I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times-Chapter 284Book 2: : The Demon Emperor’s Resolve, Tongming’s Entrustment
Vol 2 Chapter 284: The Demon Emperor's Resolve, Tongming's Entrustment
The Great Freedom Demon Emperor stood in his silver robes, gazing at the slightly dimmed imperial jade seal before him. His bald head made the scene somewhat... comical.
The coronation ceremony had succeeded. The Ten-Thousand-Beast Banner in his hand surged with majestic power, causing even Wuzhi to feel wary when he saw it. But when he looked at the Demon Emperor again, he couldn't help but feel sympathy:
Because the Demon Emperor's Dao Fruit... was crippled.
"Zheng Fa..."
The Great Freedom Demon Emperor murmured lowly, his voice like clashing metal that resonated beyond the Thirty-Three Heavenly Palaces, stirring up dozens of waves across the sea. Below the heavenly palaces, sea monsters scattered in panic as if divine punishment had descended.
Wuzhi wasn't afraid—in fact, he found it even more amusing.
During the ceremony earlier, the Great Freedom Demon Emperor's recited vows had displeased him greatly.
"A hundred races bowing, ten thousand spirits submitting..."
Such words would inevitably be sensed by heaven and earth, and heard by all demons. They were certainly not casual remarks. In Wuzhi's view, the elders of Xuanyi Realm's Five Great Sects had underestimated the Great Freedom Demon Emperor's ambitions.
...Or perhaps they hadn't underestimated him, but simply looked down on this fallen noble.
As a Nascent Soul cultivator, Wuzhi naturally didn't dare show such contempt. Now that the Demon Emperor had suffered a setback, he actually felt relieved.
"The Demon Emperor's Dao Fruit in Zheng Fa's hands has changed..."
Wuzhi's heart skipped a beat—he hadn't expected this reason.
"Doesn't that make him just like you?"
The Great Freedom Demon Emperor nodded slightly. Originally the Demon Ancestor, he already possessed his own Dao Fruit. Now transformed into the Great Freedom Demon Emperor, his situation bore remarkable similarities to Zheng Fa's.
"This is no simple matter..."
Wuzhi also frowned deeply.
His wariness of the Great Freedom Demon Emperor didn't prevent their cooperation. He believed the Demon Emperor understood this perfectly.
Their goals aligned perfectly—Zheng Fa.
Wuzhi wanted the Tranquility Bamboo;the Great Freedom Demon Emperor wanted to perfect his Dao Fruit.
"We cannot wait any longer." The Demon Emperor's eyes darkened, devoid of his earlier composure before the coronation, now filled only with determination. "If we delay further until Zheng Fa completes the transformation of the Demon Emperor's Dao Fruit..."
"It will become nearly impossible for me to perfect mine."
Wuzhi found this strangely ironic—hadn't the Demon Emperor been scheming to force Zheng Fa out of Jiushan Realm?
Now it seemed—who was forcing whom?
"What does Your Majesty plan to..."
"Mobilize all demons to attack Jiushan!"
"What if the other four Xuanyi sects intervene?"
Having made his decision, the Great Freedom Demon Emperor left himself no retreat:
"Then we'll fight!" He smiled coldly. "Do you truly believe Taishang Dao and the others would fight tooth and nail for Zheng Fa?"
Wuzhi shook his head. From what he knew, Zheng Fa had rejected recruitment offers from three Taishang Dao factions, displeasing many. If those factions didn't hinder them, it would already demonstrate remarkable open-mindedness—let alone confront a desperate Great Freedom Demon Emperor. 𝘳äŊО𝖇Е𝘚
Yet recalling how the Demon Emperor had once sat calmly fishing, but now had to gamble everything—even betting on Taishang Dao's reaction—Wuzhi looked at him with sudden doubt, growing increasingly anxious about whether he could still obtain the Tranquility Bamboo.
......
Netherworld Immortal and Chen Ting were equally anxious.
They stared at the Nine Nether Talisman Edict before them in prolonged silence.
Finally, Netherworld Immortal spoke: "We cannot wait any longer."
