Chapter 79: Ancestor

Both the Lady and the Young Mistress saw the same thought in each other’s eyes:

It must be that brat’s mouth!

Everyone had just seen Seventh Young Master speaking with Zhou Gan, but no one heard what was said.

Sun Daoyu didn’t understand Seventh Young Master; he merely assumed his junior had lost his composure simply because he’d been outpaced by Zheng Fa and Seventh Young Master.

But the Lady and the Young Mistress knew exactly how insolent this fellow was!

They’d already understood: given Zhou Gan’s talent and the favor of a Nascent Soul True Person, he would surely become a major figure in the Hundred Immortal Alliance.

And our own fool hadn’t even entered the Hundred Immortal Alliance yet—he’d already offended such a person…

Nearby, Sun Daoyu was praising Seventh Young Master: “I never expected your household’s Young Master to possess such talent—I truly misjudged him before.”

As he spoke, his demeanor toward the Lady and the Young Mistress became noticeably more courteous.

“…”

Seeing their expressions weren’t joyful, Sun Daoyu grew puzzled and turned to Zhang Shijie: “Still, what surprised me most was your eye for talent—Zheng Fa was utterly unmatched.”

On screen, Zheng Fa’s speed was indeed astonishing, growing faster and faster, gradually leaving everyone far behind.

On the transparent plank paths, everyone who looked up saw him stepping steadily, ascending one plank after another.

This speed rendered all others utterly helpless, shattering their Dao hearts…

Zhou Gan was among them—he grew increasingly frantic, constantly urging himself: faster, even faster.

Yet he helplessly realized he was falling farther and farther behind Zheng Fa.

He knew he should focus on the plank before him, yet couldn’t help glancing up at Zheng Fa’s figure again and again.

Frazzled and distracted, he finally slipped on the last few planks of the Sixth Mountain and fell off.

Sun Daoyu in Zhang Shijie’s chamber couldn’t help slapping his palm: “My junior has at least the talent for the Seventh or Eighth Mountain—today he’s lost his composure entirely!”

Zhang Shijie, rarely nodding, agreed: she could tell—Zhou Gan’s limit wasn’t due to insufficient Talisman Dao talent, but because his heart-mind could go no further.

“Didn’t you forget something?”

Sun Daoyu blinked, then pulled a jade cylinder from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Shijie: “This is the Method of the Void-Spirit Eyes.”

“You prepared this in advance?”

Seeing his calm, ready demeanor, even Zhang Shijie was startled.

“Not me—my Master,” Sun Daoyu said with reverence: “My Master said, if you needed anything, it would surely be the Void-Spirit Eyes to perfect your Yuanfu Jin Dan.”

“Did Master Pang already expect to lose?” Zhang Shijie asked.

“My Master loves gambling—and has never lost,” Sun Daoyu shook his head.

“?”

“Before we came, my Master told me: if we won, then my junior getting the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment method would be fine.”

“But if we lost, and this Void-Spirit Eyes method could help you perfect your path—even if our philosophies differ—wouldn’t it be a great joy if the Nine Mountains Sect produced another Nascent Soul?”

“...” Zhang Shijie was slightly moved, but didn’t seem to truly believe it.

“Besides, though my junior is arrogant, it’s only because he’s been coddled since childhood. Now that he’s learned there are greater talents beyond him, his future diligence may matter more than a Foundation Establishment method.”

Zhang Shijie sighed: “...Master Pang’s intentions are truly touching.”

“My Master also said that after you obtain the Void-Spirit Eyes, you might come to agree with his philosophy of Infinite Yuanfu,” Sun Daoyu suddenly added.

Zhang Shijie’s eyes widened slightly, and her gaze toward the jade cylinder changed.

“Master Pang’s wager was me?”

“Compared to you agreeing with my Master’s philosophy, what’s a Foundation Establishment method?” Sun Daoyu looked at Zhang Shijie: “My Master always wins.”

“Whether it’s Zheng Fa or Brother Zhou—they’ve never been what my Master truly cares about. How could they compare to you?”

He pointed at Zheng Fa on the screen.

…

Zheng Fa’s steps grew ever faster, nearly crushing any hope others had of catching him—but he hadn’t intended it this way; the difficulty of the Nine Mountains’ plank path doubled every two mountains.

On the Seventh Mountain, the corresponding talisman diagrams appeared only once in every thirty.

And the planks beneath his feet vanished after roughly every thirty diagrams.

That meant Zheng Fa had only one chance to step—miss it, and he lost it—so he couldn’t slow down at all.

He’d already pulled far ahead of everyone else.

Even those who passed the Sixth Mountain were few; when the difficulty suddenly spiked again on the Seventh Mountain, Seventh Young Master also fell.

Zheng Fa saw only the planks ahead and the gradually clearer white peak.

No one before or behind him—only his own breath echoed in his ears—until, nearing the end of the Eighth Mountain, he saw a figure on the Ninth Mountain, with their back turned to him.

“Zhang Shijie?”

Zheng Fa was startled—nearly misstepped a diagram and ruined everything.

That tall, slender silhouette with graceful curves was unmistakable—no one else but Zhang Shijie.

But how could Zhang Shijie be here?

When he reached the final step of the Eighth Mountain, the figure slowly turned—revealing Zhang Shijie’s face.

But Zheng Fa instantly knew: this was not Zhang Shijie—Zhang Shijie would never wear such a lewd grin!

…

“He surpasses me,” Zhang Shijie said suddenly, clutching the jade cylinder.

“Hm?”

Sun Daoyu, confused, watched as Zheng Fa stepped onto the Ninth Peak.

“Zheng Shidi has also reached the Ninth Peak? The second person in ten thousand years!” Sun Daoyu sighed, already calling Zheng Fa “Shidi” with warmth—as if they’d been close for years.

Still, he shook his head: “I admit your eye for talent is unmatched… but this man has only dual elemental roots and no Dao body—he still can’t match you, Zhang Shijie.”

“Do you know who you’ll meet on the Ninth Peak?”

Zhang Shijie asked suddenly.

“Who?”

“The Ninth Mountains’ Ancestor.”

“The Ancestor? Isn’t he long since passed away?”

“A lingering fragment of soul, reborn with awareness,” Zhang Shijie looked at Zheng Fa on screen, smiling faintly: “Master Pang underestimates me—he thinks a Void-Spirit Eyes method alone can shake my Dao path?”

“Hm?”

“My heart is vast—I don’t want just a Void-Spirit Eyes method. I want a kindred spirit,” Zhang Shijie said, watching Zheng Fa: “I failed the Ancestor’s trial once.”

“Then the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment method?”

“...A small reward,” Zhang Shijie glanced dismissively at Sun Daoyu, her eyes fixed on Zheng Fa, filled with anticipation.

…

Zheng Fa stared at the “Zhang Shijie” before him, expression odd.

“I never expected—after only a hundred years—someone else would come to the Ninth Peak,” the “Zhang Shijie” grinned warmly and lewdly, even sounding slightly wounded: “Young Master, why did you take so long?”

“Who are you?”

“I am the Ninth Mountains’ Ancestor!” the “Zhang Shijie” said, lifting his chin: “The plank path you just walked? I designed it! Oh, and the female disciple who came before had some good suggestions—I didn’t shortchange her, either. Gave her a small reward!”

He looked rather proud.

So it’s you, old scoundrel!

No—this is what Zhang Shijie is really like!

“Disciple feels this trial is still too simple,” Zheng Fa offered a pure, innocent smile, deciding to learn from Zhang Shijie, this exemplary role model.