Could this cheap master be a master of face-changing?
Zheng Fa stared at the Ninth Elder's face, feeling that this person was much more agile than he had imagined.
The Ninth Elder seemed to realize that he had changed too quickly and was difficult to trust, so he explained apologetically:
"Alliance Leader, if I go to the Supreme Dao, I will be unfamiliar with the place and the people. Moreover, my clansmen are actually many... If I only take a few dozen, I will be abandoning ninety percent of my relatives."
The Ninth Elder's tone held a hint of helplessness.
"The elder has a very clear plan."
For cultivators, there is also the saying that leaving one's hometown is a lowly position—from Madam Xuanhua's perspective, the difficulty for Rogue Cultivator is due to the lack of a foundation.
Moreover, the Ninth Elder probably only protected the most elite disciples of the clan, since Vast Sun Mountain was watching them, making it extremely difficult for her to take away so many clansmen.
However, a Nascent Soul Cultivator can exist for at least a thousand years. If they intend to develop Lineage, the number of family members would be extremely large.
" The Xuanwei Spirit Transformation is treacherous, and I too have struggled to reach the Nascent Soul stage. Now, my only wish is to protect the lives of my clansmen," the Ninth Elder said honestly. "Now that the Alliance Leader can control the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array, it's naturally better for me to lead my clansmen to live in the familiar Profound Mystery Sect."
Zheng Fa looked the Ninth Elder up and down.
The Ninth Elder was also somewhat nervous, her hands pressed against the hem of her skirt, her eyes slightly lowered.
Seeing that Zheng Fa hadn't spoken for a while, she continued:
"Leader, every word I've spoken comes from the bottom of my heart..."
"I know," Zheng Fa nodded and said, "And I understand what the elder is asking for."
Now it seems that this Ninth Elder has some human qualities:
He had no great ambitions, only sought stability, and hoped to eke out a living with his Lineage.
Such people are rare in the Xuanwei Realm, but Zheng Fa could understand them. As for how much of what he said was true and how much was false...
To be honest, given Zheng Fa's current control over the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array, even if he doesn't trust the Ninth Elder's character, he has to trust his intelligence.
The Ninth Elder looked up at Zheng Fa, seemingly not quite understanding why Zheng Fa was even more hesitant than before.
After all, her current request doesn't require Zheng Fa to do her Supreme Dao favors; in fact, she doesn't make any demands at all.
Zheng Fa thought for a moment and then said, "If you want to leave, Elder, I have nothing to say. But if you want to stay, there are some things we need to clarify first."
The Ninth Elder was speechless. Zheng Fa's words sounded like he was looking down on him?
I'm at least a Nascent Soul!
"The elders must have heard about what I did in the Hundred Immortals Alliance."
The Ninth Elder nodded slightly.
"The elder should also know that there are still many sects in the Hundred Immortals Alliance with disloyal intentions."
"I know... the Sect Leader said that many sects are secretly sending us messages."
"So, Elder, are you willing to accept the new rules of our Hundred Immortals Alliance? From now on, neither sects nor Lineage will live as comfortably as before."
The Ninth Elder was taken aback, then his expression changed to one of realization.
The new rules Zheng Fa referred to were various guilds, along with market opening and even joint development of spiritual materials.
Or rather, it was the beginning of the unification of technology and commerce, until the Hundred Immortals Alliance was completely integrated.
Sects and Lineage are natural formations in the Xuanwei Realm, objective existences that conform to the laws of social development.
He wasn't actually averse to it.
However, the fact that various Lineage and sects were monopolizing the majority of the resources of the Hundred Immortals Alliance, as discovered during Uncle-Master Pang's investigation, was intolerable to him.
This phenomenon will inevitably be changed by the Nine Mountains Sect.
Zheng Fa looked at the Ninth Elder and said sincerely, "Elder, if you are willing, that's fine. If you are not willing... leaving might be better for both of us."
The Ninth Elder pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time before finally smiling wryly, "The Alliance Leader is certainly frank."
"The elder has helped me a lot after all."
The Ninth Elder seemed to understand that if Zheng Fa didn't say these words today, and then forcibly turned against her later, there would be nothing she could do.
