Zheng Fa walked up to the Ninth Elder, took out a Spirit Stone, and began delicately inscribing runes into the stone using his Divine Sense like a knife.
Beside him, apart from the Ninth Elder, was the Sect Leader of the Chongxuan Sect and the Eighth Elder.
Like Zheng Fa, these three Nascent Souls could now only assist here.
His gaze inadvertently swept over the Ninth Elder twice.
The Ninth Elder seemed unfazed, merely lowering his head, focused on carving the Array into the Spirit Stone.
Zheng Fa cleared his mind of distractions and slowly imprinted the runes of the "Heaven and Earth Divine Evil Formation" onto the Spirit Stones.
Now Zheng Fa finally understood—
Saying Spirit Stones are chips isn't entirely accurate.
The raw materials are similar to chips, though.
Only when Cultivators inscribe runes into them can these Spirit Stones form an Array and exhibit their effectiveness.
Currently, what Zheng Fa and the others had to do was carve these Spirit Stones into chips, connect them to the Earth veins, and expand the range of the "Heaven and Earth Divine Evil Formation."
While inscribing the Spirit Stones, Zheng Fa focused on memorizing the various runes of the "Heaven and Earth Divine Evil Formation."
This Great Array is exceedingly complex, and with his memory, he hasn't fully memorized it yet, hence becoming even more dedicated, even throwing the Ninth Elder's anomaly to the back of his mind.
Shi Nandang performed a spell, took a breath, and looked at the four people.
Seeing the focused expression on Zheng Fa's face, he couldn't help but smile and say, "Li Hao, have you gained any insights into the 'Heaven and Earth Divine Evil Formation'?"
Zheng Fa was jolted back to reality upon hearing this and replied, "Disciple, I have gained some minor insights."
"Oh? Do tell."
"This Great Array seems to be divided into four parts..."
Shi Nandang had a somewhat scrutinizing tone, and yet he had to maintain his so-called "genius" persona.
Zheng Fa chose his words carefully, excluding some secrets related to the Tianhe Sect's cultivation methods and the Jiushan Talismanic Dao, and shared about fifty to sixty percent of his insights into the Great Array.
At first, Shi Nandang's expression was quite appreciative, nodding as he listened.
Later, confusion began to appear on his face.
Then, he just stared blankly at Zheng Fa's mouth opening and closing, as if lost in thought.
As Zheng Fa continued speaking, he felt something was off—the surroundings were just too quiet.
He turned his head to look around and saw that everyone's expressions were somewhat dazed, and he immediately understood:
Fifty to sixty percent was too much!
Even though he was just beginning to study Arrays, his accumulation in talismanic magic was sufficient, combined with experiences from similar methods like Immortal Formation... his insights into the Heaven and Earth Divine Evil Formation far exceeded what others could imagine!
Realizing this, Zheng Fa couldn't help a disdainful glance at Shi Nandang—others might be surprised, but you, a True Inheritor of Divinity Transformation from Haori Mountain, also lack discernment?
Shi Nandang was silent for a long time, suddenly trembled, and looked at Zheng Fa with an expression full of interest: "Is all of this your own insight?"
Zheng Fa nodded.
"Have you studied Arrays before?" He inquired further, but seeing the Spirit Stone in Zheng Fa's hand, he realized, "No, you didn't even know how to use Spirit Stones before."
Understanding dawned on him, and the interest in Shi Nandang's eyes grew even stronger. He stared at Zheng Fa for a while, seemingly contemplating, before finally saying:
"I used to think you had potential, but I didn't expect... you also have such a talent for Arrays!"
"Very good!"
The other six Divinity Transformations and three Nascent Souls beside Zheng Fa all heard the heartfelt praise and couldn't help but look at Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa lowered his head and saluted, maintaining his persona of being silent and withdrawn.
"Do you have any difficulties in cultivation, tell me and I'll see?"
Having met a disciple with such high comprehension, Shi Nandang seemed pleased, and started guiding Zheng Fa.
The others exchanged glances, knowing that this disciple had further caught Shi Shangren's attention, and their expressions towards Zheng Fa changed even more.
As dusk fell, Shi Nandang reluctantly waved his hand, letting Zheng Fa and the others go back to cultivate.
Zheng Fa followed behind the Ninth Elder, and only after parting from the Sect Leader of Chongxuan Sect and the others did they tacitly walk one behind the other into the Ninth Elder's cave abode.
Inside the cave abode, only the two of them.
Silence enveloped the cave abode.
"Is Li Hao still alive?"
