the sky, the Golden Bell rang again and again; thunderclouds piled one atop another.

Countless lightning bolts rained down upon him.

The Blood River Patriarch's face changed drastically; his body trembled, dissolving into a cloud of blood that scattered in all directions.

He fled.

"Zheng Shi-di!"

Zhang Shijie cried out—the flying sword, seeing its master flee, struggled violently; the seal could barely hold it.

Zheng Fa understood at once—Zhang Shijie meant not to pursue the fleeing enemy. He willed it, and the myriad lightning bolts shifted direction, hammering the rebellious sword with relentless force.

The sword was extraordinarily potent, still writhing in resistance.

Zheng Fa sent a thought to Zhang Shijie: "Zhang Shijie, release your hold on this sword."

At her command, she beckoned.

The sword tried to flee—but suddenly, a portal appeared in the void, swallowing it whole...

From afar came a cry of rage, heart-wrenching anguish, yet too terrified to turn back.

Below, the Sect Master and Master Pang exchanged a glance.

Master Pang seemed incredulous: "Is that your disciple?"

"Mm."

"Then you don't need to write any scripts. With a disciple like this, future generations won't forget you."

As their minds reeled, another figure slowly appeared—Tong Ming Shiren's form. He bowed and said:

"Congratulations, you've survived the great calamity... but the Great Freedom Demon Cult has emerged!"