Chapter 68: Like Me

Zheng Fa could still distinguish which was true peace: nuclear peace or actual peace.

Even if the Baixian Alliance calls for global unity again, without the strength to sweep the world clean, they can only be swept away by it.

Zhang Shijie seemed to see through Zheng Fa's thoughts and, as if wanting to vindicate the Baixian Alliance, said to him: "Besides the five great immortal sects of Xuanwei, our Baixian Alliance fears no one; saying we are the sixth great power of Xuanwei is not wrong."

That sounds not bad.

He suddenly thought of a question: "Zhang True Person, may I ask... how many in the Xuanwei Realm claim to be the sixth great power?"

"..."

Understood.

"... Let's not talk about that. You only need to know that although the Baixian Alliance is not as ancient as the five great immortal sects, its various schools and sects exchange resources and support each other, developing extremely fast. Now there are nine Nascent Soul sects within the Alliance, and it is guarded by a Soul Transformation Xuehe Laozu, making it a major power among the immortal sects."

"Yes."

Seeing her somewhat confident expression, Zheng Fa also understood that the Baixian Alliance was not as weak as he had thought.

Moreover, the franchise system truly is impressive when it comes to expansion.

"Speaking of which, nowadays, not just my Baixian Alliance, but conflicts above the Nascent Soul level have not occurred between major powers for a thousand years."

Zhang Shijie suddenly said something that left Zheng Fa slightly stunned.

Are the immortal sects really so fond of peace?

"Since you have taken the immortal-grade token, there is no need to hide these things from you. For ten thousand years, spiritual energy has grown increasingly weak, and spiritual materials are scarce; cultivating a Nascent Soul cultivator has become more and more difficult."

Zheng Fa felt somewhat enlightened: "They can't afford to fight."

"Yes. For major powers, the cost of losing a Nascent Soul cultivator, or even a Jin Dan cultivator at this level, is also very great, and it is getting greater and greater."

Zheng Fa felt slightly relieved; regardless of the reason, peace in the Cultivation World was good for him.

"Don't be too happy too soon. In my view, this situation will not last long. All major powers are concentrating resources to supply geniuses, probably preparing for the future."

Zheng Fa understood Zhang Shijie's meaning; even hiding away has a day when resources run out, and when that day comes, peace will naturally be impossible.

It looks very much like an arms race right now.

For the immortal sects, since the gap in cultivation between cultivators can be too vast—perhaps one Nascent Soul is worth a small sect—cultivating a genius is indeed more cost-effective.

"I tell you this to let you know that time waits for no one, and also..." Zhang Shijie said to Zheng Fa again: "Do not hide."

"Thank you, True Person, for the advice." Zheng Fa understood the other's good intentions. He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Zhang True Person, do you know how to test spiritual roots?"

This matter had actually always been a thorn in his heart; the Lady, thinking he was valued by powerful cultivators, naturally never thought he was even unsure if he had spiritual roots.

He could not ask the Lady to check his spiritual root aptitude.

But Zhang Shijie was different...

At least compared to the Lady, he had a bit more trust in Zhang Shijie.

Sure enough, Zhang Shijie merely glanced at him, tapped her finger in the air, and a golden talisman and incantation flew onto Zheng Fa.

Green and red light interwoven and emerged from Zheng Fa's chest and abdomen.

"Fire and Wood dual spiritual roots," Zhang Shijie said, then paused: "... It's passable."

"Thank you, True Person." Zheng Fa was truly somewhat moved; in those two words "passable," Zhang Shijie's meager emotional intelligence was probably contained.

He was also satisfied. Just now, hearing Zhang Shijie say these things, he had already decided: if his spiritual roots were not even better than the Seventh Young Master's, he might as well return the immortal-grade token to the other party; relying on the spiritual crane to live a hundred years in the mortal world might be even more pleasant.

"..."

The two fell silent. Zhang Shijie looked at the exercise book in her hand, then at Zheng Fa, and the expression on her face clearly wrote four characters:

Do you have anything else?

It looked as if she was eager to enjoy the game.

Zheng Fa was speechless, bowed to Zhang Shijie to take his leave, and walked toward the door.

