Chapter 677
Shí Nán Dāng felt dizzy for a few moments before regaining his senses, forcing a bitter smile as he said, “So it turns out the formation isn’t malfunctioning after all.”
Zhèng Fǎ nodded in agreement. “The formation of the Haori Mountain, which studies the celestial and earthly spirits for an entire epoch, is indeed quite effective.”
“…”
Shí Nán Dāng fell silent for a moment, then seemed to give up the struggle. “I just don’t understand why you, Master Zhèng, can practice the techniques from my Chì Xiāo Yù Cè. Aren’t you afraid…”
Zhèng Fǎ smiled but didn’t answer the question.
Yet that smile clearly conveyed two words—“Not afraid.”
Understanding the expression, Shí Nán Dāng sighed softly and said, “Since it has come to this, Master Zhèng, you can do as you please. I’ll accept whatever fate you decide.”
Beside him, the Master of Chóng Xuán also looked pale, clearly having prepared for the worst.
Although Haori Mountain’s schemes had left the Hundred Immortals Alliance unscathed, the reality was that the two factions were now locked in a life-and-death struggle, unable to coexist.
With Master Zhèng’s appearance, they knew there was no hope left.
However, Zhèng Fǎ paid no attention to the two of them. He simply pointed at the Xiàn Xiān Sword, which suddenly transformed into a black portal, from which Yè Shī Mèi and the other disciples emerged.
“Master!”
Yè Shī Mèi and the others were equally bewildered, and upon seeing Zhèng Fǎ, they looked even more confused, clearly not grasping the situation.
“I’m going to seek justice from that Luo Sàn Xiān. I don’t have time to explain,” Zhèng Fǎ said quickly, fearing that Luo Sàn Xiān might escape.
Shí Nán Dāng’s expression was one of disbelief. He glanced at the Xiàn Xiān Sword, and his face seemed to say—Justice? Who’s going to give justice to Luo Sàn Xiān?
Zhèng Fǎ didn’t elaborate, stating directly:
“You have two choices. The first—death.”
The Master of Chóng Xuán quickly interjected, “What’s the second? What’s the second?”
Shí Nán Dāng shot an angry glare at the Master of Chóng Xuán, clearly feeling ashamed to be associated with someone so spineless.
The Master of Chóng Xuán turned his face away, seemingly unable to meet his gaze.
Zhèng Fǎ glanced at the two of them and continued, “The second choice is to work secretly for my Jiǔ Shān Zōng.”
Shí Nán Dāng immediately refused, “You want me to betray my sect? Absolutely not! I will never betray the Holy Ancestor!”
Zhèng Fǎ wanted to keep Shí Nán Dāng mainly for the intelligence from Haori Mountain.
Now that the Jiǔ Yōu Mó Zǔ was causing chaos at Tiānhé Pài, they had already lost contact with Zhèng Fǎ and the others.
This was not good news for Jiǔ Shān Zōng:
With little information about the situation at Tiānhé Pài, Zhèng Fǎ was in a precarious position. If Haori Mountain withdrew from Tiānhé Pài, Jiǔ Shān Zōng would face a crisis.
Previously, with “Li Hào” and Chóng Xuán Zōng around, Zhèng Fǎ had been able to keep track of many of Haori Mountain’s movements. Now that Chóng Xuán Zōng was no longer a useful pawn, it was clear they wouldn’t inform him of internal developments.
Shí Nán Dāng, as a Huà Shén from the Lù tribe, had become significantly more valuable.
His identity and cultivation level allowed him to gather information far beyond what Chóng Xuán Zōng could provide—his presence at the previous alliance of the five sects indicated he still held some status in Haori Mountain.
However, it was evident that Shí Nán Dāng still had some loyalty to Haori Mountain. Although he didn’t fully understand Zhèng Fǎ’s intentions, he had firmly refused.
“So Shí Shàng Rén really isn’t one of the Alliance’s people…”
Before Zhèng Fǎ could speak, Elder Jiǔ murmured softly, seemingly in disbelief.
Shí Nán Dāng’s expression froze.
Elder Jiǔ chuckled, “Shí Shàng Rén single-handedly promoted Master Zhèng, and now he has done great service for the Hundred Immortals Alliance… I thought…”
Shí Nán Dāng’s expression of loyalty became increasingly rigid.
The previously somewhat ashamed Master of Chóng Xuán suddenly straightened up, glaring at Shí Nán Dāng with a look that seemed to scold him:
“I’m the spineless one.”
“And you? You’re blind!”
“Who brought us to this point?”
Shí Nán Dāng… turned his face away, looking up at the sky, unable to meet the Master of Chóng Xuán’s gaze.
Yet he still maintained a stern expression, seemingly unwilling to betray Haori Mountain, even displaying a stubbornness that suggested he would rather die than yield.
“Elder Bì Xiá is right; Shí Shàng Rén has made great contributions to our Hundred Immortals Alliance.” Zhèng Fǎ, however, seemed swayed by Elder Jiǔ’s words, shaking his head with a smile. “If you’re unwilling, then so be it.”
Shí Nán Dāng was taken aback, looking at Zhèng Fǎ in confusion.
He saw Zhèng Fǎ turn his body, as if clearing a path, genuinely appearing to let him off the hook.
Shí Nán Dāng’s expression showed slight doubt as he tentatively flew toward the mountain’s edge. But Zhèng Fǎ truly did not stop him. His heart leaped with joy, and he once again rode the clouds, hoping to escape Jiǔ Shān Zōng while Zhèng Fǎ was momentarily soft-hearted.
