Chapter 742
Now, there is no more Haori Sang on Haori Mountain.
Zheng Fa naturally does not have it either, but he possesses the ancestor of Haori Sang—Fusang Wood!
He transformed the Creation Jade Tablet into the shape of the Setting Sun Bow, but it could not compare to the original crafted by Shi Nandang:
After all, Shi Nandang had forged the Setting Sun Bow for tens of thousands of years.
Even if Zheng Fa had achieved the state of Corpse Disintegration, he wouldn’t dare claim that the Setting Sun Bow he created was superior to Shi Nandang's.
Yet, he had Fusang Wood, a top-tier spiritual root deeply connected to the techniques of Haori Mountain, and even subtly resonant with the Setting Sun Bow.
That arrow just now, while it didn’t unleash the full power of the Fusang Wood, still surpassed an ordinary Corpse Disintegration:
If Zheng Fa hadn’t been cautious and held back, that old man would have likely been gravely injured or worse.
He felt a bit speechless; using the Nine Suns Divine Spirit and the Setting Sun Bow, he was even more formidable than the original Yuan Spirit technique—after all, the Creation Jade Tablet wasn’t particularly adept at combat, while the Setting Sun Bow could actually harness the power of Fusang Wood.
Zheng Fa paid no mind to these people and slowly walked down the steps.
Shi Nandang's master watched his receding figure, opening his mouth but ultimately closing it again.
Beside him, a member of the Lu clan sighed softly:
"Your judgment is both excessively good and excessively bad."
(End of this chapter)
**Chapter 506: A Single Arrow is Hard to Bear, The Lu Clan's Direct Lineage**
As Zheng Fa walked from Shi Nandang's residence toward the Three Palaces, he was troubled:
He had come to Haori Mountain intending to infiltrate the Tianhe Sect, but that was not up to him; it depended on when Yun Zhenxian would set off and whether he would be willing to take Zheng Fa along.
In addition, he had another goal at Haori Mountain: to explore the secret realm and see if he could uncover the current situation of Lu Yao.
However, he didn’t act rashly; Haori Mountain surely had formations, and he was carrying suspicion on his back, having been quite high-profile recently. That Yun Zhenxian might be keeping an eye on him.
Acting recklessly could easily expose him.
Zheng Fa had been cultivating quietly in his residence for several days, and today, as he stepped out, Yun Zhenxian sought him out again.
"Shi Shangren!"
As he ascended the jade steps, someone transmitted a message to him.
Zheng Fa looked up and saw a stranger descending the steps.
In the Nascent Soul stage, Zheng Fa didn’t recognize him, and judging by his robes, he didn’t seem to belong to any of the three clans.
The disciple didn’t move his lips, nor did his gaze fall on Zheng Fa; he seemed just an ordinary person, brushing past him.
But Zheng Fa was certain that the person had indeed called out to him, and only once.
He glanced at the disciple's back and continued upward.
Surprisingly, two or three more disciples greeted him similarly, all from non-three-clan lineages.
Of course, not everyone was like that; in fact, most people still kept their distance.
Zheng Fa felt a bit emotional but didn’t dwell on it, heading straight to the entrance of the Three Palaces.
"Disciple Shi Nandang requests an audience."
"Come in."
Inside the hall, only Yun Zhenxian sat high, looking at Zheng Fa with a somewhat complex expression.
It seemed this person had thought for two or three days and had come to some conclusions about him.
Zheng Fa entered the hall, and Yun Zhenxian spoke calmly:
"You’ve surprised me."
Before Zheng Fa could respond, Yun Zhenxian continued, "But if you want to save your life, this isn’t enough."
"Please, Master, enlighten me."
"Lu Clan."
Zheng Fa understood and nodded without speaking.
Yun Zhenxian had nothing more to say, waving his hand to dismiss him.
He watched Zheng Fa's figure gradually disappear.
The previous Yun clan cultivator stepped out again.
"Saint Ancestor, this is a bit too risky."
Yun Zhenxian turned his head, seemingly gazing at the back of Haori Mountain, and after a long pause, he spoke:
"It’s been too long."
"Saint Ancestor?"
"He has attained the Dao of the Demon Ancestor, and I have waited. I have waited."
"Now he wants me to wait for the Buddha Ancestor, and I wait again."
"But Master Lu’s nephew wants me to wait once more." Yun Zhenxian's voice grew colder, "Why should I?"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
After a cup of tea's time, the Yun clan cultivator finally said, "But Shi Nandang is unpredictable."
"He has that strength and is already at odds with the Lu Clan."
"What if he stirs up some major trouble?"
"He's just a Corpse Disintegration."
Yun Zhenxian's tone was filled with confidence.
...
Yun Zhenxian was a bit bold.
Zheng Fa stepped out of the Three Palaces, still pondering the other’s words.
