Chapter 433
After a hard-fought battle, many sects naturally sought to seize more resources. Whether the opponents were remnants of the demonic sect was of little importance.
He looked at Yan Wushuang, puzzled as to why this person would say such a thing, his expression filled with a sense of lament.
"On our journey, not a single celestial sect has thought about the upcoming spring plowing... The fields in Liangzhou are still mostly barren," Yan Wushuang suddenly smiled, glancing at Zheng Fa. "What’s more, the people of the celestial sect, they want to turn into demons, shouting and killing, all for the sake of the spiritual veins."
He turned back to look at the small courtyard. After all, he was still young at heart, and he felt a bit shy to express a compliment directly in front of his friend:
"And you, you’ve made the demons seem more like celestial beings than the celestial beings themselves."
Seeing that he had fallen silent, Zheng Fa didn’t mind and simply led him into the main hall of Tiangong Island.
Sister Zhang was busy calculating the distribution of manpower and rice seeds, as well as the division of fields.
When she saw Zheng Fa bringing Yan Wushuang in, a look of confusion crossed her face, and the others assisting in the hall, including Uncle Pang, also turned to look.
"Xie Xianzi has some speculations."
Zheng Fa nodded at Yan Wushuang, who then shared his master sister's thoughts regarding the demon race and the Youming Xian (Underworld Immortal) with everyone.
Sister Zhang furrowed her brows. "Demon race?"
"Yes, after the Qingshan Great Sage made his move, no demons have appeared since. I initially thought they might have occupied the Great Freedom Heaven, hiding away," Zheng Fa explained. "But now, seeing the Youming Xian heading towards the East Sea, it seems there’s more to it."
Sister Zhang nodded at this and added, "So what we need to guard against in the East Sea County is actually the great demons in the sea?"
"Exactly."
Zheng Fa pondered for a moment and then smiled. "But there’s no need to worry. According to that Mingde Zongzhu, the Youming Xian should be in Haipu County, far from us."
"Even if something happens, within the Jiushan Realm, our Jiushan Sect can still protect ourselves."
His mindset regarding the encirclement of the Youming Xian was indeed different from before.
On one hand, the urgency was not as great as last time; previously, it was to prevent the resurrection of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor, and Zheng Fa had to fight desperately.
On the other hand, with the presence of the Qingjing Zhu (Calm Bamboo), their confidence had increased significantly, and they were no longer in a state of panic.
Most importantly, it was clear that Mingde Zongzhu did not trust them as much as he did the Chengkong Shangren (Master Chengkong).
During the previous six-pronged assault on the Chen County Demon Sect, they had been a main force, with many Yuanying (Nascent Soul) under their command.
Now, with the main battlefield in Haipu County, they were on the other side of the East Sea County, making it impossible for anyone to command them.
It seemed that Mingde Zongzhu probably trusted himself more, relying mostly on the people from the Five Sects, including the two transformation gods from the Taishang Dao (Supreme Path).
As for himself, he likely wasn’t regarded highly.
Given this, the Jiushan Sect felt quite at ease, focusing more on their own development.
Coming to the East Sea County was merely to avoid offending the Xuanwei Five Sects; in terms of mindset, they were merely bystanders, ready to applaud enthusiastically.
There was no need to force themselves into a situation where they would be met with cold shoulders.
...
"Do you really care that much about Zheng Fa?"
Mingde Zongzhu looked at Chengkong Shangren.
"Zongzhu, Zheng Fa has made significant contributions last time, and his methods are quite extraordinary. Why not assign him an important task?"
"I know he has some clever tricks, but now it’s a matter of life and death. Where is there room for him to exploit?" Mingde Zongzhu snorted, noticing Chengkong Shangren’s reluctance, and explained, "Zheng Fa’s cultivation is too low. If he were to be careless and get possessed by my wayward disciple, wouldn’t that be even more troublesome?"
Chengkong Shangren was taken aback, not expecting Zongzhu to have such considerations.
"I’ve chased him for so many years, and there were times I had to act against my own people..." Mingde Zongzhu’s face showed a hint of sorrow, gripping the Qingjing Zhu tightly, as if filled with pent-up rage.
"This time, in the encirclement against Qin Mu, if they’re not transformation gods, I don’t even want them entering Haipu County."
"Though Zheng Fa has combat strength, his cultivation is still low. Not letting him come will prevent any mishaps."
Seeing Zongzhu’s reasoning, Chengkong Shangren found it reasonable and had nothing more to say.
But he also understood that Mingde Zongzhu didn’t regard Zheng Fa highly; otherwise, he wouldn’t keep them so far away.
"What, do we have so many transformation gods that without Zheng Fa, a Golden Core, we can’t deal with that wayward disciple?" Mingde Zongzhu added, scolding, "Don’t lose the ambition of our Taishang Dao!"
"…"
Mingde Zongzhu truly had a way to track the Youming Xian. Two days later, they, a group of transformation gods, found traces of the Youming Xian on a small island.
