Chapter 485
Yan Wushuang was feeling down, muttering to herself, "Aren't you the same...?"
"That's why I say you're foolish."
Zheng Fa, who was nearby, actually agreed with this statement.
Yan Wushuang was so carefree that it hadn't taken long for her to reveal everything.
Xie Qingxue, on the other hand, was quite impressive. After all this time, if it weren't for the Qingping Sword causing trouble, who would have guessed she was a rebel?
...
As they were talking, Zheng Fa suddenly changed his expression and said to Xie Qingxue and Yan Wushuang, "I have a guest arriving, so I’ll take my leave for now."
He left the two of them and made his way to Tiangong Island, where Sister Zhang and Tongming Shanzhen were already waiting.
"Shanzhen?"
Tongming Shanzhen looked a bit weary.
This was unusual; after all, he was a transformation god. How could he appear like this?
It didn't take long for Zheng Fa to understand.
"In recent days, I've tidied up Tongming Mountain, buried the deceased disciples, and settled the remaining ones."
Hearing the somber tone of Tongming Shanzhen, Zheng Fa was momentarily at a loss for words.
Tongming Shanzhen was indeed in a dire situation.
Now that the spiritual vein of Tongming Mountain had been severed, only a tenth of the disciples remained. It was on the brink of extinction.
He could only say, "Shanzhen, please accept my condolences..."
Zheng Fa began to grasp the depth of Tongming Shanzhen's feelings for the sect he had founded.
Tongming Shanzhen nodded and suddenly asked a question that puzzled him: "Do you want the Hundred Immortals Alliance?"
"Huh?"
"I wish to entrust the Hundred Immortals Alliance and the remaining disciples of Tongming Mountain to you."
Zheng Fa looked at Tongming Shanzhen in surprise. "Are you planning to leave?"
Tongming Shanzhen nodded. "Yes, the head of Mingde wants to return to the mountain. He values me and can take me back to Taishang Dao."
Zheng Fa's expression turned slightly strange. "Then congratulations, Shanzhen."
For Tongming Shanzhen, the loss of Tongming Mountain seemed like a misfortune, but being able to return to Taishang Dao was indeed a great blessing.
Moreover, the head of Mingde was a decent person. With him looking after Tongming Shanzhen, his future days shouldn't be too difficult.
"Then why not take the disciples of Tongming Mountain with you..."
Tongming Shanzhen shook his head. "As a transformation god, I can stand firm in Taishang Dao, but they..."
It seemed that life in Taishang Dao wasn't easy either.
Zheng Fa pondered. Tongming Shanzhen's meaning was simple: he wanted to find a backing for the disciples he was leaving behind and the sects of the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
Choosing the Jiushan Realm wasn't entirely unexpected for Zheng Fa—
In this realm, aside from the five sects of Xuanwei, were there any stronger immortal sects than the Jiushan Realm?
He was also contemplating whether to accept this force.
The Hundred Immortals Alliance had been severely weakened, but the number of remaining cultivators was still considerable, making it a significant force.
However, the chaotic affairs of the Hundred Immortals Alliance in the past had left Zheng Fa with a considerable psychological shadow—this alliance had too many leaks.
Tongming Shanzhen seemed to sense something and added:
"In fact, I also asked the heads of several major sects, and they were... quite excited."
"Huh?"
Zheng Fa was taken aback, and then he heard Tongming Shanzhen chuckle:
"The disciples who entered the Jiushan Realm have been singing its praises in their letters."
"Most importantly, none of them want to return to the Xuanwei Realm."
"This news has spread throughout the Hundred Immortals Alliance."
Zheng Fa was momentarily stunned; he truly hadn't known this. Generally speaking, he wouldn't bother to read those letters.
He had no idea this was happening.
This was a clear case of voting with their feet... The people of the Xuanwei Realm were quite perceptive!
Seeing that he genuinely didn't know, Tongming Shanzhen's expression turned even more pained. He shook his head and sighed, "I had guessed you weren't doing it on purpose... But after the Hundred Immortals Conference was held in the Jiushan Realm, the hearts of the people in the Hundred Immortals Alliance scattered."
"…"
This sounded like it was his fault?
"Your Golden Core Ceremony was too impressive, and the market was quite something."
Tongming Shanzhen looked at Zheng Fa with a complex expression, seemingly harboring some resentment. "If it weren't for the fact that those people couldn't enter the Jiushan Realm, they probably would have come knocking one after another."
After a moment, he cursed again:
"Those ungrateful wretches, as soon as they heard I was going to entrust the Hundred Immortals Alliance to you, they were all delighted..."
...