As far as he knew, reviving Luo Sanxian hinged on resources and the Luo clan cultivators.
Resources were naturally at Yun Zhenxian's discretion; previously, he seemed to be looking for excuses to delay, which had sparked some controversy.
Now he wanted to use Zheng Fa as a weapon against the Luo clan.
He couldn’t tell what this person was really after.
Even though he knew Yun Zhenxian was using him, Zheng Fa was still quite willing:
He would do anything to stir up chaos at Haori Mountain.
...
"We need to expedite the revival of the Saint Ancestor."
In a cave dwelling, several Luo clan cultivators gathered to discuss.
The speaker was Luo Gan.
He was a direct descendant of the Luo clan, a Corpse Disintegration cultivator, and one of the thirteen who had besieged Shi Nandang that day.
"Yun Zushi is a bit too self-serving."
"In this era, we have never been on good terms with the Yun clan."
"..."
"It’s fine; no matter how Yun Zushi drags things out, as long as the Saint Ancestor is revived, that’s all that matters."
"And that Shi Nandang!"
"Just a madman; let him be for a day or two. Once the Saint Ancestor is revived..."
As he spoke, a Luo clan cultivator rushed in, looking panicked.
"What’s the hurry?"
"Shi Nandang!"
"What happened to him?"
"He sent a challenge letter!"
Luo Gan suddenly stood up, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Bring it here!"
The disciple stepped forward, presenting a letter with both hands.
Luo Gan opened it and saw only one line:
"The grievances from the other day remain unresolved. Allow you three days to prepare. In three days, I shall come to seek guidance—Shi Nandang."
Luo Gan's face turned ashen, cursing, "How dare Shi Nandang insult me!"
The disciple added, "This letter..."
"What about the letter?"
"It was shot by Shi Nandang at the entrance of the cave." The disciple whispered, "Many disciples saw it."
The cultivators in the cave were instantly furious, cursing loudly.
After a moment of silence, Luo Gan sighed, "We have no choice but to accept."
"If we avoid this, how can our Luo clan hold our heads high in the future?"
"The people in the clan will surely lose their spirit."
Another Luo clan Corpse Disintegration cultivator nodded, "Shi Nandang has even given us three days to prepare. It seems like he’s allowing us to gather spiritual treasures, but he’s also forcing our Luo clan into a corner."
"Perhaps Yun Zushi is backing him."
Luo Gan thought for a moment and said, "Though Shi Nandang's arrows are sharp, he is not invincible."
"Speaking of which, there is a defensive spiritual treasure in the clan! It was personally refined by our ancestor back in the day!"
...
Three days later, Zheng Fa arrived at the entrance of Luo Gan's cave dwelling.
Luo Gan had been waiting there.
At the entrance, over a hundred disciples were gathered to watch.
Among them were many from the Lu and Yun clans.
More were disciples from non-three-clan lineages.
As Zheng Fa approached, their expressions were somewhat complex.
Counting back tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of years, he was the only one from a non-three-clan background to challenge a direct descendant of the three clans at Haori Mountain.
Zheng Fa stepped into the crowd, but his gaze didn’t settle on Luo Gan; instead, he looked at another Luo clan Corpse Disintegration cultivator.
The Luo clan members were momentarily taken aback.
Luo Gan spoke up: "Your opponent is me."
"I know," Zheng Fa nodded, "but my next opponent is him."
"..."
Everyone was momentarily stunned, and Luo Gan processed the words in his mind twice before realizing, his face turning bright red.
"Arrogant!"
A red glow erupted from him, and a Five Dragon Ring appeared on his arm.
What was even more surprising was that in front of his Yang Spirit, there was a shield shimmering with aquamarine light.
A member of the Lu clan recognized this spiritual treasure:
"I didn’t expect Luo Gan to bring that out too."
"What’s that shield?"
"The Xuanwu Shield, the defensive spiritual treasure of Luo Zushi from back in the day. It’s said to be indestructible below the Dao Fruit level."
"This..."
They looked at the Xuanwu Shield with newfound respect.
Haori Mountain had always prided itself on its refining techniques.
Not to mention, Luo Sanxian was a Dao Fruit cultivator; even if this Xuanwu Shield was merely an early spiritual treasure, it was certainly not an ordinary item.
"Shi Nandang has gotten a bit too cocky."
Zheng Fa also heard their discussions.
Curiously eyeing the Xuanwu Shield, he felt a twinge of envy.
After achieving Corpse Disintegration, he had some ideas about crafting spiritual weapons, but he ultimately couldn’t compare to Haori Mountain’s rich experience.
Luo Gan seemed to misinterpret his gaze and coldly said, "Are you afraid?"
Zheng Fa snapped back to attention, looking at Luo Gan, and surprisingly nodded.
"If you’re afraid..."
"Then I won’t have to compensate, right?"
"..."
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