Chapter 175
Yang Shixiong chuckled, “Shidi, no one in Jiushan Sect is blind. Everyone knows what everyone else is up to.”
After saying this, he cupped his hands toward Zheng Fa and added, “I’ll head back to prepare.”
Zheng Fa watched his retreating figure, momentarily at a loss for words.
...
A few days later.
A clear birdcall echoed above Lei Chi Fangshi.
A green phoenix soared across the sky, its talons clutching a rather pale-looking individual.
The phoenix descended into the market, transforming into a round-faced girl who hurriedly dashed into the Wulong Tiangong.
“Zheng Shidi! I’m here!”
Yuan Shijie’s voice, filled with vitality and cheer, reached the room before she did.
Zheng Fa smiled as he stepped out to greet her, taking in the three figures before him.
“Look! I brought the person you wanted!”
Yuan Shijie pointed to Lin Bufan and Li Nuo standing nearby.
Both of them looked a bit pale, as if the journey had taken a toll on them.
“Gongzi.”
“Zheng Shidi.”
The two looked at Zheng Fa, confusion etched on their faces.
Zheng Fa nodded gently at them but didn’t engage in conversation. Instead, he turned to Yuan Shijie and asked, “Shijie, did you manage to get more of the Da Dao Zheng Xian Fu Zhen from Shizun?”
“That old man is so stingy! He said he didn’t have time because he was busy with a play,” Yuan Shijie huffed. “But when I mentioned it was for you, he tossed me quite a few.”
She handed over a storage bag.
Zheng Fa opened it to find it filled with sets of spirit talismans.
“Shidi, why do you need so many talismans? You even had the sect leader swap out for a Lei Chi map.”
Seeing his satisfied expression, Yuan Shijie couldn’t help but ask.
“Uncle Pang is sending disciples into Lei Chi, and I want to give them some special training.”
To put it plainly, it’s about focusing on key points before the exam to boost their survival rate.
Yuan Shijie immediately understood, clapping her hands. “That makes sense! But why bring these two along?”
“Bufan.”
Zheng Fa turned to Lin Bufan, whose expression was complex, as if he hadn’t expected to return home so soon.
“Gongzi, I’ve told you everything I can about the Da Zizai Mo Jiao.”
“I know.”
Zheng Fa waved his hand. The other’s soul imprint was with him; there might be some hidden thoughts, but loyalty to the Da Zizai Mo Jiao? That was hard to say.
“Then do you want me to infiltrate the Da Zizai Mo Jiao?” Lin Bufan’s face turned pale, suddenly realizing something.
Yuan Shijie and Li Nuo exchanged sympathetic glances.
This was a life-or-death situation for anyone.
Moreover, who knew if the Da Zizai Mo Jiao had ways to identify traitors?
On the other hand, aside from being unfriendly to Lin Bufan, this was indeed a good plan:
Jiushan Sect’s understanding of the Da Zizai Mo Jiao was far too limited. If someone could truly infiltrate, they might even uncover Sister Zhang’s whereabouts.
“Are you unwilling?”
Zheng Fa asked.
“Willing!” Lin Bufan gritted his teeth. “I only ask one thing of you, Gongzi.”
“What is it?”
“If you ever encounter Lin Yangtian and take his life, please let me know at my uncle’s grave.” Lin Bufan said softly.
Yuan Shijie’s expression turned sympathetic.
It seemed she could sense the fatal resolve in his tone.
“We’re not at that point yet.” Zheng Fa looked at him for a moment, shaking his head. “I called you here to participate in this special training.”
Lin Bufan looked up, his face a mix of shock and joy.
“You’re the test subject.”
“Ah?” Lin Bufan stared blankly at Zheng Fa, still not quite understanding.
“Every disciple of Jiushan Sect participating in the assault on the Da Zizai Mo Jiao must adapt their methods in the Da Dao Zheng Xian. You must kill to proceed…”
Lin Bufan blinked, repeating, “Every one?”
“Yep.”
“How many in total?”
“...Uncle Pang said the more, the better.”
“Gongzi! I’m willing to infiltrate the Da Zizai Mo Jiao!”
“...Good, your life is mine now, don’t waste it.”
“…”
...
After forcing Lin Bufan to accept reality, Zheng Fa turned to Li Nuo, who flinched at his gaze and hurriedly waved his hands. “I don’t know the Da Zizai Mo Jiao’s techniques!”
“Li Shixiong, how many types of talismans can you make with Bufan’s blood now?”
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 172: Bounty
Hearing Zheng Fa’s question, Lin Bufan’s expression was complicated.
