BOOK 2: CHAPTER 429: THE ROOT OF CONFLICT, TODAY’S JIUSHAN

Vol 2 Chapter 429 The Root of Conflict, Today’s Jiushan

What happened to Xuanwei afterward?

The answer was so simple, yet Zheng Fa found himself at a loss for words.

Since he entered the path, he had experienced much—moments teetering on the brink of life and death, and times when tens of thousands gazed upon him. He had never felt overwhelmed before.

But now, looking at these Tianhe disciples staring back at him, meeting their expectant eyes, he was utterly speechless.

Yet silence itself was an answer.

Countless flying swords pointed skyward, ringing out, their sword cries filled with injustice.

The Tianhe Venerable looked at Zheng Fa for a long moment, then suddenly turned around, scanning the disciples behind him.

Many lowered their heads, clenched fists, or stared blankly at the ground.

The Tianhe Venerable then raised his head and looked back at Zheng Fa, but his gaze passed through his shoulder as if staring into Xuanwei.

His eyes gradually grew resolute;

even the expression he directed at Zheng Fa turned cold.

Zheng Fa’s heart jumped, feeling something amiss. The Tianhe Venerable looked like he was about to do something significant.

Since entering the Myriad Swords Realm, Zheng Fa had been pondering why the Tianhe Venerable would leave such a place behind.

Of course, it was meant to commemorate the fallen disciples.

But that didn’t explain the sudden disappearance of this person.

Simply put, if the Tianhe Venerable had been fine, placing Tongtian Sword Peak in Xuanwei Realm would be no problem.

There would be countless people commemorating him.

Especially after exchanging a few words with the remnant soul of Tianhe, Zheng Fa discovered that Lu Mo’s identity was not much of a secret to the Tianhe Venerable.

According to him, Lu Mo was somewhat troublesome.

This suggested that the possibility of Lu Mo having assassinated him was even smaller.

So why had the Tianhe Venerable disappeared all those years ago? That was even more puzzling.

Looking at the Tianhe Venerable, Zheng Fa suddenly realized—he wasn’t waiting for an answer out of reluctance, but because this answer would determine his future actions. ℞αℕỖＢЁ𝙨

And those actions would affect the entire Xuanwei.

Perhaps seeing the tension on Zheng Fa’s face, the Tianhe Venerable curled his lips slightly, as if approving: “You’re quite sharp.”

Those words sounded somewhat old-fashioned, but considering the man’s identity, it was to be expected.

“Venerable, or rather, what kind of future did the Tianhe Sect want back then?”

Zheng Fa asked, genuinely curious.

The Tianhe Venerable glanced left and right, then gave Zheng Fa an unexpected answer: “They didn’t know, and neither do I.”

Zheng Fa was stunned.

“The Tianhe Sect’s strength was negligible in the early years. I was only somewhat gifted. Back then, survival was uncertain, the future unclear, let alone Xuanwei.”

That statement was honest.

Long ago, the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor wrote a biography about the Tianhe Venerable, including some early deeds.

Though likely glorified, distorted, or based on hearsay,

Zheng Fa read it and felt that the Tianhe Venerable was no different from many cultivators:

Just cultivation, treasure hunting, exploring secret realms, forging artifacts to earn spirit stones.

What made him special was simply good talent, profound blessings, and a knack for causing trouble.

Simply put, a traditional Xuanwei cultivation prodigy.

This was quite different from the aura and methods the Tianhe Venerable and the Tianhe Sect later displayed in Zheng Fa’s mind.

He was quite puzzled—had this Tianhe Venerable’s soul been replaced?

Otherwise, it was hard to explain this change.

The Tianhe Venerable continued: “If not for the Heavenly River Method, I might not have broken with the Four Sects.”

Heavenly River Method?

Zheng Fa’s heart trembled slightly, immediately realizing what he had overlooked: “Venerable, is it the Heavenly River Method that makes you unable to abandon the Tianhe Sect? Even unable to abandon the human way of thinking?”

