Chapter 145
**Chapter 148: Life and Death**
Among the three types of sub-symbols, the Five Elements sub-symbols are the clearest and easiest to define.
The other two types are extremely vague in terms of quantity, variety, and function.
However, the spiritual symbols in Lin Bufan's blood opened a small window in Zheng Fa's mind—especially since there are only two types of B-class sub-symbols in that blood.
And they appear consistently.
When compared with the symbol diagrams Zheng Fa had studied before, a more significant discovery emerged—one of the two B-class sub-symbols in that blood was commonly found in the previous symbol diagrams.
But the other one... had never appeared before!
He couldn't help but think—this sub-symbol might be one of the essential secrets of the demonic sect's techniques.
Delving deeper, he wondered if this sub-symbol corresponded to the Demon Ancestor of the Great Freedom Demon Sect.
At this thought, Zheng Fa recalled what Tang Lingwu had said about the so-called interactive sub-symbols—could this sub-symbol represent the invisible yet close connection between the disciples of the demonic sect and the Demon Ancestor?
With this in mind, the second law of the Tang family's symbol path seemed to take on a hint of reality.
However, Zheng Fa dared not recklessly study this matter, nor did he even dare to draw this sub-symbol.
Who knows if a Demon Ancestor might just pop up...
...
"Junior Brother!" Li Nuo rushed over, shouting at Zheng Fa, "I did it! I did it!"
"...What did you do?"
Seeing Li Nuo's uncontrollable excitement, Zheng Fa asked.
"I created a talisman seal!" Li Nuo exclaimed loudly, "The seal for the Spirit Nourishing Talisman!"
"...Really?"
Zheng Fa was somewhat surprised. He hadn't held out much hope; after all, Li Nuo's father had blown himself up and only managed to produce one talisman seal.
Now, within less than a month of research, there was a result?
"How much did it cost?"
Zheng Fa inquired.
"...No cost."
"?"
"You drew blood from that person before, right? I took some from you and tried it with his blood."
"......"
"Turns out it really works!"
Zheng Fa glanced toward the room where that person lay, lost in thought: "Is it just his blood that works?"
"Anyway, our Jiushan Sect's blood doesn't work," Li Nuo asserted.
"You've tried that too?" Zheng Fa couldn't help widening his eyes.
"When we couldn't afford the blood of spirit beasts, my dad and I used our own blood."
Zheng Fa fell silent, a guess forming in his mind.
If there was a difference between the blood of those from the demonic sect and the disciples of Jiushan Sect—it was the spiritual symbols within that blood.
"Junior Brother, we must eradicate the demons of the demonic sect!" Li Nuo's expression was invigorated. "Their blood isn't worth anything!"
"......"
That's right.
Compared to spirit beasts, using the blood of demonic sect disciples to create talisman seals certainly had its advantages.
Spirit beasts required careful breeding and were quite delicate—some sects in the Xuanwei Realm were even famous for raising spirit beasts.
Demonic sect disciples were much more reasonable; they could eat and sleep on their own and would actively cultivate.
In the past, when the immortal sects and the demonic sects clashed, demonic disciples were often killed off—fighting was risky with little reward.
Now... well, one could only say it was conducive to the spirit of exterminating demons!
With this thought, Zheng Fa understood Li Nuo's excitement.
There was just one problem...
"Master, do you think if we cut down the spirit plants that someone has nurtured for many years, they would retaliate?"
In the grass hut of the sect leader, Zheng Fa asked his master.
"...Who?" The sect leader pondered for a moment before suddenly speaking, "Are you talking about the thousand-year-old purple bamboo of your Uncle Pang? That shouldn't be a problem; he treasures that thing. As long as the spirit bamboo isn't dead, you can return it to your uncle."
"......No, I mean the people from the demonic sect."
"The demonic sect? Why be polite to them? They still want to infiltrate our Jiushan Sect and cause trouble!" The sect leader patted his chest and said loudly, "Immortals and demons cannot coexist; there's no need for righteousness. If anything happens, you still have me as your master—I've killed my fair share of demonic sect members!"
"Alright then..."
Feeling his master's protective nature, Zheng Fa's expression brightened.
"Tell me, whose spirit plants are you planning to cut down?"
"No one in particular, just the Demon Ancestor of the Great Freedom Demon Sect."
The sect leader fell silent for a moment before speaking, "How about I pull out your Uncle Pang's thousand-year-old purple bamboo and give it to you?"
