Chapter 487
He wanted Yuan Shijie to enter the classroom, but it wasn’t to deliberately torment her; he mainly wanted to conduct an experiment.
In the past couple of days, while discussing problems with Zhang Shijie, she suddenly noticed that Zheng Fa’s way of speaking had changed, giving her a different feeling.
Especially when they were discussing the Dao, she found herself inexplicably drawn in, as if Zheng Fa’s words could spark even more inspiration within her.
At first, Zhang Shijie didn’t think much of it; she assumed it was just that she was starting to find Zheng Fa more agreeable…
But then, Uncle Pang also muttered something similar about his own feelings.
That caught everyone’s attention.
Zheng Fa himself hadn’t noticed any change, but after some investigation, they found that this shift had occurred in the past few days.
In other words, it coincided with the time when Zheng Fa’s Dao fruit began to change.
Naturally, Zheng Fa recalled his actions in the modern world and couldn’t help but speculate—could it be that this Dao fruit was giving him a buff when he preached?
However, such matters leaned more towards psychological changes, which were elusive and hard to verify. At least Zhang Shijie and Uncle Pang often found inspiration when listening to Zheng Fa’s teachings, but no one could definitively say whether it was due to the Dao fruit.
If they wanted to truly understand, it would likely require long-term comparative experiments.
But wasn’t there an uncomprehending Yuan Shijie?
Today, Zheng Fa planned to conduct an intelligence drug experiment… no, an animal experiment!
Yuan Shijie sat dazed in the classroom, contemplating what to eat later to soothe her wounded heart and ears, when Zheng Fa began his lecture at the podium.
This class was on “Advanced Talismans,” covering their latest research on talisman techniques, including the theory of sub-talismans and applications like talisman arrays.
To take this course, one needed to have excellent topology skills and to have completed intermediate talisman studies.
In other words, the not-so-bright Yuan Shijie had no business being here!
Half a stick of incense later, Yuan Shijie watched Zheng Fa’s mouth move, her eyes gradually glazing over.
Zheng Fa felt a bit disappointed. Was it that he had misjudged her, or was Yuan Shijie just too slow to catch on?
He didn’t stop, continuing to teach the other disciples.
Suddenly, he noticed something was off with Yuan Shijie—she was flailing her arms, and that expression of brilliance on her face actually seemed to hold a glimmer of insight.
It seemed she truly had grasped something!
He exchanged a glance with Zhang Shijie, both of them filled with joy.
Even more delighted was Yuan Shijie, who buzzed around Zheng Fa after class, chattering excitedly:
“I understood that wood-fire sub-talisman!”
“Not only do I understand, but I feel like my innate spirit fire understands too!”
“It’s like I’ve become stronger!”
With that, Yuan Shijie puffed out her chest, hands on her hips, wearing a proud expression, her lips curling into a smirk that only a genius could possess.
This little bird was probably experiencing the thrill of enlightenment for the first time, entering the realm of a top student, and it was only natural for her to feel a bit giddy.
Zheng Fa felt a bit elated too—his Dao fruit wasn’t even fully formed yet, and he had managed to help Yuan Shijie’s thick skull crack open… that was quite impressive.
After class, he discussed his thoughts on the Dao fruit with Zhang Shijie while heading back to Wanxian Island.
“It’s beneficial for preaching… indeed, it’s extremely useful for the Dao fruit.”
That was true. The path Zheng Fa was currently pursuing leaned towards preaching, and the Fusangmu Dao fruit had a role in that, which was quite surprising.
He just didn’t know what the effects would be once the Dao fruit was fully formed.
That matter was still far off, but some things were pressing.
When they arrived at Wanxian Island, Mu Qingyan was already waiting for him in Zheng Fa’s courtyard.
Now that he had decided to take over the forces left by Tongming Shangren, certain matters that Zheng Fa had previously overlooked had become very important.
“You mentioned that after the demise of the Baixian Alliance, the Xuanwei Five Sects—no, the Xuanwei Four Sects—established their own forces?”
Mu Qingyan nodded earnestly.
“Can you elaborate?”
“Yaochi established the Xianting, Haori Mountain is referred to as the Holy Land of Haori Mountain, and there are also the Taishang Daoguo and the Leiyin Buddha Land.”
“What about the major demon lords?”
“The forces of the major demon lords… are extremely mysterious. I don’t know much, but I do know there are four demon domains and three forbidden lands, as well as the Great Freedom Demon Emperor…”
“Oh, and…” Zheng Fa listened as Mu Qingyan mentioned a name that shocked him slightly, “the Jiuyou Difu.”
The Underworld?
That name struck Zheng Fa as even more terrifying than the names of the previous major forces.
Zhang Shijie and the others, however, remained unfazed, clearly not finding anything unusual about the name.
He suppressed his confusion and asked a question he was more concerned about:
“Who occupies the territory of the Baixian Alliance now?”
