Chapter 760: Chapter 347: Cultivation Technique Acquired, Demon Ancestor Exposed
Shi Nandang’s tone was friendly:
"That Zheng Fa is powerful, and the Immortal Trapping Sword is fierce and unruly. I was under a lot of pressure managing this alone before. Now that you, a fellow disciple of the Lu Clan, are here, you can help share some of the burden."
His words seemed to dismiss the other six Divinity Transformation members, treating Zheng Fa, a Nascent Soul cultivator, as the second in command at the peak.
Yet, the other six Divinity Transformation members looked slightly peculiar but said nothing.
This showed the strength of the Three Clans of Haori Mountain.
Only the Ninth Elder, who had been keeping his head down, looked up and couldn’t help but stare at Shi Nandang, unable to maintain his composure—
To have Zheng Fa lead them against Zheng Fa’s own Jiushan Sect?
Master, you have a keen eye!
Zheng Fa humbly said, "My cultivation is only at the Nascent Soul Stage, so sharing the burden is too much to ask. If the Master needs anything, please instruct me."
Shi Nandang gave him a deep look, and the smile on his face became genuinely three points warmer.
Everyone witnessing this scene looked at Zheng Fa with playful eyes, as if they were getting to know this disciple anew.
Li Hao, with his extraordinary fortune, had emerged remarkably in just two years, already gaining significant attention.
The most remarkable thing, however, was his mindset, neither prideful nor impatient, able to advance and retreat with ease.
They all could see that, due to his status, Master Shi was treating Li Hao differently than others.
Moreover, this youth was mature of heart...
Whether his attitude was sincere or not, this disciple was clearly not going to stop here.
After pondering for a moment, Shi Nandang beckoned to Zheng Fa and said to the three Chongxuan Sect Leaders, "You may withdraw for now."
The three Chongxuan Sect Leaders exchanged glances, dared not to ask more, and exited the Great Array side by side.
Once they left, Shi Nandang looked at the other people again and asked Zheng Fa:
"Did you gain the inheritance of the ’Red Cloud Jade Book’ in the Secret Realm?"
"Only up to the Nascent Soul Stage,"
Zheng Fa responded honestly.
"Indeed, given the previous situation, the ’Red Cloud Jade Book’ has a high threshold for inheritance." Hearing this, Shi Nandang suddenly raised his finger and pointed at Zheng Fa’s forehead.
Zheng Fa intended to retreat, but forcibly stopped himself, relying on Fusang Wood and the Yin Yang Jade Pendant in his mind to see what Shi Nandang intended.
A stream of Divine Sense flowed from Shi Nandang’s fingertip into Zheng Fa’s Sea of Consciousness.
The complete ’Red Cloud Jade Book’?
Was Shi Nandang really this thoughtful?
He was about to say something when Shi Nandang spoke:
"Even if you return to Haori Mountain now, you can still obtain this. Giving it to you in advance is nothing."
"There’s only one thing: this inheritance must not be passed to non-clan members, nor inscribed into a Jade Tube, lest it be lost."
"On Chongxuan Mountain, only you may learn it, understand?"
At this point, his voice turned somewhat severe.
Only then did Zheng Fa understand why he had sent away the three Nascent Soul cultivators of Chongxuan Sect; perhaps it was to keep from prying eyes.
He nodded towards Shi Nandang and then heard the other say:
"Although you have obtained the inheritance now, the sect places great importance on both the Hundred Immortals Alliance and Zheng Fa. If you can achieve merit within the Chongxuan Sect, you may have the opportunity to advance further when you return to the sect."
"Now is the time of great contention, and seizing the opportunity is advantageous."
Zheng Fa nodded slowly. He had realized... once he became "of the same clan," Shi Nandang’s attitude toward him was entirely different from before.
He was eager to guide him, and every sentence seemed to be for his own good.
Seeming to have discerned his doubts, Shi Nandang sighed lightly: "Under the Saint Ancestor, we are of one body."
As Zheng Fa descended the mountain with the Jade Tube, he was still recalling the expression on Shi Nandang’s face when he said this—Shi Nandang’s sense of belonging to the clan was far stronger than he had imagined.
Watching Zheng Fa’s figure as he walked out of the Great Array, the withered old man couldn’t help but sigh: "The Master is truly diligent with those of the same clan."
"Diligent indeed." Shi Nandang chuckled, but his tone was indifferent, "The Saint Ancestor’s release of the technique’s inheritance is a great trend that no one can stop, don’t you understand?"
The old man paused, suddenly realizing something.
"Master... you suspect this Li Hao?"
Shi Nandang shook his head, appearing not entirely certain: "Not only does the aura on his body appear pure, but when I tested his physical and Divine Soul, I found no issues. I just... find it strange, that this young man has risen so quickly."
"...A person of great fortune?"
"Perhaps, but whether this Li Hao is endowed with great fortune or harbors secrets, as long as he cultivates the ’Red Cloud Jade Book,’ he will not escape the clasp of the Saint Ancestor."
"If he is indeed talented, it would naturally be a good thing for the clan; not only would the Saint Ancestor have one more talented person, but upon his return to the mountain, he might even be my ally..."
"If he harbors ill intentions, coveting the ’Red Cloud Jade Book,’ while I might not see through it, the Saint Ancestor surely will. In the future, he would cause no trouble, perhaps even courting his own death."
Only then did the other six Divinity Transformation members understand why Shi Nandang was so generous.
...
Zheng Fa left Divine Fire Mountain with the ’Red Cloud Jade Book’ and headed straight for Jiushan Realm.
Upon entering Jiushan Realm, the ’Red Cloud Jade Book’ Nascent Soul aura he carried completely vanished, leaving no trace of the Haori Mountain cultivation technique.
"Sister Zhang! Give me a Jade Tube!"
Zhang handed him a blank Jade Tube.
"Here you go!"
"What?"
"The complete ’Red Cloud Jade Book.’
"So quickly?"
Zhang was a bit surprised.
But at this moment, Zheng Fa also understood Shi Nandang’s thoughts: "This True Inheritance Technique is not feared to be cultivated by others."
Having cultivated the ’Red Cloud Jade Book,’ one’s life and death would be controlled by the Haori Mountain Dao Fruit, as perceived by cultivators.
The thresholds set by the Three Clans of Haori Mountain all have their private motivations, yet this does not imply that this True Inheritance Technique is something good; rather, for those with ill intentions, this technique is exceedingly dangerous.
"In Shi Nandang’s view, since I have already cultivated the ’Red Cloud Jade Book,’ I’m likely of no threat either."