"......"
"I told you, disciples are all trouble! Each one more capable of causing a ruckus than the last!"
---
Taking blood from the disciples of the demonic sect to create talisman seals has its merits—
But it’s also a bit reckless.
Although the demonic sect is currently in decline in the Xuanwei Realm, with the status of the thirteen Demon Ancestors in question.
But you’re going to take a sickle to cut down the chives they’ve painstakingly cultivated for a million years.
Do the Demon Ancestors have no pride?
Stepping out of the sect leader's grass hut, Zheng Fa shook his head—creating talisman seals was not feasible at the moment, and it couldn't be leaked.
Otherwise, even if it saved a few spirit stones that would have been spent on spirit beast blood, it could easily attract formidable enemies.
Moreover, the matter of talisman seals itself was already quite controversial within Jiushan Sect.
Engaging in this would yield benefits that were grossly disproportionate to the risks.
"Junior Brother, what should we do about Lin Bufan? He hasn't said anything these past few days."
Sister Yuan followed closely behind him and suddenly asked.
Zheng Fa thought for a moment and turned to Sister Yuan, "What do you think?"
"Kill him," Sister Yuan said immediately.
Despite her usual lively and carefree demeanor, she spoke of killing with an unsettling familiarity.
Those two words left Zheng Fa in silence once more.
After a long pause, he slowly nodded, "Yeah."
Though he had received modern education, he now understood more clearly—
Modern compassion cannot be applied in the Xuanwei Realm.
One cannot let their own slight discomfort bring risk to those around them.
This was the safest choice.
Not to mention that Lin Bufan had come with the intent to assassinate him.
Just considering his identity as a disciple of the demonic sect, he was already marked for death in the eyes of Jiushan Sect.
Lin Bufan had survived until now partly because his blood had some utility.
On the other hand, Zheng Fa and the others wanted to extract some secrets from him.
Clearly, this person was not very cooperative.
And while his blood held immense potential benefits, the risks were even greater—if that sub-symbol truly corresponded to the Demon Ancestor, then the Demon Ancestor might have a strong control over him.
Keeping him in Jiushan Sect was always a hidden danger.
"Let’s ask him again today. If he still refuses to say anything, then that’s it."
Zheng Fa said to Sister Yuan as they headed toward the small wooden house where Lin Bufan was under house arrest.
"What are you doing?"
As soon as they entered, Zheng Fa saw Lin Bufan somehow had managed to get out of bed.
He was kneeling on the ground, his face pale, blood dripping from his mouth, and he was gasping for breath, looking extremely disheveled—clearly, getting out of bed was a difficult task for him.
"I am willing to take you as my master, just asking for my life!" Lin Bufan said weakly, his voice filled with a desperate determination.
Zheng Fa was taken aback.
He turned to look at Sister Yuan, who also appeared a bit dazed: "I’m not stupid; I didn’t say anything to him!"
"This sister said nothing, but... she has been coming less and less, and the person who was treating me has also stopped coming."
Lin Bufan forced a bitter smile.
This person... is a bit perceptive.
Zheng Fa frowned and said, "Get up."
Lin Bufan didn’t put on any more pretense; he slowly pulled himself up using the side of the bed, looking at Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa looked at him.
The first time he heard about Lin Bufan, the shopkeeper described him as a somewhat foolish, even gullible disciple of the demonic sect.
The second time he met him, he seemed to be filled with despair, with only a hint of a desire for revenge.
The third time...
This person’s face bore a hint of reckless madness.
In just a few days, this person had transformed into two different individuals.
"You’re quite clever," Zheng Fa said to Lin Bufan. "But I don’t want to take you in..."
"Why not?"
"Besides wanting to survive, you’re also looking for a chance to take revenge, right?"
Lin Bufan fell silent, and after a long pause, he slowly nodded, "My uncle spent his whole life serving Lin Yangtian, obedient in every way, more diligent than a dog, only to end up dead at his hands."
"Others see us demonic sect disciples as expendable... but that was the person who raised me..."
"I understand." Zheng Fa waved his hand. "Your desire for revenge is your own business, but I have no obligation to help you."
"I’m useful!"
"Mm?"
"My blood is useful! It’s useful to you and to that brother Li as well!"
"…You really are quite clever."
Who would have thought he would see through this too.
"Do you know why I don’t want to agree to your request?"
Zheng Fa suddenly asked.
"Why?"
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