BOOK 2: CHAPTER 416: SWORD FORMATION CHANGES, CALM AS ALWAYS

Vol 2 Chapter 416 Sword Formation Changes, Calm as Always

"Venerable?"

Zheng Fa was listening to the discussion among the five Dao Fruit cultivators in the main tent when he suddenly noticed Li Sanxian staring at Lady Nishang with a serious expression. "Am I forgetting something again?"

"Hmm?"

Lady Nishang looked confused, clearly not understanding the meaning behind his words.

"Venerable, you've seemed to be watching me all this time," Li Sanxian said bluntly without hiding anything. "I thought I might have forgotten something important again."

Before Lady Nishang could respond, Old Monk Zhizhong spoke up in surprise, "So it’s not just me feeling this way."

Even the usually quiet Ancestor Xuanding interjected, "Me too."

Lady Nishang’s expression turned somewhat awkward, her gaze drifting away.

The others all looked at her puzzled, but Zheng Fa silently chuckled—Lady Nishang had been observing him closely for several days as well.

This person was obviously playing a game of catching a mole, seemingly doubting everyone in the tent.

Now it seemed that Li Sanxian was the primary suspect.

From Lady Nishang’s perspective, suspecting Li Sanxian was quite reasonable.

Haori Mountain and Leiyin Temple were hostile factions, both opposed to Zheng Fa.

No matter how wild Lady Nishang's imagination was, she would only go crazy thinking that there was a spy for Zheng Fa among the top leaders of these two factions.

But Li Sanxian was different:

Li Sanxian had been to Jiushan Realm!

If Lady Nishang guessed based on her own experiences, she might think Li Sanxian, like herself, had been deceived by Zheng Fa at first sight… no, had some request from him.

Therefore, from Lady Nishang’s point of view, Li Sanxian was very likely also passing along information.

Coincidentally, Li Sanxian did have some favor and often praised Zheng Fa and Jiushan Realm.

The suspicion grew even heavier.

Zheng Fa glanced at Lady Nishang and saw her frowning deeply, her expression conflicted. He understood her distress:

If only Lady Nishang was secretly delivering intelligence, the initiative would be in her hands.

She could say whatever she wanted and even turn the situation to use Zheng Fa.

But if there were others involved, it would be a completely different matter.

Recently, Lady Nishang’s intelligence had become more detailed and its authenticity greatly improved;

she was honest and dared not hide anything.

Now, with Lady Nishang and a high-ranking position in Haori Mountain, he truly had people on both sides, feeling as calm as sitting on a fishing platform. ℝἈΝՕВĘ𝙨

Zheng Fa could even confidently say that regarding the current situation of the Heavenly River Camp, he knew more than Ancestor Xuanding.

Seeing Lady Nishang looking embarrassed and hesitant, Old Monk Zhizhong changed the topic and asked Yun Zhenxian, "Does the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor really need thirty years to refine the Four Slaying Immortal Swords?"

Yun Zhenxian nodded firmly, "When the Heavenly River Venerable forged the Four Slaying Immortal Swords, Haori Mountain was involved."

Zheng Fa was stunned.

He had no idea about this.

Haori Mountain had cooperated with the Heavenly River Venerable?

"Even if the Heavenly River Venerable resurrected and wanted to control the Four Swords, it would still take thirty years."

Old Monk Zhizhong nodded slightly but frowned, "Something seems off."

Lady Nishang recovered from her awkwardness, "What’s off?"

"I can’t explain clearly, just that today I feel startled from time to time."

Everyone frowned.

The Buddhist divine powers were extraordinary, and Old Monk Zhizhong was a True Immortal.

No one would ignore his premonitions.

Ancestor Xuanding was silent for a moment, looking at Yun Zhenxian and urging, "Hurry."

Obviously, he wanted Haori Mountain to speed up forging the formation flags.

Yun Zhenxian didn’t shirk responsibility and directly complained, "It’s not me dragging things out;

Haori Mountain now is truly like a clever housewife without rice. Both spirit materials and manpower are extremely scarce."

Ancestor Xuanding was silent for a moment, then nodded at Li Sanxian.

Li Sanxian hurriedly said, "If spirit materials are needed, my Taishang Dao can supply them."

Wait, those are your Taishang Dao spirit materials?

Those belong to my Jiushan Sect!

Zheng Fa glanced at Lady Nishang but saw she had no objection;

instead, she added, "If that’s still not enough, the Western Continent has plenty of spirit materials, and with the help of the Hundred Immortals Alliance, they can be transported here."

The Hundred Immortals Alliance was unwilling to transport them!