Behind him, a voice that was all too familiar rang out:
“If you don’t know how Jiǔ Shān Zōng operates, then our Haori Mountain is truly unworthy of the name of the five sects.”
Shí Nán Dāng’s body stiffened, and he slowly turned around to see a light screen standing atop Shén Huǒ Mountain.
In the light screen, his own image was vividly displayed, his expression one of great indignation.
It was the very image of him complaining about Haori Mountain to Zhèng Fǎ.
The clouds beneath Shí Nán Dāng’s feet dissipated, and with a thud, he fell to his knees before the light screen, staring at his own face in utter despair.
The Master of Chóng Xuán and the others looked at him with strange expressions, their faces filled with confusion—
“Didn’t you say others don’t understand that trouble comes from the mouth?”
(End of this chapter)
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**Chapter 474: Strategic Window, Sword Opens Peace**
Looking at Shí Nán Dāng’s despairing expression, Zhèng Fǎ felt a bit of understanding in his heart:
It’s one thing to vent about the company in private, but recording it is just crossing the line.
Shí Nán Dāng didn’t want to run now, but he truly had no choice.
Promoting Zhèng Fǎ had already been a grave mistake.
The only reason he could survive was that Zhèng Fǎ’s powers were indeed formidable, his ability to change too great, leading him to unwittingly fall into the trap—not because of his disloyalty to the sect, but because Zhèng Fǎ was too cunning.
But once this image was released…
The motive for his crime would be clear, and his betrayal would be seen as heinous. In a modern legal society, he would likely be branded a spy.
Letting Haori Mountain off the hook would mean death a hundred times over.
How could he not feel despair?
Yet understanding was one thing; being soft-hearted was another.
Shí Nán Dāng had been good to “Li Hào,” but if he succeeded in his schemes, the Hundred Immortals Alliance and Jiǔ Shān Zōng would likely face disaster, and it was uncertain how many would survive.
Ultimately, Shí Nán Dāng was not a beloved elder but a hapless enemy.
Just looking at Shí Nán Dāng’s expression, it was clear he was still feeling stifled, indicating he was still unsettled.
Zhèng Fǎ said no more and led everyone back to Jiǔ Shān Jiè.
In Jiǔ Shān Jiè, Xiè Qíng Xuě had been waiting, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Zhèng Fǎ extended his hand, handing the Xiàn Xiān Sword to Xiè Qíng Xuě, while instructing the nearby Jiāo Wú Jì and the others to take Shí Nán Dāng and the others down.
Xiè Qíng Xuě took the Xiàn Xiān Sword and glanced at Shí Nán Dāng and the others, asking, “They won’t agree?”
“The people from Chóng Xuán Zōng are easy to deal with, but Shí Nán Dāng will require more persuasion.”
In any case, Zhèng Fǎ had no intention of letting Shí Nán Dāng leave. Otherwise, the matter of the Xiàn Xiān Sword would be too easy to leak.
This wasn’t kindness; it was playing with the lives of the entire Hundred Immortals Alliance.
Thus, he would rather capture and suppress him than allow him to return to Haori Mountain.
If the other party was willing to work for Jiǔ Shān Zōng, that would be ideal.
If not, for Haori Mountain, Shí Nán Dāng and the others would already be considered “dead.”
However, transforming them into spies for Jiǔ Shān Zōng was not a simple task.
“After all, Shí Nán Dāng is a Huà Shén from Haori Mountain. His loyalty aside… the techniques are a major issue,” Xiè Qíng Xuě frowned. “We should be cautious.”
Zhèng Fǎ nodded. “This will depend on the Dà Rì Zhēn Huǒ. But right now, I’m not strong enough. We’ll have to wait until I reach Huà Shén before trying again.”
Seeing that he had thought this through, Xiè Qíng Xuě gently nodded, then looked at the Xiàn Xiān Sword in her hand, her eyes filled with joy:
“So this is the Xiàn Xiān Sword left by our ancestor?”
Heaven knows, the treasures left by the Tiānhé Pài’s Tiānhé Ancestor are truly few and far between.
The techniques are fake.
The Four Swords of Zhū Xiān are also fake.
As a potential fundamentalist of Tiānhé, Xiè Qíng Xuě could hardly contain her excitement upon seeing the Xiàn Xiān Sword.
Before Zhèng Fǎ could speak, the Xiàn Xiān Sword spirit suddenly flashed with a mystical light, raising its head and sprouting two little tufts of hair, glancing sideways at Xiè Qíng Xuě with an air of superiority:
“You’re a junior disciple of Tiānhé Pài?”
“Yes.”
“Then you must die.”
Before the words had left its mouth, the tip of the Xiàn Xiān Sword turned and lunged straight at Xiè Qíng Xuě.
Xiè Qíng Xuě felt the sky darken suddenly, as if she had entered a space isolated from the world. Her limbs felt powerless, and she could only watch helplessly as a black immortal sword pierced through the air, a tremendous killing intent making her soul feel as if it were plunging into an abyss, leading her to believe she had already met her end.
“Smack!”
A loud slap echoed, snapping her back to her senses. When she opened her eyes, she saw Zhèng Fǎ holding the Xiàn Xiān Sword spirit by the head with one hand, the sword in the other, looking at her apologetically.
“What’s wrong with the Xiàn Xiān Sword spirit?”
“It has too much killing intent.” Zhèng Fǎ also looked somewhat speechless. “I suspect it hasn’t been cured yet.”
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