Chapter 399: Open your heart and ask to leave

Zheng Fa looked at Xiao Yuying, who was standing in front of the magic screen, staring at him intently. Although her eyes were not sharp, they were particularly clear, as if she saw everything clearly.

On the painting screen, a jade-colored deer was looming in the mountains, facing the two people sideways, as if it was about to walk into the mountains.

Seeing Zheng Fa didn't say anything, Xiao Yuying didn't stop asking: "Although Venerable Tianhe is a taboo for the Five Xuanwei Sects, your current actions are actually offending the cultivators of the world... Others don't know, don't you know?"

"I have seen many records about the past, and I think I have some understanding of Xuanwei's past..." Xiao Yuying was an extremely confident and even conceited person, but at this moment she was a little scared, "What you did... since ancient times, no one dared to do it, no, no one even wanted to do it."

Zheng Fa finally understood why, after entering Jiushan Sect, although Xiao Yuying was cooperating with him, she was gradually drifting away from them, and even now wanted to leave.

He originally thought that the other party was proud of his background and was unwilling to join the Jiushan Sect too early.

Now it seems that it was because Xiao Yuying had been watching from the sidelines for some time, as if she had seen through herself and even the current Jiushan Sect.

He thought that Senior Sister Zhang might understand his thoughts a little bit, and other people might have some guesses, but no one could see so far and so deeply like Xiao Yuying.

To describe Xiao Yuying's words in one sentence, it is... Zheng Fa betrayed the monk class!

Even Senior Sister Zhang may not understand this point.

"Fairy Xiao, I have always called you a historian in my heart... I didn't expect that you have such a long-term vision..."

"What are you thinking?" Xiao Yuying said irritably, as if she wanted to scold Zheng Fa, "You are doing the Golden Elixir Project, and I can still say that you are doing it for your own elixir."

"But what are you doing now?"

"Simplify the cultivation method, spread it widely, and even teach mortals how to forge spiritual tools... If we only stop here, then forget it."

"But what does this train of thought ultimately mean? Do you understand?"

"Everyone can learn the theory of cultivation!"

"All the immortal cultivation skills will either be eliminated or become worthless!"

"Not only are monks no longer high and mighty, they also have to work for mortals!"

"Which monk can bear it?"

"Which sect can accept it?"

Xiao Yuying spoke faster and faster, and at the end, her tone was extremely high: "Zheng Fa, you have such a good talent and such a high talent, why do you want to become the enemy of the world's cultivators?"

Xiao Yuying looked extremely anxious, but the smile on Zheng Fa's face became more and more intense.

"What are you laughing at!"

Zheng Fa cupped his hands and said, "I want to thank Fairy Xiao for worrying about me."

He really didn't expect that Xiao Yuying not only had an extraordinary talent for thunder magic, but also had a very profound understanding of many things. Now this impatience was actually a sign of goodwill from the other party.

"It's good that you know... With your current achievements and talents, if you give up this path and join one of the five sects, although you won't have the status and reputation you have now, you won't be cut off from the Xuanwei cultivators."

Although Zheng Fa remained silent and did not refuse, his silence was a resistance.

"If you are unwilling to submit to the Five Sects..."

Xiao Yuying's tone was a little hesitant, as if she was a little unconfident, but she still gritted her teeth and said, "I can also ask my master for help... There should be a way to save your life... As long as you turn back from your mistakes."

To be able to say such words, Xiao Yuying's master must be very extraordinary.

Her protection of herself was sincere and real, which touched Zheng Fa a little.

Zheng Fa looked at Xiao Yuying, the smile on his face deepened, but... he still shook his head.

"You..." Xiao Yuying seemed a little anxious, and paused before saying, "Then let me leave the Nine Mountains Realm. I don't want to be buried with you, the Nine Mountains Sect."

"Fairy Xiao..." Zheng Fa thought for a moment and said generously, "With the fairy's contribution to my Jiushan Sect, as long as you abide by the previous treaty, you can come and go freely. I will never interfere."

Xiao Yuying was stunned, and then she saw Zheng Fa waving his hand behind her, and a door of light appeared behind her.

Outside the light gate is the Xuanwei Realm.

As long as she lifted her foot, she could escape from the vortex of Jiushan Sect that frightened her.

But at this moment, she was a little hesitant.

Zheng Fa smiled and said, "Fairy Xiao, since you are not in a hurry to leave, why don't we sit down and listen to my thoughts?"

