" Spirit Stone are the foundation of the formation?" In the main hall of the Heavenly Palace Island in the Nine Mountains Realm, Senior Sister Zhang's expression was a mixture of realization and doubt.
Not only her, but Xie Qingxue, who was standing next to her, also looked bewildered.
There weren't many people in the hall, only Senior Sister Zhang Xie Qingxue.
The bounty placed on Vast Sun Mountain did have an impact on the Nine Mountains Sect. Aunt-Master Huang and even Xiao Yuying and others were outside protecting the Nine Mountains disciples, guarding against sneak attacks from those Rogue Cultivator Nascent Soul from Vast Sun Mountain.
" Fairy Xie unaware of this matter?"
Seeing the expression on Xie Qingxue's face, Zheng Fa couldn't help but be surprised.
A bitter look appeared in Xie Qingxue's eyes. "I've never heard of it."
Zheng Fa nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and then made up his mind, saying to Xie Qingxue, "It seems that the Tianhe Sect's inheritance is now restricted."
Although the relationship between formations and Spirit Stone is a secret, it shouldn't be understood by the sects from the Five Sects.
It's strange that Xie Qingxue, being the top True Disciple of Tianhe, knew nothing about this.
That Shi Nandang was merely True Disciple Spirit Transformation from Vast Sun Mountain; in terms of strength, he was absolutely no match for Xie Qingxue, who wielded the Green Duckweed Sword.
He knew the " Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array " inside and out.
Even Zheng Fa, a Golden Core, was able to receive a portion of the inheritance, demonstrating that the threshold for array formations wasn't so high that Xie Qingxue couldn't learn them.
Zheng Fa's heart skipped a beat, and he pressed on, "How much has the Tianhe Sect accumulated in weapon crafting and alchemy?"
" The Dao of Alchemy cannot compare to the Supreme Dao, and the Dao of Weapon Forging is also inferior to that of Vast Sun Mountain." Xie Qingxue was taken aback, seemingly not quite understanding why Zheng Fa asked this question, but still answered.
"So... it's not bad among the Five Sects?"
Xie Qingxue nodded confidently and said, "I wouldn't dare say we can't match their alchemy skills, but when it comes to weapon crafting, my Tianhe Sect, aside from being inferior to Vast Sun Mountain, dares to say we are no weaker than any other sect."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa became even more certain of his thoughts and said, " Fairy Xie, do you remember me telling you that if you were in mortal danger, you could send me a message?"
Xie Qingxue nodded silently.
That happened after Xie Qingxue helped Zheng Fa kill the Great Freedom Devil Ancestor. Zheng Fa made this promise when Xie Qingxue left.
"I couldn't say much then, but now you probably guessed some of it..."
Zheng Fa concealed the truth at the time to protect Mu Qingyan.
On the other hand, it's also because it's hard to gain people's trust— the Tianhe Sect is one of the Five Sects, and if it says it's gone, even if Xie Qingxue trusts it, she'll probably have to question it.
Now that the Sect Master Yan of the Tianhe Sect has been too obvious in his actions, and Xie Qingxue and Old Han have also been working hard for the Hundred Immortals Alliance, he feels it's time to be frank and open.
" The Tianhe Sect may face annihilation."
Xie Qingxue's face paled, but there was no surprise in her eyes.
Zheng Fa continued, "I was only 60% certain about this before, but judging from Sect Master Yan's actions, it's about 80% or 90% true."
Xie Qingxue did not refute, but her voice was tinged with bitterness:
"Eighty or ninety percent is probably too low."
At this point, she stared at Zheng Fa, her gaze hardening. " Zheng Fa, I'll be shameless enough to ask you to give me a different promise today?"
Zheng Fa looked at Xie Qingxue, and some guesses formed in his mind.
"I'll be entrusting my junior brother to your care from now on."
Xie Qingxue's words did not surprise Zheng Fa; he simply asked:
" Fairy Xie..."
