Chapter 290
Huang Shishu pointed at Pang Shishu and said to Zheng Shan, “This one is also your brother’s Shishu. He’s a bit of a slippery character, but he treats his disciples well.”
It seemed that Huang Shishu was in a good mood, as he rarely praised Pang Shishu, especially after hearing Zheng Shan call him “Shijie” (senior sister).
Pang Shishu looked somewhat grateful, glancing at the bewildered Zheng Shan.
He rummaged in his robes and pulled out a crystal-clear pearl, smiling as he handed it to Zheng Shan.
Zheng Shan looked up at the beaming Pang Shishu, unsure of what to do.
“It’s a welcome gift, not worth much,” Pang Shishu said with a grin. “Just take it and play with it.”
The disciples of Jiushan Sect behind them twitched their lips.
Their eyes were filled with eager anticipation as they looked at the pearl—
This thing was a magical artifact!
A treasure that could stabilize one’s mind and aid in cultivation.
In the market, it wouldn’t be available for less than three hundred spirit stones!
Zheng Shan glanced at Huang Shishu, who nodded at her.
Only then did she take the pearl, obediently thanking Pang Shishu.
……
“This child may not have a Dao body, but with a single wood spirit root, her talent is quite good.”
Watching Zheng Shan play with the pearl, Huang Shishu communicated through thought.
“And I asked on the way here; Zheng Fa has been teaching her for the past two years, laying a solid foundation…”
Pang Shishu listened, his lips curling into a smile that he couldn’t suppress.
“If it weren’t for Wuyi, this child would never have been able to be yours…”
“Shijie!” Pang Shishu exclaimed, “In the future, among the three Yuanying of Jiushan Sect, you will be the eldest sister!”
“What about the sect leader?”
“That one who snatches disciples? Can he compare to you, who’s giving them away? Pah!”
“……”
(End of this chapter)
**Chapter 270: Thunder Light Illuminates the Mountains and Rivers**
Soon, the team Zheng Shan was in merged with the large group led by Yuan Zhangmen.
The migrating crowd, originally numbering in the tens of thousands, swelled to around three hundred thousand.
Grandpa Zhangmen treated her well, but he always wore a frown, making her hesitant to get close.
“Shixiong, how’s the situation?”
After sending some disciples to maintain order, Pang Shishu quietly asked Yuan Zhangmen.
“Not good,” Yuan Zhangmen shook his head. “The Da Zizai Demon Sect is really here this time. I’ve been cautious, leading them away from people, yet we still ran into seven or eight Yuanying from the demon sect…”
Hearing this, Pang Shishu’s expression turned serious.
Now they all knew that the Huashen (Transformation Stage) seemed to be restricted and wouldn’t appear casually.
But Yuanying were still formidable opponents.
“What about the Hundred Immortals Alliance?”
A hint of admiration appeared on Yuan Zhangmen’s face. “Tongming Shangren has made a bold decision, ordering the various sects of the Hundred Immortals Alliance to withdraw. It seems he wants to consolidate the alliance to prevent further infiltration while ensuring mutual support.”
Pang Shishu pondered for a moment and understood Tongming Shangren’s intentions—
Despite his previous indifference to the disunity within the Hundred Immortals Alliance, the rapidly changing situation wouldn’t allow him to let the affairs of Yuling Sect happen again.
Did they really think the Huashen had no temper?
However… he wasn’t optimistic about Tongming Shangren.
He looked up at his Shixiong, seeing the deep thought etched on his face, clearly sharing similar concerns:
After all, the Hundred Immortals Alliance only had one Huashen, while the Da Zizai Demon Sect had the Demon Ancestor backing them. The disparity was evident—one Blood River Ancestor would be enough to give Tongming Shangren a run for his money.
“Tongming Shangren has extensive connections; he might find some support,” Yuan Zhangmen said, shaking his head. “But as for us returning, we might have our hands full.”
Pang Shishu nodded, turning back to look at the more than three hundred thousand ordinary people behind them, feeling somewhat helpless.
Though they were Yuanying, leading so many people forward was no easy task.
On one hand, these people were part of Jiushan Sect.
On the other hand, they had heard the news of the Da Zizai Demon Sect’s emergence and were frightened into migrating with them.
But leaving their homeland meant an uncertain future for them.
The moving crowd was noisy yet silent, an undercurrent of unease lingering in the air.
“Zheng Fa said that the Sun and Moon Bell can be moved now. If we keep going forward, he will come to meet us,” Yuan Zhangmen shared some good news. “We should be able to converge in four or five days.”
“That makes things much easier.”
A smile appeared on Pang Shishu’s face as he sensed something and looked up at the sky.
