Chapter 151
Zheng Fa began to understand a bit more.
"This is someone who doesn't value their own life; if they don't care about their own life, they certainly won't care about others." At this point, the sect leader shook his head and said, "If the Changchun Sect were to be wiped out, it would save us a lot of trouble."
"Ah?"
"If they were to rebel, Sister Huang would have to send them all to their deaths."
"…Is the desire to kill that strong?"
"Only a Yuanying (Nascent Soul) master can be so indifferent; there's no room for mercy." Zheng Fa felt a piercing gaze from the sect leader: "If you ever wrong Zhuan Shizhi..." Zheng Fa's hair stood on end.
"Don't worry, as your master, I’ll at least ensure you have a complete corpse."
"…"
As he left, Zheng Fa couldn't help but ask curiously, "Master, your style is to not care about money, and Huang Zhenren doesn't care about life. What about Uncle Pang?"
"Him?" The sect leader curled his lip. "He doesn't care about his face."
……
Back at Sister Zhang's small courtyard, Zheng Fa was still reflecting on his master's description of Huang Zhenren—given the possible fate of the Changchun Sect, it was clear that Huang Zhenren truly did not regard the people of this sect as equals.
Even his master’s concern about Huang Zhenren's potential slaughter seemed more about the trouble it would cause rather than a condemnation of indiscriminate killing…
In a way, this was the most genuine and brutal truth of the Xuanwei realm.
He had gained the sect leader's favor, and now he even had a vague status as the "young sect leader."
This was fundamentally due to the talent he displayed through his ability to traverse realms.
But initially, it was because Sister Zhang valued him.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but shake his head—he was only at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, able to notice something was off with Sister Zhang and report it to the sect leader.
That was already the best he could do.
Anything beyond that was beyond his current capabilities.
Acting rashly would not only be unhelpful but could also become a burden for Sister Zhang and the Jiushan Sect.
What he could do was to strengthen his own power as quickly as possible.
Sitting on the meditation mat, he focused his mind, breathing slowly, gradually calming the turmoil within, immersing himself in his cultivation.
The spiritual energy in the air began to swirl, forming a small tornado out of thin air.
After two incense sticks' worth of time, Zheng Fa slowly opened his eyes.
He had reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement.
If this had happened before Sister Zhang's incident, he would have been quite pleased—after all, he was able to practice the "Ling Mountain Method" in the modern world.
But now, his heart was filled with a sense of urgency, leaving no room for even a hint of complacency.
He picked up a book beside the meditation mat and began to flip through it.
This was "The Zizai Sutra" written by Lin Bufan, but only the sections before the Foundation Establishment stage.
Zheng Fa wanted this technique primarily to see if there was any content related to the spiritual symbols in Lin Bufan's blood.
On another level, he also had the mindset of knowing his enemy and himself to ensure victory in a hundred battles.
However, as soon as he opened "The Zizai Sutra," Zheng Fa's expression froze.
At the very beginning of the text, Lin Bufan stated that the first step in practicing this technique was to visualize the "Great Zizai Shengzu" (Great Master of Freedom)!
"Visualize…"
Zheng Fa gently set the book down, a look of confusion crossing his face.
When he practiced "Ling He Shen" back in the day, he had encountered this kind of cultivation method.
He had also pondered the essence of visualization.
Now, having experienced the world of cultivation again, he found himself with some guesses—what puzzled him now was:
Was this Great Zizai Shengzu even human?
……
Chen Ting walked out of his master Pang Zhenren's hall, slowly making his way down the mountain. Along the way, he encountered other disciples from the same lineage, who greeted him with respect in their eyes.
Chen Ting knew the reason—he was a three-spirit root who had unexpectedly achieved the Golden Core stage, and he was favored by Pang Zhenren, which inspired his fellow disciples who didn't have particularly good qualifications.
Especially within his master Pang Zhenren's lineage, he held considerable prestige.
As he descended the mountain, he also ran into his junior disciple Zhou Qianyuan.
Zhou Qianyuan seemed to have just come from Sister Zhang's courtyard, walking with a frown, muttering to himself as if he were puzzled about something.
Chen Ting's residence was at the foot of the Eighth Peak, a place rich in spiritual energy, which showed Pang Zhenren's affection for him.
He entered his courtyard, gently closing the door, when suddenly a voice echoed in his mind:
"I see your junior brother Zhou seems a bit foolish; he could be quite useful. Why not try to get him to lure Zheng Fa out?"
