Chapter 172
“Master Pang, the affairs of the world are often beyond one’s control.” Chen Ting addressed his master as “Master Pang” instead of “Uncle Pang”: “Since leaving the Jiushan Sect, I have had no room for mercy.”
“…”
Master Pang fell silent, the seal above his head glowing faintly in the void, as if responding to Chen Ting’s words.
“Master Pang, are you going to make a move against me?” Chen Ting observed his demeanor and chuckled lightly.
Master Pang remained silent.
“Have you thought this through? Although you are in the Yuanying stage, you are not much stronger than me in this Thunder Pool.” Chen Ting’s tone carried an implicit threat: “Moreover, you still have to protect Zheng Shidi and the other disciples of Jiushan Sect… hmm?”
Turning his head, he suddenly realized that while he and Master Pang were at a standoff, Zheng Fa had somehow already boarded the ferry, leading a group of Jiushan disciples in a frantic escape.
It seemed he sensed Chen Ting’s gaze.
Zheng Fa turned around, cupping his hands in farewell, his face full of concern.
He seemed reluctant to disturb their master-disciple reunion.
“Master Pang… what about Zheng Fa…” Chen Ting recalled seeing Zheng Fa twice, each time witnessing him fleeing, and his expression grew somewhat complicated: “Can he really become the next sect leader? Aren’t you worried he’ll lead the Jiushan Sect astray?”
Master Pang gazed at the departing ferry, also at a loss for words.
Though it had been previously agreed upon, Zheng Fa’s swift escape still left him feeling inexplicably embarrassed…
No, you’re now a member of the Jiu You Demon Sect, your loyalties are already skewed.
Why care about the Jiushan Sect?
Worrying about a thief, indeed!
…
In the market, Zheng Fa saw Master Pang returning and immediately asked, “Master, where’s Chen Ting?”
“He ran away.”
Zheng Fa was taken aback; Chen Ting’s ability to escape was truly remarkable.
Ordinary people in his situation would have already been preparing for reincarnation.
“This kid holds the position of leader in three families; he’s not to be underestimated.” Master Pang explained: “Moreover, I must be cautious in the Thunder Pool.”
Zheng Fa thought for a moment and realized it was true—
Master Pang was someone willing to teach his disciples.
He used to have an old grandfather with him.
Later, he sacrificed that grandfather and gained the favor of the Jiu You Demon Ancestor.
“Why hasn’t anyone from the Jiu You Demon Sect come to help him?”
Zheng Fa couldn’t help but wonder.
The Jiushan Sect’s pursuit of Chen Ting was primarily for the whereabouts of Sister Zhang.
But the Da Zizai Demon Sect was seeking revenge.
Given Chen Ting’s dire situation, wouldn’t he want to seek help from the Jiu You Demon Sect?
“A demon sect that can talk about unity and mutual assistance—what kind of demon sect is that?” Master Pang snorted: “If we encounter Chen Ting again in the future, we must not be careless.”
“Understood.”
Zheng Fa grasped Master Pang’s meaning—
When Chen Ting first left the Jiushan Sect, he might still have had some lingering attachment.
But now, it seemed he had little left.
“There are few in this world who can maintain their original intentions, let alone my disciple…” Master Pang’s tone was tinged with either regret or wariness: “Since his betrayal, he must have endured considerable hardships.”
…
Chen Ting’s matters had little to do with Zheng Fa; if it weren’t for the news about Sister Zhang, Zheng Fa wouldn’t have sought him out.
The pressing issue now was to find Sister Zhang.
“It’s quite troublesome.”
Master Pang frowned.
“Yes, Sister Zhang is now too close to the Demon Sect’s secret realm.”
This time, the spiritual cave not only erupted with a Thunder Pool but also revealed a secret realm of the demon sect.
And the Thunder Pool just happened to block the exit of that secret realm—because of this, the Da Zizai Demon Sect had yet to seal that exit. Sister Zhang was besieged by members of the Da Zizai Demon Sect and had to take refuge in the Thunder Pool.
Though those from the Da Zizai Demon Sect couldn’t capture her, they were subtly forcing her toward the exit of the secret realm, where it was most convenient for them to deploy their forces. If they could drive her into their own secret realm, Sister Zhang would be at their mercy.
Now, for the Jiushan Sect to find Sister Zhang, they would first have to face off against the Da Zizai Demon Sect.
“It’s not just that…” Master Pang shook his head: “I also understand the self-sealing method that Sister Zhang uses; it’s a treasure from the Huang family—the Xuan Guan Jian.”
