Chapter 276
Zheng Fa wasn't worried that Yan Wushuang would refuse to cooperate with Jiushan Sect—he just needed money. Without a stable base, survival was at stake. Yan Wushuang wasn’t foolish...
Yan Wushuang followed Old Han away.
At that moment, Zheng Fa finally understood—somehow, it seemed Yan Wushuang had managed to persuade Old Han.
Now, even the Sword Immortal of the Dusk Sun was protecting him closely. Even Lei Chi was willing to enter...
Or perhaps Yan Wushuang had some card up her sleeve that could sway the Sword Immortal of the Dusk Sun.
...
"Xiao Xianzi, please come in."
Zheng Fa extended his hand, and a glowing portal appeared in the air.
Xiao Yuying nodded, seemingly trusting Zheng Fa, and stepped through the portal.
To be honest, Zheng Fa keenly sensed a subtle shift in Xiao Yuying's attitude. Previously, it wasn’t that she was unkind; on the contrary, she had always shown goodwill. But it was the kind of goodwill that felt distant and aloof.
However, after Zheng Fa took control of the Sun and Moon Bell, her attitude began to change—before, she wouldn’t have waited silently on the side, watching him speak with others without a word.
"Xiao Xianzi, please wait a moment. I need to fetch my fellow disciples to avoid any mishaps," Zheng Fa said apologetically. "I want to return to Jiushan Sect as soon as possible."
"Sure, I have nothing to do anyway. I can just cultivate here," Xiao Yuying replied, nodding, appearing very understanding and easy to talk to...
(End of this chapter)
---
**Chapter 257: The New Jiushan Sect**
The morale of the Jiushan Sect disciples in Lei Chi was somewhat low.
"Senior Brother Sun... can we still get out?"
Zhou Qianyuan asked softly, standing beside Sun Daoyu.
As soon as he spoke, the hundred or so disciples around turned to look at him.
Now that Uncle Pang and Sister Zhang had returned to the sect, Zheng Fa and Uncle Huang had entered the Tianbei realm. The Jiushan Sect disciples were almost left to fend for themselves.
Sun Daoyu glanced around at his fellow disciples, sighing inwardly—Lei Chi was relatively safe, but it was certainly no place to live. They had to be cautious, avoiding areas with heavy lightning, leaving them little time to cultivate. Not to mention the mental strain.
On the other hand, they also had to guard the entrance to the Great Freedom Demon Sect's secret realm...
These days, it seemed all the brothers and sisters were exhausted.
"I don't know either," Sun Daoyu said, shaking his head gently as he looked at Zhou Qianyuan's hopeful face.
"Before our Master left... he said those things to us," Zhou Qianyuan lowered his head. "We can't go back, can we?"
Sun Daoyu opened his mouth but found no words. He simply reached out to pat Zhou Qianyuan's shoulder.
This was the reason for the deep frustration among his fellow disciples—even though Zheng Fa and the others hadn’t told them everything, they were all elite disciples of Jiushan Sect. Who couldn’t see the truth?
The sect leader was gone, Uncle Pang was gone, and now even Sister Zhang had left...
Zheng Fa and Uncle Huang were busy every day, frowning, never pausing for a moment.
They were hiding in Lei Chi, afraid to show their faces. Everyone knew that Jiushan Sect was likely at a critical juncture of life and death.
"Actually, Jiushan Sect isn't doing well either."
Sun Daoyu was taken aback, looking at the speaker—this was Brother Yang, who was originally under Sister Zhang. They had some disputes in the past, but things had improved lately, though there was still some awkwardness between them.
"The sect leader doesn't manage things, Uncle Pang is biased," Brother Yang continued to grumble. "Sister Zhang always has a stern face, and Sister Yuan is unpredictable."
"The market is full of troublemakers, always causing a ruckus, it's exhausting."
"Zheng Fa likes to experiment with new things, making it even more tiring."
"I started listening to Sister Zhang, then to Sister Yuan, and now I have to listen to Zheng Fa—it's like being a beast of burden for half my life."
As Brother Yang spoke, the expressions of the others varied.
"But... I want to go back..."
Sun Daoyu suddenly felt that there was nothing awkward about it. Everyone felt the same way. He wanted to go back too.
...
At this moment, Qian Zhenren from Qianhe Sect was standing somewhat apart, clearly feeling estranged from the original Jiushan Sect disciples. He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret—who would have thought that just as he boarded the Jiushan Sect's ship, it would be on the verge of capsizing?
