Book 2: Chapter 229: Great Merit Accumulated, Supreme Defensive Treasure
Vol 2 Chapter 229: Great Merit Accumulated, Supreme Defensive Treasure
Zhenren Chengkong was a very professional—at the very least, very earnest—salesman… uh, persuader.
Since he had brought out Tranquility Bamboo to tempt Zheng Fa, he naturally gave an extremely detailed introduction to Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots.
And Zheng Fa, whether for the sake of Jiushan Realm or the Fusang Tree in his own belly, was indeed quite interested.
“What’s called a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root differs from ordinary spiritual plants in that…” Seeing Zheng Fa listening attentively, Zhenren Chengkong became even more enthusiastic, “If a cave-heaven world possesses such a root, it can connect the heavens and the earth.”
Zheng Fa asked, “Zhenren, are you saying that the Jiushan Realm’s separation between immortal and mortal is due to the lack of a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root?”
“Exactly. Of course, there are other ways to connect the immortal and mortal realms—for instance, once your cultivation is high enough, just by relying on your divine powers, without any spiritual root, you can break through the barrier of this world.”
At that, Zhenren Chengkong chuckled:
“For example, the original master of this Heavenly Monument Realm—he probably did just that.”
“But such methods require extremely high cultivation. Even in my Supreme Dao Sect…” He paused mid-sentence, seeming to realize he’d said too much.
Zheng Fa pretended not to notice, silently mulling over the fact that the Supreme Dao Sect, known among the Xuanyi Realm’s Five Great Sects for its ancient legacy, had knowledge of the Divine Path Era. This didn’t surprise him.
But hearing Zhenren Chengkong’s words, it seemed their research into these cave-heaven realms even surpassed that of Jiushan Realm’s former Heavenly Venerables.
Indeed… times were gradually advancing.
He asked Zhenren Chengkong, “Aside from connecting the mortal and immortal realms, what other benefits do Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots offer?”
Seeing Zheng Fa ask this, Zhenren Chengkong felt he was truly invested and was even more forthcoming:
“If a cave-heaven world merges with a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root, then as the root matures, the world naturally grows stronger—common powerful cultivators won’t be able to invade so easily.”
“Compared to bridging immortals and mortals, this is actually the greatest use of a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root!”
“The stronger the root, the greater the benefits to the world—or rather, the more complete the cave-heaven becomes. Some say, in the end, it could even become a true world…”
Zhenren Chengkong’s tone became a bit dreamy, as if this idea felt far-off.
He then pointed to the Tranquility Bamboo: “Besides that, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots can also be considered innate spiritual treasures—unimaginably powerful.”
Zheng Fa looked at the Tranquility Bamboo, noticing a few yellowing leaf tips. He asked curiously:
“This bamboo…”
Zhenren Chengkong sighed and didn’t hide it: “If this Tranquility Bamboo didn’t have some issues preventing it from fusing with a cave-heaven world, I wouldn’t have been allowed to bring it out of the Supreme Dao Sect. Ɽ𝙖𐌽ОᛒĚŠ
My purpose in coming, aside from dealing with the Great Freedom Demonic Sect, is to find a way to fix its problems.”
“These two goals… are really one and the same. I’m confident, but the Great Freedom Demonic Sect has hidden for hundreds of thousands of years. Now that they’ve emerged, without the help of this Tranquility Bamboo…”
Zheng Fa looked at Zhenren Chengkong in surprise—this man was a bit too honest.
Zhenren Chengkong seemed to realize his shock and smiled: “Since I’m inviting you to join the Supreme Dao Sect, of course I have to be transparent with you.”
“Otherwise, if I end up beaten down by the Demonic Sect, wouldn’t you question our strength?”
Zheng Fa pressed further:
“Zhenren, how does your strength compare to an average Soul Formation cultivator?”
“An average Soul Formation? Oh, you mean Tongming?”
?
So you didn’t bring Zhenren Tongming here just so you could trash talk him behind his back?
Zhenren Chengkong totally dodged the question: “You’re really asking about the path beyond Soul Formation, aren’t you.”
“…Yeah.”
“To be honest, it’s hard to explain,” Zhenren Chengkong said patiently, “After Soul Formation, the path varies greatly.”
“……” Zheng Fa widened his eyes.
“In the Supreme Dao Sect, the major demonic sects, and even… the Tianhe Sect, the next realms beyond Soul Formation are all different.
For us, the next realm is called Yang Spirit. For Tianhe Sect, it’s Unity. And for the Demonic Sects, they follow a completely different route—the Body of the Law lineage.”