“Xuan Guan Jian?” Zheng Fa frowned.
“The Huang family had a great enmity in their early years, but at that time, she lacked the strength to take revenge. Yet, she couldn’t help but want to go out and seek vengeance during her training, unable to restrain herself…”
“So…”
“So, she pleaded with her master to help her cultivate this treasure, with only one purpose—to trap herself within it, unable to leave until she became a Yuanying.”
As Master Pang spoke, his expression showed signs of discomfort.
“What about outsiders?”
“Outsiders? Only those with Yuanying cultivation can break this treasure, but this is the Thunder Pool…”
Indeed.
Who would dare use Yuanying-level spells in the Thunder Pool?
Sister Zhang must have anticipated this, which is why she chose to seal herself with the Xuan Guan Jian.
But…
“Sister Zhang’s Jindan is incomplete…”
Master Pang sighed, voicing Zheng Fa’s inner concern.
“Regardless, at least we now have a goal; we need to find Sister Zhang first.”
…
In modern times.
Today was the day Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu were to report to Beijing University.
Tang Lingwu had been picked up by her mother a couple of days ago; it was said that her father had also come to Beijing, intending to personally see his daughter off to school.
Zheng Fa didn’t have the old man accompany him.
He took a taxi alone to the entrance of Beijing University.
There were already many students and parents gathered there.
Compared to his high school classmates, Zheng Fa felt that these new students at Beijing University were somewhat similar yet distinctly different:
The similarity lay in the fact that they were all of the same age; in this internet age, styles and hairstyles were quite uniform across the country.
The differences, however, were a bit mysterious—
Though their appearances were not much different, this group of young people somehow exuded a greater confidence.
There was also an observation Zheng Fa couldn’t confirm: it seemed that many came from well-off families.
After watching for a while, he followed the crowd to the entrance of the gymnasium, where he needed to check in. After that, there would be an opening ceremony in the gymnasium.
At the entrance of the gymnasium, there were many tents, each labeled with the names of different departments.
Long tables were set up in front, behind which sat a few slightly older youths.
They were likely counselors or senior students.
Zheng Fa held his notification letter and found the tent for the Physics Department.
Inside the tent were three boys and two girls.
Upon seeing Zheng Fa approach, the three boys remained still, but the two girls stood up simultaneously.
They exchanged glances.
One of the girls, wearing glasses, seemed a bit shy; after hesitating, she slowly sat back down.
The girl who received Zheng Fa was the other one; she had delicate features, a slender waist, and a warm smile.
Of course, with Zheng Fa’s discerning eye, he could tell that at least two parts of her beauty were due to her excellent makeup skills.
But judging by the unfriendly gazes of the three senior boys behind her, the remaining eight parts were also quite impressive within the Physics Department.
This thought was somewhat disheartening.
“Junior, did you come alone?”
“Yeah.”
“Give me your notification letter.” The girl took Zheng Fa’s letter, glanced at it, and said, “Zheng Fa? From the Physics Department, here you go, take it.”
She didn’t waste much time.
It was as if she was completing a task, handling it in a businesslike manner, with a hint of seniority.
She handed over several envelopes of various sizes.
“Inside is the freshman handbook, which includes a map of the school— the second cafeteria has the best food.”
“This one contains a letter to parents; it’s not important.”
“This small bag contains the most important items: your student card and dormitory key, along with your dorm number. Don’t lose it.”
Zheng Fa squeezed the small bag and nodded, “Okay, thank you, senior.”
“Let’s add each other on WeChat.”
“…” Zheng Fa was taken aback, looking at the senior. She had a serious expression on her face: “It’s a requirement from the department. As new students, if you have any questions, just ask me directly.”
Zheng Fa remained silent for a moment, then took out his phone and scanned the QR code on her phone.
After thanking the senior again, Zheng Fa walked into the gymnasium with the folders in hand.
Behind him, he faintly heard the senior speaking to another new student who was standing behind Zheng Fa.
“Here’s your stuff; make sure you keep it all safe.”
After a while, he heard the senior say, “Do you have any other questions?”
The new student, a boy, seemed to have overheard the earlier conversation between the senior and Zheng Fa; he hesitantly asked, “Isn’t there a rule about adding WeChat?”
“I haven’t heard of that rule.”
“...Then as a new student, if I have any questions…”
The senior displayed the kind of logic typical of science and engineering students: “That’s why I gave you the freshman handbook.”
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