Chapter 97: Choice

Zheng Fa had never imagined he’d see Zhang Shijie like this—

As he walked toward the back courtyard of Zhang Shijie’s home, the first thing he heard was a rumbling roar.

Looking up, he saw a white cascade, like a silken banner, plunging from the cliff atop Jiushan and crashing into Zhang Shijie’s back courtyard.

Indeed, as soon as he stepped through the courtyard gate, a wave of icy mist struck his face.

Beneath the waterfall lay a small lake, slightly more than half an acre in size, with a tiny pavilion beside its shore.

Zhang Shijie sat on the steps before the pavilion, her plain skirt slightly hiked to her ankles, bare jade feet dipping and swaying in the lake water.

Slightly beautiful, yet dangerously reckless…

This waterfall was likely melted snow from Jiushan; even from several zhang away, Zheng Fa could faintly feel the lake’s chill.

Inside the pavilion sat another girl, fifteen or sixteen, with a round face, idly watching Zhang Shijie play in the water—until she saw Zheng Fa enter, her eyes lit up, and she called out to Zhang Shijie: “Someone’s here!”

Zheng Fa stepped forward two paces and bowed to Zhang Shijie: “Zhang Shijie.”

Then he turned to the girl beside her: “May I ask your name, Shijie?”

“I’m Yuan. Just call me Yuan Shijie.”

Though the girl smiled as she spoke, Zheng Fa clearly sensed no warmth in her eyes.

“Pleased to meet you, Yuan Shijie.”

Seeing her expression remained indifferent, Zheng Fa merely offered a polite greeting.

Zhang Shijie turned her head, still seated, and nodded at Zheng Fa: “I heard you chose the Five Thunder Body Scripture?”

Zheng Fa froze, thinking she meant to dissuade him, and prepared to speak.

Zhang Shijie waved her hand and cut in: “I’m not your Master—no matter what you choose—but the Five Thunder Body Scripture is unusual.”

“Unusual?”

“Have you heard the legend that our Jiushan Sect once dominated the realm through this Five Thunder Body Scripture?”

“I heard it from Han Shixiong.”

“Do you know why?”

“The Five Thunder Body Scripture greatly enhances the power of thunder talismans…” Zheng Fa paused, then repeated the reason Han Qi had given him.

“It’s not that simple. The Five Thunder Body Scripture does amplify talisman power, but since it can be cultivated at the Qi Refining stage, its effect is naturally limited.” Zhang Shijie glanced at Zheng Fa. “It matters because the Five Thunder Body Scripture is the key to one of Jiushan Sect’s most powerful true transmissions—only after mastering the Five Thunder Body Scripture can one cultivate that true transmission.”

“...” Zheng Fa frowned. “Then why hasn’t anyone cultivated the Five Thunder Body Scripture in a thousand years?”

According to Han Qi, Xuanlei Stones were rare—but not nonexistent.

If one could master the Five Thunder Body Scripture, they could immediately proceed to a true transmission—such a return on investment would be immense.

“Because the materials required for that true transmission are even harder to find.”

“...Thank you for the warning, Zhang Shijie.”

Zheng Fa now understood why Zhang Shijie had summoned him.

She thought he’d chosen the Five Thunder Body Scripture for its raw power, and was warning him: to truly unlock its potential, he must first master the true transmission.

Zheng Fa didn’t mind this—he cultivated the Five Thunder Body Scripture primarily to forge the Qingyang Dao Body.

Zhang Shijie studied his expression and nodded: “Good. You understand.”

Yuan Shijie suddenly spoke up: “By the way, is the Sect Master cultivating the Divine Thunder Sublime Art?”

Zhang Shijie nodded, then explained to Zheng Fa’s puzzled face: “The Divine Thunder Sublime Art is that true transmission. In our entire Jiushan Sect today, only the Sect Master has the opportunity—yes, cultivated a thousand years ago.”

“If you cultivate the Five Thunder Body Scripture, you might even earn the Sect Master’s audience,” Yuan Shijie said, smiling at Zheng Fa. “He’s been secluded atop Jiushan for ages, with no disciples, and rarely sees anyone.”

Her tone was clearly teasing—she clearly didn’t believe the Five Thunder Body Scripture held such influence.

After discussing the Five Thunder Body Scripture, Zhang Shijie rose, her expression solemn as she faced Zheng Fa.

Her eyes held no emotion as she softly asked:

“I once said I saw potential in you. Do you know why?”

Zheng Fa shook his head.

“Did you receive the Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Method from our Ancestor?”

