Chapter 507
"Are you two heading to Xiaguang Island to witness the Wuzong Alliance?"
Zheng Fa smiled faintly and nodded noncommittally.
The leader, Deng, seemed to be quite talkative, and he sighed, "The Wuzong Alliance is the grandest event of our Xuanwei Realm in this era."
"Our fates as sects are tied to what happens in the next few days. Who wouldn't care?"
"Those capable of coming here have likely all arrived."
Upon hearing this, the elders and disciples behind him wore solemn expressions.
Zheng Fa understood their unease. The purpose of the Wuzong Alliance had become clear to the sects in recent days—it was to divide the power among the sects.
To be honest, most people in the sect were reluctant. Cultivators are inherently proud and independent; who would want to have more masters over them?
But... no one could resist.
The feeling of having one's fate in someone else's hands, while still being compelled to bear witness, was truly hard to express.
At this moment, Zheng Fa naturally refrained from mentioning that he was here to attend the meeting—on one hand, it might come off as boasting, and frankly, it wasn't necessary. On the other hand, deep down, he wasn't sure what the outcome of this trip would be.
In fact, if it weren't for the need to dispel the Wuzong's suspicions, he might have hesitated about coming at all.
His daughter, Deng Yan, seemed to sense her father's gloom and leaned against Deng Cheng, her father.
Deng Cheng smiled and wrapped his arm around his daughter, saying, "It's actually for my daughter Yan'er that I've come here—to secure a future for her."
Zheng Fa looked at the little girl, a glimmer of silver light flashing in his eyes, and he exchanged a glance with Sister Zhang.
Sister Zhang also showed some interest.
Though they hadn't interacted much, the spiritual energy surrounding the little girl suggested she was exceptionally gifted—likely a single spiritual root with a Dao body.
What was even more intriguing was that this Dao body seemed extraordinary.
Zheng Fa had some theories about Dao bodies—he believed they might be incomplete versions of the Dao fruits of certain cultivators. For instance, the Qingyang Dao body corresponded to the Fusaomu Dao fruit.
In this way, Dao bodies could indeed vary in quality.
The little girl radiated a unique spiritual energy, almost as if it resonated with the stars above; her Dao body was likely remarkable.
"My daughter’s talent is something I've never seen in my life. Any technique she learns, she masters quickly and progresses at an astonishing rate..." As he noticed how quickly the two had recognized his daughter's uniqueness, Deng Cheng grew more appreciative of them, though his tone carried a hint of pride.
The little girl blinked, still somewhat clueless.
But Zheng Fa had guessed his intentions.
"You want her to join the Xuanwei Wuzong?"
"Exactly, I want her to join the Xuanwei Wuzong." At this point, the middle-aged man's eyes dimmed. "In the future, she won't have to face the same dead ends we do, becoming prey to others."
It was indeed a fatherly heart.
"Now that the five sects are gathering, I brought her here to try her luck. If she can catch the eye of a powerful figure..."
"Then it would be like stepping through the Dragon Gate, and her path would be bright."
The little girl, named Yan'er, seemed to understand a bit, tightly clutching her father's sleeve, reluctant to leave his side and join the Wuzong.
This was quite normal; the little girl looked to be only four or five years old—how could she comprehend what the Xuanwei Wuzong truly meant?
At the mention of leaving home, she naturally felt a pang of reluctance.
But Deng Cheng, with a firm heart, said, "Yan'er, the Wuzong is the most powerful sect in Xuanwei; no other sect can compare."
"If you can join one of the Xuanwei Wuzong, we will have a strong backing in the future..."
An elder from the Beihe Sect nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, it seems that in the future, the Xuanwei Realm will be entirely under the control of the five sects... We must prepare early."
"If Yan'er can join the Wuzong, it would be beneficial for her and a boost for us as well."
Zheng Fa, upon hearing this, silently approved of their judgment.
The power dynamics of the five sects would not change; for many sects, the best strategy was to send their talented disciples to the Wuzong, strengthening their ties and becoming part of the Wuzong.
Deng Yan, however, was quite perceptive. After hearing this, the reluctance on her face gradually faded, and her big eyes filled with determination as she said to Deng Cheng, "Father, I will definitely join the Wuzong!"
The middle-aged man nodded with a smile, though it carried a hint of sadness.
He cherished his daughter deeply. While he hoped she would join a powerful sect, he couldn't help but think that if she did join the Xuanwei Wuzong, she would have to please the sect members and uphold the Beihe Sect at such a young age.
