Zheng Fa took his cheap junior sister and flew out of the mountains.
Junior Sister Ye stared at Zheng Fa's retreating figure, biting her lower lip, hesitant to speak.
Fourth Senior Brother... are we really going?
Zheng Fa didn't even turn his head.
Junior Sister Ye gritted her teeth secretly, feeling somewhat resentful. However, she also knew that her relationship with this fourth senior brother was just so-so. This senior brother had never been very talkative, so it wasn't that he was deliberately ignoring her.
After a while, she heard her fourth senior brother speak:
"If you're afraid, you can go back."
Upon hearing this, Junior Sister Ye hesitated for a moment.
More than a dozen Alchemist died at the hands of the Nine Mountains Sect. Now, when the Profound Mystery Sect mentions this matter, who doesn't tremble with fear?
The bounty on Vast Sun Mountain is tempting, but you need to be alive to claim it, right?
How could she not feel uneasy as she followed Li Hao down the mountain?
Yet, she inexplicably had a certain degree of confidence in this fourth senior brother.
She indeed had extensive connections within the sect; Junior Sister Ye had found out exactly what Li Hao had been doing on the mountain these past few days.
Others may not know, but she understands:
Li Hao not only caught the eye of his master, but he even went up to the top of the Divine Fire Mountain and met the Spirit Transformation!
Now, every disciple of the Profound Mystery Sect feels that their future is uncertain.
Only this usually unassuming fourth senior brother showed a glimmer of hope.
Otherwise, why would she come to curry favor?
This senior brother knows so many Alchemist died under the Divine Firmament Warship, yet he still dares to go down the mountain; he must have some confidence, right?
Perhaps he harbors a secret strategy?
With that thought in mind, Junior Sister Ye steeled her resolve. "Senior Brother, if you go, I'll go with you!"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa turned and glanced at her, a genuine smile appearing in his eyes.
He befriended this Junior Sister Ye for two reasons. First, he wanted to learn about the Profound Mystery Sect's movements from her, so that the disciples of the Nine Mountains Sect wouldn't be caught off guard.
Secondly...
Be a witness!
"Senior brother... I... I want to go back!"
Junior Sister Ye gazed at the Divine Firmament Warship fleet in the sky and said in a tearful voice.
She never expected that this senior brother had no schemes at all.
This senior brother is truly fearless!
Ahead of them was a Marketplace warehouse, where the Divine Firmament Warship were probably unloading their cargo. They hadn't expected two uninvited guests to arrive.
Zheng Fa stood on the ground, the spiritual power of the < Heaven-Burning Grand Method > on his body like a raging flame, the surrounding air crackling and seemingly boiling.
His hostile demeanor drew the attention of over thirty Divine Firmament Warship in the sky, their bows pointing directly at the two men, the purple-blue External Core on their prows lighting up.
Standing Dharma Body, Junior Sister Ye swallowed hard.
These very External Core claimed the lives of more than ten Golden Core cultivators in the sect!
Among the Profound Mystery, who wasn't wary of these strange spaceships?
Now, this fourth senior brother is all alone, blocking these thirty-odd warships!
Han Qi stood at the bow of the ship, looking at Zheng Fa standing on the ground, and swallowed hard.
Sect Leader... please be gentle!
The Jade Creation Jade Disc within Zheng Fa's body transformed into the Profound Mystery Sect Fire Mirror, one of the most common Life-bound Dharma Treasure of the Mystic Fire Mirror.
The Mystic Fire Mirror emerged from his Dantian and floated behind his head, with golden flames surrounding his body, making Zheng Fa look like a fire god descending to earth.
His Junior Sister Ye, standing behind him, couldn't help but take three steps back, staring in shock at this fourth senior brother whom she wasn't very familiar with before:
She finally understood why her fourth senior brother had been so reckless.
They understood even more why their master had said that these four senior brothers possessed the potential to reach the Nascent Soul stage.
She herself was Golden Core cultivator, but when her fourth senior brother unleashed his power and displayed his might, she didn't even have the right to stand beside him!
Zheng Fa maintained his taciturn persona, remaining silent as he soared into the sky ablaze with golden flames, flying alone towards the fleet of warships!
