On University Island, the Great Sun True Fire blazed fiercely. Within the golden flames, the Nine Mountains Patriarch screamed incessantly, each cry piercingly heart-wrenching.
It's no wonder the Founder was so fragile.
What Zheng Fa is doing now is roughly equivalent to performing surgery on the Nine Mountains Patriarch... without anesthesia.
Thinking of this, he turned to Senior Sister Zhang and said, "Senior Sister, next time let's add an illusion or something, this sounds too tragic."
Amidst the flames, Nine Mountains Patriarch froze, opening his eyes in disbelief. He seemed to have forgotten even to scream, staring intently at Zheng Fa. Though he uttered not a single word, his curses were deafening.
"This isn't... the first time we've lacked experience, Founder. We can't give up halfway now."
Zheng Fa was also a little embarrassed.
He didn't feel as much pain when he changed his Cultivation Method; the Great Sun True Fire was originally part of his body and didn't harm him.
But this thing is not to be underestimated by others.
Even though the Great Sun True Fire can restore a person from destruction, the process of destruction is truly burning.
After a long silence, the Nine Mountains Patriarch looked around at the Great Sun True Fire still burning beside him, and managed a weak smile to show his understanding.
Uncle-Master Pang and Aunt-Master Huang, who came following the sound, looked at each other for a moment, their eyes filled with gratitude as they gazed at their Founder.
According to Zheng Fa's plan, they were all to be burned.
However, the Nine Mountains Sect's Nascent Soul cultivation technique was not yet perfected, which is why it was temporarily shelved.
Looking at the Nine Mountains Patriarch, Uncle-Master Pang couldn't contain his excitement and whispered to Aunt-Master Huang, "If the Founder succeeds, he can be considered the first Nascent Spirit Transformation in our Nine Mountains Sect."
Aunt-Master Huang nodded slightly.
The Nine Mountains Sect certainly possesses genuine Spirit Transformation combat power.
The Blood River Ancestor and Jiao Wuji, who are still protecting the disciples of the Nine Mountains, are examples of this.
However, the significance of the Nine Mountains Patriarch's attainment of enlightenment is different:
This is the first Nascent Soul cultivator cultivated by the Nine Mountains Sect and advanced to the Spirit Transformation Soul stage using their own Cultivation Method!
It can be said that this fills the gap in the Nine Mountains Sect's lack of native Spirit Transformation.
Its importance to the Nine Mountains Sect goes without saying, and its impact on the two of them is even more significant.
Looking at the face of Nine Mountains Patriarch, Uncle-Master Pang and his companion exchanged a secret glance, both sharing the same confidence:
Even someone as innocent and simple as the Founder could Spirit Transformation; wouldn't their chances be even greater?
Although the Nine Mountains Patriarch cried out in agony, he cooperated very actively and did not resist the Great Sun True Fire at all.
Gradually, many of the runes on his body melted away in the flames.
Seemingly affected by this, the Nine Mountains Patriarch trembled and suddenly disintegrated in the air, transforming into four complex runes.
"Senior Sister!"
Zheng Fa gave a soft shout, and Senior Sister Zhang nodded slightly, her eyes shining with silver light as she stared at the four runes, her Flying Immortal Brush rapidly drawing within the Nine-Chapter Calculation Formation.
The various Talisman Diagram in the array converged and dissipated. The Spirit Stone on the ground shone brightly. Within half an incense stick's time, 30% of the Spirit Stone quickly dimmed, and with a gust of wind, they turned into dust and slowly dissipated.
Xie Qingxue, who was standing to the side, was prepared. Her hands flew with Method Formula, and dozens of Spirit Stone fell into the formation to replenish the Nine-Chapter Calculation Formation's energy consumption.
This is the hardest step.
The Talisman Diagram of the Mountain-River True-Form Talisman are not only complex, but also interconnected, flowing rapidly Wuzhi.
To inscribe new Talisman Diagram into it, you must seize that fleeting moment.
This matter concerns the life of the Nine Mountains Patriarch, and given the complexity of the Nascent Soul cultivation technique, not even the slightest mistake can be made.
Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang were naturally extremely cautious.
Therefore, before Zheng Fa wrote each Talisman Diagram, Senior Sister Zhang would input the current situation of the Founder into it and use the Nine-Chapter Calculation Formation to deduce it once to see if there were any problems.