Compared to the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor, Haori Mountain was the real troublemaker for the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

But honestly, if Yaochi and Taishang Dao insisted, the Hundred Immortals Alliance couldn’t do much:

Spirit materials weren’t labeled;

once delivered to Taishang Dao, the Hundred Immortals Alliance couldn’t control it.

It was clear these few were getting anxious.

Under pressure from the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor, they actually showed some willingness to cooperate.

He looked toward the Heavenly River Sect and saw the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram flickering unpredictably in the sky, inducing an unexplainable fear.

Zheng Fa suddenly understood a bit of their decision.

Yun Zhenxian stood and said, "Alright, I will return to Haori Mountain to make arrangements."

He seemed to feel the urgency and was decisive as he said to Zheng Fa, "The Haori disciples here will be handed over to you."

After saying this, he gave Old Monk Zhizhong a look, as if entrusting him with something.

After giving some instructions, he lifted the tent curtain, set up a purple cloud, and prepared to fly to Haori Mountain.

No one expected that at this moment, a voice called out to stop him,

"Yun Zhenxian, wait!"

Ancestor Xuanding and others changed color and swiftly flew outside the tent.

Zheng Fa followed closely. Once outside the main tent, he saw a familiar figure blocking Yun Zhenxian’s path—Sect Master Yan!

He held a simple Immortal Sword, his figure flickering in the void, his aura so terrifying even Zheng Fa felt frightened.

"Yan Changge?" Yun Zhenxian’s face darkened, and he coldly shouted, "You still dare to show yourself!"

Was Sect Master Yan called that?

Zheng Fa looked at Yan’s expression and saw it was livelier than when they last met.

Ancestor Xuanding and the others’ expressions were even uglier, one worse than the next.

Now everyone clearly understood:

Old Monk Zhizhong’s premonition was absolutely right!

Right enough to catch Ancestor Xuanding and the others off guard.

It was already too late for Yun Zhenxian to leave!

Looking back, the huge display by the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor didn’t quite fit his personality—

His stealth ability was unparalleled in the mysterious world.

Being so high-profile before was too strange.

Lady Nishang also realized, "The Heavenly River Sect is a trap! The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor isn’t refining the Four Swords but waiting for us?"

Sect Master Yan smiled slightly, tacitly agreeing.

Zheng Fa also felt enlightened.

The Four Sects, even he himself, had always thought the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor’s goal was to refine the Four Slaying Immortal Swords.

But until Sect Master Yan appeared to block Yun Zhenxian, everyone suddenly realized—

The Four Slaying Immortal Swords were just bait to lure the Four Sects’ people here.

Looking at Ancestor Xuanding and the others’ grim faces, Zheng Fa thought this was a blatant strategy by the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor:

If the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor truly refined the Four Swords, no one could bear the consequences.

Which True Immortal among the four wouldn’t come?

Old Monk Zhizhong’s Buddhist light blazed fiercely as he shouted, "Charge out!"

Ancestor Xuanding and the others were Dao Fruit cultivators, experienced and decisive.

Upon hearing this, they abandoned their previous grudges, each unleashing their methods to strike Sect Master Yan.

Zheng Fa felt nervous for Sect Master Yan.

Now being the master of the Trapping Immortal Sword, he naturally understood the limits of the Heavenly River Method:

If Zheng Fa only relied on the Trapping Immortal Sword, he was probably equivalent to a scattered cultivator.

Only by combining various methods could he be considered on par with a True Immortal.

Facing so many True Immortals, even he would have no escape.

Sect Master Yan chuckled lightly, seeming extremely confident, pointing the Immortal Sword forward with one finger.

The Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram in the sky instantly expanded to thousands of miles in length and width, like a black and white thin blanket covering the entire camp.

Zheng Fa felt the light and shadow flickering before his eyes. When he looked back at Sect Master Yan, the figure had already disappeared.

Only Ancestor Xuanding and the others remained, looking at each other.

Sect Master Yan’s voice rang in the void again: "The Nine Nether Ancestor invites everyone to appreciate the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation!"

As his words fell, the space in front of Zheng Fa shattered and changed rapidly like a kaleidoscope.

Turning his head, he couldn’t see Ancestor Xuanding and the others at all.

Using the Void-Piercing Spirit Eye to scan around, what appeared before his eyes were streams of space-time rifts.

It was as if he was trapped in a spatial vortex, spinning uncontrollably.

Even though he was already fully aware, the feeling still made him nauseous and want to vomit.

The Slaying Immortal Sword Formation took half an hour before it stopped changing.

Zheng Fa looked around, only a faint glimmer in his eyes;

there was no sun, moon, or stars, and he couldn’t tell where he was.

