Volume 3 Chapter 63: Xusheng

Under the glow of the setting sun, two groups led by Zhang Xusheng and Zhang Hualing faced each other in the sky on opposite sides, with the sun at the center.

However, the people behind Zhang Xusheng seemed relaxed and at ease, while the elders behind Zhang Hualing looked serious, some even showing hints of fear in their eyes when glancing at Zhang Xusheng, showing their apprehension. From their expressions, one could also see Jiuhua Mountain’s unfavorable situation from a certain perspective.

On the ground, Xu Qingfan stood among the young disciples of Jiuhua Mountain, looking at Zhang Xusheng in the sky with a complex expression. Although the person before him was clearly a man, his demeanor and aura gave Xu Qingfan an impression of unparalleled elegance.

Realizing that Zhang Xusheng was actually the same person as Penance Valley Venerable One Xuanmoda, whom he had once met in the Southern Wasteland, Xu Qingfan’s initial reaction was disbelief because he couldn’t imagine Xuanmoda and Zhang Xusheng being the same person.

But considering the strange occurrences on Huandao Island and Jiuhua Mountain in recent days, he realized that only if Zhang Xusheng’s other identity was Xuanmoda could everything be explained.

Although Xu Qingfan had only heard Xuanmoda’s voice in the Southern Wasteland and hadn’t seen his face or understood him well, as the first and only Mahayana Stage master Xu Qingfan had encountered thus far, the impression of Xuanmoda was undeniably deep. Xu Qingfan’s favorable view of Penance Valley was largely due to Xuanmoda. Even though Zhang Hualing’s reminders made Xu Qingfan suspicious of Penance Valley, he never thought Xuanmoda could be the mastermind behind it all.

In Xu Qingfan’s original thought, Xuanmoda should have been a kind-hearted elder, a generous senior, a master who, although dedicated to his path, occasionally had a carefree attitude—a respected figure with a strong charisma, a legendary master of his generation.

On the other hand, Zhang Xusheng seemed more like a distant legend, a traitor who still brought fear to Jiuhua Mountain, a schemer willing to do anything to succeed, a ruthless villain without mercy, a heroic figure treating the world with indifference.

In Xu Qingfan’s mind, these two people were like night and day, but he was surprised to discover that the two completely opposite figures he imagined were actually the same person.

Xu Qingfan clearly remembered that when he was almost killed by the demon soldiers led by Naxiu in the Southern Wasteland, it was Xuanmoda who led a group of Penance Valley cultivators to his timely rescue. Xu Qingfan also recalled that when everyone believed Ting’er should be imprisoned forever, it was Xuanmoda who stood against them all and allowed Xu Qingfan to adopt Ting’er. So, Xu Qingfan felt grateful towards Xuanmoda.

It’s no wonder that when Xu Qingfan found out Xuanmoda was indeed Zhang Xusheng, his heart was filled with disbelief, as if he were in a dream.

Yet, who can truly say whether the seemingly opposing existences of Xuanmoda and Zhang Xusheng represent the true character of that scholarly middle-aged man in the sky? Is Xuanmoda merely a disguise for Zhang Xusheng, or is Zhang Xusheng an expression of Xuanmoda’s true self? Or perhaps, these two are just two sides of a genius’s personality?

Xu Qingfan didn’t know. Perhaps even the scholarly middle-aged man himself was unaware of the answer.

Seeing Xu Qingfan’s changing expression, Jin Qinghan asked with concern, "Senior Brother Xu, what’s wrong?"

Meanwhile, Lv Qingshang also noticed Xu Qingfan’s strangeness, looking at him with worried, puzzled eyes.

Xu Qingfan glanced at Jin Qinghan and Lv Qingshang and slowly said, "If I’m not mistaken, this Zhang Xusheng is likely Xuanmoda from Penance Valley."

"What?"

Although they knew Xu Qingfan wasn’t one to speak nonsense, Jin Qinghan and Lv Qingshang were still in disbelief and asked in astonishment.

