Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 280 - 167 The Jiushan Sect is Done Playing!

Chapter 280: Chapter 167 The Jiushan Sect is Done Playing!

Watching Tongming Master return after leaving, everyone in the Jiushan Sect harbored some doubts in their hearts.

Zheng Fa hid within the Jiushan Realm and did not come out.

He was quite tense—using the Jiushan Realm, he had consumed the Blood River Ancestor’s Immortal Sword, leaving behind some trouble.

In the Medicine Garden, that Immortal Sword and the Sun and Moon Clock confronted each other, blood light merging with golden light, hissing continuously.

Various Spirit Plants in the garden withered en masse.

Clearly—the Immortal Sword was not so easily subdued.

With home ground advantage, the Sun and Moon Clock appeared to have the upper hand, but for the short term, it did not have much power left.

Moreover, once out of the Jiushan Realm, Zheng Fa was merely at the Foundation Establishment level.

Looking at Zhang again, she also seemed to be struggling, as the seals scattered into the form of Jiushan.

Both Zheng Fa and Zhang, although they could temporarily exert the power of Divinity Transformation, were greatly limited.

The Sun and Moon Clock that Zheng Fa used took too long to prepare; had Zhang not held back the Blood River Ancestor, he wouldn’t have been able to strike fiercely.

Zhang belonged to the sort that lacked endurance.

One could only attack when unprepared...

The Blood River Ancestor indeed suffered a great loss.

But Tongming Master... this person did not seem easy to deceive.

Although Zhang’s face was pale, the Jiushan still slowly rotated around her, as if also on guard against this person.

The Sect Leader and Master Pang flew up to stand behind Zhang.

Tongming Master seemed to sense the wariness of everyone in the Jiushan Sect.

He chuckled and said: "Were the hits I took earlier suffered in vain?"

At that, shame appeared on the Sect Leader’s face.

This person may be slippery, but he indeed helped—at least he played the monkey once.

Tongming Master continued: "That Blood River Ancestor, it was me who scared him off..."

At these words, Zhang and the others were startled.

This... was not impossible.

Tongming Master’s return might indeed be the thing the Blood River Ancestor feared the most.

They might not have noticed it, but perhaps the Blood River Ancestor truly did.

Hearing so, the Sect Leader could only bow with hands clasped: "My Jiushan Sect has been caught in a great disaster, and it is truly difficult to be at ease, Master, please be accommodating."

Zhang remained silent, only the Jiushan floating in the air seemed to make an unspoken declaration.

Tongming Master nodded and said:

"That golden bell just now, it came from the Thunder Pool, didn’t it?"

The Sect Leader did not speak.

But Zheng Fa did: "Master is right."

"Who are you?"

"I am Zheng Fa. Given the current perilous situation, I am unable to personally discuss with Master..."

Zheng Fa understood long ago—having taken the Sun and Moon Clock, he would not possibly appear in the Xuanwei Realm for at least three to five years...

"Zheng Fa... Zheng Fa..."

Tongming Master furrowed his brows and suddenly said: "That Blood River Ancestor seemed to have mentioned your name, saying that the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor is quite interested in you..."

Zheng Fa thought: I will not set foot in the Xuanwei Realm for a hundred and eighty years!

If the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor really could come capture him in the Jiushan Realm, he would accept it!

Tongming Master continued: "Speaking of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor... the Great Freedom Demon Sect has entered the Xuanwei, their numbers are not few, and with the Blood River Ancestor, I also vaguely sense the breath of other incarnations... My Hundred Immortals Alliance must make early preparations, some sects have already sent communications wishing to consult together on strategies."

Zheng Fa was silent for a moment, then suddenly said;

"Master, as for the matter of the Hundred Immortals Alliance, my Jiushan Sect... will no longer intervene from now on."

The Sect Leader’s expression stirred upon hearing this, seeming to have something to say.

Tongming Master was taken aback, then his face showed a bitter and somewhat expected expression, merely sighing: "Why has it come to this..."