Simply put, it's like running a test run within the computational array first to check for bugs.
This requires an extremely high level of deductive ability for the Nine-Chapter Calculation Formation.
It also consumes a great deal of Spirit Stone.
The value of the Spirit Stone used in the entire process of the Founder's Spirit Transformation into a deity has already exceeded that of any previous research project.
Uncle-Master Pang looked at the Nine Mountains Calculation Formation as if it were burning Spirit Stone, and a look of pain appeared on his face.
Aunt-Master Huang whispered, "You can't bear to part with it?"
"Who wouldn't be willing to part with it? Don't make baseless accusations. Even that stingy Zheng Fa wouldn't hesitate to part with a few Spirit Stone." Uncle-Master Pang snorted and said softly, "Do you think I don't understand what the Spirit Transformation Method means?"
" Zheng Fa's thoughts are different from yours."
But to everyone's surprise, Aunt-Master Huang glanced at Zheng Fa, his tone carrying an indescribable emotion:
Zheng Fa privately told Wuyi... "In the past, everyone in the Nine Mountains Sect benefited from the Nine Mountains Spirit Vein."
"When he first entered the sect, he was bestowed with a treasure by the Founder, which enabled him to achieve some success."
Uncle-Master Pang was taken aback and also looked at Zheng Fa.
It seems that no one expected that Zheng Fa, who is known for his "ruthlessness," would think this way.
Aunt-Master Huang also looked at Zheng Fa and said softly:
" The Azure Yang Dao Body, the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method... he remembers exactly where his foundation came from."
"If he hadn't been constantly concerned about the Founder's situation, why would he have taken the < Immortal-Trapping Sword Canon > and started deducing Cultivation Method suitable for the Founder?"
After a long silence, Uncle-Master Pang finally gritted his teeth and said:
"That guy surnamed Yuan..."
Upon hearing this, Aunt-Master Huang nodded and exclaimed, "Bah!"
The two have known each other for thousands of years, and have been at odds for over a thousand. Yet today, for the first time, they have experienced a genuine resonance from the bottom of their hearts.
The flames on University Island burned for over ten days.
When the Great Sun True Fire died down, the Mountain-River True-Form Talisman in the sky had changed.
The original Mountain-River True-Form Talisman consisted of four separate runes, but now they are faintly connected as one.
"Finished?"
Uncle-Master Pang couldn't help but ask.
Zheng Fa nodded and said, "Based on Senior Sister Zhang's deductions, there shouldn't be any problems."
"Then Founder like now...?"
Before Uncle-Master Pang could finish speaking, Aunt-Master Huang suddenly pointed to the sky and exclaimed, " Lightning Tribulation!"
Everyone looked up and saw thunderclouds rolling in the sky, with dark clouds covering the sky above the Nine Mountains Realm.
" The Founder is about to undergo the Spirit Transformation Tribulation!"
Zheng Fa led his disciples and quickly retreated, saying, "Once the hidden dangers of Founder who attained enlightenment through Spirit Vein are resolved, the accumulation of Spiritual Qi will no longer be a problem."
Before the words were finished, lightning flashed in the sky, and continuous thunderbolts enveloped the Mountain-River True-Form Talisman.
Zheng Fa and Uncle-Master Pang, among others, stood at a distance, watching the Nine Mountains Patriarch undergo his tribulation.
Uncle-Master Pang couldn't help but feel a little worried. He quietly asked Zheng Fa, "You know the most about Thunder Method. How confident are you in your ability to overcome the tribulation, Founder?"
Zheng Fa looked at the lightning beside the Mountain-River True-Form Talisman and gently shook his head.
Uncle-Master Pang's heart sank.
"There shouldn't be any problem with the Lightning Tribulation."
Uncle-Master Pang looked somewhat surprised, and then Zheng Fa said:
What I fear is the Heart Demon Tribulation.
Uncle-Master Pang was taken aback, but immediately understood. "After all Nine Mountains Patriarch's intelligence was not complete before."
As the lightning dissipated, the Mountain-River True-Form Talisman still radiated Spiritual Qi.
Uncle-Master Pang breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "As expected, it's not a big problem."