But Li Nuo visibly relaxed.
“Lin Daoren hasn’t been very cooperative lately.” Li Nuo quietly reported to Zheng Fa, who turned to glance at the former disciple of the demonic sect. The muscles on Li Nuo’s face slowly stiffened, revealing a hint of guilt.
It seemed Li Nuo’s words were not unfounded.
After Zheng Fa left Jiushan Sect, Li Nuo couldn’t keep him in check anymore.
“Tell me about the talismans you’ve experimented with.” Zheng Fa didn’t address Lin Bufan but continued questioning Li Nuo.
“Previously, I tried it out, and Lin Daoren’s blood has some remarkable effects on soul-related talismans.” Li Nuo said excitedly, “At first, I made a Soul Nourishing Talisman, then a Soul Shocking Talisman, and a Soul Piercing Talisman… now, I’ve got about eight or nine types.”
“Spirit… what about other types of talismans?”
Zheng Fa pondered. He had always believed that Lin Bufan’s blood could create soul talismans due to the special spirit symbols within it.
“Other types don’t work; only those related to the soul are particularly effective.”
“How much blood is needed to make one talisman?”
“Considering the loss, one liter of blood guarantees one talisman.” Li Nuo thought for a moment.
“Is the blood from the Foundation Establishment stage the same as from the Qi Refinement stage?”
“I don’t know. Lin Daoren is at the Foundation Establishment stage, and the talismans made from his blood are Xuan-grade talismans.” Li Nuo replied honestly. “I speculate that for the Qi Refinement stage, the talismans would correspond to Huang-grade.”
“I remember you said that beast blood could produce a thousand spirit talismans?” Zheng Fa asked, recalling the data Li Nuo had shared with him.
“Talismans made from Lin Daoren’s blood can only produce a hundred Xuan-grade talismans.” Li Nuo’s expression turned a bit dejected.
Less than beast blood; it seemed the blood of a demonic sect disciple wasn’t all advantages…
“Are there any other costs besides blood?”
“There are. Talisman paper costs money, spirit ink costs money, and the rest are minor expenses.” Li Nuo replied honestly. “Most of it is mundane stuff.”
Zheng Fa nodded.
Among the talismans Lin Bufan’s blood could produce, the Soul Nourishing Talisman and Soul Piercing Talisman were relatively precious.
The others were also a bit pricier than ordinary spirit talismans—after all, for most cultivators, the soul was an unfathomable mystery.
He glanced at Lin Bufan, pondering—could that Da Zizai Mo Zu have made special achievements in the realm of the soul?
Lin Bufan, feeling Zheng Fa’s gaze, looked even more anxious, stammering, “Gongzi, I was wrong!”
Zheng Fa watched him in silence.
No one wants to have their blood drawn.
But this was Lin Bufan’s own choice; in a sense, it was a life-for-life deal.
Coming from a demonic sect, he certainly had more hidden thoughts than others.
“Do you think that because you’re mine, after I leave Jiushan Sect… others won’t dare to touch you? Maybe they’ll even have to cater to you?”
He looked at Lin Bufan, his tone devoid of emotion.
Despite Lin Bufan’s demonic sect background, he was now Zheng Fa’s servant.
In Jiushan Sect, his status was somewhat unique—weren’t the stewards of the Zhao family also servants?
“I…”
Lin Bufan’s face broke into a cold sweat, clearly realizing Zheng Fa had hit upon some of his hidden thoughts.
He suddenly knelt on the ground, bowing his head, unable to speak for a long time.
Zheng Fa watched him, remaining silent for a while.
The cold sweat on Lin Bufan’s face increased.
“Get up.” Zheng Fa waved his hand, allowing him to stand, as if he were letting the matter go lightly.
Lin Bufan looked at Zheng Fa, disbelief in his eyes.
“I don’t like to torment anyone.” Zheng Fa said earnestly, looking at him.
“…”
“I won’t play mind games either; I’ll be straightforward with you.” Zheng Fa gently touched the soul imprint in his hand and said softly, “If you still have these hidden thoughts, well, I’m a soft-hearted person…”
Yuan Shijie rolled her eyes.
“I’ll give you a quick end.”
Yuan Shijie: “?”
“Do you understand?”
“Yes!” Lin Bufan trembled.
“For this special training of Jiushan Sect disciples, do you know what to do?”
“Understood!” Lin Bufan exclaimed loudly. “I will give it my all!”
“You all can leave now.”
...
Watching them slowly exit the room, Yuan Shijie turned to Zheng Fa and asked, “Shidi, are you really planning to kill Lin Bufan?”
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