"Besides my master and junior brother, I have no other close relatives in the sect..." Xie Qingxue chuckled lightly, "But I do wield the Green Duckweed Sword, and if anyone can destroy my Tianhe Sect, they will certainly not let me go."
"If I were in the Nine Mountains Sect Nine Mountains Sect, I'm afraid I would bring disaster upon them."
"Junior Brother's cultivation is weak, which ironically gives him a glimmer of hope."
Senior Sister Zhang looked at Xie Qingxue, her eyes inevitably revealing a hint of pity.
"Is Fairy Xie afraid that I can't protect you?"
"You are, after all, the sect Sect Leader the Nine Mountains Sect."
"..."
Zheng Fa was speechless upon hearing this.
Xie Qingxue's words were true. Even if Zheng Fa wanted to help Xie Qingxue, it would be unwise to become a major enemy of the Nine Mountains Sect.
An enemy capable of annihilating the Tianhe Sect is a force that would be difficult for the Nine Mountains Realm to resist.
"Besides..." Xie Qingxue sat upright, her back as straight as a sword, with an undeniable air of pride, "I don't want to hide."
Seeing that he still wanted to speak, Xie Qingxue waved her hand and said, "You don't need to persuade him anymore."
"..."
"We sword cultivators would rather break than bend; life and death are of no concern to us!"
"..."
Zheng Fa was stunned for a moment, then his face showed sincere admiration. He nodded and praised, "I underestimated you, Fairy. Indeed, my idea might not have been able to save the Tianhe Sect."
"?"
Zheng Fa cupped his hands in greeting and said:
" Fairy Xie! I will take good care of Brother Yan for you..."
"Wait!" Xie Qingxue hurriedly waved her hand, "You mean save my Tianhe Sect?"
"That's not important to sword cultivators!"
Xie Qingxue paused for a moment, then tossed the Green Duckweed Sword from her waist toward Zheng Fa, saying, "Anyway, this broken sword listens to you, not me."
Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang watched silently as the Green Duckweed Sword hummed as it was stuck in the floor, its blade covered with countless question marks.
Xie Qingxue patted her empty waist, looking completely innocent:
Who is the sword cultivator?
"..."
Zheng Fa's lips twitched, but he still admitted frankly, "I'm not very confident about this idea."
Xie Qingxue said urgently:
"Oh, you go first!"
"The reason I asked you about the Tianhe Sect's array formation inheritance just now was because of a guess..."
What guess?
" The Tianhe Sect's formations aren't weak, they're too strong!"
Upon hearing this, Xie Qingxue and Senior Sister Zhang's expressions immediately changed, and they exclaimed in unison, "Like the Nine-Turn Golden Core Method?"
"That's exactly right. Otherwise, it's hard to explain why the Tianhe Sect doesn't even know the relationship between Spirit Stone and formations..."
Xie Qingxue said blankly, "But my Tianhe Sect has always possessed nothing but swords."
"What about Dao of Alchemy and Artifact Dao?"
"..."
"I have an idea. The Tianhe Sect was the defeated party in the Previous Epoch. It was only because your Five Lineages Founder and Four Sects had an agreement, and the Four Immortal-Slayer Swords were incredibly powerful, that you compromised with each other."
A realization dawned on Senior Sister Zhang Zhang's eyes, and she asked, "You mean, because of the death of Venerable Tianhe, the Tianhe Sect has been restricted from researching formations by the Four Sects?"
"What Senior Sister said is just as I thought," Zheng Fa speculated. "In the Xuanwei Realm, only Four Sects can completely prevent the Tianhe Sect from inheriting array formations, and even deliberately avoid studying array formations."
Xie Qingxue frowned, still puzzled. "That's possible, but there's no evidence."
"We have evidence! Your Tianhe Sect's Swordsmanship- forging techniques are contained within the < Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array >!"
Zheng Fa's words sent a chill down Xie Qingxue's spine.