With a wave of his hand, Han Qi unleashed thirty Divine Firmament External Alchemy, simultaneously roaring as he unleashed Heavenly Thunder, which, like a net, pounced upon Zheng Fa.
Seeing this scene, Junior Sister Ye's breath caught in her throat for a moment.
Some worries welled up in my heart again...
No matter how powerful Fourth Senior Brother is, he is only at the Golden Core stage.
This lightning was like a net cast from heaven and earth; how could Golden Core possibly withstand it?
But Zheng Fa neither dodged nor avoided it, and instead faced the thunderbolts head-on with his own body.
His Profound Mystery Sect uniform was torn to shreds, revealing a muscular physique.
In Junior Sister Ye's eyes, this Fourth Senior Brother was like a wave on the sea, breaking through the terrifying waves formed by bolts of lightning, yet he didn't have a single scratch on his body!
Not only that.
Four ferocious fire dragons emerged from the Mystic Fire Mirror behind the fourth senior brother, completely surrounding the Divine Firmament Warship in front of him and beginning to refine it!
The disciples of the Nine Mountains on the warship were all deathly pale.
She stared wide-eyed at Zheng Fa's retreating figure, as if in a dream.
The only thing Zheng Fa did was shatter his own shirt...
He had cultivated the Five-Thunder Dharma Form, and his resistance to lightning was something even Yan Wushuang envied.
Now, his Dao Body and the Fusang Wood share the same origin, making him Dao Fruit level being attained.
These Divine Firmament Warship... even scraping them with a cupping device would be like they haven't eaten.
In Junior Sister Ye's eyes, this scene was Profound Mystery realm overwhelming the evil Divine Firmament Warship fleet of the Nine Mountains Sect.
In Zheng Fa's eyes...
This scene can be roughly translated as:
Zheng Fa: "Where are the goods?"
Han Qi: " In the Storage Bag!"
Zheng Fa: "You know the rules!"
Han Qi and Zheng Fa exchanged a glance, then suddenly shouted:
"This beast is powerful. The sect leader has ordered that lives are paramount! Abandon the supplies!"
After saying that, he turned the ship around and, with the rest of his disciples, unleashed divine lightning at the four fire dragons. After rescuing the trapped Divine Firmament Warship, he ran away without hesitation.
Seeing that his fourth senior brother still seemed somewhat unwilling, Junior Sister Ye took two steps forward and quickly called out:
"Senior brother! The warehouse!"
Zheng Fa looked somewhat regretful, but still glanced at the warehouse below and stopped.
He turned to look at Junior Sister Ye and said, "It's a pity we couldn't capture a Divine Firmament Warship to avenge our senior brothers."
Upon hearing this, Junior Sister Ye was slightly shaken and sincerely said, "Senior Brother's divine might is such that even these Divine Firmament Warship couldn't harm you..."
"It's just some External Core; ordinary Golden Core cultivators would be afraid..."
Before he could finish speaking, Junior Sister Ye sensed an arrogance emanating from this fourth senior brother.
Watching the fleeing Divine Firmament Warship, the cultivators in the Marketplace looked at Zheng Fa and Junior Sister Ye with trepidation and panic.
As she faced the fawning gazes of the crowd, Junior Sister Ye couldn't help but feel somewhat intoxicated and captivated.
But the fourth senior brother's expression remained indifferent, seemingly not proud of his achievements at all.
Junior Sister Ye's expression froze for a moment, but she felt even more that her senior brother was unfathomable.
Zheng Fa looked at the warehouse full of Spirit Artifact and pills and said:
"Please take it to the Affairs Cave and exchange it for me."
Junior Sister Ye, of course, readily agreed, "Yes!"
Junior Sister Ye, carrying the stolen supplies, strode confidently into the Affairs Cave.
The Golden Core disciple in the Affairs Cave has changed again—the one who was previously killed by the Nine Mountains Sect Divine Firmament Warship.
This person was from the newly arrived Spirit Transformation elder lineage, and had always been at odds with Junior Sister Ye and the other original Profound Mystery Golden Core cultivators. Seeing her expression, he coldly said, "More than a dozen of our fellow disciples have died, yet Junior Sister seems happy."