He slowly landed on the ground and sent his divine consciousness into the Creation Jade, seeing a spirit message from Lady Nishang:

"Please inform the alliance leader and the Four Sects, we are trapped in the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation!"

She wanted him to send a message?

Zheng Fa thought for a moment and took out a message talisman, tossing it into the air.

The talisman spun in the air but surprisingly returned to his hand.

It seemed the message talisman couldn’t be used;

no wonder Lady Nishang was asking for his help.

The Tongjian was a new thing;

the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation hadn’t guarded against it?

Zheng Fa didn’t understand the situation clearly.

He thought for a moment and replied, "Venerable, where exactly are you trapped?"

Lady Nishang rejoiced, "Tongjian really works! I can’t say clearly where I am. Li Sanxian from Taishang Dao is with me, and fortunately, there’s no danger to our lives."

It seemed the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor only wanted to trap them?

It was unknown if he was temporarily powerless to kill or had other plans.

Zheng Fa asked a few more questions and found Lady Nishang’s situation was similar to his. She didn’t know where she was but had encountered a group of Four Sects disciples.

Seeing he couldn’t get more information from Lady Nishang, Zheng Fa thought for a moment and casually chose a direction to walk forward.

He didn’t know how long he had walked when suddenly some light appeared ahead.

His spirit brightened and he grew more cautious. On closer inspection, it was Old Monk Zhizhong.

Old Monk Zhizhong was accompanied by a group of people, disciples from various sects, with the most from Taishang Dao and Haori Mountain.

They were gathered beneath a cliff, above which a small tree grew, its branch slanting out.

Everyone was looking around in panic.

Old Monk Zhizhong had already seen him and looked over.

Zheng Fa quickened his pace and saluted, "Master Zhizhong."

Old Monk Zhizhong nodded but kept his gaze on the surrounding darkness, his brow tightly furrowed, seeming unwilling to talk.

"Master Shi!"

"Master Shi!"

The Haori disciples shouted loudly with some excitement in their voices.

Hearing the calls, Old Monk Zhizhong snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at Zheng Fa with surprise, saying, "I didn’t expect what Brother Yun said to be true."

It was clear that Zheng Fa’s popularity among Haori disciples puzzled Old Monk Zhizhong.

Zheng Fa nodded at the Haori disciples and then looked at Old Monk Zhizhong, asking,

"May I ask, Master, where exactly are we now?"

Old Monk Zhizhong thought for a moment and said, "Inside the sword formation."

"Is there a way out?"

Old Monk Zhizhong slowly shook his head and continued, "I don’t know. But the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor is such a figure;

since he set up this trap, how could he let us leave so easily?"

Although they were enemies, Zheng Fa agreed with the monk.

The Four Sects’ previous plan was excellent.

Using the Inverted Five Elements Formation to suppress the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation.

Each using their own methods to seek the Heavenly River relics.

A good plan, but now it seemed it was just a dream—the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor’s control over the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation was far beyond the Four Sects’ imagination!

After hearing Old Monk Zhizhong’s words, the Four Sects disciples around stirred.

Zheng Fa asked again, "Master, can you contact the other True Immortals?"

Old Monk Zhizhong sighed, "No, I can’t sense the presence of the other cultivators."

Zheng Fa glanced at Old Monk Zhizhong, suspecting:

Were all the True Immortals deliberately separated?

Lady Nishang was with Li Sanxian.

He had met Old Monk Zhizhong.

That meant Yun Zhenxian and Ancestor Xuanding were probably not in the same place.

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor seemed indifferent to the Four Sects disciples’ locations but deliberately scattered the four True Immortals. No one knew why...

But obviously, it was not for a friendly gathering.

No, the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor was specifically waiting for the four True Immortals.

So when Yun Zhenxian tried to leave, Sect Master Yan appeared.

That meant the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor didn’t care about cultivators below True Immortal, such as when Li Sanxian left earlier, Sect Master Yan didn’t show up.

Zheng Fa’s thoughts swirled, but he remained calm on the surface;

after all, he could not expose his connection with Lady Nishang.

Old Monk Zhizhong seemed to have thought of this as well;

his face darkened even more as he said gravely, "You stay here and protect the disciples;

I will try to find a way out."

Zheng Fa nodded and sent Old Monk Zhizhong flying up into the sky.

Countless beams of light burst from his body, Buddhist light like millions of fine needles piercing the dense darkness.

The pitch-black void was fully illuminated, every detail clear.

Zheng Fa looked up and saw the sky’s talisman diagrams connected like a birdcage.

They were like birds trapped in a cage, difficult to break free.