On this island, there was a small cave, from which spiritual energy was overflowing.
When they were still over a hundred miles away from the island, it seemed the Youming Xian sensed their approach, and a figure flew out of the cave—it was Qin Mu.
The spiritual energy around Qin Mu fluctuated, indicating that his injuries had not yet healed.
Upon seeing them, his expression changed, but his gaze didn’t fall on them; instead, he looked behind them, as if searching for something.
This demeanor left the imposing Mingde Zongzhu momentarily stunned, and he turned to glance at the empty void.
When he turned back, he saw that the wayward disciple seemed to have relaxed a bit.
A sense of doubt filled his heart, and he secretly transmitted a message to Chengkong Shangren: "What is this wayward disciple looking for? Why does he seem so relieved all of a sudden?"
Chengkong Shangren looked up at the sky, tightly pursing his lips, his expression strange, unsure if he should voice the answer in his heart—perhaps he was looking for that Golden Core you look down upon.
(End of this chapter)
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Chapter 355: Is Heaven Not on My Side? Can I Hold On?
As soon as the Youming Xian Qin Mu appeared, he first looked for Zheng Fa. When he couldn’t find him, his confidence seemed to surge.
The change in his expression puzzled Chengkong Shangren—why was this person so wary of Zheng Fa?
But clearly, the Youming Xian Qin Mu wouldn’t explain.
Qin Mu stood in the clouds, his clothes and hair whipped by the sea breeze, fluctuating like the spiritual power within him, still affected by the injuries from the recent battle.
Yet he seemed unconcerned, his head slightly turning as he scanned the few formidable enemies before him.
"Taishang Dao, Tianhe Sect, Yaochi, Haori Mountain..." he murmured, "Master, to deal with just me, you’ve invited six transformation gods..."
"Do you hate me that much for not dying?"
Mingde Zongzhu signaled to the others, and Xie Qingxue and the six others understood, spreading out to surround Qin Mu, completely blocking his escape.
Qin Mu didn’t even move his head, merely gazing at Mingde Zongzhu with a hint of a smile in his eyes, seemingly unperturbed.
Mingde Zongzhu, on the other hand, felt increasingly uncertain, growing cautious, fearing there might be an ambush nearby.
He knew well that this disciple was ruthless and calculating, which was why he wanted to outnumber him to avoid any surprises.
But at this moment, Qin Mu’s demeanor made him feel that the situation was beyond his expectations.
He hesitated to act, simply saying, "Hate you?"
"I didn’t pass on the Two Instruments True Solution to you, and you impersonated me, stealing from the Transmission Hall and even killing two of my fellow disciples." Although Mingde Zongzhu was observing his surroundings, anger naturally surfaced in his expression as he spoke of this. "Because of this, I was forced to reflect in the True Fire Cave for three hundred years, suffering daily from the punishment of heavenly fire."
"That’s just me; over the years, there have been over ten disciples of the Taishang Dao who died at your hands, three of whom you possessed..."
"I, too, have been stained with the blood of Taishang Dao disciples because of you!"
"Stealing true methods, framing my master, slaughtering fellow disciples—shouldn’t I hate you?" Mingde Zongzhu’s hairpin trembled, clearly furious. "I hate myself even more for having taught you such a disciple!"
"Now that your Great Freedom Demon Sect has suffered a crushing defeat, you find yourself in dire straits."
"Clearly, it’s not that I hate you for not dying, but that heaven intends for you, this unfilial and disloyal person, to perish!"
As he spoke, his anger grew, and by the end, his eyes were bloodshot.
Yet the smile on Qin Mu’s face didn’t fade in the slightest; he even nodded slightly, as if in agreement with his master’s words. But in the end, he chuckled softly:
"Heaven’s will?"
"Is it truly that heaven does not assist me?"
He no longer looked at Mingde Zongzhu, instead fixing his gaze on Chengkong Shangren, seemingly puzzled, and asked:
"My Great Freedom Demon Sect’s transformation gods gathering in Chen County was supposed to be a closely guarded secret. The Five Directions Blood Slaughter Great Formation was on the verge of completion. That day, you suddenly barged in, nearly causing us to fail—was that heaven’s will?"
Chengkong Shangren was momentarily stunned.
Why did he charge in back then?
Oh, right, Zheng Fa had sent him a message saying that the Great Freedom Demon Sect was trying to resurrect the Demon Ancestor in Chen County.
At that time, the situation was urgent, and he had to rely on the Qingjing Zhu to rush into the formation, unexpectedly catching the Great Freedom Demon Sect off guard.
As he was lost in thought, the Youming Xian continued:
"Then later, I killed the Yin-Yang Rakshasa and completed the Five Directions Blood Slaughter Flag..."
"At that time, I also encountered Xie Xianzi." He glanced at Xie Qingxue. "I broke the Demon Ancestor’s physical form, which was yet another calamity."
"This is nothing... I, a cultivator of both celestial and demonic paths, have no idea how many life-and-death tribulations I’ve survived."
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