"Yes."
"That's good." The Ninth Elder nodded slightly and continued, "Do you know what will happen once the Heaven and Earth Divine Evil Formation is set up?"
"The Hundred Immortals Alliance's Earth veins will be severed."
"No, it'll be Chongxuan Sect's entire sect annihilated."
Zheng Fa's eyes widened suddenly.
"What you've seen of the Array is only part of it now." The Ninth Elder sat on an ice bed, looking at Zheng Fa, but his gaze seemed unfocused.
"When the Great Array is truly completed, all Chongxuan disciples who have practiced the Haori Mountain Secret Technique will become nourishment for the Array..."
Zheng Fa was shocked, finally understanding why Haori Mountain was being so generous in giving the Chongxuan Sect so many Spirit Stones and Secret Techniques—not because they had money to burn, but to sacrifice the disciples setting up the Array?
"Including you, Elder?"
The Ninth Elder smiled, "Those who reach the summit will have a way out. Including me, including you."
"Does the Sect Leader know about this?"
"What do you think?"
So this is why his seemingly benevolent Master always said all Chongxuan disciples would die.
It was also why he fought for him to reach the summit before...
The Ninth Elder lowered his gaze, speaking softly:
"Whether it's the Sect Leader or the Eighth Elder, they've let it go... Besides, what choice do we have against Haori Mountain's decision?"
Zheng Fa remained silent.
"But I was born in the Chongxuan Sect, not Haori Mountain. They accepted it, but I don't want to... I want to save a few lives for the Chongxuan Sect." The Ninth Elder looked up, smiling at Zheng Fa, speaking softly.
"The list?"
The Ninth Elder nodded slightly, looking at Zheng Fa with an exceptionally radiant smile: "Alliance Leader Zheng, whatever you want to do, I can help."
"...Elder, how did you find out?"
The Ninth Elder shook his head slightly: "I don't understand Alliance Leader Zheng, but don't I understand my disciple... His dullness isn't an act."
...He didn't quite look like he was pretending to be a fool, and he felt quite guilty.
"So how did you know it was me, Elder?"
"In this Hundred Immortals Alliance territory, how many people could hide from Shi Shangren and others, and yet still strive to infiltrate the Chongxuan Sect? You were in my Chongxuan Sect a few days ago, while Master Zhang was making an appearance in the Hundred Immortals Alliance."
Indeed, never underestimate any Nascent Soul cultivator, they're all old foxes!
"Why didn't you report this, Master?"
"Among the disciples sent to the Jiushan Realm before, I have a clan member." The Ninth Elder looked up with a smile, "Between Jiushan Realm and Haori Mountain, I choose Jiushan Realm."
"..."
Zheng Fa truly didn't expect that the disciples' indoctrination could even affect the elders of Chongxuan Sect.
This Ninth Elder truly gave him an unexpectedly pleasant surprise.
Looking at the Ninth Elder, Zheng Fa didn't entirely believe her. No Nascent Soul cultivator could betray their sect merely because of a clansman's words.
It's hard to say how much of what she said is believable.
Dealing with someone so clever without knowing their true intentions is indeed troublesome.
He glanced at the summit, pressing on the Canghai Pearl at his chest, knowing that with the Ninth Elder currently hiding his identity, whether or not she truly intended to help him, he was temporarily safe...
But if conflicts arose in the future, it would be hard to say.
"Since the Elder said so, I happen to have something I'd like to entrust to you, Elder."
"Oh?"
"Do you have any people on hand to help me transport something from the Supreme Dao?"
"..."
The Supreme Dao and Jiushan Sect are blocked by the Supreme Dao, and he didn't have a good way to smuggle things, but this shrewd Ninth Elder might just have her own ways.
Working with this Ninth Elder indeed has risks, but the benefits are evident now.
"This... I can give it a try."
Sure enough, the Ninth Elder furrowed her brows slightly but didn't appear too troubled, instead nodding in agreement.
Zheng Fa walked out of the cave abode, feeling the Ninth Elder's gaze fixed on his back, unsure what she was contemplating.
...
Modern times, nursing home.
"You have a big project but lack programmers?"
Old Man Bai looked at Zheng Fa with a puzzled expression.
"Yes... I need programmers with strong learning ability!"
"How many?"
"As many as there are!"
No matter what the Ninth Elder was thinking, Zheng Fa wasn't about to entrust his safety to her ability to keep secrets—
He intended to secretly add a backdoor to the Heaven and Earth Divine Evil Formation!
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