He was vague, and Zheng Fa was confused, but he understood this much—it was the result of different systems developed across many eras.
Even Tianhe Sect’s system differed from the Supreme Dao Sect’s?
Zhenren Chengkong added, “Tongming never entered our Supreme Dao Sect, so naturally he didn’t receive the true inheritance.”
He only said Zhenren Tongming didn’t receive the true inheritance—he didn’t comment on their relative strength. But it was clear—Zhenren Chengkong likely far surpassed him.
“Yet even so, I’m just a true disciple in the Supreme Dao Sect… our depth far exceeds the world’s imagination.”
“Then…” Zheng Fa couldn’t help asking, “Why are there so few disciples of Supreme Dao Sect in the Xuanyi Realm?”
“Because we’re not in Xuanyi.”
“…A cave-heaven world?” Zheng Fa realized.
Zhenren Chengkong smiled: “Our Supreme Dao Sect has more than just one Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root.”
“……”
Zheng Fa got the message—they not only had their own cave-heaven realm, but multiple spiritual roots besides the Tranquility Bamboo…
If their world had grown alongside the roots over the years, it was likely far larger than Jiushan Realm.
“Then what about Xuanyi Realm? Is it also a cave-heaven world?”
Zheng Fa asked again.
“No. Cave-heaven worlds are characterized by special—or incomplete—rules.”
“Xuanyi Realm… is very unusual.”
Zheng Fa looked at Zhenren Chengkong in confusion, but he just shut his mouth, clearly unwilling to say more.
Recalling how open he’d been just moments ago, Zheng Fa understood—Xuanyi Realm… was really special.
……
Zhenren Chengkong changed the subject: “Don’t hear me talk about how the Supreme Dao Sect has multiple spiritual roots and think they’re easy to find.”
“Didn’t I tell you already? Of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots I know, there are only about ten types.”
“In the Xuanyi Realm… there hasn’t been a new spiritual root for an entire era.”
Zheng Fa understood—Zhenren Chengkong was saying, without joining the Supreme Dao Sect, finding such a root was near impossible.
“Even this lower-tier Tranquility Bamboo isn’t something a Soul Formation cultivator can own.”
“Let alone the highest-tier ones in legends—Jianmu, Yellowbell Plum, and Fusang Tree…”
Zheng Fa asked casually, “Fusang Tree—I think I’ve heard of that one…”
“The Fusang Tree is incredibly rare. Legend says it’s extremely yang in nature and possesses the generative power of wood… among all Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots, it’s top-tier.”
“My Tranquility Bamboo, if placed next to a Fusang Tree, would be nothing…”
“They say a few eras ago, the Fusang Tree appeared, and a great cultivator obtained it. With it, he roamed the Xuanyi Realm and was nearly invincible in his time…”
Zhenren Chengkong sighed with admiration, openly praising the Fusang Tree—he even sounded a bit dismissive of his own Tranquility Bamboo.
Clearly, he longed for a Fusang Tree.
In fact, he spoke so glowingly that it bordered on flattery.
Of course, it could also be that he was hyping up Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots to tempt Zheng Fa.
While they were speaking, Senior Sister Zhang arrived.
As soon as Zhenren Chengkong saw her, he stopped and turned to Zheng Fa: “Think it over for a day.”
Senior Sister Zhang watched him leave, then curiously asked Zheng Fa, “Were you two talking about the Fusang Tree just now?”
“Hmm?”
“He seemed really into the Fusang Tree—how’d that come up?”
Zheng Fa thought for a moment, then replied, “He likes talking, and I like listening.”
“……”
Senior Sister Zhang did know Zheng Fa had cultivated a Fusang Tree. After hearing that, she looked at him strangely.
So Junior Brother treats someone’s bragging… like a compliment?
……
“The Fusang Tree in my Dantian probably formed from condensed spiritual energy… it can’t be called a true Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root.”
Zheng Fa recalled how the Fusang Tree formed and remained grounded.
To him, it was likely a spell given form—for example, the fruit of the Fusang Tree could generate fusion spells.
And the tree had at least one more spell that produced so-called Fusang Spirit Dew.
But calling it a true spiritual root…
Then all those fancy Dao Bodies like the Yuan Spirit Dao Body and Primordial Magnetic Dao Body weren’t even worthy of being compared to his Qingyang Dao Body.
Zheng Fa had always been self-aware.
His Qingyang Dao Body was initially just the combination of the Five Thunder Body Technique and Qingyang Qi—Qingyang Qi was certainly extraordinary, which was why the Jiushan Ancestor valued it.
