Chapter 608
The ground was ablaze, waves of heat carrying the scent of sulfur rushed toward the seven people.
Although Shi Nandang was a Transformation God and not afraid of this heat, day after day, he dared not leave the Divine Fire Mountain. He lived in constant anxiety, fearing that something might go wrong with the Xianjian (Immortal Sword), which made the restlessness in his heart no less than the volcano's fiery mouth.
Suddenly, a cool breeze blew in from outside the mountain, lifting his spirits and softening his features.
Seeing this, a fellow Transformation God beside him quickly smiled, "What a nice breeze!"
Shi Nandang glanced at him and nodded slightly.
Though he didn’t speak, the Transformation God seemed encouraged, saying, "Sitting here all day, unable to move an inch, is truly torturous."
"Especially for someone like you, whose time is so precious, wasting it here... For the sect, you really are tireless. When you return to the mountain, I’m sure the sect will reward you handsomely."
Upon hearing this, a hint of a smile finally appeared on Shi Nandang's face.
Zheng Fa, who had transformed into a gentle breeze, floated behind Shi Nandang, listening to the words of the Transformation God, and couldn’t help but reflect:
Shi Nandang’s tireless efforts were not something he had witnessed.
But the social dynamics were quite evident.
Watching the other five Transformation Gods cast admiring glances at Shi Nandang, Zheng Fa felt a realization dawn upon him:
Within Haori Mountain, even among Transformation Gods, the status difference between true disciples and non-true disciples was as vast as heaven and earth.
At that moment, Shi Nandang also smiled and said, "We just need to endure a little longer. As for Zheng Fa, he doesn’t have much time left!"
Hmm?
"You all shouldn’t feel bored here. Just think, if it weren’t for this Xianjian, wouldn’t Zheng Fa have attacked long ago?"
"Even if he were to come now, would he dare?"
Hearing this, the other six Transformation Gods burst into hearty laughter, as if they found some truth in it.
(End of this chapter)
**Chapter 440: Sect's Private Schemes, Roots Deep and Strong**
A Transformation God laughed and said, "What you say is true! How could Zheng Fa dare to come here?"
Grandfather is here!
The laughter of Shi Nandang and the others echoed around, while the ground fire in the mountain flickered and surged. Yet, in the midst of the heat waves, Zheng Fa was secretly laughing coldly.
Zheng Fa had infiltrated with great stealth. First, his "Tiangang Dishan Transformation" was already at a minor completion. Second, he had a backdoor within the Heavenly and Earthly Divine Array.
Transforming into a gentle breeze, he drifted in the air, swaying in front of them, and the seven remained completely unaware.
The seven Transformation Gods, who were laughing heartily, were actually under his control.
However, he wasn’t there to kill; he was there for the "Chixiao Yuce" (Red Sky Jade Book).
The value of the Yang God technique far exceeded Zheng Fa's expectations, and he was naturally intrigued. He thought to himself that in the Xuanwei Realm, there were probably only five sects that possessed the Yang God technique... excluding the Tianhe Sect, which was an anomaly.
And in the territory of the Hundred Immortals Alliance, a complete inheritance of the Yang God technique existed at the peak of the Divine Fire Mountain.
He had secretly ascended the mountain to seek the possibility of obtaining the "Chixiao Yuce."
Seeing that the seven were completely oblivious to his presence, he dove straight into the volcano, heading for the Xianjian.
The entrance was filled with heat waves that pushed his form outward, but Zheng Fa controlled his qi to descend, parting the thick magma.
The dark blade of the Xianjian rolled up and down in the mountain fire.
Zheng Fa wanted to move forward, but the Xianjian seemed to be more sensitive than Shi Nandang and the others. It suddenly pointed its blade toward the entrance, directly aiming at Zheng Fa.
"The Xianjian is acting up!" Outside the mountain, Shi Nandang's laughter abruptly ceased as he shouted, "Attack!"
The other six Transformation Gods joined him in casting their spells. Seven stars lit up in the night sky, their immense power hammering down on the Xianjian that was trying to escape toward the volcano's mouth.
The walls inside and outside the volcano were covered with spirit stones that lit up densely, beams of light crisscrossing like a net, dragging the Xianjian back toward the ground fire.
After a full half-hour, the restless Xianjian was finally subdued by Shi Nandang and the others.
"That was close..." One Transformation God wiped his forehead, his expression still shaken. "If the Xianjian had escaped, we would have been in deep trouble."
No, you were saved by that thing.
For the "Chixiao Yuce," Zheng Fa even considered flipping the table— the most direct way would be to use his control over the array to capture Shi Nandang and force him to confess.
But the consequences of that would be severe.
Shi Nandang was the one in charge of Haori Mountain, and he likely had life-saving techniques at his disposal.
Haori Mountain would not underestimate Zheng Fa, and they probably had some means of investigating his safety.
