Chapter 281
The Blood River Ancestor had certainly suffered a great loss.
But Tongming Shangren... this person seemed difficult to deceive.
Although Sister Zhang's face was pale, the Nine Mountains around her continued to rotate slowly, as if also on guard against this man.
The sect leader and Uncle Pang flew forward to stand behind Sister Zhang.
Tongming Shangren seemed to sense the vigilance of the entire Jiushan Sect.
He sighed with a smile, "So, the beating I took before was for nothing?"
Upon hearing this, the sect leader's expression turned somewhat awkward.
Though this man was a bit slippery, he had indeed been of help—at least he had played the role of a distraction.
Tongming Shangren continued, "That Blood River Ancestor was scared off by me, you know..."
At this, Sister Zhang and the others were taken aback.
This matter... was not entirely impossible.
Tongming Shangren's return was likely due to his fear of the Blood River Ancestor.
They hadn’t noticed, but perhaps the Blood River Ancestor truly could sense it.
Hearing him say this, the sect leader could only clasp his hands and say, "My Jiushan Sect has encountered a great calamity and is truly unable to feel at ease. I hope you can forgive us, Shangren."
Sister Zhang remained silent, but the Nine Mountains floating in the air seemed to be a wordless declaration.
Tongming Shangren nodded and said, "That golden bell from earlier, it came from the Thunder Pool, right?"
The sect leader said nothing.
It was Zheng Fa who spoke up, "What you say is true, Shangren."
"And you are?"
"I am Zheng Fa. Given the current situation, I cannot consult you face-to-face, Shangren..."
Zheng Fa had long understood that having taken the Sun and Moon Bell, he would not be able to appear in the Xuanwei Realm for at least three years.
"Zheng Fa... Zheng Fa..."
Tongming Shangren furrowed his brow and suddenly said, "That Blood River Ancestor seems to have mentioned your name, saying that the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor is quite interested in you..."
Zheng Fa: ...I swear I won't set foot in the Xuanwei Realm for at least a hundred and eighty years!
If the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor really came to the Jiushan Realm to capture him, he would accept it!
Tongming Shangren continued, "Speaking of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor... the Great Freedom Demon Sect has already entered the Xuanwei Realm. They have quite a number of members, and with the Blood River Ancestor involved, I can also faintly sense the presence of other incarnations... My Hundred Immortals Alliance needs to make plans early. Some sects have already sent me messages, wanting to discuss countermeasures with you."
Zheng Fa fell silent for a moment and suddenly said, "Shangren, regarding the Hundred Immortals Alliance, my Jiushan Sect... will no longer get involved."
Upon hearing this, the sect leader's expression shifted slightly, as if he had something to say.
Tongming Shangren was taken aback, then a bitter expression crossed his face, one that seemed to have been anticipated. He sighed, "How did it come to this..."
"The favor you extended, Shangren, my Jiushan Sect will certainly remember and repay it in the future, but... the Hundred Immortals Alliance, truly..."
Zheng Fa spoke vaguely, but Uncle Huang did not spare Tongming Shangren's feelings:
"Is the emergence of the Great Freedom Demon Sect solely a matter for my Jiushan Sect? Ever since the secret realm appeared, my Jiushan Sect has held on for nearly a year, with disciples forced to squat in the Thunder Pool, unable to sleep peacefully every night... Who has cared?"
"On that day, when my brother Pang faced life and death, the members of the Hundred Immortals Alliance either turned against us or stood by and watched."
"How many letters did I send them recently? How many replied?"
"Now that my Jiushan Sect has gained some strength, they come knocking?"
Uncle Huang's fiery temperament made his words sharp and unyielding, yet Tongming Shangren had no retort.
The sect leader's expression gradually became more neutral, as if he too had been persuaded.
Uncle Pang lowered his head, his expression unreadable.
"This matter... one cannot blame them; they are all thinking of their own sects..." Tongming Shangren could only say.
"I do not blame them, just as you said, Shangren, it is human nature. But my Jiushan Sect is small and humble, we can only look after ourselves," Zheng Fa said softly. "With the Five Sects of Xuanwei and the various major Transformation Gods..."
Xiao Yuying's words made Zheng Fa realize one thing—
The hidden forces within the Immortal Gate were vast, and it seemed that he was not the only one possessing a Cave Heaven spiritual treasure; the number of Transformation Gods was even more mysterious.
But no one truly cared about the Jiushan Sect.
Tongming Shangren's expression darkened further.
"The Hundred Immortals Alliance... is my fault..."
He sighed.
Zheng Fa, however, did not believe the problem lay with him.
The model of the Hundred Immortals Alliance was destined to lack cohesion.
As Sister Zhang had said, these sects were all trying to band together for warmth, but in reality and ideology, they were vastly different, with many contradictions.
Most importantly— the issues revealed by the Yuling Sect were too significant.