"The aid Master provided, we in the Jiushan Sect will certainly remember and will surely repay in the future, but... the Hundred Immortals Alliance, is truly..."

Zheng Fa spoke vaguely, but Junior Master Huang didn’t give Tongming Master any face:

"The emergence of the Great Freedom Demon Sect, is that a concern of just my Jiushan Sect? But ever since the Secret Realm appeared in this world, my Jiushan Sect has been struggling alone for almost a year, with disciples squatting in the Thunder Pool daily and unable to sleep peacefully at night... Who cared about us?"

"That day when my brother Pang encountered a life-and-death crisis, the Nascent Souls of the Hundred Immortals Alliance either turned on us or stood by as onlookers."

"How many letters did I write to them in the past days? And how many replied?"

"Now that my Jiushan Sect has some strength, they come calling?"

Junior Master Huang was hot-tempered, his words pointed and impolite, yet Tongming Master had nothing to say in return.

Master Yuan’s expression gradually became calm, seemingly persuaded as well.

Master Pang bowed his head, his expression inscrutable.

"This matter... cannot be blamed on them, everyone is considering their own sects..." Tongming Master could only say.

"I do not blame them, as you said, Master, it’s all human nature, but my Jiushan Sect, small and humble as we are, can only look after ourselves," Zheng Fa said softly, "With the Xuanwei Five Sects, with all the great Divinity Transformation... "

Xiao Yuying’s words made Zheng Fa realize one thing—

The hidden power of the Immortal Sect is immense, and it seems not only he possesses a Pocket World Spiritual Treasure, the number of those at Divinity Transformation is even more mysterious.

But no one truly cares about the Jiushan Sect.

Tongming Master’s expression worsened.

"The Hundred Immortals Alliance... is my fault..."

He sighed.

But Zheng Fa didn’t think the problem lay with him.

The nature of the Hundred Immortals Alliance destined it to lack cohesion.

Just as Zhang said, these sects all want to band together for warmth, but whether in reality or in ideology, they differ greatly, full of contradictions.

The most important point—the issue revealed by the Spirit Manipulation Sect is too significant.

One of the nine major sects is a force planted by the Demon Sect.

Is the Spirit Manipulation Sect the only one?

Even Tongming Master is not sure.

With that in mind, Zheng Fa said:

"Let me be frank with Master, my Jiushan Sect is already preparing to fully relocate into the Jiushan Realm... and will disregard the conflicts of the Xuanwei Realm."

"As for Master’s protection of my Jiushan Sect, I will keep it in my heart, and in the future, should there be need, my Jiushan Sect will give its full support."

"However, when it comes to the matters of the Great Freedom Demon Sect, our Jiushan Sect is powerless."

No matter the circumstances, Tongming Master was willing to come assist Jiushan Sect, and Zheng Fa acknowledged this favor.

Hearing this, Tongming Master gave a wry smile and shook his head, "Jiushan Sect used to be a sect within our Hundred Immortals Alliance, it was indeed my duty to help..."

Having said that, he seemed to lose interest and turned to leave.

Before leaving, Zheng Fa suddenly heard him say, "Zheng Fa... If only the Hundred Immortals Alliance could unite as one..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, shaking his head as if he thought it impossible.

Tongming Master left in a dejected mood, and Zheng Fa was still pondering the unfinished words—

In fact, he also had an answer in his heart:

No.

Even if the Hundred Immortals Alliance was united now, he no longer wished to return.

Unless the Hundred Immortals Alliance could also take on his own form...

...

Watching Tongming Master’s departure, Zhang gave a light sigh, her Spiritual Energy slowly dissipating, and Jiushan finally settled down to the ground.

She glanced at the Sun and Moon Clock in the sky that was faintly visible, her eyes filled with a smile, then suddenly fainted.

Zheng Fa was taken aback and without regard for anything else, his figure flashed out of Jiushan Realm, catching Zhang’s delicate waist.

"Sister Zhang?"

Zheng Fa called out in a soft voice.