"Of course, I haven't studied the Tianhe Sect's sword-forging techniques much; I can only discern a few traces from them."
" The Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array?"
"Senior sister, we've now entered the basics of all the arts of cultivation, and we've pretty much got a grasp of them." Zheng Fa changed the subject, talking about something else. "Among them, the Talisman Dao is the most fundamental; it's the foundation of all the arts of cultivation—no, it's the basis of cultivation."
"The so-called talisman is the law, and the law is the talisman."
Senior Sister Zhang nodded and said, "That's true. Whether it's weapon crafting or alchemy, they are essentially about using Law Technique to recombine matter."
"As for formations, they are actually based on weapon crafting, a higher level of technology. I suspect they are a simplification of techniques used by Spirit Transformation cultivators or even Dao Fruit cultivators."
" Spirit Stone... can stably contain Law Technique, and they can influence each other."
In Zheng Fa's eyes now, the system of Immortal Way techniques has gradually become clear. If we were to use a modern knowledge system as an analogy, then Talisman Arts would be equivalent to Mathematics:
Any Cultivation Method or technique can be explained using Talisman Arts; this is the foundation of the edifice of Immortal Way.
Weapon crafting and alchemy are fields that combine physical chemistry and even branches of science such as materials science and pharmacy.
And formations are almost equivalent to computers.
But for cultivators of the Xuanwei, it is actually... bionics.
"You mean, array formations are techniques that cultivators at the Nascent Spirit Transformation stage inscribe into Spirit Stone?"
"Yes, the Dao Fruit cultivator's cultivation is based on a fundamental method. According to the methods left by the Great Freedom, from the Nascent Soul to the Dao Fruit, it is all a process of constructing the Dao Body through Cultivation Method."
"And from what I've learned about the < Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array >, the essence of this approach is the same."
Zheng Fa's understanding of formations is actually quite simple:
In his view, all Cultivation Method are essentially programming for the physical world.
Internally, it involves Cultivation Method to construct a more powerful physical body.
Externally, it uses Law Technique to control the power of heaven and earth.
"The special characteristic of Spirit Stone lies in their ability to contain various Law Technique by cultivators and maintain their stable operation."
Zheng Fa looked at the Spirit Stone in his hand and channeled the spiritual power from his Dantian into it.
The Spirit Stone suddenly shone brightly, and its aura gradually became the same as Zheng Fa's spiritual power.
Senior Sister Zhang looked at the Spirit Stone and sighed, "The answer was right in front of us, yet we were blind to it, like we were blind."
The special properties of Spirit Stone have always been obvious, yet they go unnoticed—they can perfectly replenish spiritual energy!
It should be understood that the spiritual power of cultivators varies greatly depending on their Cultivation Method and Divine Soul.
Many elixirs can restore a cultivator's spiritual power, but the effects vary from person to person.
But Spirit Stone are different.
Xie Qingxue also took out a Spirit Stone and infused it with spiritual power. The aura emanating from the Spirit Stone was very similar to her own.
" Spirit Stone can replenish spiritual power... not only because they contain Five Elements, but they can also simulate the fluctuations of the Divine Soul." Zheng Fa praised the Spirit Stone in his palm, "When a cultivator infuses their spiritual power into it, they will receive spiritual power of the same origin."
"Therefore, anyone who uses it to replenish their spiritual energy will experience 100% effectiveness, because this thing is equivalent to another cultivator transferring spiritual energy to them."
"This spiritual material is far more unique than other spiritual materials. Madam Xuanhua has encountered difficulties in trying to replicate it these days."
"Therefore, if refined using special methods, it is possible to inscribe Method Formula within it to form an array."
In Zheng Fa's view, the formation was actually a part of the Cultivation Method that cultivators above the Spirit Transformation separated and engraved into Spirit Stone.
Modern World computers started with pure mathematical logic, gradually transitioning to neural networks, and even beginning to simulate the real human brain.