Zheng Fa looked up towards the outside of the boundary and once again felt the Divine Soul power from the starry sky.
" Heart Demon Tribulation..." He couldn't help but ponder, "Even the Nine Mountains Patriarch had Heart Demon from other realms?"
This was quite unexpected for Zheng Fa.
When he was going through his Heart Demon Tribulation, he felt that the Heart Demon might be... a parallel version of himself.
But the Nine Mountains Patriarch was different; he attained enlightenment through extraordinary means, making him extremely unique.
How could similar things exist in a parallel universe?
Zheng Fa glanced at the Mountain-River True-Form Talisman, then looked up at the sky.
His gaze pierced through the Nine Mountains Realm and fell upon the myriad stars of the Xuanwei Realm.
What are you looking at?
"I think the final answer to the Immortal Way might be in heaven."
As his understanding of cultivation deepened, Zheng Fa's current knowledge of the Dao Fruit was actually quite comprehensive.
He also had new ideas about Venerable Tianhe's creation of the world... I wonder if the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor knew the reasons.
"Look! The Founder!"
Zheng Fa lowered his head and looked towards where the Mountain-River True-Form Talisman was, only to find that the four Talisman Diagram were gone, replaced by a strong middle-aged man.
He has a square face, but his features seem somewhat familiar.
The middle-aged man had his eyes closed, his expression constantly changing, seemingly lost in a dream, unable to extricate himself.
After an incense stick had burned, he finally opened his eyes, his gaze blank.
A rosy glow emerged behind him.
Golden blossoms drifted down from the sky, as if in celebration.
"It's done..."
Xie Qingxue, who hadn't spoken for a while, finally smiled.
Uncle-Master Pang and Aunt-Master Huang exchanged a glance, then bowed and said, "Congratulations, Founder, on attaining the Dao and Spirit Transformation!"
The disciples of the Nine Mountains behind them also bowed their heads and followed He Dao:
Congratulations, Founder, on attaining enlightenment Spirit Transformation!
The middle-aged man seemed to snap out of his daze and nodded slightly to the crowd.
He flew towards Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang, and upon landing in front of them, he bowed directly.
Zheng Fa flinched slightly, saying, " Founder."
"The grace of attaining enlightenment must be repaid with reverence."
Before Zheng Fa could speak, Senior Sister Zhang shook her head and said, " Founder, don't forget, when I first came to the mountain, you also bestowed upon me the true teachings."
Everyone was taken aback. After a moment's thought, Uncle-Master Pang suddenly said:
"Among the disciples who were able to ascend to the Ninth Peak, only Wuyi and Zheng Fa, right? Who would have thought... that it was precisely these two who allowed you, Founder, to escape the shackles of fate? Truly, every action has its own destiny."
The expression on the Nine Mountains Patriarch also carried a hint of emotion.
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa suddenly turned to look at Senior Sister Zhang, and said with a surprised expression, "... Someone could have thought of that."
"... who?"
"... the true form of the Founder."
The Nine Mountains Patriarch was stunned. Zheng Fa continued, " The Nine Mountains Trial might be a sliver of hope for escape left to the Founder by Founder true form."
Uncle-Master Pang was skeptical. "Could the Founder have foreseen your relationship with Wuyi?"
"It might be impossible to calculate, but... the significance of the Nine Mountains Trial may lie in finding a disciple who can free the Founder from his predicament."
Upon hearing this, Nine Mountains Patriarch looked bewildered and remained speechless for a long time.
" The Nine Mountains Trial... was it left for me?"
"Maybe."
After thinking for a long time, Nine Mountains Patriarch slowly shook his head and said:
"Whether it is or not... I've cursed him for thousands of years, but that's all over now."
Senior Sister Yuan came closer, staring intently at Nine Mountains Patriarch with a puzzled look in her eyes.
" Founder, why did you change your face?"
The Nine Mountains Patriarch wiped his face and laughed:
"I made this myself! It's not someone else's face! It's my face!"
My own face!
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa suddenly understood why the Nine Mountains Patriarch had always insisted on using Senior Sister Zhang's face as a cover.
He didn't want the original face of the Nine Mountains Patriarch, but he couldn't change his origins.
Only now can he truly say from the bottom of his heart, "I am who I am."