Even from afar, in the sky, Zhang Xusheng seemed to hear Xu Qingfan’s words. With an unfathomable smile, he looked deeply in their direction, then turned to Zhang Hualing and continued, "Since you know about my affliction, you must also know why I’ve come to Jiuhua Mountain, don’t you?"

Zhang Hualing sighed slightly but avoided answering, instead asking in return, "I wonder, Martial Uncle, with your return to Jiuhua Mountain after two hundred years, isn’t your purpose more than just reclaiming that one thing?"

Zhang Xusheng smiled faintly and said calmly, "Of course it isn’t. Jiuhua Mountain has held power in the cultivation world for over three thousand years. Its rise and fall are part of the Heavenly Way’s natural order, and after all these years, Jiuhua’s fate is about to end."

Zhang Xusheng’s tone as he said this was so calm and natural, as if destroying Jiuhua Gate was as easy as a flick of his wrist. Though all the elders of Jiuhua were angered by his words, in the presence of this nightmare of Jiuhua Gate for over eight hundred years, they simply lacked the courage to rebut, only displeased in their gaze towards Zhang Xusheng. Only Xiao Huazhe beside Zhang Hualing and Elder Weichi gave a dissatisfied snort.

However, Zhang Hualing, the Master of Jiuhua, wasn’t angry. He simply asked, still calmly, "So you’re saying that both the incident on Huandao Island and Junior Brother Zhou’s rebellion were orchestrated by you, Martial Uncle?"

Zhang Xusheng nodded with a smile and said, "Hasn’t Jiuhua always cared about reputation? Back then, they easily sacrificed me for the sake of their name; now, to see Jiuhua Mountain tarnished and fallen is quite amusing."

Zhang Hualing remained calm in the face of Zhang Xusheng’s sarcasm and slowly analyzed, "Over the years, Martial Uncle, the reason you have delayed attacking Jiuhua Mountain is that there are three things you are wary of. There aren’t many things in this world that can threaten you, but Jiuhua Mountain has three. First is the ‘Nine Pole Array’; once caught in this formation, even with your skills, breaking out of it might leave you greatly weakened. The second is the ‘Fire Bird Ring’; combined with the ‘Nine Palaces Formation’, we can even directly confront you. The third is the ‘Xuanwu Token’; with it, I can easily summon support from the other Five Holy Lands, and facing the combined strength of the Five Holy Lands might even make you hesitant, right?"

Zhang Xusheng nodded with a smile and admitted, "Those three things are indeed troublesome. Without them, I would have personally destroyed the Jiuhua lineage right after old Li Xuhan died five hundred years ago."

Zhang Hualing looked up at the peak of Jiuhua Mountain and continued, "So, Martial Uncle, you first used Newcomer Comparison and set a trap on Huandao Island, leaving Jiuhua Sect isolated and even took away the Xuanwu Token. This not only tarnished Jiuhua Mountain’s reputation but also removed a concern for you. Then, you used Junior Brother Zhou’s dissatisfaction with me to incite his betrayal, and as I struggled with him upon my return to Jiuhua Mountain, the ‘Nine Pole Array’ was destroyed due to improper control, and the ‘Fire Bird Ring’ became useless as my Spirit Qi was depleted. Even our elders suffered grave losses from consecutive battles, leaving Jiuhua Mountain defenseless. For you, eliminating Jiuhua Mountain would now be a simple task. It’s a cunning strategy indeed, and although I pride myself on my wits, I must admit I’m no match."

Zhang Xusheng’s eyes showed a hint of admiration as he calmly said, "Though you’re slightly off here and there, your guesses are mostly correct. In fact, it’s quite remarkable that you’ve made it this far in the situation I’ve set up. Unfortunately, you realized it too late."

