Chapter 488
### Chapter 380: All Beings Retreat, Jiushan Moves Forward
The Seventh Young Master, Zhao Jingfan, had been feeling quite joyful these days.
He had just returned to the ruins of Qingmu Sect with his fellow disciples and mentors. Although he had spent several years in this familiar place, his feelings upon returning were entirely different.
As he walked along the path to the herb garden, the green stones lining the road, the distant plants growing in the garden, and even the bricks and tiles on the eaves would momentarily distract him.
It wasn’t just him; every disciple of Qingmu Sect who had survived the calamity and returned felt similarly.
Along the way, he encountered many fellow disciples, many of whom were not weaker than him in cultivation. Yet, even those at the Golden Core stage would quicken their pace and greet him with smiles, their attitudes not overly respectful but certainly warm.
Zhao Jingfan understood that this was all due to Zheng Fa.
Now that Qingmu Sect had allied with Jiushan Sect, it meant that a single word from Zheng Fa could shake the entire sect.
His relationship with Zheng Fa was not a secret within the Baixian Alliance. This wasn’t something he had intentionally publicized; during their time at Tongming Mountain, whenever Zheng Fa had a moment to spare, he would invite Zhao Jingfan over for a meal at his home in Jiushan Realm. Though it was just casual conversation, those with keen eyes would certainly take note.
Now that Jiushan Sect had become the leader of the Baixian Alliance, Zhao Jingfan’s status within Qingmu Sect had naturally changed.
At home, he often acted recklessly, feeling invincible. But now, he found himself becoming more humble. When he met seniors or elders, he performed his greetings meticulously, not allowing the other party’s attitude to affect his manners.
In fact, he seemed even more cautious and respectful than he had been a few days prior.
Watching a lively senior brother walk away, Zhao Jingfan shook his head, recalling a conversation he had with his mother about this matter:
“You need to change your temperament.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“With Zheng Fa as your backing, if you put in a little more effort to build good relationships within the sect, who knows, you might even become the sect leader one day… The Zhao family has never had…”
“Not interested!”
“...If you don’t behave properly in the sect, you might embarrass Zheng Fa.”
“Seems like… you’re right?”
He still remembered the look on his mother’s face at that time, and now it made him want to laugh.
In the end, he had a simple thought: he couldn’t keep up with Zheng Fa’s pace, but at the very least, he shouldn’t hold him back.
Zhao Jingfan pushed aside his thoughts and entered the herb garden.
Most of the Qingmu Sect disciples had been working in the herb garden these days—though the spiritual vein of Qingmu Sect remained, the garden had been ravaged by the demonic sect, leaving many rare herbs dug up, causing the sect leader great distress.
The sect was renowned for its alchemy, and the herb garden was a crucial place.
In recent days, they had been replanting various spiritual herbs in hopes of restoring it to its former glory.
After days of effort, the herb garden was starting to take shape.
The faces of the disciples were relatively calm and happy—at least the Great Freedom Demon Emperor had left the sea region and wouldn’t come to harm them again, right?
That was good enough!
Zhao Jingfan carefully placed the seeds in the holes he had dug, covering them with soil, and a smile crept onto his face.
“Look!”
A disciple who had been resting suddenly shouted, pointing to the sky in the distance.
“Look at what?”
Zhao Jingfan quickly looked up, following the direction of the disciple’s finger.
The smile on his face vanished in an instant!
The distant horizon had transformed into a vast ocean.
Endless waves of seawater surged over mountains, fertile fields, and cities, rushing toward them.
Above the sea, in the sky, there were more demon creatures than there was water!
Beneath the waves were men, women, and children fleeing in panic.
The Great Freedom Demon Emperor stood at the center of the myriad demons, coldly watching the innocent lives lost, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
The sect leader’s voice echoed from the mountain peak, filled with terror and anguish: “All disciples of Qingmu Sect, retreat with me!”
Zhao Jingfan, along with his fellow disciples, flew out of the mountain in haste. Before leaving, he took one last look at the herb garden and the mountain gate, his heart no longer at peace, filled only with reluctance and rage.
It wasn’t just him; the expressions on the faces of the sect leader, elders, and every disciple mirrored his own.
They fled desperately, watching helplessly as the herb garden, the peaks, and the ruins of Qingmu Sect were ravaged by the encroaching sea, but there was no time left to mourn.
Because the demons behind them and the rising waters beneath their feet were closing in!
An elder from Qingmu Sect suddenly shouted to the sect leader: “Send a message to Jiushan Sect! We signed that mutual aid treaty!”
The sect leader sent out a communication talisman, but it was clear that distant help wouldn’t save them from immediate danger; the face of the Great Freedom Demon Emperor grew clearer behind them.
“Demon Emperor, halt!”
A strange and aged voice suddenly emerged from the right side of the crowd.
Zhao Jingfan turned to look, seeing two figures slowly appear. He recognized one of them—the transformation of Shi Nandang from Haori Mountain.
The other figure was older and had a peculiar expression, but it was evident that Shi Nandang held this person in great respect.
Not only him, but even the previously expressionless Great Freedom Demon Emperor now moved, raising his gaze to stop the raging waves, looking at the elder with a hint of wariness: “Haori Mountain… Dao Guo?”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Jingfan’s heart soared with joy; it wasn’t just him, even the sect leader of Qingmu Sect let out a sigh of relief.
They didn’t dare linger, seizing the opportunity to flee further away, though their ears and eyes remained fixed on the two Dao Guo masters.
The Dao Guo from Haori Mountain looked furious and shouted, “Why has the Demon Emperor broken the pact?”
The Great Freedom Demon Emperor remained silent.
But everyone else was puzzled.
What agreement?
“We five sects allowed you to rule the demon race of the sea, but you promised not to set foot on land!”
Now it made sense!
Not only Zhao Jingfan, but even Shi Nandang from Haori Mountain seemed to realize—
The order for them to leave had come too quickly and decisively.
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