At this, Zheng Fa’s expression turned grim—he’d just developed his spiritual sense and had already examined both the Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Method and the Lingshan Method.

The Lingshan Method was normal—only accessible after Qi Refining seventh layer, far beyond his current cultivation.

As for the Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Method, he’d long heard from Jiushan’s Ancestor that it was incomplete.

But after reading it, he realized “incomplete” was an overly polite term.

The entire scripture was barely a few hundred characters.

Zheng Fa translated its core content as follows:

I had a super powerful idea!

Based on this idea, I could create an unparalleled Foundation Establishment method!

But I’ve already reached Nascent Soul—I don’t need this anymore, too lazy to finish.

Creating this method is simple—I’ve already written out the principles. You descendants, just figure it out yourselves!

What a Fermat move!

Seeing his expression, Zhang Shijie faintly smirked—she clearly understood Zheng Fa’s utter disbelief.

“What do you think of this Foundation Establishment method?”

“...Leaving aside the fact that no one knows how to practice it, the method is extraordinary,” Zheng Fa replied after a pause, choosing his words carefully.

Zhang Shijie’s smile widened.

But this wasn’t just flattery—her Ancestor’s idea had truly opened Zheng Fa’s eyes.

Jiushan’s Ancestor, studying the Shanhe True Form Talisman, noticed its four talismanic characters subtly absorbed corresponding talismanic patterns from the void to sustain themselves—so he wondered: if one condensed such patterns into the dantian, could they similarly draw in patterns from the void?

Zheng Fa considered it—this might actually be possible. During talisman creation, patterns naturally attract one another; if, as Zhang Shijie suggested, talismanic patterns were merely trajectories of spiritual energy flow...

Then the Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Method was essentially an auto-running cultivation system.

More importantly, Zhang Shijie herself had already reached Jin Dan by relying on this method.

Zhang Shijie seemed to sense his thoughts and pulled out a jade cylinder: “This is my perfected version of the Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Method.”

Zheng Fa immediately asked: “What do you require of me, Shijie?”

Zhang Shijie smiled faintly, tossed the jade cylinder—and Zheng Fa instinctively caught it.

“?”

“Cultivating this is the price you must pay.”

“Huh?”

“The Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Method is still incomplete,” Zhang Shijie said, looking at Zheng Fa.

“What do you mean?” Zheng Fa sensed the truth forming.

“I used the Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Method to forge my Dao Base. After forming my Jin Dan, I discovered it was flawed—I stagnated for ten years, only overcoming it through deeper insight into talisman arts.” Zhang Shijie spoke plainly. “Now do you understand why I value you?”

Zheng Fa understood.

If he cultivated this method, he might fall into the same trap as Zhang Shijie.

“If you don’t wish to cultivate this method, you may leave now,” Zhang Shijie said softly, her face utterly neutral.

Zheng Fa clenched the jade cylinder in his hand—without a single breath of hesitation—he met her gaze and said: “Disciple wishes to learn.”

Zheng Fa had no choice.

After so long in Jiushan Sect, he’d long understood:

As a talisman genius, he was valuable—and yet, not valuable at all.

Jiushan Sect’s talismanists were like artisans.

The Administration Hall purchased talismans crafted by disciples and sold them externally.

If unwilling to trade through the Administration Hall, talismanists could sell in the marketplace—though Jiushan Sect took a cut.

To Jiushan Sect, Zheng Fa’s talent was valuable—he could generate income through his talismans.

But to other disciples, Zheng Fa competed for their spirit stones and threatened their market share—their gains from him were negligible compared to the threat he posed.

This left Zheng Fa in a precarious position within Jiushan Sect—

For example, Zhou Gan, though inferior in talisman talent, had long been taken as a disciple by Master Pang due to his single-element root and Dao Body—he dared to publicly humiliate Li Shixiong, revealing his confidence.

Yet Zheng Fa was ignored, with only Zhang Shijie quietly supporting him.

In truth, cultivation geniuses and talisman geniuses were different.

Cultivation geniuses could enter the sect without any talisman skill.

Jiushan Sect’s upper echelons valued cultivation geniuses because they were the sect’s future pillars, the anchors in times of chaos.

They valued talisman geniuses only because they brought profit.

Someone like Zhang Shijie, who truly valued his talisman talent, was exceedingly rare—let alone her past aid, this connection was one he couldn’t afford to lose.

Moreover, the Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Method was the only scripture that could fully leverage his talisman aptitude.

Hearing this, Yuan Shijie’s face fell. She pulled out a deep-black ore and handed it to Zhang Shijie: “I lost!”