Now that they've laid out the unpleasant truths upfront, there's actually a good intention involved; at least they're not the type to punish someone without warning.
The Venerable Shi laughed at the alliance leader, saying that the leader was too hesitant and indecisive.
... Compared to the harshness of Vast Sun Mountain, his methods did indeed seem somewhat "gentle".
"Who would have thought that the Alliance Leader is actually even more domineering than Vast Sun Mountain?" The Ninth Elder looked at Zheng Fa, as if he could see through his ambition, his expression bitter. "The sect and the Lineage have existed in the Xuanwei Realm for more than one era."
"Even the Five Sects are powerless to help. I've heard that the Venerable Shi is a disciple of a powerful Lineage."
"Who would have thought that the Alliance Leader would actually... Doesn't the Alliance Leader know that this is making enemies of most cultivators in the world?"
The Five Sects certainly couldn't do that; they were essentially no different from other Immortal Sect, and many of them even had Lineage cultivators.
Needless to say, the Demonic Sect Demonic Sect are practically large Lineage in themselves.
As the saying goes, most things in this world go wrong because we are intertwined, each with our own problems.
"Elder, this is not something I wanted or didn't want; it's the inevitable path for the Nine Mountains Realm in the future."
Zheng Fa said frankly.
One of the future goals of the Nine Mountains Realm can be described as distribution according to work:
The greater the contribution, the more resources you receive.
However, the essence of most Lineage and sects in Xuanwei is to seize social resources by force.
Zheng Fa did not underestimate the power of force, but that was only in the case of external forces.
He would never tolerate such a rule internally.
This is the fundamental, irreconcilable contradiction.
Seeing that Zheng Fa was smiling but showed no hesitation, the Ninth Elder opened his mouth but didn't know what to say, so he could only remain silent.
"If the elder cannot make a decision, it is not too late to think it over later. Whenever you wish to go to the Supreme Dao, I will write to the Supreme Dao."
Zheng Fa smiled.
The Ninth Elder nodded silently and cleverly took out a jade Jade Slip.
"This Jade Slip was given to me by the Venerable Shi."
Clearly, after seeing Zheng Fa's control over the Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array, she still agreed to the so-called deal.
Zheng Fa was overjoyed, took the Jade Slip, and probed it with his Divine Sense. Then, the smile on his face froze.
That's it?
The Ninth Elder nodded, looking completely honest.
"Only those who reach the Spirit Transformation stage?"
" The Venerable Shi told me that I needed to switch my Cultivation Method first and advance to the Spirit Transformation stage, and then he would give me the Cultivation Method after I reached the Spirit Transformation."
"..."
This is more than what I received from Shi Nandang:
The True Disciple Cultivation Method that Shi Nandang gave him was only enough to reach the Nascent Soul.
It was far less than what Zheng Fa had imagined.
That Venerable Shi wasn't as generous as he had seemed before!
Isn't this just dangling a carrot in front of someone?
Seemingly sensing Zheng Fa's thoughts, the Ninth Elder shook his head slightly and said with a wry smile, "That Venerable Shi, in a single thought, is willing to sacrifice 99% of the disciples of my Chongxuan Profound Mystery Sect... How can he consider me one of his own?"
Zheng Fa frowned, holding the Jade Slip in his hand, lost in thought.
To be honest, it's not necessarily true that Shi Nandang is stingy.
Let alone the fact that the Ninth Elder wasn't from Vast Sun Mountain, even if someone were a disciple of Vast Sun Mountain, they probably couldn't obtain a complete set of True Disciple Cultivation Method at the Nascent Soul Realm...
He had planned things too well before, and now he's in a bit of a predicament.
Sect Master Yan wanted to exchange Cultivation Method, but he didn't know if he would be satisfied with this eunuch's Cultivation Method.
"Alliance Leader?"
"It's alright..." He glanced at the somewhat uneasy Ninth Elder and smiled. "Anyway, there's no danger on Divine Fire Mountain now. There's plenty of time; we can take it slow."
The Ninth Elder's lips twitched upon hearing this. This Divine Fire Mountain was probably one of the safest places for Zheng Fa in the Xuanwei Realm now...
"Alliance Leader, why don't you just...?"
