Chapter 350
Xiao Qing was momentarily stunned, unable to comprehend, and finally asked, “What do you mean it’s the same?”
“Just as warm!”
“…” She opened her mouth, reached out to touch the boy’s head, then nodded, saying, “That line is well-written, even better than what my sister wrote.”
…
However, the phenomenon of the Jiedan (Golden Core) was not only witnessed by the people of the Jiushan Realm.
A thousand miles away, Tongming Shangren stood beside two figures.
One was a middle-aged man, the other a young boy.
The middle-aged man had a scruffy beard and an unkempt appearance, looking quite honest.
The young man, on the other hand, had a face like a jade crown and a tall, upright figure, exuding an air of heroism.
They were both gazing in the direction of the Jiushan Realm, seemingly discussing something.
“Chengkong Shangshi, the Jiushan Sect… clearly does not wish to provoke trouble. If we force them, wouldn’t that be counterproductive?”
Tongming Shangren advised, his expression tinged with bitterness.
He didn’t look at the young man but instead focused on the middle-aged one—clearly, this middle-aged man, who looked like a simple farmer, was the previous generation’s Daozi (Daoist Master) of the Taishang Dao, now entrusted with a heavy responsibility to combat the Da Zizai Demon Sect alongside Chengkong Shangren!
When Tongming Shangren first saw the two, he was taken aback—didn’t the roles of master and servant seem reversed?
But Chengkong Shangren had made a name for himself a thousand years ago, and his cultivation was now unfathomable, especially with the backing of the Taishang Dao…
Though Tongming Shangren was a Huashen (Transformation God), he still treated Chengkong Shangren with utmost respect. If he truly didn’t want to provoke the Jiushan Sect, he wouldn’t have offered such advice.
“The Jiushan Sect…” Chengkong Shangren chuckled, “It is a member of the Hundred Immortals Alliance. How can they just come and go as they please?”
“…”
Tongming Shangren fell silent—didn’t the Jiushan Sect have two Huashen-level fighters?
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so reluctant!
Not to mention, he was quite envious of the Jiushan Realm…
But he truly didn’t dare to provoke them; after all, the blood river ancestor’s flying sword was still in the Jiushan Realm!
Little did he know, as soon as Chengkong Shangren arrived, he hadn’t even dealt with the Da Zizai Demon Sect yet, and he was already eyeing the Jiushan Sect.
Seemingly sensing Tongming Shangren’s unease, Chengkong Shangren smiled and said, “I’m not forcing them… I just can’t leave them unattended.”
“Hmm?” Tongming Shangren began to understand his meaning, “Are you worried that the Jiushan Realm will reap the benefits while we fight?”
Chengkong Shangren nodded, “I came from the Taishang Dao, and along the way, I visited thirty-five immortal sects, and there’s one rule… either send some fellow Daoists to assist me, or stay far away from this place.”
Tongming Shangren thought to himself, he didn’t want these immortal sects to watch from the sidelines.
But to be honest, this Shangshi was being a bit overbearing—if they didn’t send people, they had to move.
Most sects were situated on spiritual veins.
Moving was almost as good as being wiped out. “The Da Zizai Demon Sect is extremely powerful… if a fight breaks out, the outcome is uncertain. Since the Jiushan Realm has Huashen-level power, we can’t just ignore it.”
If the Jiushan Realm had Huashen-level power and wanted to take advantage, it would indeed be hard to guard against.
“So if the Jiushan Sect is unwilling to assist, you won’t let them stay here?”
“…” Chengkong Shangren shook his head and smiled, “I want them to return to the Hundred Immortals Alliance.”
“Ah?”
“What do you mean ‘ah’?” Chengkong Shangren shot him a glance, “You’re the only Huashen in your Hundred Immortals Alliance, while the Jiushan Sect has two…”
Indeed, for the Taishang Dao, the Hundred Immortals Alliance was merely a branch force, so the stronger, the better, especially when facing the Da Zizai Demon Sect.
Compared to Chengkong Shangren’s attitude towards other immortal sects, this time, he felt a subtle importance placed on the Jiushan Sect!
Thinking back, he had been somewhat tempted earlier:
Currently, the Jiushan Sect was actually stronger than the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
The power of one Huashen could easily match that of the various sects within the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
Not to mention, they had the stable Jiushan Realm.
If they could truly bring the Jiushan Sect back, life would be much better for the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
But…
Tongming Shangren’s face showed some hesitation.
Chengkong Shangren seemed to understand what he was thinking and spoke up, “You’re worried that the Jiushan Sect will take your position as the leader of the Hundred Immortals Alliance?”
Tongming Shangren nodded silently.
To be honest, when the Jiushan Realm withdrew from the Hundred Immortals Alliance, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.
“Don’t worry about that. Zheng Fa and Zhang Wuyi, first of all, are not true Huashen, and secondly, there’s still my Taishang Dao, right?”
“…”
Tongming Shangren’s eyes lit up.
