Chapter 69
As soon as the next level of the plank road revealed forty talisman images, if you didn’t take a step forward, the talismans beneath your feet would vanish.
This sudden spike in difficulty caught many off guard, and the air was filled with despairing faces plummeting like dumplings, accompanied by screams echoing through the valley.
Such a scene inevitably affected others, leading to an increasing number of failures.
Zheng Fa spotted the Seventh Young Master, who had just reached the third mountain.
The Seventh Young Master wasn’t looking down at the valley; instead, he held his chin high, scrambling forward with a mix of hands and feet—clumsy yet determined. However, upon hearing the surrounding cries, he couldn’t help but glance down—then he froze.
“Zhao Lao San!”
Zheng Fa called out to him.
“You’re the one who’s Lao San!”
The Seventh Young Master retorted through gritted teeth, but it was clear he was feeling a bit weak, rooted to the spot.
“Zhao Jingfan,” Zheng Fa turned to look at him and suddenly asked, “After waiting ten years and cursing for ten years, are you really willing to go back like this?”
“…”
Zheng Fa said no more, seemingly unwilling to offer further encouragement, and continued forward.
Watching his retreating figure, the Seventh Young Master’s eyes gradually reddened.
He was all too familiar with Zheng Fa’s state—an almost numb obsession akin to the tactics used in a sea of talismans.
He exhaled, focusing his gaze on the next plank road. In his bloodshot eyes, nothing else seemed to exist—only those talisman images that were familiar, disgusting, and cursed, yet had consumed a decade of his life.
The two moved in tandem, one walking, one climbing, numbly and steadily making their way toward the Ninth Peak.
Gradually, most people were left far behind.
Zhou Qianyuan, who had initially been in the lead, seemed to sense something. He turned back and saw Zheng Fa rapidly closing the distance between them.
He had harbored resentment toward Zheng Fa and felt a sense of rivalry. Now, seeing Zheng Fa catch up, anxiety and panic flickered across his face.
Zheng Fa appeared oblivious to him, his eyes fixed on the talisman images, seemingly indifferent to who was beside him.
While others slowed down, Zheng Fa seemed to enter a deeper state, instinctively moving faster and faster.
When he passed Zhou Qianyuan, he didn’t even spare him a glance.
Zhou Qianyuan watched as Zheng Fa left him behind without a backward glance, and his steps faltered.
Then, he noticed a figure behind Zheng Fa, rolling and crawling but still moving quickly, overtaking him as well.
This person seemed to recognize him, stopping and standing up on shaky legs.
Zhou Qianyuan recognized him; this was the one who had been muttering beside Zheng Fa, a nuisance he couldn’t be bothered to engage with.
The person wore a familiar expression—one that had often graced Zhou Qianyuan’s own face before, filled with arrogance.
“I’m Zhao Jingfan.”
The familiarity of the phrase and tone only confirmed Zhou Qianyuan’s suspicion that this person was deliberately mimicking him, igniting a mix of embarrassment and anger within him.
After saying this, the Seventh Young Master prepared to move on, but then seemed to remember something, stopping to point at Zheng Fa. “Oh, my talisman path—he taught me.”
Zhou Qianyuan watched his departing figure, his expression cracking.
He understood the implication: you’re still trying to show off in front of Zheng Fa.
I’m his disciple, and you can’t even win against me.
Zhou Qianyuan clenched his fists and quickened his pace to catch up with the two.
…
In the small courtyard of Sister Zhang.
Sun Daoyu watched his movements and sighed, “My junior brother is flustered…”
Beside him, the lady and the young miss exchanged glances, both wearing expressions of guilt…
Chapter 78: The Ancestor
The lady and the young miss read the same thought on each other’s faces:
It must be that brat’s mouth!
Just moments ago, everyone had seen the Seventh Young Master speaking with Zhou Qianyuan, but no one had heard what was said.
Sun Daoyu didn’t know the Seventh Young Master well; he assumed his junior brother was flustered simply because Zheng Fa and the Seventh Young Master had surpassed him.
But the lady and the young miss knew all too well how insufferable he could be!
They had already realized that with Zhou Qianyuan’s talent and the attention he received from the Yuanying Zhenren (Nascent Soul True Person), he would undoubtedly become a significant figure in the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
Their foolish boy hadn’t even entered the Hundred Immortals Alliance yet and had already offended someone like that…
Meanwhile, Sun Daoyu was still praising the Seventh Young Master: “I didn’t expect the young master from your esteemed house to have such talent; I must have underestimated him before.”