One of the top nine sects had actually been infiltrated by the Demon Sect.
Was it only the Yuling Sect?
Even Tongming Shangren might not be certain.
Thinking of this, Zheng Fa said, "I might as well speak frankly, my Jiushan Sect is already preparing to fully migrate into the Jiushan Realm... and will no longer concern ourselves with the disputes of the Xuanwei Realm."
"The protection you have given my Jiushan Sect, I will remember in my heart. In the future, if there is a need, my Jiushan Sect will do our utmost to assist."
"But regarding the Great Freedom Demon Sect, my Jiushan Sect is powerless."
No matter what, Tongming Shangren was willing to come and lend a hand to the Jiushan Sect; Zheng Fa acknowledged this sentiment.
Hearing this, Tongming Shangren forced a smile and shook his head, saying, "The Jiushan Sect was once part of my Hundred Immortals Alliance; this was my duty..."
After saying this, he seemed somewhat disheartened and turned to leave.
Before he departed, Zheng Fa suddenly heard him say, "Zheng Fa... if the Hundred Immortals Alliance could unite as one..."
He didn’t finish his sentence, shaking his head as if he found it impossible.
Tongming Shangren left in silence, and Zheng Fa was still pondering the words he hadn’t finished—
In truth, he already had an answer in his heart:
No.
Even if the Hundred Immortals Alliance were united now, he had no desire to return.
Unless the Hundred Immortals Alliance could take on his shape...
...
Watching Tongming Shangren depart, Sister Zhang let out a light breath, the flow of spiritual energy around her slowly dissipating, and the Nine Mountains finally settled on the ground.
She glanced at the golden bell that flickered in the sky, her eyes filled with a smile, and suddenly fainted.
Zheng Fa was startled, disregarding everything else, and in a flash, he exited the Jiushan Realm, catching Sister Zhang's slender waist.
"Sister Zhang?"
Zheng Fa called softly.
Beside him, Uncle Pang's eyes glimmered with silver light as he spoke, "Her spirit is exhausted, and her spiritual power is in disarray. Sister Zhang must have sustained serious injuries... she needs to rest."
"To clash with a Transformation God at the early stage of the Nascent Soul..."
The sect leader sighed.
Zheng Fa thought for a moment and said, "Master, Uncle, given the urgency of the situation, I have overstepped. I will take Sister Zhang into the Jiushan Realm to recuperate, but with the Great Freedom Demon Sect emerging from the secret realm, the Xuanwei Realm is bound to change—our Jiushan Sect's retreat cannot be delayed."
The sect leader and Uncle Pang exchanged glances.
Zheng Fa felt a stir in his heart, and Uncle Huang also appeared beside him.
"I'll go retrieve those disciples who were previously dispersed."
Uncle Pang said decisively.
The sect leader pondered for a moment and said, "As for the mortals in the Jiushan Sect's territory..."
Zheng Fa understood the issue at hand.
Although he didn’t hold the Hundred Immortals Alliance in high regard, the mortals in this vast territory had genuinely supported the Jiushan Sect.
The Great Freedom Demon Sect was an unknown quantity.
"Those willing to enter the Jiushan Realm, I hope Master will take care of..."
Zheng Fa said quietly.
The sparse population of the Jiushan Realm was one thing; on the other hand, Zheng Fa felt that the Jiushan Sect had a responsibility towards the mortals in this area.
The three of them exchanged glances, each with a look of difficulty on their faces.
It seemed they understood the challenges of this matter.
But no one spoke up.
Uncle Huang thought for a moment and said, "Some families, especially those of my Jiushan Sect's disciples, who are willing to follow our sect, must be brought back."
Zheng Fa nodded.
Although the Jiushan Sect currently had only about a thousand disciples, over thousands of years, many relationships had been formed.
This was yet another complicated matter.
"I will take charge of this."
Uncle Huang said.
Zheng Fa opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but hesitated.
"First, go to Jingzhou City..."
Uncle Huang glanced at him and smiled.
"Please take care of it, Uncle."
Zheng Fa wanted to go personally, but now the Sun and Moon Bell seemed to be held back by that flying sword, making movement difficult.
After thinking for a moment, Zheng Fa spoke again, "In Jingzhou City, there is also the Zhao family."
"I know, you hail from the Zhao family... What’s the matter?"
Zheng Fa hesitated for a moment and said, "I hope Uncle can clearly explain the current situation to Madam Zhao... If she is willing to enter the Jiushan Realm, please lend her a hand."
"If she is unwilling, then there is no need to force it."
He planned to send a letter to the Seventh Young Master and Zhao Jinglan to see what their arrangements were.
Uncle Huang nodded, as if he had taken note.
Worried about Sister Zhang, Zheng Fa clasped his hands to the three of them and then took Sister Zhang into the Jiushan Realm.
...
Watching Zheng Fa disappear before them, the sect leader and the other two were left speechless.
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