Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World

This is Zheng Fa's second visit to the Fire God Mountain peak.

Despite having past experience, he still felt a surge of alertness as he ascended.

At the volcano's mouth, the Immortal Trapping Sword exuded an aura of murder, with earth fire forming dark red serpents that licked the sword, adding to its intimidatory presence.

Upon entering this mist, the threat posed by the Immortal Trapping Sword increased tenfold.

However, Shi Nandang's enthusiasm towards Zheng Fa was also tenfold compared to last time:

As he ascended the mountain, before Zheng Fa could speak, the Eighth Elder walked ahead of him, bowed respectfully to a somewhat unfamiliar Divinity Transformation cultivator, and exclaimed loudly:

"Greetings, Master!"

Ye's intelligence was truly reliable!

This Eighth Elder actually lowered his rank to fervently seek a new master.

Zheng Fa caught sight of the Ninth Elder and the Chongxuan Sect Leader lowering their eyes, looking somewhat awkward.

Actually, choosing an advantageous position to settle is understandable, and unrelated individuals taking on a master shouldn't pose many issues for the other two Nascent Soul cultivators of Chongxuan Sect.

The issue is... the Eighth Elder once had a master, who has since passed away, yet was a senior of Chongxuan Sect.

This Eighth Elder's behavior somewhat echoes a betrayal of ancestry, and it's the ancestor of Chongxuan Sect being disrespected, making the two a bit frustrated.

Of the seven Divinity Transformation experts on the mountain top, only Shi Nandang could be considered a True Inheritor of Haori Mountain, while others like Tongming Master, although possessing Divinity Transformation cultivation, were not part of Haori Mountain Gate.

The newly acknowledged master by the Eighth Elder was one such example.

That means, this Divinity Transformation cultivator wasn't an orthodox Haori Mountain cultivator.

Thus, even if he wished to make an excuse that the Chongxuan Ancestor Master was originally a Haori Mountain disciple, claiming his return to the mountain gate seemed illegitimate.

Given the Eighth Elder's position, neither the Chongxuan Sect Leader nor the Ninth Elder dared say much, yet feeling uncomfortable was natural.

That Divinity Transformation cultivator's gaze was somewhat indifferent, but upon seeing the Eighth Elder kneeling with utmost reverence, a smile emerged in his eyes as he lifted his hand and said, "Rise."

"Thank you, Master!"

The Eighth Elder stood up and hurriedly went to the side of the Divinity Transformation expert.

This freshly established apprentice-master duo both held Chongxuan Sect elder titles, but at this moment, the Eighth Elder appeared as a humble servant disciple, standing aside, dedicated and eloquent.

Ninth Elder's discomfort deepened further.

Zheng Fa shook his head slightly in thought, as his master possessed some personal pride...

However, the gap in cultivation was evident.

Often, it's individuals like the Eighth Elder, who are willing to set aside their pride, who fare better.

Indeed, that Divinity Transformation elder seemed quite satisfied with the Eighth Elder and asked:

"Since you have taken me as your master and your cultivation is sufficient, this Divinity Transformation Skill is of my creation, you take it, feel free to ask me about any doubts."

The Eighth Elder's face lit up with immense joy, kneeling once more, he bowed and shouted, "Thank you, Master, for imparting your skills!"

Zheng Fa heard from the Ninth Elder that although Haori Mountain promised Chongxuan Sect the Nascent Soul Divinity Transformation Skill, it was not offered without merit, as the Ninth Elder had yet to access the Divinity Transformation Skill.

Now, the Eighth Elder got the desired reward, and his subservience was worth it.

...

While on one side, the master showed kindness and the disciple expressed devotion, on the other side, Shi Nandang wasn't particularly interested in those two, instead, he assessed Zheng Fa with admiration in his eyes.

"I didn't expect Chongxuan Sect to have such talent as you..."

He suddenly had golden flames in his eyes, seemingly trying to see through Zheng Fa's Jinggu Dan Tian and Eight Meridians.

"The Burning Heaven Great Method's spiritual power is so pure? This Dharma Body..."

"Excellent... excellent!"

As he spoke, the two over there immediately closed their mouths to listen attentively, evidently, Shi Nandang, as a True Inheritor of Haori Mountain, held a far higher status than the other six Divinity Transformation experts.

Zheng Fa felt a bit surprised.

Why was Shi Nandang so delighted?

Shi Nandang's next words cleared up his confusion:

"My sect sent me to oversee Chongxuan Sect, although the priority is refining the Immortal Trapping Sword, dealing with the Hundred Immortals Alliance is equally significant." Shi Nandang glanced at everyone, unexpectedly revealing his weakness:

"For this, how many Spirit Stones and resources did the mountain provide us?"

The tone of Shi Nandang's words was neutral, yet the peak of Fire God Mountain fell into silence, even the surging earth fire seemed cautious.

"But now?"

"We have tried to align with various sects, but with Zheng Fa's conspicuous Nascent Soul formation, it scared them, preventing overt connections with us, leaving them wavering between sides."

"A generous bounty was offered, but the Jiushan Sect Shenxiao Warship is nearly unbreakable beneath Golden Core level."

"Even allowing that Zheng Fa to attack Chongxuan Sect doors, we are powerless, the Nascent Soul cultivators sent by Haori Mountain are all overly cautious and ineffective."

Zheng Fa was aware of the current situation.

Quite a few Nascent Soul cultivators from Haori Mountain were in the Hundred Immortals Alliance seeking opportunities.

Yet most of them had some connection with Chongxuan Sect, Zheng Fa obtained information from Ye and passed it to Elder Han.

As a result, eighty percent of the Nascent Soul cultivators from Haori Mountain were actually under the control of the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

The remaining twenty percent, if they harmed Jiushan Sect disciples, Zhang, Zheng Fa, or even Xie Qingxue might retaliate.

Especially Zheng Fa, who had brazenly slain Green Water Poison Immortal at Chongxuan Sect doors, discouraging many Nascent Soul cultivators from provoking Jiushan Sect lightly.

The Haori Mountain bounty, seemingly prominent, turned out to be mostly bark with little bite--

Loss of Jiushan Sect's spiritual material was inevitable, and Zheng Fa strategically allowed disciples to abandon them when needed.

After all, if only Li Hao seized spiritual materials from Jiushan Sect, it would easily raise suspicions among keen observers.