But to say it could give birth to a top-tier spiritual root—that would be delusional.
What kept him grounded was a simple truth:
If he really had a Fusang Tree, it would’ve altered Jiushan Realm’s spiritual energy rules the moment he arrived—just like the Tranquility Bamboo.
But it hadn’t.
That said enough.
Senior Sister Zhang nodded after hearing that. “From what Zhenren Chengkong said, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots aren’t so easy to come by… So, are you planning to join the Supreme Dao Sect?”
Zheng Fa shook his head.
The relationship between the Xuanyi Five Great Sects and the Tianhe Venerable had always made him wary.
Unless it was absolutely necessary, Zheng Fa still preferred to keep his distance.
What if that jade pendant of his acted up again?
“Then our Jiushan Realm may be fated to miss out on a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root…”
Senior Sister Zhang shook her head and sighed.
“Not necessarily.”
Zheng Fa thought of his modern research on spiritual plants.
He also thought of the cell-like structures he developed after forming the Qingyang Dao Body.
And suddenly, he felt a bit emotional:
He’d misjudged his biology teacher!
He wasn’t lying—maybe… it really is the century of biology?
“You want… to grow a Fusang Tree?”
After hearing Zheng Fa’s thoughts, Senior Sister Zhang stared wide-eyed at him, looking at his head.
As if wondering whether her Junior Brother had lost it.
“I do have the idea. For now, the key is figuring out what truly distinguishes a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root from ordinary spiritual plants.”
Zheng Fa figured—he was already farming.
Trying to grow a spiritual root... wasn’t that unreasonable, right?
Senior Sister Zhang stared at him blankly, looking kind of cute.
“Senior Sister, do you think if I ask Zhenren Chengkong for some dead leaves and twigs, he’ll give them to me?”
Zheng Fa’s eyes sparkled as he asked.
Senior Sister Zhang immediately understood what he was thinking and after pondering for a moment, said, “Leaves that grow on Tranquility Bamboo… even if they’re yellowed or fallen, they’re still treasures.”
Zheng Fa thought that made sense too, and temporarily pushed the idea aside, asking:
“Senior Sister Zhang, why were you looking for me?”
Senior Sister Zhang patted her forehead and said, “It’s Madam Xuanhua—she’s refined a magic tool that can block spiritual energy interference with electromagnetic force.”
……
Seventh Young Master sat nervously on the meditation cushion, head lowered, pondering one question—what right do I have to even be sitting here?
When he came, he rode the Qingmu Sect’s flying boat, surrounded by fellow disciples of similar cultivation.
Who would’ve thought he’d be riding back aboard Zhenren Tongming’s personal tower ship?
Inside the hall, aside from him, were two Soul Formation cultivators...
“Zheng Fa declined?”
Seventh Young Master perked up his ears.
“Declined… or rather, tactfully refused,” Zhenren Chengkong chuckled, “No rush. I’m still dealing with the Great Freedom Demonic Sect…”
Zhenren Tongming was silent for a moment, then said:
“You’ll just let him be, Envoy?”
“He’s not even in Soul Formation and yet he’s not anxious—why should I be?” Zhenren Chengkong smiled. “He’s got talent like that;
a little pride, a reluctance to serve under others, it’s normal. He’ll eventually understand—without joining my Supreme Dao Sect and receiving our true teachings, he’ll hit a wall at Soul Formation.”
“What’s more, one day he’ll understand what I meant when I said Jiushan Realm is easily taken advantage of.”
“……”
Zhenren Tongming went quiet again for a long time, seeming a bit pricked.
“Envoy… why are you so patient with Zheng Fa?”
Zhenren Tongming couldn’t help asking.
He’d already come to understand Zhenren Chengkong’s temperament—this man was extremely proud and short-tempered.
A few days ago, a healer from Baicao Sect had tried treating the Tranquility Bamboo. When there were no results in a few days, he was kicked out.
This man had no patience for flattery.
Yet toward Zheng Fa, he showed a completely different face.
“...He’s worth the wait,” Zhenren Chengkong curled his lips and said.
“You know, the Tianhe Venerable once tried to join a major sect—and was refused.”
“……” Zhenren Tongming understood what he meant.
“That sect was mocked for hundreds of thousands of years afterward…”
Zhenren Tongming got it—Zhenren Chengkong was so patient, probably because the Tianhe Venerable… had once been there.
Seventh Young Master understood too. His special treatment was likely due to Zheng Fa.
And even more… this Envoy from the Supreme Dao Sect was intending to recruit Zheng Fa?
Zheng Fa even turned him down?