Senior Sister Yuan clearly didn't understand. She stared at Nine Mountains Patriarch for a long time, then suddenly said with a disdainful tone:
" Founder, your eyes look like Senior Sister Zhang's, and your nose is a bit like Junior Brother Zheng's... If they had a child, would it look like you, Founder?"
... No wonder he looked so familiar!
Uncle-Master Pang glanced at Zheng Fa, Senior Sister Zhang, and the Founder for a long time, then muttered under his breath, "The relationships are a bit complicated."
Aunt-Master Huang nodded silently.
The Nine Mountains Patriarch spoke with great conviction:
"I know their faces best! Besides, they're like my biological parents now, so I'm just not forgetting my roots!"
Zheng Fa gritted his teeth and said, " Founder... how about we burn some more?"
He had initially thought the Founder was reliable!
The Spirit Transformation the Nine Mountains Patriarch into a deity had a great influence on the Nine Mountains Sect.
The biggest impact was that the Nine Mountains Sect acquired its first unique Nascent Soul cultivation technique, the <True Form of Mountains and Rivers>.
But the benefits don't stop there.
The Nine Mountains Patriarch, who Spirit Transformation, brought Zheng Fa a great surprise:
" Founder, can you enhance my Spirit Vein?"
"It's not just about strengthening, it's about changing the Spirit Vein."
The Nine Mountains Patriarch proudly said, "The < Mountains-and-Rivers True-Form Art > combines the < Spirit Mountain Method >. I myself am a manifestation of Spirit Vein, so combining them naturally allows me to change the direction and quality of the Spirit Vein."
Zheng Fa asked, "Can it increase the Spiritual Qi concentration of the Heavenly Palace Nine Isles?"
The Nine Mountains Patriarch nodded proudly, and behind him appeared the phantom of the Nine Mountains. Thousands upon thousands of Talisman Diagram, like butterflies, flew out from the nine mountain peaks.
After the Pure Tranquility Bamboo was introduced, the Spiritual Qi energy in the Nine Mountains Realm had been increasing, but at an extremely slow pace.
Now, Zheng Fa could sense that the concentration of Spiritual Qi in the Heavenly Palace Nine Isles was rising rapidly.
The Spiritual Qi on University Island alone is already five times that of before.
"If it were concentrated only on University Island, the Spiritual Qi here could be greatly enhanced, but if it's expanded to the Heavenly Palace Nine Isles, this is the extent it can reach."
" Founder, what do you mean by saying you can change the Spirit Vein?"
"Actually, it's just temporarily altering the direction of the Spirit Vein; increasing Spiritual Qi is only one part of my ability."
Hearing this, Xie Qingxue sighed, "It is extremely difficult for beings of different kinds to attain enlightenment, yet they possess supernatural Divine Ability that are beyond our reach."
Uncle-Master Pang shook his head and said, "Actually, the most useful thing is to increase the Spiritual Qi of the Nine Islands."
"The speed at which our Nine Mountains Sect trains disciples will also be much faster."
" Zheng Fa and Wuyi need spiritual energy to accumulate Spiritual Qi power, and the Founder's ability is of great help."
As he spoke, a smile appeared on Uncle-Master Pang's face:
"So, the Founder's Spirit Transformation is of great benefit to our Nine Mountains Sect."
Senior Sister Zhang also laughed, "Aside from the Founder, other Nascent Spirit Transformation probably wouldn't be as helpful to our Nine Mountains Sect as we are at the Nascent Soul stage."
"No..."
Zheng Fa suddenly spoke up.
Those around him couldn't help but look at him with puzzled expressions.
Zheng Fa didn't look at them, but instead looked towards the outside of the Nine Mountains Realm, and slowly said, "That's not all."
Following Zheng Fa's gaze, Senior Sister Zhang asked curiously, "Junior Brother, are you interested in the Profound Mystery Sect?"
Profound Mystery Sect, atop the Divine Fire Mountain.
Shi Nandang held a golden talisman in his hand, but his face was ashen.
The other six Nascent Spirit Transformation also bowed their heads in silence.
Zheng Fa, who was standing there, and the three Nascent Soul Nascent Soul from the Profound Mystery Sect all held their breath.
" The Holy Ancestor has issued an edict."