Junior Sister Ye knew that his grief over the death of his fellow disciple was feigned, and that his true intention was to make things difficult for her.
But those words were truly malicious.
The other disciples in the cave looked at her with a hint of anger.
"Happy?" Junior Sister Ye slammed her hand on the stone table in front of the deacon disciple and said loudly, "Your crying day and night, do you pose even the slightest threat to the Nine Mountains Sect?"
The disciple in charge was taken aback, then sneered, "Junior Sister can do that?"
"I can't, but my fourth senior brother Li Hao, can!"
After she finished speaking, she waved her hand, and Storage Bag as high as a small mountain appeared in front of everyone.
"This..."
"These are magical Law Artifact and elixirs that my Senior Brother Li seized from the Nine Mountains Sect..."
The cave fell silent instantly.
Everyone was staring at the Storage Bag piled up in a mess.
The disciple in charge seemed unconvinced and opened each of the Storage Bag to inspect them.
After a full incense stick's time, Law Artifact, elixirs, and talismans were piled up from the floor to the ceiling of the cave, filling half of the Affairs Cave to the brim.
"They are indeed all items from the Nine Mountains Sect!"
After the bounty was placed on Vast Sun Mountain, most of the disciples of the Profound Mystery Sect studied the Law Artifact of the Nine Mountains Sect. They could not be imitated, but it was not difficult to recognize them.
Now, he could easily see that what Junior Sister Ye said was true.
" Li Hao? I've never heard of this senior brother before."
Junior Sister Ye glanced at everyone, and with her silver tongue, vividly described the scene of Senior Brother Li's battle against the Divine Firmament Warship.
Everyone listened in disbelief.
But looking at the room full of magical Law Artifact and elixirs, he realized that it was hard to fake them.
They couldn't help but whisper among themselves, starting to talk about Li Hao, who was not very well-known before.
After finishing her sentence, Junior Sister Ye urged the disciple in charge, "Help me exchange these things for bounties! I need to send them to Senior Brother Li Hao!"
The disciple, who had been in a daze, suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly brought out various spiritual materials from the cave's storeroom, put them in Storage Bag, and handed them to Junior Sister Ye.
Junior Sister Ye did some calculations and realized something was wrong:
You've given away way too many spiritual materials!
Does she know the rules for coming to the Affairs Cave these days...? Which of these disciples of the Spirit Transformation elders doesn't deduct points?
Today, however, he is as incorruptible as water, and his hands are never tainted by oil!
Seemingly understanding her confusion, the disciple whispered:
Please give my regards to Senior Brother Li.
Upon hearing this, Junior Sister Ye, carrying a handful of Storage Bag, straightened her back and walked out of the Affairs Cave.
Behind her, the murmurs rose even higher.
The name Li Hao rose within the Profound Mystery Sect like the subterranean fire of the Divine Fire Mountain.
Several days later, a rainbow of light crossed the sky and landed on a mountain peak.
The rainbow light dissipated, revealing the figures of the Profound Mystery star Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang.
On the mountain peak, Uncle-Master Pang and Old Han stood side by side, their faces filled with shame.
" Sect Leader!"
Zheng Fa's tone was somewhat cold.
"How?"
Eight Foundation Establishment disciples died.
Uncle-Master Pang said in a low voice, his words laced with anger.
Old Han even took responsibility. "It was my fault for not keeping a close eye on things, allowing the Azure Water Poison Immortal to enter the Hundred Immortals Alliance."
Zheng Fa let out a soft breath. "It's not your fault, Old Han; it was our oversight."
The Azure Water Poison Immortal was originally Nascent Soul Cultivator from the Vast Sun Mountain region, extremely skilled in concealment techniques and poison arts.
I didn't expect to come here because of the bounty offered by Vast Sun Mountain.
The problem is, this person is quite cunning.
He did not target the heavily guarded Han Qi and his group.
Instead, they set their sights on Uncle-Master Pang's investigation team.
Uncle-Master Pang is conducting a census, so of course he can't gather everyone together; that would be too inefficient.
Therefore, the disciples often split into several small teams to collect data in different locations.
This Azure Water Poison Immortal was also cautious, and approached a small team.