The array formations in the Xuanwei World were originally designed to simulate cultivators, so Zheng Fa considered them to be bionics.
"Compared to Spirit Transformation Method or Dao Fruit Law Treasure, the advantage of using Spirit Stone to set up an array is... lower barrier to entry and greater flexibility. Golden Core cultivators can inscribe Method Formula within it, and to change the array, one only needs to replace the Spirit Stone and alter the Law Technique within it."
Senior Sister Zhang nodded in agreement.
"Although I can perfect the Nine Mountains Grand Formation with my Primordial Spirit Dao Body, it cannot last forever..."
" The Immortal Formation Method of my Nine Mountains is essentially Dharma Aspect formed by these Spirit Stone, except that it consumes the cultivator's spiritual power."
"This Spirit Stone is much more stable."
Zheng Fa smiled and shook his head, saying, " The Immortal Formation Method has its advantages. Setting up formations with Spirit Stone Immortal Formation Method is inevitably limited by resources and location... The Immortal Formation Method is extremely useful in combat."
Senior Sister Zhang nodded with a smile at these words—"The greatest advantage of the Immortal Array is that it has long legs!"
Xie Qingxue grew anxious and urged, "What does this have to do with my Tianhe Sect?"
" Fairy Xie, think about it, what did your master do that would lead to the destruction of the Tianhe Sect? And who could possibly bring about the destruction of the Tianhe Sect?"
Xie Qingxue looked somewhat bewildered, but Senior Sister Zhang spoke up:
" The Four Sects, or... the four Founder of the Tianhe Sect."
Xie Qingxue hesitated for a moment, seemingly wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a word, clearly indicating that she agreed with the analysis.
"Then Sect Master Yan's current arrangements suggest he's somewhat aware of the difficulties ahead... Shouldn't he make some preparations?"
This Sect Master Yan arranged for Old Han and Xie Qingxue to protect his son, Yan Wushuang.
Now... every choice made by Old Han and Xie Qingxue is in Yan Wushuang's favor.
This shows that this Sect Master Yan is by no means a reckless person.
"Prepare?"
"What could give Sect Master Yan the confidence to contend with the Four Sects or the four Founder of the Tianhe Sect?" Zheng Fa said softly. "Or perhaps, Sect Master Yan's preparations are the very reason for the Tianhe Sect's demise?"
"... Array formation?"
Xie Qingxue finally understood what Zheng Fa had been trying to say after all that rambling.
"Yes, the Nine-Turn Golden Core Method is indeed wondrous, but both of us have practiced it and know it's insufficient to contend with Dao Fruit cultivators, let alone the Four Sects," Zheng Fa nodded. "If my prediction is correct, the Tianhe Sect's array formations were once incredibly powerful."
"And what if Sect Master Yan knew about this?"
"It's impossible not to make a fuss about this."
Xie Qingxue listened, her face thoughtful, and finally understood Zheng Fa's meaning. "It's even possible that my master wanted to perfect the formation, which is why it provoked the Four Sects and even the Founder to take action."
"Of course, this is just speculation. But..." Zheng Fa smiled, "Even if Sect Master Yan's ambitions don't lie in formations, wouldn't the chances be much greater with the help of formations?"
Xie Qingxue's spirits lifted, and she finally understood Zheng Fa's unfinished question, "You want to use the formation of Vast Sun Mountain to make a deal with my master?"
"Exactly! Judging from the < Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array >, Vast Sun Mountain must have relied on the original array of the Tianhe Sect to refine the Immortal-Trapping Sword."
In fact, Zheng Fa's confidence in the Tianhe Sect's formations was far greater than Xie Qingxue had imagined.
The Immortal Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation... I've heard of it for ages!
For Vast Sun Mountain to refine such a supreme treasure as the Immortal-Trapping Sword, it's impossible to abandon the Tianhe Sect's approach.
The fact that Zheng Fa's Flying Cloud Sword triggered the Immortal-Trapping Sword's unusual movement indicates that the Immortal-Trapping Sword was not fundamentally altered by Vast Sun Mountain.