The Tianhe Venerable smiled and nodded lightly.

Indeed.

Zheng Fa had long understood that the Dharma is the Way, and the Way is Dharma. A Dao Fruit cultivator’s cultivation technique equates to the cultivator himself.

No need to mention the Yang Spirit Method, which is supreme detachment, a pure subtractive method that likely views past human experiences as fleeting clouds.

The Dharma God Method is additive, with endless desires—the more obtained, the less past experiences matter.

Only the Heavenly River Method strengthens the sense of “self” during cultivation, nearly balanced, almost an obsession.

Simply put, though the Yang Spirit Method and Dharmakaya Method cultivate human forms, they become increasingly non-human.

The Heavenly River Method, despite becoming an artifact spirit, cannot sever its attachment to human desires and emotions.

Thinking this through, Zheng Fa asked: “So, is it that you and other immortal sects differ in stance?”

“Stance?” The Tianhe Venerable pondered a moment, then laughed, “Something like that.”

“There is indeed a different stance between Dao Fruit cultivators and cultivators, and between cultivators and mortals.”

“But I am a Dao Fruit standing on the mortals’ side.”

In the Jiushan Realm, the Heavenly Emperor body and Senior Sister Zhang pondered for a long time before sighing softly.

“That explains many things,” Senior Sister Zhang said quietly. “The root of the Heavenly River upheaval lies in the Heavenly River Method. No wonder the Four Sects can tolerate the Dharmakaya Method but are so wary of the Heavenly River Method.”

The Heavenly Emperor body nodded.

“I also neglected the difference between Dao Fruits and cultivators—the difference between scattered immortals and cultivators is essentially a species difference.”

He had always said cultivation was a form of life evolution,

but only today did he deeply feel the true meaning of this:

Is one still human after evolving to the Dao Fruit stage?

Because of resurrection, Dao Fruits and cultivators cannot be considered the same species.

Or rather, he had consciously or unconsciously ignored the alienation cultivation brought to humans.

Of course, most people were willing to accept this change;

even if Zheng Fa were to choose, he would not give up cultivation opportunities.

But the Heavenly River Method was an anomaly.

Innate treasures can be cultivated from the Golden Core stage, meaning cultivators of the Heavenly River Method have had fixed thinking for a long time.

The Heavenly Emperor body looked outside, sighed, and shook his head:

“Dao Fruits cultivated by the Yang Spirit Method and Dharmakaya Method view cultivators as cattle and horses, and mortals as grass and weeds.”

“Dao Fruits cultivated by the Heavenly River Method still stand with cultivators and even mortals.”

“This contradiction is nearly unsolvable.”

Simply put, the Tianhe Venerable was a rare anomaly among Dao Fruits through history, and the first Dao Fruit to regard himself as human.

...

The Tianhe Venerable seemed lost in memory: “After I became a scattered immortal, I realized I was different from other Dao Fruits, not of the same path.”

“At the same time, some in the Four Sects also cultivated the Heavenly River Method and seemed to have discovered the problem.”

“The Tianhe Sect and the Four Sects gradually drifted apart.”

“I wanted to slay immortals, but my sect was already divided in heart and loyalty.”

Zheng Fa listened intently.

“Later I understood that Xuanwei at the time was unsuitable for the Heavenly River Method and the Tianhe Sect—failure was inevitable. But if you ask me what kind of future I want, what kind of Xuanwei, I do not know. So I and they are waiting for an answer.”

Hearing this, Zheng Fa tentatively asked:

“What if you and the Tianhe disciples are unsatisfied with that answer?”

The Tianhe Venerable’s gaze landed on Zheng Fa, a smile still at his lips, but his words made Zheng Fa’s heart tremble:

“The days will perish;

you and I will both die!”

Sure enough, this venerable was brewing something big.

“What about the Xuanwei Realm?”

“The jade pendant in your Sea of Consciousness is the answer.”

Ah?