He pointed to a chair in the lobby.

Zheng Fa sat on a wooden chair first. Xiao Yuying was silent for a while, then sat down. Between them was a wooden low table which was usually used to place tea cups.

Seeing her sit down, Zheng Fa spoke up, "Fairy Xiao, the questions you ask are very big, and there are even some things...I haven't thought them through myself."

He thought for a while, and added: "I am not as knowledgeable as you, Fairy, in understanding the past of the Xuanwei Realm. If there are some mistakes or omissions in what I said, I hope Fairy Xiao can point out some of the imperfections in my consideration for the sake of our friendship."

Xiao Yuying was a little surprised when she heard his sincere tone, as if he really wanted to seek advice.

Zheng Fa smiled bitterly and said, "I can only discuss many ideas with Senior Sister Zhang. Although Senior Uncle Pang and others treat me very well, their ideas are no different from those of traditional cultivators in the Xuanwei Realm. Some things they hear may do more harm than good."

"Since you have seen some clues, Fairy Xiao, and you are thinking about me, I dare to reveal some of my thoughts."

Xiao Yuying nodded and said, "Tell me about it."

"Fairy Xiao, you are right. If the Jiushan Sect continues on this path, it will stand against almost all cultivators."

"Simplifying the practice will lower the threshold for cultivation. Even if the spiritual energy does not decline, it will intensify the competition among existing cultivators... spiritual materials, spiritual land, and spiritual energy are all limited."

"You know what..."

Zheng Fa shook his head, interrupted Xiao Yuying, and continued: "Building factories and training workers, even workers who don't need to cultivate, will lead to lower returns for weapon refiners, and may even completely eliminate some traditional weapon refining techniques..."

"The same is true for talismans."

"To be honest with you, Fairy, I already knew how dangerous this road is."

What Zheng Fa said and what Xiao Yuying said were actually the same thing - the current situation of the Xuanwei Realm is that the Xuanwei cultivators control or monopolize all the resources of the Xuanwei Realm through their super-strong military force and extraordinary technology.

These people are naturally small handicraftsmen.

The sects in the Xuanwei Realm are similar to feudal lords.

The reforms made by Zheng Fa lowered the threshold for acquiring military power, simplified the technology, and spread it...

Industry will inevitably impact handicrafts, and factories will inevitably impact feudal lords.

In this regard, he did it more thoroughly than any previous cultivator in the Xuanwei Realm. It was also because of this that Xiao Yuying said that he stood opposite all the cultivators.

He actually anticipated this.

Xiao Yuying stopped talking at this time.

She looked at Zheng Fa in confusion, asking with her eyes - if you know so much, why do you choose this path? In response, Zheng Fa only gave a very ordinary explanation: "I can't help it."

Zheng Fa’s words stunned Xiao Yuying.

"This is a last resort, Fairy Xiao. Right now, my Jiushan Sect has no choice but to move forward. Apart from this path, I really can't find any other way to expand the sect in a short period of time."

Xiao Yuying wanted to say something else.

"Fairy Xiao, you said that I can join the Five Xuanwei Sects, or ask your master to protect me... Let's not talk about what to do with the Nine Mountains Sect, let's just talk about myself... I still hope to control my life in my own hands."

Zheng Fa said frankly: "There are some things I can naturally endure, but there are some things I am afraid I can't learn."

“…”

Xiao Yuying pursed her lips, not knowing what to say. She seemed to understand some of Zheng Fa's choices.

"Also, Fairy Xiao...you said that I betrayed the monks, but I feel that it is the monks who betrayed the mortals."

Zheng Fa's words made Xiao Yuying frown: "Where did you get this from?"

"I didn't have this feeling before, but since I learned some of the secrets of Daoguo, I have a different view..." Zheng Fa explained, "Whether it is the way of gods, the way of immortals, or any other method of cultivation, in the end, people are needed, and most of them are mortals..."

"And Dao Fruit is probably the origin of all techniques."

"Not only did cultivators achieve their accomplishments as mortals, but even the Dao may have existed and grown because of mortals..."

"If being nice to mortals is considered betrayal of the monks, then who is betraying whom?"

When Zheng Fa first learned about Daoguo, he thought of a sentence in an essay he had read: I thought that it was the sentient beings who converted the Buddha.

Xiao Yuying was stunned, as if she had never thought about this question, and didn't know how to face Zheng Fa's rebuttal.

