Chapter 417: Chapter 234: Bottom-Line Thinking, To Whom Do I Return_2

Zheng Fa’s words were natural, of course.

Master Pang also nodded and added, “They’re probably more afraid of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor’s descent than we are.”

“What about us then?” Sister Zhang chimed in.

Zheng Fa fell silent. He turned his head, glanced at the circle of senior sisters, his Master, and two junior masters, and after a long while, he said:

“The Jiushan Sect should naturally stay as far away as possible.”

“But I can’t.”

Elder Yuan furrowed his brows, “You are the Sect Leader of the Jiushan Sect, how can you be considered separately?”

“But the one the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor probably cares about is me. Master Cheng Kong once said that the Jiushan Realm can’t stop the truly powerful.”

“The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor should be one of them.”

Zheng Fa shook his head with a smile, appearing unexpectedly composed.

Truth be told, he was indeed a bit heavy-hearted just now, but at this moment, he was already much more at ease. While speaking, he even seemed more cheerful than Master Pang and the others.

“…” Elder Yuan’s face was ten times gloomier than his, but he couldn’t deny that Zheng Fa was absolutely right.

What would the Jiushan Sect amount to in the eyes of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor?

If the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor really coveted anything from the Jiushan Sect, it would probably be nothing more than the person of Zheng Fa himself.

As for others, like himself, he was quite self-aware:

To a figure like the Demon Ancestor, even taking a glance at him would seem too troublesome.

“Do we really abandon a junior like you?” Master Pang grumbled, lifting his gaze to look at Zheng Fa: “Not to mention, where can our Jiushan Sect go once we leave the Jiushan Realm?”

Zheng Fa too was at a loss for words.

His meaning was clear—he hoped that the Jiushan Sect disciples would seek their own paths of survival. This was not because he had too strong a sense of sacrifice; rather, most disciples wouldn’t play much of a role in such a struggle.

Zheng Fa had always been a somewhat pessimistic person, preferring to prepare for the worst.

Now, the worst-case scenario was naturally the Demon Ancestor coming knocking, breaking through the barriers of the Jiushan Realm, and Zheng Fa being killed.

If that happened, Zheng Fa would still hope that Jiushan disciples could inherit some of his ideas and principles…

But Master Pang was also right.

The Jiushan Sect had already lost its sect headquarters. If it now left the Jiushan Realm, what would be the difference between that and extinction?

Seeing him silent, Elder Yuan chuckled, suddenly clapping him on the shoulder.

“Master?”

“I’ve always known that among the three disciples, it’s you who would get into the most trouble.”

“…”

“But I, surnamed Yuan, have never given up on my own disciples.”

Zheng Fa fell silent. Master Pang next to him pursed his lips and muttered, “There’s no proper way to be a Master.”

After this exchange, Zheng Fa also felt it inappropriate to evacuate most of the sect’s people from the Jiushan Realm.

But the idea of leaving a seed for the Jiushan Sect, he still found viable.

“Master, I was thinking, if most disciples can’t leave, why don’t we arrange in secret for some elite disciples to leave?”

Elder Yuan, Master Pang, and the others exchanged glances, all nodding agreement.

They were reluctant to leave, but on the other hand, they also wanted to preserve a lineage for the Jiushan Sect.

“Elite disciples? From my disciples… let’s say Qian Yuan for now, and I’ll think of others.”

Master Pang pondered for a moment and chose the candidates.

It was evident that during this period, Zhou Qianyuan’s impression in his heart had been increasingly favorable, probably truly receiving Master Pang’s true teachings.

Now, he was the first that came to mind.

“From my disciples… isn’t that just you?”

Elder Yuan looked at Zheng Fa, slightly speechless.

But Junior Master Huang’s expression was even more speechless—she looked at Sister Zhang, then at Zheng Fa, opened her mouth, then closed it, with a face that didn’t want to speak at all.

Zheng Fa turned his head towards Sister Zhang beside him.

He also remained silent.

Mainly because he didn’t dare to speak… Sister Zhang’s gaze suggested a ‘just try and say something’ attitude.

He thought about it for a bit, then said: “Pick some disciples with lower cultivation, I’ll ask Fairy Xiao for protection, which should probably still be feasible.”

“Cultivation is low… but with good achievements?”

Sister Zhang nodded in agreement.

“Yes, the essence of the Jiushan Realm’s heritage lies in this knowledge system, cultivation isn’t so important—these disciples are inconspicuous yet can carry on the Jiushan philosophy.”

Elder Yuan and the others were all in contemplation as if considering who might be more suitable.

Zheng Fa was also calculating in his mind, Zhou Qianyuan for one, who carried the talismanic Dao principles of not only Master Pang but also himself and even Sister Zhang. Master Qian could count as another, his cultivation was not high, but in the Jiushan Sect he was the foremost scholar in agriculture. As for the rest, further consideration was needed.

However, there was one person that Zheng Fa was determined to include on the list—his own younger sister.

The reason Zheng Fa wanted some disciples to leave was, more than anything, this bit of selfishness…

After discussing for a while, Zheng Fa took out a Communication Talisman and wrote about the impending descent of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor.

A flash from the Communication Talisman, and it flew out of the Jiushan Realm, crossing mountains and waters, toward Master Cheng Kong.

At this moment, Master Cheng Kong was sitting on a cluster of cyan clouds, gazing toward Chen County with a puzzled and uneasy look.

Next to him stood Tongming Master, whose expression also showed helplessness:

He had stood here with Master Cheng Kong for half a month already.

“Emissary… what secrets does Chen County hold exactly?”

“How would I know?”

Master Cheng Kong murmured softly, not even glancing at Tongming Master, but rather staring intently ahead.

Ahead, the sky was dyed red like blood, beneath the crimson clouds, vegetation withered, and no trace of birds and beasts remained.

“Did you hear that?”

Master Cheng Kong suddenly asked.

“Hear?” Tongming Master cocked his head, listening closely, then shook his head, “I don’t hear anything.”

“I don’t hear anything either.” Unexpectedly, Master Cheng Kong looked even more unsightly, “We’re both of Divinity Transformation cultivation… the fact that we can’t hear any movement, isn’t that strange?”

Tongming Master opened his mouth to speak, looking toward Chen County, his face mixed with a hint of disbelief: “Are you saying… everyone is dead?”