Zheng Fa sighed:
"My Nine Mountains Sect... is poor. Refining the Immortal-Trapping Sword requires a lot of Spirit Stone."
The Ninth Elder's eyes widened in disbelief, clearly feeling that Zheng Fa was treating Vast Sun Mountain with utter contempt—you want the Immortal-Trapping Sword, fine, but you're planning to take it for free?
Zheng Fa looked up at the mountaintop, a smile in his eyes, and he was also quite looking forward to it.
Even for a supreme treasure like the Immortal-Trapping Sword, Vast Sun Mountain would need to spend an entire epoch to find a way to refine it.
Not to mention the massive resources required.
Vast Sun Mountain has money, let them pay!
Moreover, if his identity were exposed, Vast Sun Mountain probably wouldn't want to do business with him anymore, so there's no rush.
Why did you hit me?
Yan Wushuang grew anxious.
On the University Island of the Nine Mountains Realm, he looked at Zheng Fa, rubbed his head, and looked completely bewildered.
"Your dad is too stingy."
Zheng Fa shook his head resentfully. In his view, obtaining the Immortal-Trapping Sword Method had two major uses:
One possibility is that it might be beneficial for him to control the Immortal-Trapping Sword on the Divine Fire Mountain.
Another reason is to replenish the Spirit Transformation cultivation of the Nine Mountains Sect.
The two Cultivation Method left behind by the Great Freedom Devil Ancestor are both biased towards the Dharma Body, and they are not very compatible with the original Cultivation Method of the Nine Mountains Sect.
Unfortunately, even the True Disciple Cultivation Method of Vast Sun Mountain that Zheng Fa possesses are not enough for Sect Master Yan.
"My dad? Did he offend you?"
Yan Wushuang felt even more aggrieved.
"He beat me to death within the Tianhe Sect, but outside of the Tianhe Sect, how could he possibly harm me?"
"If you want to insult my father, I'll help you!"
"..."
Zheng Fa was speechless. Oh well, with such a good son as Yan Wushuang, this Sect Master Yan has already gotten his just desserts.
"Huh? You've reached the Golden Core Late Stage?"
This guy's cultivation level is improving very quickly.
"Hehe!" Yan Wushuang rubbed his head again, a smug look on his face. "I've greatly improved my cultivation by practicing the Nine Mountains Golden Core Method! I'll be preparing to Nascent Soul Formation soon!"
Indeed, Yan Wushuang's aptitude was already quite good, and he cultivated the Cultivation Method of the Tianhe Sect, one of the Five Sects. The Nine Mountains Golden Core Method was a top-notch Golden Core Elixir method, which, after condensing the Five-Element Sub-Talisman, came with its own accelerator.
No wonder I haven't seen him lately; he's probably been busy cultivating.
Seeing Yan Wushuang's tail practically wagging in the air, Zheng Fa chuckled and shook his head. Turning around, he saw Senior Sister Zhang holding the Jade Slip she had obtained from the Ninth Elder, deduce the Nine-Chapter Calculation Formation.
After three incense sticks had burned, Senior Sister Zhang took the Jade Slip and walked out of the divination array.
"How?"
Senior Sister Zhang held the Jade Slip and gently exhaled:
" The Yang Spirit Method is perfectly suited to my Dao Path!"
"I already have some ideas about Spirit Transformation stage!"
" The Nine Luminaries Primordial Spirit within this < Scarlet Firmament Jade Register > are also quite extraordinary."
Zheng Fa was overjoyed. With these words, the deal he made with the Ninth Elder was not entirely fruitless.
"You said you have some understanding of the Spirit Transformation, is that true?"
"Based on the deduction, I should have a 30% chance of reaching the Spirit Transformation."
"Thirty percent?"
Before Zheng Fa could speak, Yan Wushuang, who was standing to the side, spoke up in surprise.
Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang turned to look at him, and heard Yan Wushuang say, "In our Tianhe Sect, if we have a 30% chance of reaching the Spirit Transformation, then it's practically a 100% chance..."
Are sword cultivators really that reckless?
"According to Old Han, having a greater than 30% chance of reaching the Spirit Transformation stage is considered stepping into the threshold of Spirit Transformation... When he said he was taking a step towards Spirit Transformation, it really was nothing more than that."