Zheng Fa was momentarily stunned, then suddenly understood the venerable’s meaning—he wanted to turn the Xuanwei Realm into a place like the modern world.

Or rather, to transform Xuanwei into a place without spiritual energy, severing the roots of Dao Fruit cultivators.

Then what about the next step of the Heavenly River Method?

No cultivation method would work.

This idea was somewhat familiar to Zheng Fa. When he first entered the sect, he met Senior Brother Zhuang, who had this idea.

If the Tianhe Venerable thought this way, Zheng Fa could understand it better.

This venerable’s obsession likely boiled down to two things: the Heavenly River Method and the Tianhe Sect.

The Tianhe Sect he cared for was gone.

The Heavenly River Method was targeted—now that Zheng Fa knew the details, he dared not expose his secret Heavenly River Method heritage.

What was the point of holding on?

Better to overturn the table—somewhat like the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor, but seemingly more intense.

“I already gave them a chance.”

The Tianhe Venerable’s words were baffling, leaving Zheng Fa puzzled.

“Which do you think is better?”

Hearing this, Zheng Fa’s hand trembled slightly. He looked at the Tianhe Venerable, unable to hide the waves within his heart.

Only now did he realize he had underestimated this venerable.

His choice was not born of hatred.

Or rather, he restrained his hatred.

He had given the immortal sects an era’s chance to prove that they could govern Xuanwei better than a modern world without spiritual energy.

But the immortal sects were useless.

He had thought too narrowly about the Tianhe Venerable and his predecessors. They seemed able to accept the decline of the Heavenly River Method, even the destruction of the Tianhe Sect.

This venerable’s obsession probably surpassed what Zheng Fa had imagined.

The answer he wanted was only one.

Zheng Fa looked around at the Tianhe disciples before him, finally reading their eyes:

Give them a future where cultivators and even mortals can see hope, so they know that everything they have done was not in vain.

Their obsession is human.

...

“Master!”

The Heavenly Emperor body suddenly said.

Elder Yu was just nodding in approval when the Heavenly Emperor body added: “Please, Master, show Senior Sister Yuan the current Jiushan.”

“...Very well!”

Elder Yu understood and agreed.

...

“Venerable.” Zheng Fa addressed the Tianhe Sect disciples, “I have no answers.”

“What I have is only one—a Jiushan Realm deeply influenced by you, inheriting the Nine-turn Golden Core Method.”

The Creation Jade flew out from his Sea of Consciousness, shooting a light screen before the sword forest.

The Tianhe Venerable guided the disciples to look into the screen.

Many images appeared—Elder Yu, Senior Sister Yuan, and disciples from the news center were dispatched to various parts of Jiushan Realm.

To let the Tianhe Venerable understand the full picture of Jiushan Realm, Elder Yu dispatched the elite from the news center to run everywhere, above and below.

The Tianhe Venerable watched with great interest.

Zheng Fa pointed to a small image in the upper right.

It showed a disciple conducting a field interview in the mundane part of Jiushan Realm.

The screen showed endless rice paddies, the rice stalks just beginning to emerge.

It was the busy farming season, with many figures tending the fields.

The Tianhe Venerable immediately noticed something odd: “Are there cultivators in these fields?”

“Yes. They regularly guide mortals in planting and sometimes help with pest control and breeding.”

“All mortal rice?”

“For now, yes. Our Jiushan Sect cannot yet support so many people eating spirit grains.”

Zheng Fa sounded a bit embarrassed.

The Tianhe Venerable and his disciples glanced at him, surprised, as if thinking he was putting on airs.

The Tianhe Venerable said nothing further, just continued watching the screen.

Zheng Fa then opened another disciple’s interview footage.

This disciple had gone to Jiushan University in the Xuanwu Dormitory.

“What are you studying?” the disciple asked, a bit confused. “Talisman arts, artifact forging, oh, recently studying the Jiushan Golden Core Method, Water Element transforming into Wood Element, and some difficulties.”

“...”

The atmosphere grew awkward for a moment.