With his Nascent Soul cultivation and some special techniques, it was too late for Uncle-Master Pang to realize something was wrong.
Even the complete remains of these disciples were never found.
After listening to Uncle-Master Pang's account, Zheng Fa's eyes grew even more serious, and he said:
"I've already found out that most of the Nascent Soul coming from the direction of Vast Sun Mountain are exchanging bounties at the Profound Mystery Sect."
This is the greatest use of that Junior Sister Ye --
Old Han's intelligence network was newly established, and its information was far less reliable than that of insiders like Junior Sister Ye.
" The Azure Water Poison Immortal is the same."
Upon hearing this, Uncle-Master Pang gritted his teeth and said, "I'll go..."
"I'll go."
At the foot of Fire God Peak, a green-robed cultivator emerged from the Profound Mystery Sect protective array of the Chongxuan Sect, carrying a brand-new Storage Bag in his hand.
Several Rogue Cultivator from the direction of Vast Sun Mountain followed behind him, flattering him and saying, "You are True Person wise, Master. There are quite a few disciples from the Nine Mountains Sect, why bother with those troublesome Divine Firmament Warship?"
"The bounty they collected from just a few Foundation Establishment cultivators at Vast Sun Mountain is more than we earned in the previous few months."
The green-robed cultivator was none other than the Azure Water Poison Immortal. He was extremely short, almost like a child, seemingly due to his cultivation of poisonous arts.
But his face was covered in wrinkles, and his eyes gleamed with a green light, sending chills down one's spine.
"I'm afraid the Nine Mountains Sect won't let this go so easily..."
"Just a few Foundation Establishment disciples," said the Azure Water Poison Immortal, his voice hoarse and strained. "If we're careful, even if Nascent Soul True Person were to confront us, we could escape. What can the Nine Mountains Sect do to us?"
The people around him agreed with his reasoning.
The Nine Mountains Sect wouldn't be like that...
A palm descended from the sea of clouds and slammed down on the Jadewater Poison Lord.
The group looked up in alarm and saw Zheng Fa standing on a cloud, expressionless, gazing down.
" Zheng Fa!"
Panic gripped everyone.
Although Zheng Fa's aura was only at the Nascent Soul, he was recognized by cultivators as having Dao Fruit combat power. Now, with his sudden attack, he directly shattered the physical body of the Azure Water Poison Immortal, leaving not even Nascent Soul!
Within the Profound Mystery Sect, all was utterly silent.
The Immortal-Trapping Sword within the mist seemed to stir; the fog on the mountaintop churned, and a murderous intent pierced towards Zheng Fa from within the mist. But Zheng Dharma Body flashed again, a rainbow light vanished in an instant, and he disappeared before everyone's eyes.
After a while, Shi Nandang emerged from the mist within the Profound Mystery Sect, gazing silently in the direction Zheng Fa had gone.
In the Nine Mountains Realm, Zheng Fa also sought out Xie Qingxue:
" Fairy Xie, you're right. Those seven Nascent Spirit Transformation will probably need some time to control the Immortal-Trapping Sword."
His willingness to appear outside the Profound Mystery Sect indicates that he was prepared:
The first one is the Canghai Pearl.
The second is Xie Qingxue's conjecture.
" The Immortal-Trapping Sword is our sect's most precious treasure. The seven Nascent Spirit Transformation of Vast Sun Mountain, without the Cultivation Method, could never wield it so skillfully," Xie Qingxue said, frowning. "Now it seems they have some other purpose in possessing the Immortal-Trapping Sword."
Zheng Fa nodded slightly.
"In that case, I can be a little bolder in the Profound Mystery Sect."
"Senior Brother!" Junior Sister Ye found Zheng Fa's cave abode, her expression complicated. "Did you see the imposing presence of Zheng Fa of the Nine Mountains that day?"
Zheng Fa nodded slightly.
Rumors within the sect say that Zheng Fa was seeking revenge for several Foundation Establishment disciples... He's extremely protective of his own!
A hint of envy flickered across Junior Sister Ye's face.
Zheng Fa looked at her, a surprised smile in his eyes.
"Actually, in the early years, everyone had a pretty good relationship with the Nine Mountains Sect... I know a junior sister in the Nine Mountains Realm."