"This immortal-grade gathering..."

"Hmm?" Zheng Fa turned to look at Zhang Shijie.

Zhang Shijie's tone was somewhat uncertain: "These families convened the immortal-grade gathering early due to selfish motives. The Baixian Alliance probably will not sit idly by; there may be some changes."

Zheng Fa felt somewhat curious, but Zhang Shijie seemed to be merely guessing; she said only that one sentence and had nothing more to add.

Zheng Fa put away the immortal-grade token and walked toward the Seventh Young Master's study.

When he reached the gate of the Seventh Young Master's courtyard, he happened to meet the Young Lady coming out from inside.

She glanced at Zheng Fa, did not speak to him, and merely nodded lightly.

Zheng Fa bowed to the other party, stepped aside to clear the way, and watched the other's back with a slight sense of confusion in his heart.

He felt the Young Lady's gaze at him was strange...

Arriving at the study, the Seventh Young Master inside was not immersed in the sea of books but was huddled with Gao Yuan discussing something.

The Seventh Young Master's face was full of smiles.

The happiness on Gao Yuan's face, however, looked somewhat forced.

"What happened?" Zheng Fa walked into the study and asked the two.

"Zheng Fa, you're here!" The Seventh Young Master strode toward Zheng Fa, his face more intimate than usual. He patted Zheng Fa's back and said: "Let me tell you, from now on, we are relatives!"

"Ah?"

"My sister just came and told me that Mother intends for you to marry into the family and has found a concubine-born sister to be married to you."

"..."

Zheng Fa was stunned, looking at the Seventh Young Master's face; the joy on his face did not seem like a joke.

Looking again at Gao Yuan, Gao Yuan also had a smile on his face and was bowing with clasped hands toward him, as if congratulating him.

But in his expression, there was an extra hint of discomfort, as if a small bit of jealousy.

It was this small jealousy that made Zheng Fa even more certain that the Seventh Young Master was not deceiving him.

The Seventh Young Master was still speaking excitedly.

"Those sisters of mine aren't much good anyway; I'm doing you a favor. But it's fine, from now on I'll treat you like a real brother!"

Gao Yuan really couldn't hold back: "How is this a favor? He was a book boy before, and now he's a master in the manor."

The Seventh Young Master was speechless, muttering, "The people in the Front Courtyard, they and I and my mother aren't of one mind..."

Zheng Fa could guess a bit of the past behind this; the family in the Seventh Young Master's heart was probably just his sister and his mother, and whether he even had a father was debatable.

Gao Yuan pouted: "If they're no good, give them to me, I'll take them."

The Seventh Young Master stared at Gao Yuan, his eyes full of disdain: "Why do I feel you're not very happy? That petty attitude has returned, hasn't it?"

Gao Yuan spoke softly: "Three people in one study, but now two masters and only me as a servant; there are more masters than servants... how can anyone be happy?"

Zheng Fa patted his shoulder and comforted him, "I won't be your master."

Gao Yuan laughed: "I knew it, you won't change!"

"No, I have changed."

"Huh?"

"True Person Zhang gave me an immortal-grade token."

The Seventh Young Master's eyes widened slightly as he looked at Zheng Fa: "Who did you say gave you what?"

"True Person Zhang, an immortal-grade token."

Zheng Fa answered clearly and concisely, but it was enough to silence the Seventh Young Master.

"What is an immortal-grade token?" Gao Yuan was at a loss.

"A spot to attend the Immortal Grade Assembly." The happiness on the Seventh Young Master's face gradually froze into depression: "Ten years ago, my Ceng Waizufu, because our family had too many descendants, took an immortal-grade token from our Zhao family, preventing me from going to the immortal gate, making me wait in vain for ten years."

"..."

"And so, Shijie Zhang just gave it to you?"

"Probably because she is unmarried and childless?"

The expression on the Seventh Young Master's face was hard to describe; Gao Yuan didn't know where he pulled out a bronze mirror, placing it before him.

"What are you doing?"

"Young Master, look at the person in the mirror; don't they bear a strong resemblance to me?"

"..."