He glanced at the nearby disciples, who seemed to share the same thoughts, their gazes toward him tinged with unspoken blame.
Taking a deep breath, Qian Zhenren suppressed his inner unease. He also reflected—when he was at Qianhe Sect, it fell apart. Now that he was at Jiushan Sect, it looked like it was about to face disaster...
Was it not that Jiushan Sect was failing, but that he himself was inadequate?
...
"Brothers and sisters... the fact that we are here is due to the favor of our Master and the sect leader," Sun Daoyu said softly. "Some disciples never had the chance to come here; who knows what might happen to them?"
The other disciples nodded, clearly understanding the truth in his words.
"Even if our sect is facing a catastrophe now, the sect leader hasn't left, my Master has returned, and Sister Zhang is back too..." Sun Daoyu said hoarsely, "They only left us, these unworthy disciples, here..."
"..."
"I don't know what you all think, but I can only speak for myself... I want to go back too, I want to cultivate freely. But I... am willing to stay in this Lei Chi for a lifetime..."
As he spoke, he looked around at his fellow disciples.
Sun Daoyu's words gradually calmed the expressions of the others.
"Before our Master left, he told me that they guard the land of Jiushan Sect, while we guard the people of Jiushan Sect..." Zhou Qianyuan added, "As long as one of us is alive, Jiushan Sect will still exist."
"So, I'm afraid of dying."
"..."
Zhou Qianyuan looked at Sun Daoyu, feeling that this senior brother was increasingly resembling their Master.
...
Just as everyone was lost in their thoughts, the air in Lei Chi suddenly trembled—then they all felt the Lei Chi seemed to be slowly shrinking, gradually moving.
"Is there a change in Lei Chi?"
Zhou Qianyuan suddenly looked up, glancing at Sun Daoyu, who also wore a look of panic.
Everyone understood that they no longer wanted to stay in Lei Chi, yet it was also their only means of survival. Not to mention, without Lei Chi, how could they fend off the people from the Great Freedom Demon Sect?
In the midst of their panic, the air before them gently trembled, and a glowing portal appeared.
Sun Daoyu gasped, turning to Zhou Qianyuan and the others, "It seems the Great Freedom Demon Sect is trying to come out again! Zhou Shidi, you all retreat first!"
He held a few spirit talismans tightly, staring intently at the portal.
The other disciples' expressions were equally serious—they had previously relied on the fact that the Great Freedom Demon Sect could only send out two or three people at a time to barely hold them off.
Now, with an additional exit for the Great Freedom Demon Sect, their defensive pressure doubled...
More importantly, did the Great Freedom Demon Sect only have one new exit?
Thinking of this, Sun Daoyu's expression darkened. He turned to Zhou Qianyuan, "Zhou Shidi, the legacy of our Master is in your hands. Remember to protect yourself."
Zhou Qianyuan's face grew even grimmer, but he said nothing, only nodded.
Just as everyone was feeling anxious.
Suddenly, a somewhat impatient yet melodious voice came from within the portal.
"Come in! What are you standing around for?"
It was Sister Yuan's voice!
Sun Daoyu was momentarily stunned, then saw Sister Yuan poking her head out from the portal, waving at everyone.
"Hurry up! We need to go back to Jiushan Sect to pick up Sister Zhang!"
Upon hearing this, Sun Daoyu seemed incredulous, murmuring, "Back to Jiushan Sect?"
"Yes! Zheng Shidi is now in charge of the Sun and Moon Bell; the Tianbei realm is very safe!" Sister Yuan explained. "We’re not staying in this broken place anymore! We’re going back to Jiushan Sect!"
"Huh? Why are you crying?"
Sun Daoyu wiped the corner of his eye, remaining silent as he led Zhou Qianyuan and the others toward the portal.
Behind them, Qian Zhenren from Qianhe Sect hesitated, feeling a bit anxious as he approached the portal, seemingly unsure if he could enter.
"Hurry up!" Sister Yuan beckoned. "Zheng Shidi said he needs your help with farming research!"
Qian Zhenren's heart leaped with joy. He turned back to glance proudly at a few disciples, then strode confidently into the portal.
...
Upon entering the Tianbei realm, Sun Daoyu and the others saw Zheng Fa waiting for them in the main hall.
Uncle Huang and Sister Yuan stood to the side, but there was an unspoken sense of Zheng Fa being the center of it all.
They exchanged glances, sensing something, yet remained composed.
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