Old Monk Zhizhong did not give up but quietly chanted Buddhist mantras, summoning a Buddha Dharma image behind him.

This Buddha was kind-faced, holding a Wisdom Sword.

Seeing this Buddha, Zheng Fa’s divine sea suddenly surged with reverence.

Looking at the Four Sects disciples around, their faces showed awe, longing, even fanaticism, not to mention the anticipation in their eyes.

The Buddha behind Old Monk Zhizhong raised its eyelids and swung the Wisdom Sword, slashing toward a point in the void, shouting, "Open!"

Even though the sword wasn’t aimed at him, Zheng Fa could feel the full power of this True Immortal’s strike.

To be honest, if he faced this sword alone, he might not be able to block it.

That spiritual talisman cage didn’t seem able to stop it either:

Below, two "rails" formed by talisman runes were forcibly cut apart by the Wisdom Sword!

Not only him, the Four Sects disciples here were ecstatic.

Old Monk Zhizhong glanced at them without saying anything and flew outside the cage.

Zheng Fa’s mind shifted and silently followed. The other Four Sects disciples naturally followed closely, eager to escape.

Outside the cage was also pitch black, even darker than before.

Even a True Immortal like Old Monk Zhizhong moved cautiously.

At this speed, not only Zheng Fa but any Nascent Soul cultivator from the Four Sects could keep up.

The group squeezed together, flying for a long time, their hearts filled with hope.

Not knowing how far they had traveled, Old Monk Zhizhong suddenly stopped and looked up.

A small tree grew slantwise on the cliff above them.

Everyone was stunned;

no one dared to speak.

The cliff, the tree branch, the textures on the leaves—all clearly told them:

They had returned.

"Alliance leader, we are trapped by a lake. No matter which way we go, we end up back at the same place!"

From the Creation Jade, Lady Nishang’s message showed impatience.

Zheng Fa shook his head and looked at Old Monk Zhizhong beside him.

The monk didn’t look at Zheng Fa;

his feet flashed with Buddhist light as he stepped outside, vanishing in an instant.

Zheng Fa knew this was a secret Buddhist technique—Divine Footstep.

It was rumored that at the deepest level, one could step across the mysterious world in a single stride, sounding like bragging.

But it was indeed an extremely powerful movement skill.

However, moments later, Old Monk Zhizhong’s vanished figure reappeared before Zheng Fa and the others.

His face was ashen, like he refused to give up. He changed direction, stepped out, but immediately returned.

Zheng Fa watched him try about ten times, feeling reluctant to watch further.

Old Monk Zhizhong tried a few more times before giving up in despair, landing beside the group with a gloomy expression.

It was clear he had exhausted his skills and couldn’t find a way out.

Old Monk Zhizhong’s failed attempts dealt a blow to all the Four Sects disciples.

Cultivators beyond Nascent Soul no longer had appetites;

even if they didn’t leave, they wouldn’t starve.

But no one wanted to spend their lifespan trapped in this place.

Seeing even a True Immortal like Old Monk Zhizhong couldn’t escape, these disciples realized they were in a dead end, naturally becoming anxious and increasingly desperate.

In this situation, Zheng Fa’s behavior was somewhat special:

While Old Monk Zhizhong was at a loss and wore a worried expression, everyone saw Master Shi continuing to cultivate methodically.

He even occasionally gathered a few Haori disciples to discuss artifact forging techniques, laughing and chatting whenever something exciting came up.

There was not a trace of anxiety in him.

Seeing him so calm, even Old Monk Zhizhong glanced at him more than once and asked, "Do you have a way out?"

Zheng Fa was stunned, "No, I just think being anxious won’t help."

Old Monk Zhizhong looked at him suspiciously but then shook his head, seeming to think that with Zheng Fa’s cultivation, he probably didn’t have any solutions.

He exhaled lightly and praised, "No wonder you received the Sacred Blood Seal. Your Dao heart is truly steadfast."

Hearing this, the Haori disciples looked at Zheng Fa with even more respect.

Being in this place, these Haori disciples were originally panicked and scared.

But Zheng Fa’s genuine calmness unknowingly quieted them, giving a sense of unexpected reassurance.

Zheng Fa smiled humbly, not proud from Old Monk Zhizhong’s praise.

He sank his divine consciousness into his sea of consciousness and looked at the Nine Nether Talisman Edict inside.

Whether his Dao heart was steady or not was hard to say;

the main thing was that his connections were solid.

There were people everywhere on his side.

In the Heavenly River Sect’s main hall, Sect Master Yan, back turned to the Slaying Immortal Sword, walked in and saluted the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor:

"Ancestor, all are gathered."