Huang Shishu was flying in from a distance, holding a yellow-skinned bag.
Huang Shishu handed the bag to Pang Shishu, who tossed it onto the ground, revealing a doorway two people high. The portal was bright, and inside was a warehouse-like space, with piles of grain stacked four or five people high, seemingly endless.
“Disciples, come take the grain and distribute it.”
Pang Shishu announced loudly.
The people migrating with them saw the warehouse brimming with grain, and the anxious atmosphere dissipated significantly.
……
While the crowd eagerly distributed the rations, Pang Shishu noticed the heaviness on Huang Shijie’s face.
“What’s wrong?”
He exchanged glances with Yuan Zhangmen and asked through thought.
“The price of grain has skyrocketed,” Huang Shishu replied. “I’ve heard that the Da Zizai Demon Sect has taken over many cities, and now the grain trade requires their approval.”
Pang Shishu immediately understood: “The cost doesn’t matter; we’re not short on gold and silver… But if the Da Zizai Demon Sect controls the grain trade, how will we feed so many people…”
He looked at the vast sea of people, stretching as far as the eye could see.
“When I returned, I even encountered disciples from the Da Zizai Demon Sect… They seemed to be heading this way.”
Huang Shishu added.
Yuan Zhangmen frowned, looking northwest. In the distant sky, several dark figures appeared, like vultures searching for an opportunity, their gazes coldly fixed on the crowd.
“Yuanying from the Da Zizai Demon Sect…”
Pang Shishu spoke.
“It’s nothing; we fear them, but they fear our Jiushan Sect too…” Yuan Zhangmen reasoned, observing how those figures hesitated to approach. “The Blood River Ancestor suffered a great loss; these people probably feel uncertain.”
Pang Shishu activated his洞虚灵眼 (Dongxu Spirit Eye) to look into the distance and nodded. “Shixiong is right; these people seem to be here to scout.”
Yuan Zhangmen thought for a moment and said, “No need to rush; don’t hurry on the road—wait until Zheng Fa arrives, and we’ll be safe.”
Pang Shishu immediately understood his brother’s calm strategy and felt it was a good plan.
Once panic set in, it would only reveal their vulnerabilities to the approaching group.
However, the number of Da Zizai Demon Sect members closing in was increasing.
The Yuanying dared not approach, but they were not stingy with the lives of their lower-level disciples—gradually, the Da Zizai Demon Sect sent wave after wave of Foundation Establishment disciples to harass them.
The three of them were not afraid of these people.
But the ordinary folks they were leading were not so reassured.
“Shan’er?”
Zheng Shan stood on tiptoe, gazing at the sky.
In the sky, dark clouds mingled with blood-red clouds, the wind carrying a hint of a metallic scent, and they could almost hear countless vengeful souls whispering and howling in their ears.
The night wind was particularly eerie.
It kept her awake.
Zheng Shan turned back to look at her mother, who was filled with worry.
“Those people say we’re surrounded by the demon sect?”
Zheng Shan nodded. They hadn’t moved for a day, and it was obvious why—demon sect disciples were watching them from all directions.
“There are also rumors that our food is running out…”
Zheng Mu added.
Beside them, Huang Yu stood with his father, Huang Guanshi, and upon hearing this, their expressions turned grave.
Huang Guanshi pondered for a moment and said, “The three real people don’t dare to leave recklessly; they probably can’t buy grain. It seems we have enough food for now… but we don’t know how long it will last.”
“Come with me.”
Just as Zheng Shan was about to speak, she heard Huang Shishu’s voice in her mind. She was taken aback, glancing at her mother, who also seemed to have received the message.
The group made their way to the center of the camp.
At this moment, Huang Zhenren no longer wore a smile when she saw them.
She instructed them, “From now on, stick with me and don’t wander off, understood?”
Zheng Shan nodded obediently, and after a moment of silence, she mustered the courage to ask, “Zhenren, can’t we leave?”
Huang Zhenren glanced at her and replied, “If they can’t leave, I can still take you with me.”
Zheng Shan didn’t quite understand this.
But Huang Yu and his father felt a jolt in their hearts—this statement had two implications.
One was that the three real people had already prepared for the worst.
The other was that it showed Jiushan Sect’s regard for the Zheng family.
They were left uncertain whether to feel joy or sorrow…
……
In the following days, the demon sect cultivators around them grew bolder, inching closer, and the number of disciples coming to harass them increased significantly.
Zheng Shan often saw Grandpa Zhangmen suddenly vanish from sight, followed by streaks of golden lightning tearing through the sky, driving back a circle of dark clouds.
But after the lightning passed, the dark clouds seemed to close in even more.
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