“The Great Freedom Demon Emperor primarily, but there are also people from the Holy Land of Haori Mountain who have been in constant conflict with him.”
Zheng Fa frowned.
This raised a significant issue:
It indicated that Haori Mountain had intentions for this area.
Mu Qingyan’s recollection of the Great Freedom Demon Emperor was not the same as the current situation.
The Great Freedom Demon Sect had not perished, and the Demon Emperor’s Dao fruit seemed to be in good shape; his strength should be quite formidable.
Yet Haori Mountain remained stubborn, which must have its reasons.
Thinking of this, Zheng Fa hesitated. Should they just give up on the territory of the Baixian Alliance altogether?
His doubts about Mu Qingyan’s so-called rebirth lingered, and besides, he was still coveting those resources.
He hadn’t made up his mind yet and planned to observe the situation first.
But Mingde Shouzu had already decided to withdraw.
Tongming Mountain had been thoroughly destroyed, and the Xuanwei Five Sects and the Great Freedom Demon Lords no longer had fundamental conflicts; they had long been inclined to leave.
Regardless of what the future held, the two sides were still cooperating for now, and Zheng Fa accompanied Zhang Shijie to see Mingde Shouzu and the others off.
“Zheng Alliance Leader…” Mingde Shouzu looked at Zheng Fa’s face and suddenly said, “You really don’t want to go with me to the Taishang Dao?”
Zheng Fa slightly cupped his hands, thanking Mingde Shouzu for his kindness.
Having guessed what the Dao fruit might be, Zheng Fa could no longer align himself with any major force.
Mingde Shouzu shook his head, no longer bringing it up, but turned to glance back at Tongming Shangren and Chengkong Shangren, smiling as he said, “The Taishang Dao is far from here, and I probably won’t be back for a while. Handing over the Baixian Alliance to you is a good thing.”
It was clear that Mingde Shouzu didn’t think much of the disciples of the Baixian Alliance and didn’t care, treating it merely as a favor.
Tongming Shangren cupped his hands to Zheng Fa and glanced at Tongming Mountain, his expression more carefree than usual.
Mingde Shouzu said a few more words, and the transformation gods from Yaochi and Haori Mountain also came forward to bid farewell.
They were a bit cold towards Zheng Fa, which was understandable; his earlier rejection must have left some resentment in their hearts.
Zheng Fa scrutinized the transformation god from Haori Mountain, who had previously said little and had little interaction with him. All he knew was that his surname was Shi and his name was Nandang.
Shi Nandang didn’t notice Zheng Fa’s gaze; he was looking at Xie Qingxue behind Zheng Fa…
Not just him, but Mingde Shouzu also realized something:
When they arrived, there were five major sects, but now there were only three returning?
He could understand the absence of Leiyin Temple.
But Xie Qingxue, isn’t it a bit outrageous for you to be mixed in with the Jiushan Sect?
Mingde Shouzu thought for a moment. Previously, the three major sects had all been trying to recruit Zheng Fa, but only Xie Qingxue hadn’t made a move.
Now it seemed that Xie Qingxue had been recruited by the Jiushan Sect?
He stared at Zheng Fa’s face for a long time, then glanced at Zhang Shijie beside him, and finally looked at Xie Qingxue’s nonchalant expression for quite a while.
Then, he couldn’t help but show a hint of admiration towards Zheng Fa. This Zheng Fa… had quite a bit going for him!
“Ahem, my junior brother and I will leave later, later.”
Xie Qingxue also sensed the strange looks from these people. She had no choice; the “Jiushan Golden Elixir Method” was still incomplete, and the connection with the Qingping Sword and the “Jiushan Golden Elixir Method” had yet to be resolved.
She didn’t want to leave, but she couldn’t leave either.
Seeing her say this, Mingde Shouzu and the others still looked somewhat suspicious, but they could only trust her for now.
They cupped their hands to Zheng Fa and said no more, their figures slowly disappearing.
Zheng Fa watched them leave, turned around, and was about to speak to Xie Qingxue and the others when suddenly a message talisman flew in, landing in his hand.
It was from Zhang Shijie again.
Zheng Fa knew something was wrong. He opened it and saw it contained just a short sentence:
“The Demon Emperor has summoned ten thousand demons, seeking to slay Jiushan and seize the Dao fruit!”
“What’s wrong?”
Seeing his expression change, Zhang Shijie took the message talisman and, after reading it, her face also grew serious.
Behind them, Xie Qingxue looked at Zheng Fa, her eyes curious but still composed, not asking any questions.
Zheng Fa lowered his head in thought for a moment, then said to Xie Qingxue, “Xie Xianzi, the Great Freedom Demon Emperor is coming.”
As soon as he said this, the faces of the elders changed.
Xie Qingxue furrowed her brows.
She understood Zheng Fa’s implication; the Great Freedom Demon Emperor must have improved in strength after the grand ceremony.
After suffering a loss last time, he was even more on guard.
This time, he would surely come with all his might, and it would be a battle of life and death.
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