"If the Tianhe Sect doesn't have this formation's inheritance, then I wonder if Sect Master Yan... would be interested?" Zheng Fa said softly. "Of course, the < Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array > might only contain a portion of the original Tianhe Sect's formation inheritance."
What do you want?
After thinking it over, Xie Qingxue finally asked.
"I want the method for forging the Immortal-Trapping Sword! Or rather, the method of the Tianhe Sect's Immortal-Trapping Sword lineage!"
Xie Qingxue slowly widened her eyes. She looked at the Green Duckweed Sword in the hall, thought of the past, and immediately understood Zheng Fa's meaning. "You want to refine the Immortal-Trapping Sword?"
"Of course not yet. I'm only at the Golden Core Profound Mystery Sect stage in the Chongxuan Sect, so I can only learn the < Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array > first, and then inscribe Law Technique into Spirit Stone to set up the array."
Zheng Fa is currently working at the Profound Mystery Sect, still doing peripheral tasks.
They slowly imprinted the Spirit Stone, Shi Nandang them set up the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array.
He was not qualified enough, both in terms of status and cultivation, to forge the Immortal- Immortal-Trapping Sword; he could only assist the Nascent Spirit Transformation cultivators.
To get closer to the Immortal-Trapping Sword, he must take another step.
He couldn't even stop the Immortal-Trapping Sword from being forged... Now the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array has been initially set up, but it hasn't been connected to the Hundred Immortals Alliance's Earth Vein yet. But disarming this bomb won't be easy.
Zheng Fa's idea was not just to eliminate the danger posed by the Immortal-Trapping Sword Immortal-Trapping Sword, but to lure it to the Nine Mountains Sect.
Who allowed Vast Sun Mountain to carelessly throw away the Immortal-Trapping Sword?
Judging from the case of the Green Duckweed Sword, the corresponding Cultivation Method has a great influence on the Law Treasure. Even though the Immortal-Trapping Sword has been suppressed by Vast Sun Mountain for an era, it was still forged by the Tianhe Sect.
To obtain the cultivation Cultivation Method of the Immortal-Trapping Sword lineage and use them to lure the Immortal-Trapping Sword is like having a white moonlight from hundreds of thousands of years ago come knocking on the Immortal-Trapping Sword's door—an old house easily ignited by fire.
In addition, Zheng Fa possessed the True Disciple Cultivation Method Vast Sun Mountain.
Even though the Immortal-Trapping Sword was almost shaped like Vast Sun Mountain, Zheng Fa could still say:
I have everything you love.
The only question is whether these conditions will be enough to sway Sect Master Yan.
Recalling the power of the Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation, Zheng Fa was also 50% confident—as long as Sect Master Yan knew about this sword formation, he couldn't possibly remain unmoved. The only reason he might refuse was that the Tianhe Sect possessed the inheritance of this formation.
Zheng Fa was very skeptical of this. The Four Sects weren't stupid; if the Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation was really that powerful, they wouldn't have left it to the Tianhe Sect.
After thinking it over, Xie Qingxue slowly nodded and said, "I can't understand Master's thoughts either. I need to go back and find out more... Don't worry, if I have the chance, I will do my best to persuade Master."
Zheng Fa could tell that Xie Qingxue didn't really believe in the power of the formation she claimed to have. She was probably trying to grasp at the last straw for the Tianhe Sect, and perhaps also wanted to help the Nine Mountains Sect resolve the crisis of the Immortal-Trapping Sword.
Xie Qingxue didn't delay. After discussing with the two, she flew away from the Nine Mountains Realm.
Zheng Fa saw her off and said to Senior Sister Zhang, "I'm afraid I'll have to stay at the Profound Mystery Sect these days."
It's a good thing that Shi Nandang values him now, but it's a bit inconvenient compared to before—luckily, he was able to go down the mountain to "rob" the Hundred Immortals Alliance, which gave him the opportunity to return to the Nine Mountains Sect.