Chen Ting blinked—the phrase sounded familiar. Oh right, hadn't the Demon Emperor just said the same?
"If the Demon Emperor successfully seizes the Dao Fruit from Zheng Fa and grows stronger, he'll become even harder to deal with." Netherworld Immortal's face flashed with ruthlessness. "To accomplish our sacred mission, this may be our only chance."
"Only if Zheng Fa or Taishang Dao can... at least severely injure the Demon Emperor."
"Only then will we have an opportunity."
After a long silence, Chen Ting slowly nodded, pressing the talisman against his forehead...
......
Meanwhile, Zheng Fa in Jiushan Realm remained unaware that he had driven both the Great Freedom Demon Emperor and his two intimate spies to desperation.
He was still training Xie Qingxue—or rather, practicing swordplay in coordination with her.
Yan Wushuang watched his sworn brother and senior sister, feeling something was off about this scene:
Zheng Fa closed his eyes to meditate briefly before opening them to gaze at the Qingping Sword. Xie Qingxue's figure dissolved into nothingness and vanished.
Soon, an aura Yan Wushuang knew all too well emanated from the Qingping Sword!
As a true disciple of Tianhe Sect, he recognized this unity of sword and wielder technique.
The problem was...
Wherever Zheng Fa pointed, Senior Sister struck, and the Qingping Sword's power had multiplied beyond measure!
How was this fair?
Even he wasn't this much of a traitor!
Yan Wushuang looked at Xie Qingxue with confusion—did even betrayal require innate talent?
After testing three moves together, Xie Qingxue's figure flashed back from the sword. The two exchanged satisfied smiles:
Zheng Fa had mastered over half of the Jiushan Golden Core Method, deepening his control of the Qingping Sword.
Xie Qingxue now shared perfect synergy with Zheng Fa, their cooperation elevating both.
Of course, what pleased Xie Qingxue more was that Zheng Fa had taught her the Jiushan Golden Core Method:
This naturally enhanced the Qingping Sword's power.
Even without Zheng Fa in the future, the strength Xie Qingxue could unleash with the sword would be incomparable to before.
She might well become the most powerful sword spirit in the Qingping Sword's entire lineage!
"Brother Zheng, Brother Zheng, didn't you promise to teach me the Jiushan Golden Core Method?"
Yan Wushuang's voice suddenly interrupted, his face brimming with desire, hope and fantasy.
Xie Qingxue's expression darkened as she glared at her junior brother—
This wolf-hearted traitor daring to overreach his station—did he think her blind?
Zheng Fa froze, glancing surreptitiously at Xie Qingxue but remaining silent.
Yan Wushuang grew frantic—hadn't he contributed to obtaining the method? Would Zheng Fa break his word?
This wouldn't do!
After much muttering, Zheng Fa finally sighed, stealing another look at Xie Qingxue.
"I can teach you."
Yan Wushuang brightened, ready to agree.
"Dare to learn it, and don't blame me for being merciless."
Xie Qingxue's icy words showed no trace of sect camaraderie.
"He... you... I..."
Yan Wushuang pointed at Zheng Fa, then Xie Qingxue, then himself—three words conveying lifetimes of injustice.
Though wary of the method, Xie Qingxue's practice revealed something to Zheng Fa—the Qingping Sword had its own standards.
That intense reaction seemed unique to Zheng Fa as the method's first practitioner.
Even Xie Qingxue couldn't fully activate the sword, only improving their synergy.
Until they fully understood whether this could be overcome, Xie Qingxue refused to let the method spread widely—especially to Yan Wushuang...
How could she maintain her position in Tianhe Sect otherwise?
"My father..." Yan Wushuang puffed his chest defiantly.
"The Sect Leader said any betrayal warrants immediate execution!"
Xie Qingxue stated coldly.
Yan Wushuang deflated, though still mumbling: "But you also..."
"Precisely why you're foolish."
Zheng Fa surprisingly agreed.
Yan Wushuang's carelessness had nearly exposed everything shortly after returning.