Chen Ting remained silent, as if he hadn't heard the temptation in his mind, leisurely contemplating "The Great Zizai Shengzu."
"Not willing?"
"I've already betrayed my sect by helping you disguise as Sister Zhang; I've done enough for you."
Chen Ting replied coldly.
"Enough?" The voice sounded a bit angry. "If it weren't for us giving you the True Blood Pill, would you have the bloodline of my Shengzu? If it weren't for practicing 'The Zizai Sutra,' could you have formed a core with a three-spirit root?"
Chen Ting said nothing, and after a long pause, he finally spoke: "It's too dangerous. He's currently hiding in Sister Zhang's courtyard; as soon as he steps out, Yuan Shimei will be right by his side, and she's the sect leader's favorite disciple. You want him alive, but I can't guarantee that."
"…Just a mere Qi Refinement stage."
"You know he's just a Qi Refinement stage!" Chen Ting suddenly exploded: "I’m now a true disciple of Jiushan Sect, a Golden Core cultivator! You would sacrifice me for a Qi Refinement stage?"
"You don't understand; he has something to do with the 'Three Sons Symbol Law' mentioned in the letter to Zhang Wuyi."
Chen Ting pursed his lips, clearly unwilling to understand.
"Chen Ting, think carefully. Since you've practiced 'The Zizai Sutra,' we can turn you into a target of everyone's hatred in Jiushan Sect at any time."
"Do as you wish. If I were to harm Zheng Shidi, I'd be just as hated." Chen Ting had an indifferent expression, almost giving off a vibe of resignation: "If it comes to that, you can summon the spirit of the Shengzu and directly curse me to death… it all depends on whether you're willing."
His words left the voice in his mind silent—having a Golden Core cultivator was already rare, and even rarer was one with a clean reputation in the sect.
Moreover, Chen Ting, a three-spirit root who could form a core, had already drawn considerable investment from the Great Zizai Demon Sect.
"You still have a chance, as long as you’re careful…"
Clearly, the voice in his mind was reluctant to let him go, at least not willing to let him die in vain.
"I don't want to take any risks."
"Why are you so afraid of death!" The voice was evidently furious.
"If I weren't afraid of death, would I have been tempted to betray my sect?" Chen Ting retorted: "You want to pick a traitor, but can you find one who is fearless?"
"…"
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 153: Ambush
Chen Ting sat on the meditation mat, beads of cold sweat on his forehead, his face pale, and his eyes shadowed.
The voice in his mind echoed again, oddly tinged with mockery: "Having consumed my sect's True Blood Pill and practiced 'The Zizai Sutra,' do you really think I can't do anything to you?"
Chen Ting remained silent, his body still trembling slightly.
"That was just a small warning. If you defy me again… I think you understand what will happen."
"…"
Chen Ting still said nothing.
"Rest assured, it’s not easy to cultivate you; you still have value." The voice seemed to soften: "That Zheng Fa is merely at the Qi Refinement stage; as long as you’re careful, with my protection, it won’t be hard to keep you alive."
"Yes."
After a long while, Chen Ting finally spoke softly.
"That's more like it." The voice seemed satisfied: "Zheng Fa has decent talent; if you capture him, you might just gain true freedom in the future."
Chen Ting's expression shifted slightly, as if he were genuinely tempted.
After a long time, he finally spoke again: "The defenses around Zheng Fa are too tight, and the sect values him. If I want to capture him, I’ll need some time."
……
In Sister Zhang's study.
Zheng Fa had just taken out a plain white porcelain plate, while Lin Bufan had already rolled up his sleeves, extending his arm—so considerate it was almost heart-wrenching.
Zheng Fa glanced at him, somewhat speechless.
He flicked out a blood-drawing talisman, but the light from the talisman didn’t land on Lin Bufan.
Instead, it fell onto Zheng Fa's own arm.
Watching as Zheng Fa's blood gradually filled the porcelain plate, Lin Bufan looked a bit dumbfounded.
"Young Master? You…"
"What’s wrong?"
"Will I still get my monthly allowance?"
Lin Bufan pondered for a long time before suddenly asking.
"…Don’t worry." Zheng Fa was at a loss for how to respond, only able to comfort him: "I’m just studying my own blood; your blood, Li Nuo likes it."
According to Li Nuo, Lin Bufan's blood had considerable uses.
He was currently trying to create another talisman.
"Oh."
Lin Bufan's expression relaxed considerably.
Zheng Fa curiously asked, "Are you still addicted?"
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