Zhang Hualing looked directly at Zhang Xusheng and asked seriously, "To be honest, Martial Uncle, I suspected your alliance with Junior Brother Zhou long ago, but without knowing your exact plan, I dared not act rashly. During this Newcomer Competition, I was on guard but still fell into your trap unknowingly because I never expected the usually indifferent cultivators of Penance Valley to be involved. It wasn’t until afterwards that I began to sense something. How did you manage to get them on your side? While I’ve unraveled all you’ve done, this remains a mystery to me. I humbly ask for your explanation."

Zhang Xusheng lazily glanced in Xu Qingfan’s direction and said, "Regarding that, actually, one of your junior has already figured out the answer. A very interesting little fellow."

Hearing Zhang Xusheng’s words, Jin Qinghan and Lv Qingshang were shocked because Zhang Xusheng’s comment confirmed Xu Qingfan’s suspicions. Although Zhang Hualing didn’t know whom Zhang Xusheng referred to, he instinctively looked at Xu Qingfan, who mouthed to him, "Sect Master, if I’m not mistaken, he’s probably Xuanmoda, one of the only two Grandmaster-level cultivators in Penance Valley. I’ve heard his voice before."

Upon hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, Zhang Hualing was astonished; though he suspected a surprising explanation, he didn’t expect this answer. Xuanmoda has been renowned in the cultivation world for a millennium, even before Zhang Xusheng rose to fame, but somehow was replaced by Zhang Xusheng without his fellow cultivators in Penance Valley noticing all these years.

Zhang Xusheng gave Zhang Hualing a sly glance before continuing, "As for saying that Penance Valley’s cultivators have no desires, that’s a joke. Once anything in this world gains intelligence, it inevitably has its greed. It’s just a matter of whether you can find it. The cultivators of Penance Valley have an extreme longing for the path to immortality, even more than other cultivators. My research over the years has significantly helped them, so naturally, I could easily gain the allegiance of some."

Zhang Hualing’s heart skipped a beat, and his expression grew more serious. He had always thought that although Zhang Xusheng was frightening, he was alone and disabled, so while formidable, he wouldn’t pose a fatal threat to Jiuhua Mountain. Plus, Zhang Hualing had immense faith in "that person" and believed that with the "Xuanwu Token," "Fire Bird Ring," and "Nine Pole Array," eliminating him wouldn’t be an issue.

Zhang Hualing never expected Zhang Xusheng’s power to have grown so much over the years, and his intelligence far exceeded others’. His plans were interlinked, making it impossible to escape. Now Zhang Xusheng had used his magic to create a horde of demons to attack and had gained the loyalty of some Penance Valley cultivators, increasing his strength beyond Jiuhua Mountain without anyone noticing. No wonder "that person" would go to such lengths to get rid of Zhang Xusheng.

The ironic thing is that Zhang Hualing previously thought Zhang Xusheng would be easy to deal with, believing the greatest crisis for Jiuhua Mountain was Zhou Huahai’s rebellion. It seemed he and Zhou Huahai were misled by events from two hundred years ago, thinking Zhang Xusheng was strong but lacking intellect. They underestimated someone who had almost destroyed Jiuhua Mountain eight hundred years ago. Now he finally realized it, feeling a pang of regret.

After a long while, Zhang Xusheng finally calmed down and slowly said, "Being overly obsessed with the path to immortality is indeed a flaw of Penance Valley cultivators, but Martial Uncle, discovering and exploiting those flaws shows your impressive skills."

Zhang Xusheng shook his head with a light smile and softly said, "Everyone has flaws, and flaws can be used. Once you can easily spot and exploit a person’s weaknesses, you can achieve success with ease. For instance, in this plan, making you and Zhou Huahai fight each other was all about capitalizing on Zhou Huahai’s excessive desire for power."

Hearing Zhang Xusheng’s words, a shadow crossed Zhang Hualing’s eyes. He said slowly, "It’s a pity that Junior Brother Zhou, with his lifetime of fame, was ultimately tempted by you."

A hint of mockery flickered in Zhang Xusheng’s eyes as he spoke slowly, "Zhang Hualing, don’t you understand yet?"

"Understand what?"