"That's true... You sold the secret teachings of Vast Sun Mountain's Formation Dao to the Tianhe Sect, so you have to go back and finish learning them."
"Senior Sister Zhang said quietly."
Xie Qingxue didn't notice the problem with the transaction, but Senior Sister Zhang did.
This junior brother, using the Secret Method of Vast Sun Mountain, was doing business with the Tianhe Sect.
The price difference was all pocketed by the middleman, Zheng Fa!
Zheng Fa was working hard to purchase goods at Vast Sun Mountain when a message suddenly arrived in the Creation Jade Disc.
"Did Venerable Tongming, along with his disciples, secretly arrive at the Hundred Immortals Alliance?"
He began to think it over.
The fact that Venerable Tongming came here at this time suggests that his intentions are quite interesting.
After the Six-Sect Alliance Assembly, Zheng Fa gradually figured out the complex relationships between the Five Sects of Xuanwei.
The Five Sects naturally act as one entity when dealing with external affairs.
However, the internal relationships are complex and intricate.
However, in Zheng Fa's view, broadly speaking, there are actually three schools of thought:
Thunderclap Temple and Vast Sun Mountain seem to have a close relationship.
Jade Pool seems to have been deeply influenced by the Supreme Dao.
The Tianhe Sect, on the other hand, remained almost neutral.
This is, of course, partly due to the awkward position of the Tianhe Sect.
This is probably a self-preservation strategy of the Tianhe Sect.
Given this situation, the Supreme Dao has several options for responding to Vast Sun Mountain's actions against the Hundred Immortals Alliance:
The first option is to uphold the principle of the Five Sects as one and jointly suppress the Hundred Immortals Alliance, or simply turn a blind eye to it.
This was the reaction of the Supreme Dao a period of time prior.
The fact that Venerable Tongming has come indicates that their thinking has changed.
Unexpectedly, Zheng Fa wanted to secretly collude with the Tianhe Sect, but the Supreme Dao interfered... Recalling the development of the situation over the past period, Zheng Fa smiled inwardly:
Has the Nine Mountains Sect demonstrated its value in united front tactics?
Perhaps to avoid Vast Sun Mountain, Venerable Tongming arrived in a hurry and secretly, so that not only did Vast Sun Mountain not discover them, but the Nine Mountains Sect was also unprepared.
Xie Qingxue returned to the Tianhe Sect, Zheng Fa studied technology at the Profound Mystery Sect Nascent Soul in the Nine Mountains Realm were even more strapped for cash.
When Venerable Tongming arrived, even Senior Sister Zhang was not there.
Zheng Fa didn't let them enter the Nine Mountains Realm, but instead settled them in a separate courtyard of the Hundred Immortals Alliance. When Senior Sister Zhang returned, he only sent a few disciples to greet her.
" Zheng Fa has been far too dismissive of me; he 'Supreme Dao."
Beside Venerable Tongming, a disciple muttered something.
The others also looked somewhat dissatisfied.
Venerable Tongming and his party of ten included seven former disciples of Bright Mountain, who had now joined the Supreme Dao.
To avoid attracting attention, they didn't wear the robes of the Supreme Dao, but they still possessed the arrogance of the Supreme Dao.
Returning to this familiar place now feels like returning home in glory.
Venerable Tongming said coldly, "Watch your words! How dare you discuss the Zheng Fa?"
The disciples fell silent, but their faces showed some Qi Ingestion.
Zheng Fa sent me a message explaining that the Hundred Immortals Alliance is currently short-handed and that it was not intentionally neglecting its duties.
One of the disciples muttered again:
"They've been suppressed so severely by Vast Sun Mountain; they should be the ones trying to curry favor with us."
"Thankfully, we've left the Hundred Immortals Alliance."
Venerable Tongming glanced at him and cursed:
Why do you think we're here to help Zheng Fa?