Zheng Fa felt inexplicably guilty.

The Tianhe Venerable looked at him faintly, but there was some amusement in his eyes.

Elder Yu’s eyes focused clearly on Yan Wushuang.

“Interviewing me?” Yan Wushuang scratched the back of his head, completely unaware he was being watched by his own patriarch. “What have I been up to recently?”

“Not much, just studying the Heavenly River Sword Canon.”

“You want to know my goal?” Yan Wushuang was a bit shy: “After finishing the Yellow Court Scripture, I want to combine it with the Tianhe Sword Dao, innovate the method, and restore the patriarch’s glory!”

The Tianhe Venerable raised his eyebrows and turned to Zheng Fa: “Who is he?”

“A junior of the Tianhe Sect.”

The Tianhe Venerable’s face showed slight disdain: “Doesn’t look very smart.”

Given the Tianhe Venerable’s attitude towards the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor, this... was probably a compliment?

“What is the Yellow Court Scripture?”

Zheng Fa did not answer but instead said something to the Creation Jade.

“Reciting the Yellow Court Scripture?” Yan Wushuang on screen looked doubtful, “Is this show meant for entertainment?”

“Should I let your senior sister come?”

“I’ll recite it!”

Listening to Yan Wushuang recite the scripture, the Tianhe Venerable gradually became absorbed, his eyes sparkling with some extraordinary light.

“Did you create this?”

“This was created by the Jiushan Sect.”

The Tianhe Venerable asked again: “Is he from the Tianhe Sect?”

“Yes, but now he’s with the Jiushan Sect.”

The Tianhe Venerable looked deeply at Zheng Fa but said nothing.

Zheng Fa knew he had seen through his thoughts:

Having Yan Wushuang recite the Yellow Court Scripture was partly to show the venerable its brilliance,

and partly to show that the Tianhe Sect’s descendants were doing well in Jiushan Sect—he, Jiushan, was the true successor of Tianhe!

The Tianhe Venerable said nothing more, continuing to watch the various interviews.

Elder Yu had sent dozens of disciples to every corner of Jiushan Realm.

Fields, schools, factories, markets, offices.

Because this was a sudden initiative, most interviewees were still clueless, which actually made the interviews more credible.

After watching, the Tianhe Venerable suddenly asked: “Why show me this?”

Zheng Fa replied solemnly:

“I dare not say Jiushan Realm is better, nor that the future will definitely be better than Xuanwei.”

“Just as you all once worked hard for the Tianhe Sect and the entire Xuanwei Realm.”

“Countless people in my Jiushan Sect are also striving in their own ways.”

Zheng Fa’s thought was simple: Xuanwei Realm was indeed not good, but that did not mean spiritual energy was bad.

Jiushan Realm aside, the modern world was hardly perfect, but spiritual energy could solve many problems.

Both publicly and privately, unless absolutely necessary, he did not want to see spiritual energy truly vanish.

The Tianhe Venerable said nothing, instead looking at the disciples behind him and asked: “What do you think?”

The Tianhe disciples said nothing.

In the Jiushan Realm’s Heavenly Palace, Uncle Pang and others stared tensely at the screen, unmoving.

The scene on the screen changed, and Zheng Fa’s vision blurred.

While puzzled, a shoulder was lightly tapped.

Turning, a somewhat familiar cultivator stood behind him—a Unity-stage cultivator from the Tianhe Sect who had once competed with him while ascending Tongtian Sword Peak.

“Let’s go in!”

Zheng Fa turned his head to see a large hall before him.

Following the cultivator beside him, he entered the hall, where the cultivator mysteriously brought a cup of spiritual wine and placed it in his hand.

Zheng Fa held the cup and looked around.

Inside the hall were the Tianhe Venerable and the Tianhe disciples he had encountered when reaching the summit.

They seemed to be waiting for him. Upon seeing Zheng Fa enter, they laughed loudly:

“Fellow Daoist, you’re so late;

you owe us a cup!”