"How deep can resentment for a person become after being harbored for centuries by a narrow-minded person? You’ll never know. From the start, it was Zhou Huahai who approached me, not the other way around. Zhou Huahai could have been someone great, but his resentment buried his reason, trying to use me and ending up being used without realizing it. It’s lamentable. Ultimately, because of our different mindsets and natures, he could never surpass you," Zhang Xusheng said, shaking his head, seemingly regretful for Zhou Huahai.

When Zhang Hualing heard Zhang Xusheng’s words, his eyes grew even more somber. He realized that Zhou Huahai, like himself, held little regard for Zhang Xusheng. He said, "Yes, he foolishly competes with me under your manipulation, severely injuring himself, yet gives Martial Uncle a great opportunity to destroy Jiuhua Gate."

Zhang Xusheng’s face showed even more mockery as he said, "The foolish things he’s done aren’t just limited to this."

Hearing Zhang Xusheng say this, Zhang Hualing was taken aback and solemnly said, "Please, Martial Uncle, enlighten me."

"In my mind, Zhou Huahai is quite a character, but not nearly as brilliant as you are. To prevent his schemes from being easily thwarted by you, and to avoid any damage to Jiuhua Mountain that would foil my plans, I kept a backup move in this plan," Zhang Xusheng said, his face showing more ridicule as he smiled lightly. "When he was worried about how to control Jiuhua Sect after you left Jiuhua Mountain, I gave him some ‘Sky Spiritual Pills.’"

Zhang Xusheng’s voice was gentle and soft, like a lover’s whisper, but all the elders of Jiuhua Mountain were shocked and turned pale upon hearing it, feeling a chill creeping into their hearts.

To control the situation at Jiuhua Mountain, Zhou Huahai had ten elders and over thirty elite disciples take this ‘Sky Spiritual Pill,’ which he claimed could enhance a cultivator’s strength for a period of time, asserting it was his treasure for dominating the cultivation world. However, it needed to be taken continuously; otherwise, the user’s Spirit Qi would become uncontrollable, leading to Qi deviation.

Initially, these elders and disciples thought the ‘Sky Spiritual Pill’ was made by Zhou Huahai. So even though they knew it might be harmful, with a steady supply, the benefits seemed to outweigh the risks. Despite some concerns, they weren’t worried.

But now, they were horrified to discover the ‘Sky Spiritual Pill’ was given to Zhou Huahai by Zhang Xusheng. Even if Zhang Xusheng didn’t act to destroy Jiuhua Mountain today, without a supply of the pill, half of the elders and a third of the elite disciples of Jiuhua Mountain would be at risk of Qi deviation, losing their powers at best, or facing reincarnation at worst, greatly weakening the strength of Jiuhua’s lineage.

How could the elders and disciples who followed Zhou Huahai not be terrified? They all regretted their past decisions deeply. Even those who stayed loyal to Zhang Hualing had expressions of relief mixed with fear.

Zhang Hualing didn’t seem surprised at all. Instead, he chuckled softly and said, "Even though Junior Brother Zhou has indeed been blinded by resentment this time, he hasn’t lost his mind to that extent. As far as I know, after Martial Uncle gave Junior Brother Zhou the ‘Sky Spiritual Pill,’ Junior Brother Zhou immediately sought out an alchemy expert from ‘Medicine King Valley’ to study the formula of the ‘Sky Spiritual Pill.’ And I’ve just retrieved that formula from Junior Brother Zhou."

Upon hearing Zhang Hualing’s voice, a clear sigh of relief came from the elders of Jiuhua Mountain. If Zhang Xusheng’s scheme succeeded, Jiuhua Mountain would lose nearly half of its strength in one go. And many of these elders would be trapped in the cycle of reincarnation.

However, the mockery on Zhang Xusheng’s face didn’t diminish in the slightest, as he continued with a storytelling tone, "It’s useless. The original name of this ‘Sky Spiritual Pill’ is ‘Life Elixir,’ a failed product from an experiment of mine a century ago. It can significantly increase the user’s cultivation level and realm, with notable effects. But it’s called a failure for two reasons, one of which you know: you must take it continuously, or you’ll suffer Qi deviation. But the second point you’re likely unaware of."