“?”

“I told you—he’s clever.”

Zhang Shijie took the ore and handed it to Zheng Fa: “Xuanlei Stone.”

“...”

Zheng Fa held the Xuanlei Stone.

Han Qi had told him the price of this stone: at least twenty spirit stones, and even then, it was hard to find on the market.

Looking at Zhang Shijie, he felt the happiness of having tied himself to a wealthy woman.

“Come sit.” Zhang Shijie waved him over, motioning for Zheng Fa to enter the small pavilion.

The Yuan Shijie beside her, though she had lost a Dark Thunder Stone, now regarded Zheng Fa with noticeably warmer eyes.

Zheng Fa knew he had finally been accepted by Zhang Shijie’s little circle.

“What do you think of Jiushan Sect?” After a while of idle chat, Zhang Shijie suddenly asked.

Zheng Fa froze, reminded of Zhuang Shixiong, who had asked him the same question.

“What’s wrong? Is it that hard to answer?” Zhang Shijie noticed his odd expression and asked.

“I was thinking of Zhuang Shixiong,” Zheng Fa told Zhang Shijie everything Zhuang Shixiong had said to him.

“...Him.” Zhang Shijie chuckled. “Always like this.”

“...Does he really hate geniuses?”

“...He himself is a genius. He doesn’t hate you—he simply wants to wipe out every immortal sect.”

“!”

The Yuan Shijie beside her chimed in: “If you ask me, the most ruthless one in Jiushan Sect is definitely Zhuang Shidi.”

“Zhuang Shidi has extraordinary talent,” Zhang Shijie explained. “My master found him in his thirties—long past the ideal age for cultivation—but my master recognized his potential and took him into the sect directly.”

“...But Zhuang Shixiong doesn’t seem that strong.”

“He’s extremely lazy in cultivation. If not for me and my master forcing him, he wouldn’t even have reached Foundation Establishment,” Zhang Shijie said, a trace of helplessness crossing her face. “This man... refuses to cultivate at all, and won’t even use spirit materials.”

Zhang Shijie added: “Truthfully, we dare not let him cultivate too much...”

...Indeed, what an immortal-world ruffian.

“Do you know what he’s thinking?”

“No.”

Zheng Fa now felt deeply shaken.

“He says spiritual energy is the poison of this world, and immortal sects are thieves of humanity. When spiritual energy is abundant, only one in ten thousand can cultivate. When it fades, the masses must die alongside the sects’ despair...” Zhang Shijie looked up. “He says only without immortal sects will mortals escape these endless calamities.”

...That makes perfect sense!

When spiritual energy is plentiful, most people still can’t cultivate or enjoy its blessings. When it vanishes, most people die with it.

This idea, aside from being suicidal, has no real flaw.

In his room, Zheng Fa sat cross-legged on a cushion, his spiritual power circulating according to the Five Thunder Body Scripture; faint electric lights flickered within the Dark Thunder Stone in his hand—making his body twitch intermittently.

After a long while, he opened his eyes and looked at the Dark Thunder Stone in his palm.

The blackness on the stone seemed slightly lighter.

One Dark Thunder Stone is far from enough for cultivating the Five Thunder Body Scripture.

But for Zheng Fa, this stone had one advantage—it helped him understand how much current he should use.

The Five Thunder Body Scripture appears brutal: first electrocute yourself, then use spiritual power and medicinal materials to nourish the body, strengthening it in the process.

But in truth, the technique is extremely refined—it has five layers: skin tempering, muscle training, bone strengthening, blood replacement, and finally, summoning heavenly lightning to refine the body.

Each layer requires spiritual power to connect with the Dark Thunder Stone, drawing in thunder energy of varying intensities—no doubt refined from countless ancestors’ experiences of being nearly fried to death.

For Zheng Fa, this scripture has one major problem: modern electric current cannot be controlled by spiritual power.

He must figure out the approximate voltage required for each layer.

Otherwise, too low yields no effect; too high means no future.

One Dark Thunder Stone is certainly insufficient to master the Five Thunder Body Scripture, but it’s enough to let him experience the sensation of electrocution at each layer.

In the modern world, Zheng Fa stared at the outlet in his room, hesitating.

Starting with 220V voltage seems like suicide.

He thought for a moment, then took a power bank from his room.

He cut off one end of the charging cable, exposing the copper wires inside, plugged the other end into the power bank’s 5V output port, then gently pinched the exposed copper wires between his fingers.

Hmm, a bit numb—but not enough.