What was scarier—this Envoy hadn’t given up…
And was treating Zheng Fa like another Tianhe Venerable.
Mom… now I finally understand what you meant by “lucky in life”!
He chuckled blankly for a while, but a trace of sorrow crept into his heart.
Gao Yuan had exchanged letters with him before, but never wrote to Zheng Fa.
He’d once asked about that, and Gao Yuan had only replied with three words—not appropriate.
At the time, he thought he understood:
Not appropriate—because even though they were from the same background, the distance between them had grown too wide. Their experiences had diverged;
they couldn’t talk like before.
It was also… the pride deep inside, and the fear that trying to stay close would feel like groveling.
Now, he understood better.
As Zheng Fa kept rising, someday he too would become like Gao Yuan—feeling like writing a letter would be an act of currying favor…
He wanted to laugh, but also cry.
……
“If Zheng Fa really becomes like the Tianhe Venerable, what he’ll get won’t be patience anymore…” Zhenren Chengkong suddenly said.
“Envoy, what do you mean by that?”
Zhenren Tongming was even more puzzled.
“Think about it—who would want another Tianhe Venerable to appear?”
Zhenren Chengkong shook his head.
“……” Thinking of the Tianhe Venerable’s legendary exploits—leveling all under heaven—Zhenren Tongming understood.
“If he truly becomes like that—someone who draws his sword at the slightest offense—then there’ll be real trouble.”
He finally grasped the implication:
As long as Zheng Fa was quietly cultivating, Zhenren Chengkong wouldn’t pressure him…
Because if you do push him, and he turns out like the Tianhe Venerable—
The Hundred Immortals Alliance might be the first to fall out with him.
They wouldn’t need to deal with the Demonic Sect anymore—they’d be laughing themselves to death.
Zhenren Chengkong glanced at Zhenren Tongming, who seemed to have caught on. He smiled too, as if there were still things he didn’t want to say aloud.
If another Tianhe Venerable really emerged… the Great Freedom Demonic Sect wouldn’t just stand by.
“This Zheng Fa… really is kind of cowardly,” Zhenren Tongming said with a smile. “Or rather, he’s a cultivator who truly only cares about cultivation, not about anything else.”
“That’s fine. As long as he only wants to cultivate, he’ll eventually come to me.” Zhenren Chengkong nodded. “Though there is one thing that’s a bit odd.”
“What is it?”
Zhenren Chengkong didn’t answer him. Instead, he turned to look at Seventh Young Master.
“Tell me—what’s Zheng Fa’s connection to Chen Prefecture?”
“Chen Prefecture?”
Zhenren Tongming was confused. After thinking a bit, he replied confidently: “I’m familiar with his movements after joining—he’s never even been to Chen Prefecture.”
Zhenren Chengkong nodded lightly. “That’s true, but when Zheng Fa said goodbye, he specifically asked me to gather intel on Chen Prefecture.”
“Especially on the strength of the Demonic Sect’s presence there, and their evil deeds—he seemed quite interested.”
“It even felt like he intended to intervene personally.”
“……” Zhenren Tongming frowned. “Zheng Fa has never suffered losses at the hands of the Demonic Sect, and he’s always been the type to avoid trouble. Why would he suddenly act like this?”
Seventh Young Master said softly, “In Chen Prefecture… we had a friend, probably killed by the Demonic Sect.”
Both Zhenrens froze, turning to stare at Seventh Young Master.
Zhenren Tongming thought for a bit:
“A woman?”
“A man.”
“Did he owe Zheng Fa a debt of gratitude?”
“Probably not.”
“A relative of Zheng Fa?”
“...Just a friend. The one the Envoy asked me about before—Gao Yuan.”
Zhenren Chengkong was silent for a moment, then said, “Tell me in detail—what was the relationship between Gao Yuan and Zheng Fa?”
……
After hearing Seventh Young Master’s story, both Zhenren Chengkong and Zhenren Tongming fell silent.
After a while, Zhenren Tongming finally said: “I’m going to Chen Prefecture to take a look.”
“……”
Zhenren Chengkong looked at him.
“Making a friend like Zheng Fa… totally worth it.”
“I’m going too.”
“Envoy?” Zhenren Tongming was surprised.
Zhenren Chengkong chuckled lightly and said, “Having a junior brother like that… not bad at all.”
Seventh Young Master lowered his head again and smiled faintly.
He didn’t know what cultivation level the one who harmed Gao Yuan had…
But the kind of blessing where two Soul Formation cultivators came along for vengeance—
That wasn’t something ordinary people could handle.