This matter...
Zheng Fa almost forgot.
Back then, the Hundred Immortals Alliance sent some disciples into the Nine Mountains Realm, Profound Mystery Sect naturally had some as well.
Of course, the disciples sent by the Profound Mystery Sect were not actually any important figures.
"Later... my junior sister stopped writing to me."
"In her last letter, she told me... she chose to stay in the Nine Mountains Realm, as did her fellow disciples who went with her."
Zheng Fa was completely unaware of this past event.
This Junior Sister Ye really has a wide circle of friends.
The Profound Mystery Sect actually only has three or five disciples in the Nine Mountains Realm, and two of them have made some contributions to the Golden Core Engineering.
Now that the two factions are at loggerheads, the disciples showed no unusual behavior, presumably having made their own choices.
"Actually, we've all been saying that it's not bad that Zheng Fa from the Nine Mountains Sect became the alliance leader."
"..."
"Pity."
Zheng Fa blinked, surprised that those Profound Mystery Sect students studying in the Nine Mountains Realm had brainwashed some of the Profound Mystery Sect disciples.
He certainly knew what Junior Sister Ye was regretting:
For them, there was no choice.
Zheng Fa nodded and stood up. "Let's go."
"Go down the mountain?"
Zheng Fa nodded.
Junior Sister Ye stared wide-eyed at Zheng Fa and asked, "Senior Brother, aren't you afraid...?"
"We cultivators are inherently defying the heavens; if we were afraid, what would be the point of seeking immortality?"
Upon hearing this, Junior Sister Ye felt a tremor in her heart and couldn't help but stand up, following behind this increasingly familiar Fourth Senior Brother.
"Moreover, if we don't take a gamble now, how will we survive in the future?"
"Yes."
She saw her usually taciturn fourth senior brother smile again, his tone surprisingly bold. "Moreover, if no one from my Profound Mystery Sect dares to leave the mountain, wouldn't all the cultivators in the world laugh at our sect for having no one to rely on?"
As he spoke, his face was filled with unwavering loyalty and righteousness.
As the Sect Leader the Nine Mountains Sect Nine Mountains Sect, of course he would crush anyone who dared to provoke him.
But once he put on this Profound Mystery Sect robe, he became the Profound Mystery Sect's most loyal disciple.
In short, it's like wearing a security guard uniform to stop delivery riders, then riding an electric scooter to yell at the security guards... all to emphasize being dutiful!
"..."
Junior Sister Ye nodded emphatically and Dharma Body firmly, feeling that the Profound Mystery Sect insignia on her senior brother's clothes was shining brightly.
How can Li Hao be untrustworthy?
Inside the Sect Leader's cave abode, Ninth Elder Bixia addressed the sect Sect Leader and Eighth Elder of the Profound Mystery Sect in a loud voice:
"The disciples cowered in fear because he was fearless and ruthless, stealing countless magical Law Artifact and elixirs from the Nine Mountains Sect!"
"How many disciples in the sect are proud of him now?"
"If we doubt him again, wouldn't that break his heart!"
The Ninth Elder felt a pang of guilt for his previous suspicions about this disciple, and also a desire to seek justice for him.
The two leaders of the Profound Mystery Sect Leader remained silent.
"I'm not talking about others, but Eighth Elder, you are utterly loyal to my sect, would you dare to descend the mountain and confront the Nine Mountains Sect?"
The Eighth Elder was speechless.
Li Hao may not care about his life, but he does!
Who knows when Zheng Fa will make his move again?
However, he also had to admit that among all the cultivators of the Profound Mystery Sect, Li Hao had seized ninety percent of the various Law Artifact and pills from the Nine Mountains Sect!
The other disciples only dared to steal chickens and dogs, engaging in petty theft and small-scale mischief.
Li Hao was also extremely powerful, capable of fighting against those Divine Firmament Warship single-handedly.
The sect leader of the Profound Mystery Sect Leader pondered for a moment before speaking, " Li Hao is indeed a talented individual and has made considerable contributions to the sect. However, it's not that we don't trust Li Hao, but rather that Venerable Shi..."
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly paused, then said with a complicated expression, " Venerable Shi summons Li Hao."
(End of this chapter)