If he were captured, Haori Mountain might immediately realize that something was wrong with the Chongxuan Sect, and the current "deal" between the two sects would cease to exist.
Haori Mountain would certainly have other methods to deal with the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
That was the first unfavorable outcome.
The second issue was even more serious:
From the earlier situation, the Heavenly and Earthly Divine Array could not fully control the Xianjian, let alone refine it.
This thing was currently extremely restless; if it broke free from control, it would be like leaving an unstable bomb in the territory of the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
Not to mention, if Shi Nandang was someone unafraid of death, the Jiushan Sect would not be able to extract the "Chixiao Yuce."
After the earlier scare, Shi Nandang's expression turned grim as he coldly huffed at the other six:
"Investigate! This Xianjian has had two issues already. If this treasure goes wrong... I won’t have it easy, and you’ll have no place to bury your bodies!"
The other six could no longer laugh, their faces pale or green, looking extremely grim, only daring to nod in agreement.
...Is the status gap between true and non-true disciples of Haori Mountain really this vast?
Watching this scene, Zheng Fa felt even more puzzled. It was normal for there to be a hierarchy between true and non-true disciples.
The same went for Tongming and Chengkong.
But Shi Nandang treated these six as if they were servants, commanding them around, while they, in turn, seemed accustomed to it, only responding submissively.
That was quite something.
Previously, he hadn’t noticed this phenomenon; perhaps Shi Nandang had given them some face in front of outsiders. But now, with only the seven Transformation Gods at the mountain peak, he no longer concealed it.
"We understand," one of the six Transformation Gods, a gaunt old man, forced a smile, his expression respectful. "Not to mention this is a major matter for the sect. The Immortal has also told us that if we kill Zheng Fa, we can enter under the Three Saints and obtain the sacred inheritance. How could we not do our utmost?"
"This Xianjian has a strange temperament, fierce and unruly. We truly do not know why it has acted up this time."
Upon hearing this, Shi Nandang exhaled lightly, as if calming the anxiety and anger within him, and said, "As long as you understand. The Holy Ancestor said that the threshold for true disciples' Transformation God techniques will be lowered in the future. But you must also achieve merit; only then can you enter our clan and receive the inheritance!"
There was a lot of information in that statement.
Zheng Fa knew that Haori Mountain had three true disciples with extensive teachings—after all, the strength of Dao Fruit cultivators partly came from the number of cultivators practicing their techniques.
The five sects would surely loosen their inheritance.
But from Shi Nandang's words, it seemed that the threshold for this inheritance was not low.
What did it mean to enter the clan?
The title of Holy Ancestor... was too familiar.
Zheng Fa felt that his understanding of Haori Mountain was still far from sufficient.
However, one thing was certain: at the peak of the Divine Fire Mountain, only Shi Nandang likely had a complete inheritance of the "Chixiao Yuce."
"Yes! Yes!" The gaunt old man flattered, "Immortal, you are so kind, and you are generous, even passing down the 'Chixiao Yuce' to that minor elder of the Chongxuan Sect, Bi Xia... and what about Li Hao?"
"Do you think it's unfair?" Shi Nandang sneered, "The technique in Bi Xia's hands is only at the Transformation God level. With her talent, it’s nearly impossible for her to obtain the subsequent techniques."
"As for Li Hao... if he doesn’t get some sweet rewards, how could he be so dedicated in obtaining those magical artifacts and pills from the Jiushan Sect?"
"What are we supposed to report to the sect?"
The gaunt old man was momentarily stunned, muttering, "Aren't you placing importance on his talent?"
"His talent is indeed good, but he comes from an outer sect and is still just at the Golden Core stage," Shi Nandang shook his head, chuckling lightly. "Who knows when he’ll be able to enter under the Holy Ancestor?"
"Without entering the clan, how can he stand out in the sect?"
"Can this Xuanwei situation afford to wait for him?"
...
In the Jiushan Realm.
Zheng Fa hurriedly arrived at the main hall of Tiangong Island and asked Senior Sister Zhang, "Has Elder Han returned?"
Senior Sister Zhang nodded gently, her eyes filled with questions.
"I'll wait for Elder Han to arrive before explaining to you. By the way, where is Xiao Xianzi's archaeological team now?"
Senior Sister Zhang looked even more puzzled, but Zheng Fa kept his head down, holding the Zao Hua Yu Die (Creation Jade Tablet), seemingly communicating with someone.
"What do you need me for? Did something happen at the Tianhe Sect?"
Elder Han rushed into the hall.
Senior Sister Zhang shook her head, indicating that she didn’t know either.
Elder Han looked at Zheng Fa, who finally came back to his senses. Seeing the urgency on Elder Han's face, he apologized, "The Tianhe Sect is fine. I have some matters regarding Haori Mountain that I’d like to ask you, Elder Han."
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