Chapter 495
The recent flood and tidal surge wreaked havoc across two counties, and the Qingmu Sect was the most powerful Yuanying sect in these regions. Naturally, it made the most sense to entrust this matter to them.
"Understood!"
Seeing his response, Zheng Fa knew that the sect leader was a clever man. With his repeated emphasis on the importance of this issue, Zheng Fa was confident he would take it seriously.
Even the disciples of Jiushan would play a supervisory role afterward.
The Five Sects Alliance... Given the nature of this alliance, territory and perhaps even population would have a certain significance for Dao Fruit cultivators.
So, it seemed that he needed to protect the territory of the Baixian Alliance. If that was the case, it required careful management.
...
After briefing Sect Leader Song, Zheng Fa entered the Jiushan Realm with Senior Sister Zhang.
As soon as they stepped inside, they spotted a black banner standing tall on the University Island—it was the Wanyao Banner!
This was also why Zheng Fa had insisted on discussing matters at the Qingmu Sect: the Wanyao Banner had somehow found its way into the Jiushan Realm!
After all, this item was a Dao Fruit-level treasure. If it were seen by someone like Luo Shangxian, they might have ulterior motives.
Next to the Wanyao Banner, the elders and others were gathered, including the Blood River Ancestor, watching the spectacle.
Everyone's gaze seemed to settle on someone Zheng Fa wasn't very familiar with—Jiao Wuji.
He stepped into the crowd, looking at Jiao Wuji with a puzzled expression.
Jiao Wuji scratched the back of his head and mumbled, "I... I think I have some kind of connection with this Wanyao Banner."
Zheng Fa was taken aback at first, then suddenly enlightened.
He had previously thought that the banner had come to him because of the Fusang Wood.
But now it seemed—Jiao Wuji was also quite important!
"Wait a minute, are you the only one cultivating the 'Wanyao Zhenjie'?" Zheng Fa's expression turned strange as he suddenly realized a major issue:
The Great Freedom Orthodoxy was right here in Jiushan!
The Great Freedom Demon Emperor had wiped out most of his own demon clan in battle.
Among the demon clan cultivating the 'Wanyao Zhenjie,' it seemed that Jiao Wuji was indeed the only one who had reached the Transformation stage!
Now, Jiao Wuji might truly be the most legitimate heir of the Great Freedom Demon Emperor!
If we were to talk about the inheritance of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor, then Chen Ting and Youming Xian, those two traitors, might have practiced the methods of the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor. How could they compare to the Blood River Ancestor's genuine roots?
The Wanyao Banner in the Jiushan Realm was not a spoils of war; it was entirely a legitimate inheritance!
With this realization, Zheng Fa suddenly turned to the elder: "Master, you mentioned wanting to break through to the Transformation stage..."
The elder's face was filled with bitterness. "I was desperate to try, but who would have thought..."
He pointed at the Wanyao Banner in front of him and said, "Having one more of me doesn't make a difference!"
A sense of loss washed over his face, as if he felt old and that his children no longer needed him.
But Zheng Fa didn't see it that way. In his view, both the Qingjing Bamboo and the Fusang Wood had their risks; otherwise, he wouldn't be looking to transform his Dao Fruit.
The current Jiushan Sect was like a child holding a gun—capable of killing, yet inherently fragile.
The essence of cultivation, the strength of oneself, was the most important.
The significance of the Transformation technique should not be underestimated either.
"In the past, we didn't dare to look too closely at the Great Freedom's techniques. Now, if the Great Freedom is dead..." As soon as Zheng Fa mentioned this, the elder's eyes lit up.
"Whether we can learn it or not, at least understanding it shouldn't be a problem!"
The elder beamed, patting Jiao Wuji on the shoulder, reminiscing about the Great Freedom Demon Emperor: "That Great Freedom Demon Emperor was truly a remarkable person!"
Jiao Wuji pondered for a moment, looking at the Wanyao Banner, and sincerely nodded, feeling a newfound admiration for the Great Freedom Demon Emperor.
Not just him, even the Blood River Ancestor let out a sigh of relief and chuckled, "I'm well-versed in the methods of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor! I'll teach you!"
The techniques of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor were likely inaccessible to the people of Jiushan Sect due to lacking the necessary bloodline.
However, the lifelong teachings of a Dao Fruit cultivator were the most precious reference material, allowing Jiushan Sect to glimpse the path to Transformation and perhaps even the essence of the Dao Fruit.
Watching the elder and the Blood River Ancestor whispering together, Zheng Fa silently gave a thumbs-up to the Great Freedom Demon Emperor in his heart:
The Great Freedom Demon Emperor, through his death, had granted Jiushan Sect the qualification to sit at the table!
He brought the Wanyao Banner, this Dao Fruit treasure!
He brought techniques beyond Transformation!
He brought unity filled with laughter!
One could even say that the Great Freedom Demon Emperor's death had accomplished more than all the good deeds he had done in his lifetime!
If it weren't for the inappropriateness of the situation, there should have been a plaque for him in the ancestral hall of Jiushan Sect!