Xie Qingxue's discretion was remarkable—without the Qingping Sword's mischief, who would have known she was a rebel?
......
As they spoke, Zheng Fa suddenly sensed something and excused himself: "A guest arrives—I must take my leave."
He found Senior Sister Zhang and Zhenren Tongming waiting at Celestial Palace Island.
"Venerable One?"
Zhenren Tongming looked weary—unusual for a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Soon Zheng Fa understood.
"Recently I've been... burying our deceased disciples and relocating the survivors."
Hearing Tongming's bleak tone, Zheng Fa fell silent.
Zhenren Tongming's plight was truly tragic.
With Tongming Mountain's spirit veins severed and fewer than one in ten disciples remaining, his sect faced extinction.
Zheng Fa could only offer: "My condolences..."
He understood the man's attachment to his life's work.
Zhenren Tongming nodded, then posed an unexpected question: "Do you want the Hundred Immortals Alliance?"
"What?"
"I wish to entrust both the Alliance and Tongming Mountain's remaining disciples to you."
Zheng Fa stared in shock: "Does Venerable One plan to leave?"
"Yes." Tongming confirmed. "Head Seat Mingde returns to his mountain and has kindly offered me passage to Taishang Dao."
Zheng Fa's expression turned slightly odd: "Congratulations."
For Tongming, losing his mountain was tragic—but returning to Taishang Dao was fortunate.
Moreover, with the honorable Head Seat Mingde's patronage, his future wouldn't be difficult.
"Why not take your disciples..."
"They could never establish themselves in Taishang Dao as I might."
Clearly, Taishang Dao wasn't easy to navigate.
Zheng Fa pondered—Tongming simply sought a patron for his remaining followers.
Choosing Jiushan Realm made sense—what faction surpassed it besides Xuanyi's Five Great Sects?
He considered accepting this force. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
Though greatly weakened, the Hundred Immortals Alliance still comprised significant numbers.
But its past chaos had scarred Zheng Fa—the Alliance leaked like a sieve.
As if reading his thoughts, Tongming added:
"Actually, I consulted several sect leaders—they were...enthusiastic."
"Oh?"
Zheng Fa blinked as Tongming explained:
"Those disciples who entered Jiushan Realm wrote home praising it endlessly."
"Most importantly—none wished to return to Xuanyi Realm."
"This has spread throughout our Alliance."
Zheng Fa was stunned—he'd never read their letters.
This grassroots approval...Xuanyi's people understood quality!
Seeing his genuine surprise, Tongming looked even more pained: "I suspected you weren't deliberate...but after the Hundred Immortals Conference in Jiushan Realm, our unity dissolved."
"..."
This sounded like his fault?
"Your Golden Core ceremony was too impressive—even your markets."
Tongming's complex gaze held lingering resentment: "If not for Jiushan Realm's restrictions, they'd have flocked here long ago."
After a pause, he cursed:
"Those ingrates actually rejoiced when they heard I'd entrust the Alliance to you!"
......
Even the normally aloof Senior Sister Zhang looked speechless, her gaze sympathetic as she imagined the scene.
Having confessed, Tongming continued bluntly:
"Had morale remained, I'd have rebuilt the Alliance."
"But now..."
Zheng Fa studied Tongming curiously—such magnanimity?
"I have one request."
"Yes?"
"Keep the Hundred Immortals Alliance name."
As Zheng Fa puzzled, Senior Sister Zhang realized: "I once heard 'Hundred Immortals Alliance—Xuanyi's Sixth'..."
"My arrogant boast." Tongming actually blushed.
Ah.
A hype master.
Even he'd been fooled!
Zheng Fa now understood—Tongming still cherished the Alliance, but circumstances permitted no nostalgia.
"I'd trust no one else."
"Only Jiushan Realm might prolong the Alliance's existence."
These were Tongming's parting words.
......
After Tongming's entrustment, Zheng Fa summoned his master and elders.
"So if we accept, we become Alliance leaders?"
Uncle Pang jumped up excitedly.
Even Elder Yuan and Uncle Huang looked pleased.