As he said this, he was notably more polite to the lady and the young miss.
“…”
Seeing their expressions didn’t reflect happiness, Sun Daoyu felt puzzled and turned to Sister Zhang, saying, “But what surprises me most is your insight, Sister—Zheng Fa is truly leaving everyone in the dust.”
In the scene, Zheng Fa’s speed was indeed remarkable, and it was only increasing, gradually leaving everyone far behind.
On the transparent plank roads, everyone who looked up could see him moving steadily, step by step, ascending the levels.
This speed was almost unattainable for the others, shattering their resolve…
Among them was Zhou Qianyuan, who grew increasingly anxious, repeatedly urging himself to go faster, even faster.
Yet he helplessly found himself drifting further away from Zheng Fa.
He knew he should focus on the plank road ahead, but he couldn’t help but glance up at Zheng Fa’s figure.
In his anxiety and distraction, he finally lost his footing on the last few steps of the sixth mountain and fell from the plank road.
In Sister Zhang’s room, Sun Daoyu couldn’t help but clap his hands together: “My junior brother has at least the talent for the seventh or even eighth mountain… and yet today, he’s lost his composure!”
Sister Zhang rarely nodded in agreement; she could also discern that Zhou Qianyuan’s limitations weren’t due to his talent in talismans but rather his temperament.
“Have you forgotten something?”
Sun Daoyu paused, then took out a jade tube from his pocket and handed it to Sister Zhang. “This is the method for the Dongxu Lingyan (Void Spirit Eye).”
“You were prepared for this all along?”
Seeing his readiness, even Sister Zhang was a bit surprised.
“It’s not me; it’s my master.” Sun Daoyu’s face showed respect. “My master said that if you, Sister Zhang, need anything, this Dongxu Lingyan will surely enhance your Yuanfu Jindan (Golden Elixir of the Yuan).”
“Uncle Pang had already anticipated he would lose?” Sister Zhang asked.
“My master loves to gamble but has never lost…” Sun Daoyu shook his head.
“?”
“Before we came, my master told me that if he won the bet, it would be great for my junior brother to obtain the talisman foundation method.”
“If he lost, then if this Dongxu Lingyan could help you perfect your path, even if our philosophies differ, wouldn’t it be a great joy for our Jiushan Sect to produce another Yuanying?”
“…” Sister Zhang was slightly moved but didn’t seem entirely convinced.
“Moreover, my junior brother, though proud, has merely been spoiled since childhood. Now that he realizes there are greater talents out there, striving for improvement may be more important to him than a mere foundation method.”
Sister Zhang sighed, “…Uncle Pang’s intentions are truly commendable.”
“My master also mentioned that once you obtain this Dongxu Lingyan, you might even come to agree with his philosophy of boundless Yuanfu.” Unexpectedly, Sun Daoyu added.
Sister Zhang’s eyes widened, and her gaze toward the jade tube shifted significantly.
“Uncle Pang’s wager is actually me?”
“Compared to you agreeing with my master’s philosophy, what’s a foundation method worth?” Sun Daoyu looked at Sister Zhang and said, “My master always wins when it comes to gambling.”
“Whether it’s Zheng Fa or Zhou Junior Brother, neither has ever been my master’s main focus. How could they compare to you, Sister Zhang?”
He pointed at Zheng Fa in the scene.
…
Zheng Fa’s pace quickened, almost causing those behind him to lose hope of catching up, but he wasn’t doing it on purpose—this plank road of the Nine Mountains had a leap in difficulty every two mountains.
By the time he reached the seventh mountain, the corresponding talisman images would appear only once in every thirty.
And the plank road beneath his feet would vanish after thirty talisman images.
In other words, Zheng Fa had only one chance to step forward; if he missed it, it was gone, which left him no room to slow down.
He had already created a significant distance from the others.
Even among those who could pass the sixth mountain, there were very few left. Just as he crossed the seventh mountain, the difficulty suddenly increased again, and the Seventh Young Master fell.
Zheng Fa felt that before him lay only the plank road and the increasingly clear white mountaintop.
With no one in front or behind him, the only sound in his ears was his own breathing—until he neared the end of the eighth mountain, where a figure stood with their back to him on the ninth mountain.
“Sister Zhang?”
Zheng Fa was startled, nearly stepping on the wrong talisman image and jeopardizing everything.
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