FVN Chapter 66: Learning From the Past
Chapter 66: Learning From the Past
Chapter 66: Learning From the Past
The Eldest Young Lady stared at her mother, stunned, as if questioning whether she had heard correctly.
“You heard right. He’ll marry into the family and be your husband,” Madam Zhao confirmed.
“Mother, what’s so remarkable about Zheng Fa? Is it just because Senior Sister Zhang praised his talent in talismans?” The Eldest Young Lady’s voice was filled with confusion.
More than her mother suggesting marriage, she couldn’t understand why Madam Zhao valued Zheng Fa so highly.
Her marriage held far greater significance than that of any other Zhao family daughter. As the legitimate daughter of the Zhao family and an inner disciple of the Qingmu Sect, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, her choice of spouse wasn’t trivial.
Madam Zhao sighed. “It’s too fast.”
“Too fast?”
“When I first heard of Zheng Fa, he was just a fatherless farmer. I couldn’t even remember who he was,” Madam Zhao began.
“Later, he became your brother’s study attendant. Seeing how differently your brother treated him, I thought of disciplining him to ensure he wouldn’t become a bad influence.”
The Eldest Young Lady listened intently. Among all the people she had encountered since returning home, Zheng Fa had left the deepest impression.
“I had Instructor Xu teach him Linghe Shen, thinking to humble him. But to my surprise, he mastered it in no time. Only then did I learn he had guidance from a Nascent Soul cultivator.”
“That...” The Eldest Young Lady frowned. “He does seem to have some fortunate encounters.”
Madam Zhao shook her head. “At the time, I thought that no matter what plans the Nascent Soul cultivator had for him, they wouldn’t truly value him. After all, why would someone of such talent remain in our Zhao family as a mere study attendant? Still, with his potential, he could one day assist you and your brother.”
“But now he has even caught Senior Zhang’s attention, who claimed his talent in talismans rivals her own.” Madam Zhao turned to her daughter. “Do you know how long it took him to rise from a farmer to this point?”
“How long?”
“Less than four months. If there’s truth to the concept of destiny, he embodies it.”
“...”
“I intended to cultivate his loyalty, but he isn’t the submissive type. I thought of keeping him in line for the benefit of the Zhao family... but Senior Zhang’s evaluation of his talent exceeded my expectations. His potential isn’t something we can control. We must draw him closer to truly benefit our family,” Madam Zhao explained.
“But doesn’t my brother have a strong bond with him?”
Madam Zhao’s expression turned disdainful. “That fool? Marrying him to you costs me a daughter. Relying on your brother would cost me the whole family.”
“...”
“Thank you for the advice, Senior Zhang.” Zheng Fa hesitated, then asked, “Senior Zhang, you often mention the Hundred Immortals Alliance. What’s the relationship between it and the Jiushan Sect?”
Senior Sister Zhang pondered for a moment before asking a seemingly unrelated question. “Do you know how many times spiritual energy has declined in the Xuanyi Realm?”
“How many?”
Zheng Fa was startled. A single decline seemed catastrophic enough for cultivators—let alone multiple.
“Records mention at least five instances, spanning tens or even hundreds of thousands of years,” Senior Sister Zhang said, raising a hand. “The specifics of the first three are unknown, at least to me.”
“But the last two I’ve read about. During the penultimate decline, a powerful demonic sect believed that the abundance of life consumed too much spiritual energy. They unleashed endless slaughter, and the Immortal Sects waged war. By the end, barely one in ten thousand survived.”
Zheng Fa’s expression darkened. The aftermath of spiritual energy decline was more horrifying than he had imagined.
“During the most recent decline, a peerless genius sought a new path for the Xuanyi Realm. He gathered all its cultivation resources, reaching an unprecedented realm of True Immortality. His plan was to shatter the constraints of this world and create a new one.”
“Did he succeed?”
“He failed.”
Zheng Fa sighed. “Still, his ambition was remarkable.”
“He was also notoriously temperamental. Before attempting his feat, he destroyed nearly 90% of the realm’s sects,” Senior Sister Zhang added.
“...That’s tragic.”
“Thus, the Hundred Immortals Alliance was founded on the principle of unity among Immortal Sects. It aims to reduce conflict and seek a new way to combat the decline of spiritual energy.”
Zheng Fa nodded appreciatively. “It seems they’ve learned from history.”
“It’s unclear if they have, but we certainly did,” Senior Sister Zhang said coolly.
“We?”
“The Hundred Immortals Alliance is an association of small and medium sects. During the penultimate decline, we were the ones massacred. During the last, we were the ones whose resources were plundered.”
“...”
“You asked about the Hundred Immortals Alliance’s origins. Four words: huddling together for warmth.”
As Zheng Fa clutched the Immortal Token, it felt uncomfortably cold, like his heart.