At this point, Zhang Xusheng paused slightly, and the crowd, following Zhang Xusheng’s pause, felt an incredibly strong sense of foreboding in their hearts.

Zhang Xusheng took pleasure in observing the expressions on the faces of the Jiuhua elders for a moment before he continued, "The second point is that the growth in the user’s abilities comes at the expense of consuming a large portion of their lifespan. In other words, this ‘Sky Spiritual Pill’ is like a slow poison. Consuming it again will result in a quick death, while not continuing to use it will lead to an even faster demise. I once thought it was just a failed experiment but didn’t expect it to have a day of accomplishment."

After finishing, Zhang Xusheng smiled gently at the Jiuhua elders in front of him. His smile was so kind and peaceful, but seeing it only sent chills through the elders’ hearts. Especially those who had taken the ‘Sky Spiritual Pill,’ they were filled with despair, knowing that their centuries of cultivation had come to nothing in a single day.

Despite being angry enough to want to tear Zhang Xusheng apart, the seemingly harmless look on his face sent a terrifying aura more frightening than death itself. The elders couldn’t summon the courage to fight back, staring blankly at Zhang Xusheng with strange expressions.

Zhang Hualing, upon hearing Zhang Xusheng’s words, shivered violently, his face turning even paler. His previously calm eyes suddenly filled with shock and despair, unable to speak for a long time. Clearly, Zhang Xusheng’s scheme was beyond his expectations.

Jiuhua Mountain is what Zhang Hualing had dedicated his life to protecting. The enormous loss it faced now, losing almost half its strength in a short time, was probably far more devastating to him than to any of the elders and disciples who had taken the ‘Sky Spiritual Pill.’

Seeing Zhang Hualing’s expression, a fleeting trace of satisfaction seemed to pass over Zhang Xusheng’s face. He gently said, "Actually, you don’t need to be sad about this. After all, the ‘Sky Spiritual Pill’ was just a precaution. Now that I’m about to destroy Jiuhua Mountain with my own hands, those ‘Sky Spiritual Pills’ won’t have the chance to fulfill their intended purpose. You won’t have to feel heartbroken watching Jiuhua’s decline anymore."

As Zhang Xusheng’s words fell, the demon cultivators behind him burst into laughter, while all the cultivators of Jiuhua Mountain looked deathly pale, losing the will to resist in the face of their mountain’s demise.

Hearing Zhang Xusheng’s mocking words, Zhang Hualing did not retaliate. His face was ashen and almost transparent, evidently saddened by the incident of the ‘Sky Spiritual Pill.’ After a long pause, he finally reacted, not attacking or cursing Zhang Xusheng as one might expect. Instead, he slowly took out a pipe from his waist, lit it, and exhaled a thick smoke ring before saying, "It seems you still hold a grudge over what happened eight hundred years ago. Back then, my master and the others had no other choice. Why insist on wiping out Jiuhua?"

Hearing Zhang Hualing mention events from eight hundred years ago, Zhang Xusheng’s face showed a complex look, both nostalgic and resentful, but it vanished quickly. He shook his head calmly and said, "That event happened eight hundred years ago, and everything should be forgotten by now. Why would I still be obsessed?"

Zhang Hualing was slightly taken aback, just about to speak, when Zhang Xusheng continued, "Today, I’m destroying Jiuhua Mountain not only to reclaim what belongs to me, but there are other reasons that are far more significant than my enmity with Jiuhua."

After finishing, seeing the questioning look in Zhang Hualing’s eyes, Zhang Xusheng simply smiled, refraining from elaborating further. Instead, he asked, "Alright, I’ve answered so many of your questions, but you haven’t answered mine. Shouldn’t you return what belongs to me?"