Several disciples shook their heads.
"If Zheng Fa were to join my Supreme Dao sect, I would have to address him as an High Immortal from now on!"
His disciples' expressions immediately changed, knowing that what he said was true.
Venerable Tongming shook his head. These disciples, brought to the Supreme Dao by him, had all become restless.
He came under orders from within the Daoist sect, intending to secretly help the Nine Mountains Sect, to annoy Vast Sun Mountain, and also with designs on Zheng Fa.
If Zheng Fa agreed to join the Supreme Dao, he would immediately become a powerful figure within the sect, so how could he dare to offend him?
To be honest, he also felt that he was providing timely help.
More or less, they felt that the Nine Mountains Sect needed something from them and was superior to them.
Looking at the Nine Mountains Realm now, which doesn't even have a proper leader, he felt quite sorry for the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
In the eyes of the Supreme Dao, the Hundred Immortals Alliance was doomed.
What the Supreme Dao actually wanted to do was to use the Nine Mountains Sect as a weapon to weaken Vast Sun Mountain's strength.
Seeing that no Nascent Soul Cultivator in the Nine Mountains Realm could come out to receive him, he naturally felt that the Nine Mountains Sect was having a hard time.
As the former leader of the Hundred Immortals Alliance, his feelings were naturally complicated.
Just as he was sighing, several disciples of the Nine Mountains Sect approached from afar and bowed to them, saying, "Greetings, Master!"
The one leading them was Golden Core cultivator. Venerable Tongming felt he looked familiar, and after a moment's thought, he remembered. "You are... Sun Daoyu?"
Sun Daoyu was taken aback, and quickly said, "The Venerable Master actually remembers his disciple!"
"You were the one who received me when I last visited the Hundred Immortals Alliance." Venerable Tongming's attitude was still quite friendly, but then he frowned and asked, "You've already reached the Golden Core Middle Stage?"
Sun Daoyu replied somewhat shyly, "This disciple has made some progress."
Venerable Tongming remained silent for a moment.
He remembered Sun Daoyu, not just from the last time, but from the Hundred Immortals Assembly, when Sun Daoyu and about ten disciples from the Nine Mountains Core Formation together, leaving a deep impression on him...
How long has it been?
He turned his head, looked at the disciples behind him, and fell silent.
These disciples of my own sect went to the Supreme Dao, and the resources for cultivation there are incomparable to what they used to be, yet they don't seem to be making such rapid progress?
Sun Daoyu, with such a rapid cultivation speed even during the Hundred Immortals Alliance's difficult times, could he be an unparalleled genius?
Thinking of this, he gave Sun Daoyu another deep look, then glanced at the other disciples of the Nine Mountains. There were no other disciples he recognized, only a Foundation Establishment Realm female disciple who looked rather clever and kept glancing at him, and was bolder than the other disciples of the Nine Mountains.
Looking at his face, he felt he recognized it somewhat.
"This is?"
"This is our Sect Leader's sister," Sun Daoyu quickly introduced. " The Sect Leader said that the Venerable One is an old friend of our Nine Mountains Sect. He has been quite busy lately and cannot personally welcome him, so he sent Junior Sister Zheng to show him hospitality."
Venerable Tongming smiled, beckoned to Zheng Shan, and asked softly:
"Are you Zheng Fa's sister?"
Zheng Shan nodded obediently and said, "Greetings, Master."
Venerable Tongming took Zheng Shan with him and walked into the courtyard.
As they walked, he asked casually, as if in conversation:
How long have you been practicing?
Zheng Shan didn't hide anything, saying in a clear voice, "Four years into my career!"
Venerable Tongming stopped in his tracks, frowning as he looked at the pure spiritual energy emanating from her.
Four years?
Four years of cultivation, Foundation Establishment Late Stage... another unparalleled genius?
Hearing the doubt in his tone, Zheng Shan said weakly, "... three years, eight months, and five days."
(End of this chapter)