And judging from Zhenren Chengkong’s tone, Zheng Fa seemed to be planning to make a move too.
That meant three Soul Formation cultivators…
That person must’ve accumulated immense virtue in his past life!
Thinking that, Seventh Young Master pressed his lips together and tried not to laugh.
……
Zheng Fa saw off the Hundred Immortals Alliance party, then followed Senior Sister Zhang to University Island.
Another courtyard had been set up on University Island—officially designated for Madam Xuanhua to build her experimental instruments.
The first step in crafting instruments, naturally, was to produce magic tools with shielding capabilities—
Otherwise, nothing else could even begin.
That tool—Madam Xuanhua had already made it.
On the table sat a bracelet, inscribed with two shielding talisman patterns.
“This is it?”
Madam Xuanhua nodded, a bit proud: “This thing wasn’t hard. Just finding the right spiritual materials was tricky.”
“Where did the materials come from?”
Zheng Fa asked curiously.
“We tested all the materials we could get from Xuanyi Realm and the market. This one worked best,” Senior Sister Zhang explained. “With this bracelet on, spiritual energy interference with electromagnetic force is nearly eliminated within half a zhang.”
“Nearly?”
“It’s still just a magic tool, after all. Limited effectiveness. Fairy Xiao’s experiments showed that thunder techniques below Golden Core have basically no effect, but above Golden Core, it depends on the technique itself.”
“What about the cost?”
“It’s cheap, but not very practical.”
Madam Xuanhua sighed. “This thing only works during experiments. It can’t be used as a defensive treasure.”
“Hmm?”
Zheng Fa looked at her, and she explained:
“For example, Yuying—if she launches thunder from a distance, this thing won’t block it.”
Zheng Fa nodded. That was true—this tool blocked spiritual interference with electromagnetic forces, not the electromagnetic forces themselves.
Honestly, if it could block electromagnetic forces… that would make it unusable for the instruments Zheng Fa had in mind.
Take the electron microscope, for instance—it theoretically shoots electrons at the object.
If the bracelet blocked that, now that would be awkward.
“On the other hand, wearing this bracelet disables your other thunder-defense tools.”
Zheng Fa understood Madam Xuanhua’s frustration.
Those other magic tools were based on controlling electromagnetic force through spiritual energy.
It was like antivirus software disabling your own firewall…
“But if you modify this thing a bit and attach it to those instruments you talked about, it should still be useful.”
Zheng Fa nodded lightly. But as he looked at the bracelet, a different item came to mind…
“Madam, could you make me something else?”
“What?”
“Well, just a piece of copper or iron—drawn into fine wires and shaped into a cage-like structure.”
“……”
Madam Xuanhua stared at him for a long time, then said, “Not spiritual material?”
“Nope.”
“Mundane object?”
“Yes.”
“I’m a Nascent Soul artifact master—you know how many spirit stones it costs each time I craft something? And you want me to make a mortal gadget…” Madam Xuanhua bit her teeth as she said it.
Zheng Fa froze for a second—he’d blurted it out on a whim.
He hadn’t expected to offend Madam Xuanhua’s pride.
After thinking it over, he summoned a few disciples from the Golden Core Project who could forge artifacts.
What Zheng Fa wanted really wasn’t hard to make. Soon, a silver sphere woven from metal wire appeared before everyone.
The ball stood on the ground, with a small door that could open and close.
Zheng Fa thought for a moment, then put on the bracelet and stepped into the sphere. He looked at Xiao Yuying and said, “Fairy Xiao, hit me with some thunder.”
Xiao Yuying blinked, puzzled, but still moved her fingers—
A bolt of blue lightning fell from the sky straight toward Zheng Fa.
On the metal cage, crackling sparks burst out—dazzling and bright.
Fairy Xiao wasn’t holding back...
But the cultivators present had excellent eyesight.
They could clearly see—though lightning streamed across the metal wires like water, inside the cage, there wasn’t a single trace of thunder!
Zheng Fa sat calmly inside, not even moving a finger!
Madam Xuanhua hurried up to the outside of the cage, looking at him. “You used a secret technique?”
“No.”
“Hiding a treasure in there?”
“...Madam, aren’t you well aware how poor Jiushan Sect is?”
“Then this is…”
Zheng Fa looked at the metal ball and chuckled internally: This treasure… is called a Faraday cage.
“Madam, would you say—this, combined with the bracelet, qualifies as a defensive magic treasure?”
Madam Xuanhua was silent for a long time before saying,
“Judging by its cost, calling it a magic treasure is an insult…”
“It deserves to be called… a supreme treasure!”