Shi Nandang spoke in a low voice:
"The mountains provided us with so many Spirit Stone stones and materials to weaken the Nine Mountains Sect and the Hundred Immortals Alliance..."
"But there are already rumors in the Hundred Immortals Alliance that the Founder the Nine Mountains Sect has already Spirit Transformation!"
" The Holy Ancestor asked me, and you all, where all these Spirit Stone and spirit materials were spent?"
"How come the Hundred Immortals Alliance gets stronger the more they fight?"
Zheng Fa's expression remained calm and composed, but the Ninth Elder couldn't help but glance at him, thinking to himself:
Without those Spirit Stone stones and materials, the Hundred Immortals Alliance wouldn't be this strong, would it?
Among the six Spirit Transformation, the withered old man said:
We are filled with fear and trepidation...
"Do not be alarmed, for the Holy Ancestor and allowed us to atone for our mistakes!"
The unease in the eyes of the six Spirit Transformation dissipated slightly.
How to make amends?
" The Heaven-Earth Divine Baleful Array cannot be delayed any longer! Within twenty years, we must refine the Immortal-Trapping Sword!"
"With this sword, no matter how many Nascent Spirit Transformation the Hundred Immortals Alliance has, they are no longer a threat."
"Twenty years?"
The gaunt old man exclaimed, "Didn't they say forty years? We were already struggling to refine this treasure, and now the time has been cut in half!"
Forty years?
This Immortal-Trapping Sword is a bit tricky.
"The people in the mountains also considered our difficulties."
"Can someone be sent?"
"No, the Supreme Dao and the Tianhe Sect have both been making unusual moves for some reason. Compared to them, the Hundred Immortals Alliance is insignificant. It's not that important for them to have one more Nascent Spirit Transformation. The main focus of our efforts in the mountains right now is unlikely to be on this place," Shi Nandang shook his head and said. "But the Holy Ancestor will continue to send us Spirit Stone and materials, twice as much as before, and there will also be various spirit medicine."
"In the future, the four of you Nascent Soul, with the help of these spirit medicine, might be able to barely help us refine the Immortal-Trapping Sword."
Zheng Fa was overjoyed.
He now wants to find an opportunity to get his hands on the Immortal-Trapping Sword.
Unexpectedly, the transformation of the Nine Mountains Patriarch into Spirit Transformation... actually made Vast Sun Mountain more wary of the Hundred Immortals Alliance, which in turn gave him an opportunity.
Just as he was thinking about this, Shi Nandang suddenly called his name again.
Li Hao.
Zheng Fa was taken aback. He looked up at Shi Nandang and saw Shi Nandang smiling warmly at him.
" The Holy Ancestor specifically praised you in his edict."
Zheng Fa looked somewhat bewildered.
Shi Nandang continued, " The Holy Ancestor said that the entire Profound Mystery Sect is full of mediocre people, but you are the only promising talent. Now that you have received the inheritance of my clan, he places high hopes on you."
"What you need to do now is lead the Profound Mystery Sect to continue harassing the Hundred Immortals Alliance, which will inevitably disrupt the Hundred Immortals Alliance's development."
Leading the Profound Mystery Sect... I've been appointed?
Zheng Fa couldn't help but glance at the Profound Mystery Sect Leader beside him, only to see the other party with his head down, looking aggrieved and not daring to say a word.
"Those three will help me refine the Immortal-Trapping Sword in the future. Your cultivation is too low, so you're not capable of staying here for long. In fact, you have more time."
Seeing that he Profound Mystery Sect Leader, Shi Nandang said decisively:
" The Holy Ancestor said that all those Spirit Stone stones and materials are yours if you have the ability!"
"If you perform a great service, you will be rewarded even more when you return to the mountain!"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa quickly cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your high regard Holy Ancestor!"
Shi Nandang said with a smile:
"Only Holy Ancestor? I've put in a lot of words on your behalf."
Zheng Fa was taken aback, and quickly said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master!"
The Ninth Elder watched and listened to this conversation, biting his lip, staring intently at the ground, not daring to lift his head...
Should the Profound Mystery Sect be handed over to Zheng Fa?
Or is it just your kind words, Venerable Shi?
Whether Zheng Fa will receive any rewards in the future is unknown, Venerable Shi... will probably be killed by the Holy Ancestor in the future.
(End of this chapter)