If Old Han said that, it would be more credible.
This old man's head is full of secrets and gossip.
With the Nine-Chapter Calculation Formation and the Great Freedom Cultivation Method for reference, Senior Sister Zhang has now obtained the Nascent Spirit Transformation Method from Vast Sun Mountain. Her current accumulation in the Spirit Transformation stage has actually caught up with that of Old Han, a veteran Nascent Soul Nascent Soul from one of the Five Sects.
Senior Sister Zhang was about to say something.
"Thirty percent is too little!" Zheng Fa seemed to know what she was going to say, "Senior sister, you mustn't be rash."
Senior Sister Zhang opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something.
Zheng Fa then analyzed:
"We still have a lot to prepare. I can still find an opportunity to obtain the True Disciple Cultivation Method of Vast Sun Mountain. With this as a reference, you'll naturally have a better chance of success, Senior Sister."
"..."
"And the techniques of the Tianhe Sect might also be able to help Senior Sister."
" Senior Sister Zhang, your cultivation has only just begun to improve, and you still need to consolidate it. Moreover, you just obtained this < Scarlet Firmament Jade Register >, so if you study it for a few more days, you might gain even more."
Zheng Fa kept rambling on and on, clearly unwilling to accept that Senior Sister Zhang was making any rapid progress.
He knew that Vast Sun Mountain was closing in on him step by step, and that Senior Sister Zhang hoped he could improve his strength even faster.
But... 30%?
Nine out of ten Zheng Fa feel it's not safe!
Senior Sister Zhang looked at him, the burning desire for advancement in her eyes suddenly transformed into a pool of warm spring water.
"Um..." Yan Wushuang suddenly felt a chill run down his spine from the slap Zheng Fa had just given him, and immediately realized, "I suddenly understand, I've reached the Nascent Soul Formation!"
On Myriad Immortals Island, in a small courtyard, Zheng Fa was playing with the soft wisps of hair on Senior Sister Zhang's forehead when he suddenly remembered something and asked:
"Senior sister, why do you say that the Yang Spirit Method is extremely compatible with you?"
Senior Sister Zhang nestled her head against Zheng Fa's chest and said lazily, " The Yang Spirit Method and the Nine-Chapter Calculation Formation have some similarities."
"Resemblance?"
Seeing his curiosity, Senior Sister Zhang drew a circle in the air with her hand, and a water mirror appeared beside them.
"This is the structure of the Nine Luminaries Primordial Spirit."
Suddenly, a golden, transparent human figure appeared in the water mirror.
"The most important one is this."
With a wave of her hand, Senior Sister Zhang caused the water mirror to suddenly enlarge, revealing dense patterns inside the human body.
Zheng Fa looked at the shape of the pattern, suddenly frowned, and after a moment of contemplation, exclaimed, "The nervous system?"
"Nervous system?"
Now, it was Senior Sister Zhang who didn't understand.
She looked at Zheng Fa, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Zheng Fa examined the lines on the human body more closely, becoming even more certain.
Most of these patterns closely resemble the pathways of the human nervous system!
Zheng Fa had no intention of answering his senior sister's question, nor did he even have an answer.
In Zheng Fa's view, the Demonic Sect's Dharma Body Method involves using specific Method Formula to create a powerful physical body imbued with immense strength.
Yang Spirit Method...
Is it a simulation of the nervous system?
Isn't this simpler than the Dharma Body Method?
He looked at the human body and examined it carefully, only to find that the lines were not a complete nervous system, especially the brain, which seemed much simpler.
Zheng Fa also understood why his senior sister said that the Yang Spirit Method and the Nine Mountains Calculation Formation were similar in principle.
Essentially, the nervous system transmits information through the transmission of electrical signals between synapses, and in terms of information processing, it is not much different from the Nine-Chapter Calculation Formation.
Modern computing has even evolved to mimic biological neural networks, including neuromorphic computing.
For the first time, Zheng Fa felt that the Xuanwei Realm and modern research had unexpectedly come together.
In fact, the Yang Spirit Method may have gone a step further than modern methods in this regard.
"Junior brother?"
"Um?"
"Why are you laughing?"