Beside them, Master Pang’s eyes sparkled with a silvery light as he spoke, "Her Divine Soul is exhausted, her Spiritual Power in disarray, Nephew Zhang must have suffered serious injuries... She needs to recuperate in peace."

"To confront Divinity Transformation with only an early-stage Nascent Soul..."

The Sect Leader sighed.

Zheng Fa thought for a moment, then said, "Master, Uncle, given the current urgent situation, the disciple takes the liberty. I will take Sister Zhang into Jiushan Realm to recover from her injuries. However, since Great Freedom Demon Sect has emerged from the Secret Realm, there might be changes in Xuanwei—I cannot delay the retreat of our Jiushan Sect."

The Sect Leader and Master Pang exchanged looks.

Zheng Fa’s heart stirred, and Junior Master Huang also appeared by his side.

"I will go to gather those disciples who were previously dispersed."

Master Pang said decisively.

The Sect Leader thought for a moment, then spoke, "The commoners within the territories of Jiushan Sect..."

Zheng Fa understood the issue therein.

Although he did not highly value the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

But the commoners over this large territory—they had indeed supported Jiushan Sect.

Who knows what the Great Freedom Demon Sect was up to.

"For those willing to enter Jiushan Realm, please take the trouble, Master..."

Zheng Fa said solemnly.

The sparse population of Jiushan Realm was one thing; on the other hand, Zheng Fa felt a responsibility towards the commoners of this territory.

The three Sect Leaders exchanged looks, all bearing expressions of difficulty on their faces.

It seemed they understood the awkwardness of the situation.

Yet none of them said anything.

Junior Master Huang thought for a moment and said, "Some families, especially those of the disciples of Jiushan Sect, willing to follow our sect, must also be brought back."

Zheng Fa nodded.

Although there were only about a thousand Jiushan Sect disciples now, there had been numerous affiliations amassed over tens of thousands of years.

This was another complex matter.

"I will take charge of this matter."

Junior Master Huang spoke.

Zheng Fa opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something but appeared to be too embarrassed to speak.

"First, to State City..."

Junior Master Huang glanced at him and smiled, saying.

"Please, Uncle, take the trouble."

Zheng Fa wanted to go and receive them personally, but now the Sun and Moon Clock seemed to be snagged by that flying sword, having trouble even moving.

After thinking for a while, Zheng Fa spoke again, "Inside State City, there’s also the Zhao Family."

"I know, you come from the Zhao Family... What about it?"

Zheng Fa hesitated before responding, "Please, Uncle, convey the current situation to Madam Zhao clearly... If she wishes to enter Jiushan Realm, please lend her aid."

"If not, Uncle, there’s no need to insist."

He planned to write to the Seventh Young Master and Zhao Jinglan to see their arrangements.

Junior Master Huang nodded, seemingly taking note.

Worried about Sister Zhang, Zheng Fa, after saluting the three with cupped hands, brought Sister Zhang into Jiushan Realm with him.

...

Watching Zheng Fa disappear in front of them.

The three Sect Leaders were somewhat speechless.

"You’re the Sect Leader, and you’re just going to listen to him like that?"

Master Pang spoke languidly.

"What else?" the Sect Leader sighed, "Did you see Tongming Master speaking to me, or to him?"

"..."

"If I don’t listen, will you accept it?"

"..."

Master Pang and Junior Master Huang exchanged glances.

The Sect Leader let out a cold laugh, clearly not interested in their answers.

"I really didn’t expect..." Master Pang clicked his tongue, somewhat sighing, "I knew Zheng Fa could achieve great things... but this is happening too quickly, including Nephew Zhang. I feel as if I’ve aged."

"I have indeed aged, but I have successors. No matter what Zheng Fa does, he still must address me as Master."

The Sect Leader said in a low voice.

"I do, too."

Beside him, Junior Master Huang smiled and also spoke.

"..."

Master Pang blinked his eyes, suddenly feeling a pang of desolation at the thought of growing old without reliance...