It would likely be difficult for her.
He even felt a sense of shame, as if he were selling his daughter for glory.
But... he had no choice.
This was the best option.
In fact, this thought might even be a delusion... If this delusion were to come true, it would surely evoke envy from countless sects.
Deng Cheng wanted to say something more but suddenly turned to look out the window.
The sky had changed.
They were nearing Xiaguang Island!
The time for the alliance had come, and the Xuanwei Wuzong was arriving in droves!
From the west, the light of the Buddha spread across the sky, illuminating the sea.
The people on the ship looked up and saw rolling clouds, blocking out the sun, coming from the direction of the West Continent. A Buddha's head, with lowered brows, loomed behind the clouds, gazing down at the mortals.
His eyes were larger than the tallest mountains, piercing through layers of clouds, seemingly compassionately observing the cultivators on the sea.
"Leiyin Temple!"
The middle-aged man's voice trembled slightly as he explained to the others.
Little Yan'er gasped, her mouth agape, nodding in awe.
The clouds rolled, and the Buddha's head vanished, leaving only an old monk standing in the void with five or six disciples.
Wuzhi stood behind the old monk, his gaze fixed on the east, as if anticipating something.
In another corner of the western sky, a group of female immortals gathered.
About ten female immortals stood together, adorned in vibrant flowers.
Their sashes flowed like colorful clouds, carrying them swiftly through the air.
Their breaths transformed into gentle winds, calming the turbulent waves on the sea.
The surface of the sea beneath their feet was as tranquil as a mirror.
These were the immortals from Yaochi.
To the east of Xiaguang Island were three sects from the East Continent.
The Taishang Sect appeared solitary, with only a middle-aged Daoist stepping onto the waves.
He walked casually, leaving behind a path of purple energy in the sky, mysterious and noble.
The Haori Mountain was much more imposing, with dozens of strong men standing together under the leadership of the previously seen Luo Shangxian, their aura blazing like the sun, causing the sea to boil, and a thick mist to rise from the surface.
Zheng Fa was most concerned about the Tianhe Sect, where Xie Qingxue was.
The Tianhe Sect arrived the latest, even later than Zheng Fa and his group.
In the southeastern sky, sword energy surged like the grandest meteor shower, revealing the figures of about ten sword cultivators.
Xie Qingxue stood behind a man.
Though Zheng Fa had never seen this man before, he recognized him at a glance—his features bore a striking resemblance to Yan Wushuang!
The five sects gathered at Xiaguang Island, yet none rushed to land; they merely occupied their respective corners.
The sky itself seemed to be divided into five sections by their imposing auras.
The energies of the five sects appeared to be testing and colliding with one another.
Zheng Fa thought to himself that the Xuanwei Wuzong might not be entirely harmonious—this alliance meeting likely stemmed from some external pressure.
Meanwhile, Deng Cheng, sitting beside him, was unaware of his thoughts; he probably had never encountered a Dao fruit cultivator.
Although the Dao fruits of the five sects were not aimed at these lesser cultivators on the sea, he felt that even drawing in spiritual energy was difficult, making him acutely aware of the strength of the five sects.
"This... is this the Dao fruit?"
Hearing him say this, it seemed that after the battle with the Great Freedom Demon Emperor, the name of the Dao fruit had spread among some cultivators.
Everyone on the ship nodded, their faces showing a hint of fear, while Deng Cheng took the opportunity to teach his daughter, "In the past, you were only in the sect, unaware of the vast world and the many powerful beings. I often praised your talent, but you might have become a bit arrogant..."
Deng Yan's face flushed slightly.
"Now that you see these immortals from the five sects, you should understand that our cultivators are nothing special. Your talent, if not honed through hard work and finding a good teacher to pass on the teachings, would be wasted."
Deng Yan silently nodded, watching the five sects confront each other, each displaying their skills. It seemed she had gained some insight and truly desired to join the Wuzong.
Deng Cheng smiled and added, "No one knows if you will catch the eye of the powerful figures in the five sects... I just hope they will notice you."
Deng Yan's expression darkened, her cheeks puffing up as if she were a bit nervous.
But the next moment, Deng Cheng's tone faltered.
"The... the five sects... why are they all looking at us?"
Everyone looked up to see that the leaders of the Xuanwei Wuzong had indeed fixed their gazes on their small ship.
"Could it be... that my junior sister is a prodigy?"
One of the disciples suddenly speculated.
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