"I'm thinking, the senior from the Immortal Sect is truly more powerful than I expected."
He now understands that, with a cultivator's keen observation skills, discovering the function of the nervous system is not difficult at all.
The difficulty lies in how to simulate it using various Method Formula...
More importantly, the vast majority of cultivators in the Immortal Sect are probably just simulating it, rather than understanding the working principles behind it.
However, it must be said that this simulation was extremely successful and powerful.
Modern artificial intelligence algorithms are not yet fully mature, while the neural simulations in Yang Spirit Method are more in line with the definition of intelligent life.
"So now I understand what Artifact Spirit is..."
Zheng Fa murmured softly.
He used to think it was a bit illogical— the Xuanwei Realm clearly didn't have much research on the formation mechanism of consciousness and intelligence, yet it was able to create Spirit Artifact, which possessed extremely high intelligence.
In retrospect, it was probably just a simulation of the nervous system.
Zheng Fa suddenly sat up straight, his eyes bright:
"Senior sister, the value of the Yang Spirit Method is far greater than I expected."
"The complete ' Scarlet Firmament Jade Register '... is very valuable!"
"It could even be used to further refine the Nine-Chapter Calculation Formation!"
In Zheng Fa's view, the Yang Spirit Method is an extremely sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithm!
Even in modern times, they would still have very high value.
This should also be of great help in improving the intelligence level of the Nine-Chapter Calculation Formation.
The simplified depiction of the brain in the water mirror is likely due to the incompleteness of the < Scarlet Firmament Jade Register >.
Perhaps others covet the Scarlet Firmament Jade Register because this Cultivation Method is powerful and is True Disciple Cultivation Method Vast Sun Mountain.
However, in Zheng Fa's view, the wisdom and Cultivation Method methods condensed in the < Scarlet Firmament Jade Register > are the most precious.
His previous desire for the Scarlet Firmament Jade Register was primarily to exchange it for the method of the Immortal-Trapping Immortal-Trapping Sword with the Celestial River Sect.
Now... he's become much more interested in this Cultivation Method!
At the Divine Fire Mountain in the darkness of night, only seven Nascent Spirit Transformation remained.
They sat cross-legged in mid-air, their hands constantly forming Method Formula as they refined the Immortal-Trapping Immortal-Trapping Sword within the volcano's crater.
The ground blazed fiercely, and waves of heat, carrying the smell of sulfur, rushed towards the seven people.
Although Shi Nandang was Spirit Transformation and not afraid of the heat, he dared not leave the Divine Fire Mountain day after day, and was constantly worried that something might happen to the Immortal-Trapping Sword. The heat in his heart was no less than that of the volcano's crater.
Suddenly, a cool breeze blew in from outside the mountain, which invigorated him and softened his expression.
Seeing this, a Nascent Spirit Transformation beside him quickly laughed, "A nice breeze!"
Shi Nandang glanced at him and nodded slightly.
Although he didn't speak, the Spirit Transformation seemed encouraged and laughed, "Sitting here all day, unable to get away for a moment, is truly grueling."
"Your time is so precious, yet you've wasted it here... You've truly spared no effort for the sect; I'm sure you'll be richly rewarded when you return."
Only after these words were spoken did a slight smile appear on Shi Nandang's face.
Zheng Dharma Body transformed into a gentle breeze, floating behind Shi Nandang. Listening to the words of this Spirit Transformation, he sighed inwardly:
He didn't see the tireless efforts of Shi Nandang.
Your social skills are quite evident.
Seeing the Shi Nandang flattery in the eyes of the other five Nascent Spirit Transformation, Zheng Fa finally understood:
Within Vast Sun Mountain, even among those who have reached the Spirit Transformation, the difference in status between True Disciple and a non- True Disciple is as vast as heaven and earth.
Just then, Shi Nandang laughed and said, "We only need to be patient for a few more days, but Zheng Fa doesn't have much time left!"
Um?
"Don't find this place boring. Think about it, if it weren't for this Immortal Sword, wouldn't Zheng Fa have attacked long ago?"
"Even if we let him come now, would he dare to come?"
Upon hearing this, the other six Nascent Spirit Transformation burst into laughter, seemingly finding some truth in it.