...
With the arrival of the Wanyao Banner, Zheng Fa also had to bid farewell to the Qingping Sword.
And to his close combat partner, Xie Qingxue, and the inconsequential spy, Yan Wushuang.
Outside the Jiushan Realm, Zheng Fa looked at Xie Qingxue.
This master sister from the Tianhe Sect was the one he owed the most gratitude to.
In the battle against the Great Freedom Demon Emperor, among him, Senior Sister Zhang, and Xie Qingxue, it was actually Xie Qingxue who had contributed the most. In that one strike, she had nearly fought with her life on the line.
Afterward, she had rested for three days to recover, and even now, her face still looked a bit pale.
He clasped his hands and said, "Fairy Xie, about the 'Xie'..."
Xie Qingxue's eyes curved into a smile as she replied, "In my life, the word 'Xie' is what I've heard the most."
After saying that, she suddenly turned serious and said fiercely to Zheng Fa, "Don't think I'm helping you for free. The latter half of the 'Jiushan Golden Elixir Method' cannot be shortchanged!"
This remark...
Zheng Fa recalled how, when they were preparing to confront the Great Freedom Demon Emperor, Xie Qingxue had been reluctant to leave, her reason being—she wanted to learn the 'Jiushan Golden Elixir Method.'
Now, she was leaving without having finished learning it.
In this bond, expressing gratitude felt more like an insult.
After a long silence, Zheng Fa suddenly looked up, gazing earnestly at Xie Qingxue, and said, "Fairy Xie, if you ever find yourself in trouble, no matter how far, send word to Jiushan."
Xie Qingxue was taken aback, staring into Zheng Fa's eyes for a long time before she chuckled lightly, flicking her finger against the Qingping Sword.
A clear sword chant rang out, and a white tiger leaped through the clouds, resting at her feet.
Without even a word of farewell, this Tianhe master sister floated away with Yan Wushuang, exuding an air of nonchalance.
Zheng Fa watched the retreating figures of the two and the tiger. What he had said, Xie Qingxue might have taken seriously or not, but Zheng Fa himself took it to heart:
If Mu Qingyan's memories were accurate, then the Tianhe Sect might face a catastrophe in the future.
This was something he certainly couldn't disclose:
Otherwise, the Tianhe Sect's reaction would be unpredictable, and even Mu Qingyan might be considered sold out by him.
But as he had said before, he was powerless to change the fate of the Tianhe Sect, nor did he care much.
However, if Xie Qingxue and Yan Wushuang were in danger, he wouldn't just stand by and watch.
...
Xie Qingxue sat cross-legged on the neck of the white tiger, unconsciously toying with its pure white fur, seemingly deep in thought.
"Senior Sister..."
"Mm?"
"You're not thinking about Zheng Fa, are you?"
Xie Qingxue was taken aback, turning to look at her junior brother. Seeing his strange expression, she immediately understood what he was thinking and glared at him, scolding, "What are you thinking in that head of yours?"
"…"
Yan Wushuang shrank his neck.
"On this trip back, keep that mouth of yours in check. Don't mention Zheng Fa."
A look of confusion appeared on Yan Wushuang's face.
"The Five Sects Alliance... might not be a good thing for Zheng Fa." Xie Qingxue's tone grew serious. Seeing Yan Wushuang's confusion, she clarified, "Zheng Fa killing a Dao Fruit cultivator with a Golden Elixir will inevitably raise suspicions."
"About the Ancestor?"
Yan Wushuang was taken aback, suddenly realizing what his master sister meant.
Xie Qingxue nodded, "One possibility is that people will suspect Zheng Fa has ties to the Ancestor, which... would be a life-and-death crisis for him."
Concern spread across Yan Wushuang's face.
"On the other hand, even if he has no connection to the Ancestor..."
"Killing a Dao Fruit cultivator with a Golden Elixir—who wouldn't covet the secret behind that?"
Xie Qingxue's words made Yan Wushuang's eyelids twitch, and he exclaimed, "So, Zheng Fa shouldn't even attend that alliance meeting?"
"If he doesn't go, it will seem like he's guilty." Xie Qingxue understood why Zheng Fa had agreed to Luo Shangxian's invitation, shaking her head. "Going is the only chance he has."
"Where's this chance coming from?"
Yan Wushuang's expression darkened. Thinking about the situation Zheng Fa would face, he felt despair.
"From me, from you, and from Zheng Fa himself."
Xie Qingxue gazed in the direction of the Baixian Alliance.
"We?"
"I and you should return to the Tianhe Sect and best investigate the matters of the Five Sects Alliance for Zheng Fa, especially... we need to find a way to clear his connection to the Ancestor."
"But he has no connection to the Ancestor, right?"
Xie Qingxue shot a glance at her naive junior brother, seemingly finding him too innocent: "The 'Nine Transformations Golden Elixir Method' is already forbidden. Now, this 'Jiushan Golden Elixir Method' is derived from the Nine Transformations Golden Elixir Method. Though the techniques differ, the essence is the same. If someone discovers it, it will be hard to explain."
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