“You are a disciple of my Taishang Dao and a Huashen. With our support, what do you have to fear?”
Chengkong Shangren smiled, causing Tongming Shangren to nod repeatedly, his heart understanding the reasoning behind it—
First, it was true that Zheng Fa and Zhang Wuyi lacked the hard power, and their Huashen strength was greatly limited.
Most importantly, it was the attitude of the Taishang Dao:
Chengkong Shangren wanted to strengthen the Hundred Immortals Alliance’s power to become a better support.
But he also didn’t want the Hundred Immortals Alliance to break free from the control of the Taishang Dao…
Otherwise, wouldn’t that be equivalent to handing the Hundred Immortals Alliance over to the Jiushan Sect?
“Once the Jiushan Sect returns, of course, you will be in charge… As for Zheng Fa and Zhang Wuyi, I see them as talents too. After everything is settled, we can bring them back to the Taishang Dao for proper training. It won’t be a loss for them.”
Indeed!
Tongming Shangren felt a twinge of envy in his heart—he could only be considered an external disciple of the Taishang Dao, never having received true training from them.
It was evident that Chengkong Shangren valued Zheng Fa and Zhang Wuyi more than he did himself…
“But what if the Jiushan Sect is unwilling? Then Zheng Fa…”
Tongming Shangren pondered, feeling that Chengkong Shangren was being a bit unrealistic.
“The Jiushan Realm…” Chengkong Shangren chuckled, suddenly saying, “Isn’t truly safe; it’s just a matter of whether it’s worth it.”
“…”
His words were vague, but Tongming Shangren understood that the Taishang Dao likely had prior knowledge of an existence like the Jiushan Realm—even perhaps a way to deal with it.
It sounded like dealing with the Jiushan Realm would be quite costly, to the point where even Chengkong Shangren had to weigh whether it was worth it.
Tongming Shangren couldn’t help but sigh—this was the previous generation’s Daozi of the Xuanwei Five Sects.
Yet, he felt a flicker of joy in his heart; if they could convince the Jiushan Realm, it would truly be a win-win situation…
He was lost in this beautiful dream when suddenly, a beam of light shot from the direction of the Jiushan Realm.
The sun was behind them, but Tongming Shangren felt as if another sun had appeared before him!
This sun was brighter, more dazzling, or rather—closer!
“What is this?”
Tongming Shangren was momentarily stunned, murmuring the question.
The young man beside Chengkong Shangren also wore a puzzled expression.
Only Chengkong Shangren’s eyelids twitched, and suddenly, a vertical pupil blossomed in the center of his brow, filled with golden light, devoid of any emotion, shooting a golden beam toward the distance.
After a long while, the vertical pupil on Chengkong Shangren’s forehead slowly faded, revealing a strange expression on his face, his tone tinged with surprise: “Jindan (Golden Core)?”
“This is a Jindan?”
Tongming Shangren felt as if he no longer recognized the two characters for Jindan, exclaiming in astonishment.
“It should be…”
Chengkong Shangren, who had been confident just moments ago, now sounded unusually hesitant, as if he too was uncertain.
“Jiedan… in that direction, with such power, it must be Zheng Fa.”
Tongming Shangren frowned.
Upon hearing this, Chengkong Shangren gazed at the newly appeared sun, fell silent for a long time, then spoke again, “How about this, in the future, the Hundred Immortals Alliance… you and Zheng Fa can discuss it together?”
“…”
Tongming Shangren’s eyes widened as he looked at him.
Chengkong Shangren’s scruffy old face couldn’t help but flush slightly as he said in a low voice, “Zheng Fa is extraordinary… once he enters the Taishang Dao, he will surely be a talent in the sect… let’s not do him an injustice.”
Tongming Shangren opened his mouth, unable to find his voice.
Just as the three were caught in an awkward silence, a new phenomenon suddenly appeared in the sky.
That sun began to rise slowly, bursting through the horizon.
In the sky, clouds gathered into layers of a sea of clouds.
The three looked up and saw that above the sea of clouds, there were indeed ethereal palaces and pavilions, with divine beings, maidens, heavenly soldiers, and celestial steeds traversing through them, as if they were in the abode of the Heavenly Emperor.
Layer upon layer of clouds and palaces pressed down upon them, even Chengkong Shangren couldn’t help but feel a sense of reverence.
This phenomenon lasted for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense before gradually dissipating.
The three remained silent for a long time, until the young man finally spoke, “Heavenly gifted divine powers?”
Chengkong Shangren didn’t respond, merely turned to look at Tongming Shangren.
“…” Tongming Shangren cautiously suggested, “How about we let him be the leader?”
“Hmm, that wouldn’t be unfair to my junior brother!”
Tongming Shangren silently gazed at the sky, feeling as if his earlier thoughts were nothing but a grand dream, yet he couldn’t quite grasp—who truly belonged to the Taishang Dao?
…
In the Jiushan Realm, Zheng Fa’s expression was somewhat peculiar—
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