Zhang Hualing responded with a question, "If I return the item to you, Martial Uncle, will you spare the Jiuhua line?"

Zhang Xusheng shook his head slightly and said, "No. As I said, there are other reasons I’m destroying Jiuhua today."

Zhang Hualing wore a mocking expression similar to Zhang Xusheng’s and said, "In that case, why should I return it to you? I believe, without that item, your numerous experiments, no matter how successful, will be in vain, right?"

As Zhang Hualing finished speaking, the dozen or so individuals behind Zhang Xusheng, each with their unique appearances, suddenly became more fierce. Clearly angered by Zhang Hualing’s words, they seemed ready to attack at Zhang Xusheng’s command. Among them, a demon with a dragon’s head and a rat’s tail sneered coldly, "Once we’ve destroyed Jiuhua Mountain, of course, I’ll make sure my family master gets that thing."

Zhang Hualing, however, completely ignored the threats from the demons and cultivators beside Zhang Xusheng. He stared at Zhang Xusheng without backing down, his previously calm eyes now filled with murderous intent and resentment.

Zhang Xusheng, instead of being angry, looked at Zhang Hualing with a newfound appreciation and asked with a smile, "Are you threatening me?"

Zhang Hualing calmly asked back, "Would you accept my threat?"

"No. After I destroy Jiuhua Mountain, I will naturally find it. Zhou Huahai has told me the approximate location of that thing."

"If that’s the case, then I’m not threatening you. But I can assure you that thing is no longer there."

"It seems we can’t come to an agreement?" Zhang Xusheng appeared quite confident, unconcerned by Zhang Hualing’s words.

"Martial Uncle, from the start of our conversation, you’ve only wanted to enjoy the look of anger and despair on our faces, deriving pleasure from it. Did you ever really intend to negotiate for that thing?" Zhang Hualing said with a cold smile.

"You’ve seen through me, but why did you keep talking with me for so long? As far as I know, you’re not one to talk much." Zhang Xusheng asked, slightly surprised and a bit intrigued.

Zhang Hualing remained silent.

"It seems like you’re trying to stall for time?" Zhang Xusheng observed Zhang Hualing’s expression and exclaimed in surprise, "Are you planning a surprise for me?"

Zhang Hualing continued his silence, implicitly agreeing.

Zhang Xusheng nodded and said, "It seems you are ready. Show me what surprise you have for me."

As he said this, Zhang Xusheng waved his right hand slightly, and the demons behind him roared and charged once more at the young disciples of Jiuhua Mountain. However, this time, it was different; without any obstacles, all of Zhang Xusheng’s demons had entered Jiuhua Mountain, leading to an overwhelming attack with thousands of demons against Xu Qingfan and the others.

The number of demons was not much less than the disciples of Jiuhua, but even the weakest demon had the strength of a late-stage Inedia Stage cultivator, overpowering the Jiuhua disciples. With a fierce and fearless nature and various strange abilities, the Jiuhua disciples soon found themselves at a disadvantage. Despite Xu Qingfan, Jin Qinghan, and Lv Qingshang giving their all, they could not prevent Jiuhua disciples from being killed, making the situation increasingly dire for them.

Meanwhile, the dozen or so demons or cultivators surrounding Zhang Xusheng attacked the Jiuhua elders hovering in the sky. Although they were fewer in number than the Jiuhua elders, they were full of vigor and noticeably stronger than ordinary demons. The Jiuhua elders, having exhausted much of their Spirit Qi and suffered internal injuries in previous battles, could only manage to fight evenly with them.

Seeing the dire situation of the Jiuhua disciples below, Zhang Hualing became anxious. Just as he intended to lead Xiao Huazhe and Elder Weichi to their aid, he realized that Zhang Xusheng had already appeared in front of them unbeknownst to them, with a calm and peaceful smile, saying slowly, "Your opponents will be me."

At the same time, three demon figures resembling Nangong Qingshan’s Sethrak form lunged rapidly at Xu Qingfan, Jin Qinghan, and Lv Qingshang.