Zheng Fa understood—though Jiushan Realm developed rapidly, the Alliance differed.
Jiushan Sect had once suffered within it.
Now returning as leaders—what a turnaround!
With many old friends in the Alliance, this was like a glorious homecoming.
Zheng Fa had seen their secret glee in group chats—he understood.
Only Senior Sister Zhang remained silent, awaiting his decision.
After long consideration, Zheng Fa nodded:
"Accepting the Alliance carries risks, but greater benefits."
"First, strength." He analyzed. "Though lacking Nascent Souls, their remaining Golden Cores form formidable arrays."
"Second, resources. Though we craft spirit materials, natural ones remain cheaper..."
"Many other advantages exist."
Hearing this, the elders grasped his inclination.
Zheng Fa's stance was clear—joining Taishang Dao or Haori Mountain meant losing autonomy, which was unacceptable.
But leading themselves? Worth trying.
......
Two days later, Zheng Fa and Tongming presided over Jiushan Realm's Celestial Palace.
The remaining Alliance leaders sat below, eyeing each other nervously.
They coveted Jiushan Sect's power and techniques.
But Jiushan Realm's superiority also worried them—would they lose authority?
Now facing this transition, their earlier excitement gave way to anxiety.
Some even thought—if Jiushan Sect proved too domineering, perhaps seceding was better.
Reading their expressions, Zheng Fa understood perfectly.
Truthfully, Tongming's loose management had left the Alliance full of holes—but also granted great freedom.
Zheng Fa would certainly differ.
Seeing their expectant gazes, he announced: "Any objections or questions may be voiced now."
After exchanged glances, Qingmu Sect's leader stood and bowed:
"Sect Leader Zheng, we naturally admire Jiushan Sect."
"But as Alliance leader, what would your policies be?"
"What tribute must we pay?"
"Or...will we merge into Jiushan Realm?"
His uneasy eyes reflected their shared concern—their disciples in Jiushan Realm revealed Zheng Fa as intensely controlling, or perhaps just extremely cautious.
Would he tolerate their autonomy?
After consideration, Zheng Fa responded: "Here are two documents for your review."
He tapped the table, sending stacks of papers fluttering like white doves into their hands.
Qingmu's leader opened the first:
"Mutual Defense Treaty"
Its principles became immediately clear.
"No internal warfare."
"Disputes resolved in Jiushan Realm."
"United against external threats."
Detailed provisions followed, including Golden Core array drills.
The message was clear—Zheng Fa would centralize authority.
No more internal strife or abandoning allies as with the Great Freedom Demonic Sect.
In return, they'd receive Jiushan Sect's protection.
This gave them pause—while beneficial, it curtailed their freedom far beyond Tongming's lax rule.
Their nostalgic glances at Tongming almost made him smirk—now they appreciated him?
But they recognized Zheng Fa's terms as non-negotiable.
As weaker parties seeking sanctuary, they had little choice.
With heavy hearts, Qingmu's leader opened the second document: "Tariff Union Agreement."
After two lines, he exclaimed:
"Sect Leader Zheng demands no tribute?"
"Just joining this tariff union suffices?"
Zheng Fa smiled and nodded.
The hall erupted in excited chatter—cultivators ultimately cared most about cultivation resources.
Tongming Mountain's tributes had been substantial—Zheng Fa's generosity astonished them!
Moreover, this signaled no intention to annex them!
How could they not rejoice?
Watching them, Zheng Fa smiled inwardly—these sects themselves held little appeal.
He'd initially preferred keeping distance—Jiushan Realm harbored too many secrets.
What attracted him were their resources and...markets!
Glancing between the tariff agreement and their delighted faces, recalling Senior Sister Zhang's calculations...
Who said no tribute meant no profits?
The industrial-agricultural scissors gap—ever heard of it?
......
Ignorant of Jiushan Realm's internal developments or economic theories, Qingmu's leader and others happily signed.
Finishing their signatures, they looked up at Tongming—their expressions now almost accusatory:
Oh? You're still here?