Sister Zhang, who usually had a cold demeanor, now looked somewhat speechless, as if she could imagine the scene at that time. Her gaze toward Tongming Shanzhen was filled with sympathy.
Since it had been said, Tongming Shanzhen spoke plainly:
"If the people's hearts were still with me, I would actually want to reorganize the Hundred Immortals Alliance."
"But now..."
After hearing this, Zheng Fa looked at Tongming Shanzhen with a puzzled expression—was this person really so magnanimous?
"I have one request."
"Huh?"
"Don't change the name of the Hundred Immortals Alliance."
Zheng Fa showed a look of confusion, while Sister Zhang suddenly realized, "I heard back in the day that the Hundred Immortals Alliance was the sixth in Xuanwei..."
"That was my boast," Tongming Shanzhen said, his face turning slightly red.
Got it.
A marketing ploy.
Even he had been fooled!
At this moment, Zheng Fa could also understand that Tongming Shanzhen likely still had many attachments to the Hundred Immortals Alliance, but the current situation of the alliance's disciples left no room for such sentiments.
"If I hand it over to someone else, I won't feel at ease."
"Only the Jiushan Realm might allow the Hundred Immortals Alliance to survive a little longer."
Tongming Shanzhen spoke sincerely before he left.
...
Due to Tongming Shanzhen's entrustment, Zheng Fa called upon his master and others.
"So, if we agree, does that mean we become the leaders of the Hundred Immortals Alliance?"
Uncle Pang was the first to jump up, his tone quite excited.
Even Elder Yuan and Uncle Huang had joyful expressions on their faces.
Zheng Fa could understand their thoughts. Although the Jiushan Realm had been developing rapidly, the Hundred Immortals Alliance was different—
Back in the day, Jiushan Sect had been wronged within the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
Now, returning as the leader was a different matter altogether.
After all, Jiushan Sect was originally a sect within the Hundred Immortals Alliance, and these three elders had many old friends in the alliance. This wave of returning home with wealth was quite fitting.
Zheng Fa had been secretly pleased while reading the group chat...
He could really relate.
Sister Zhang, however, remained silent, just watching Zheng Fa, seemingly waiting for his decision.
After thinking for a long time, Zheng Fa finally nodded:
"Taking over the Hundred Immortals Alliance does carry some risks, but the benefits are even greater."
"One is strength." Zheng Fa analyzed slowly, "Although the Hundred Immortals Alliance doesn't have any transformation gods left, there are still quite a few Nascent Souls, and forming an immortal formation would be quite powerful."
"The other is resources. While we can refine spiritual materials, many things are naturally cheaper..."
"There are actually many other benefits."
After hearing Zheng Fa's two points, Elder Yuan and the others understood his inclination.
Zheng Fa's meaning was clear: joining some place like Taishang Dao or Haori Mountain would mean losing autonomy, which wouldn't work.
Being in charge would be worth a try.
...
Two days later, in the Tiangong Palace of the Jiushan Realm, Zheng Fa and Tongming Shanzhen sat at the head.
The remaining heads and elders of the Hundred Immortals Alliance sat below, exchanging glances, feeling somewhat uneasy.
They were naturally envious of the strength and techniques of Jiushan Sect.
But on the other hand, the strength of the Jiushan Realm compared to Tongming Mountain made them worry... about losing their authority.
At this point, when it was really time to change the leader, the previous excitement faded, replaced by anxiety and uncertainty.
They had come to hear what Zheng Fa had to say.
Some were even wondering if Jiushan Sect became too domineering, perhaps it would be better to just leave the Hundred Immortals Alliance altogether.
Zheng Fa looked at the expressions of these people and understood what they were thinking.
To be honest, Tongming Shanzhen's management of the Hundred Immortals Alliance had been lax, leaving many loopholes, but it also granted these sects a lot of freedom.
Zheng Fa, however, would not be so lenient.
Seeing that everyone was looking at him, he spoke loudly: "If anyone is unwilling to follow Jiushan Sect or has any doubts, feel free to voice them now."
A group of people exchanged glances, and it was the head of Qingmu Sect who stood up, cupping his hands toward Zheng Fa:
"Zheng Zhangmen, we naturally admire Jiushan Sect."
"But we would like to know what the rules of the Hundred Immortals Alliance will be if Jiushan Sect becomes the leader?"
"How much tribute will we have to pay each year?"
"Or... will we simply merge into the Jiushan Realm?"
The head of Qingmu Sect's eyes were filled with apprehension.
They all had disciples in the Jiushan Realm and could see that Zheng Fa was a person with a strong desire for control, or rather, a very cautious person.
Would he allow these sects to operate freely?
Zheng Fa thought for a moment and replied, "I have two documents for you to look over first."
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