"Of course, this matter is actually hard to explain. Like I said, if there was no other way... I would not have chosen this path."

Zheng Fa said honestly.

He really didn't have such a deep sense of morality. Ever since he entered the Jiushan Sect, he had always felt aggrieved and puzzled. But if you asked him to sacrifice his life for fairness or something, to be honest, he couldn't do it.

If it weren't for the fact that the Jiushan Sect seemed to be in great glory but was actually in danger, he would not have made this choice.

He knew the dangers of this road better than anyone else.

Xiao Yuying didn't say anything. After thinking for a long time, she said, "But..."

"Fairy Xiao, I just said that I had no choice. It was for short-term benefits..." Zheng Fa interrupted her and continued to explain, "In the long run..."

"In the long run, you will become the enemy of all cultivators, whether they are from the Demon Sect, the Immortal Sect, or the Ancient Immortals and Gods..."

"No, in the long run, we will all have to face the decline of spiritual energy..." Zheng Fa said slowly, "If we can't solve this problem, cultivators will no longer exist."

"This road...can it solve the problem of spiritual energy decline?"

Xiao Yuying opened her eyes wide.

Zheng Fa shook his head honestly and said slowly: "I don't know. I don't know enough about the decline of spiritual energy now, but... Fairy Xiao, you know, the Demon Ancestor has eliminated mortals, and the Tianhe Reverend has eliminated cultivators..."

“We have to find a new way.”

"New method..." Xiao Yuying understood a little, "You mean, your method?"

"'The Immortal Way', I know you subscribe to it, Fairy."

"...collective wisdom?"

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Xiao Yuying didn't seem surprised. She had been in the Jiushan Realm for so long that she was familiar with Zheng Fa's old tricks.

"Yes, if I can't think of a solution, can ten thousand people think of one? If ten thousand people can't think of one, can millions of people think of one?"

"...Unexpected?"

"If you really can't think of it, then I have done my best. Fairy Xiao, you know more about the past than I do. Do you think there is a better way?"

Zheng Fa spread his hands, appearing helpless but relaxed.

His words were frank and simple, but Xiao Yuying thought about it for a long time, frowning, as if thinking of a better option.

Can……

She couldn't figure it out. On the contrary, there was an expression on her face as if she was convinced by Zheng Fa.

Of course I can’t think of it. The rapid progress of Jiushan Sect today can be said to be a proof of the power of this path.

"In the short term, this is the most suitable path for the development of Jiushan Sect. In the long term, this is the most likely way to solve the problem of declining spiritual energy." Zheng Fa's words at this moment were more domineering. "So, whether the cultivators in the world love me or hate me, what does it matter if there are some hardships on this road?"

"..." Xiao Yuying was speechless, "You are probably really the one who got the true teachings from the Tianhe Master."

Zheng Fa smiled.

He had no choice but to choose this path, but once he made the choice, he put aside his hesitations and even moved forward courageously.

Xiao Yuying's eyes flashed with thought. After a long while, she suddenly looked up and asked Zheng Fa, "You've said so much, but there's one question you haven't answered yet."

"Um?"

"At the beginning, I asked you what the Nine Mountains Realm, or the Mysterious Micro Realm, was like in your mind... but you didn't tell me."

Zheng Fa didn't expect Xiao Yuying to be so obsessed with this issue.

As if she understood his doubts, Xiao Yuying's eyes were a little confused, and she whispered: "What you said is very good, but whether it is the Demon Ancestor or the Tianhe Reverend, they also had very good intentions at the beginning, but in the end... they may have caused some not-so-good endings."

“…”

Xiao Yuying's thinking really surprised Zheng Fa. To be honest, this view was very reasonable, and even a kind of truth.

"Fairy Xiao, I don't want to let you go at this moment..."

He sighed sincerely.

Xiao Yuying blinked, her expression not angry but happy, with a smile on her face, as if she understood what Zheng Fa was regretting.

"Fairy Xiao, if you want to ask me what the Nine Mountain Realm in my mind is like... I'm actually a little vague, and I haven't figured out what the Nine Mountain Realm will be like in the end."

Zheng Fa has always been frank, and he was even more frank at this moment.

"If I want to make it clear right now, it's probably... this sentence."

Zheng Fa stretched out his hand and wrote a line of words on the low table between the two of them. The words were engraved on the low table and were also deeply imprinted in Xiao Yuying's heart.

There are only ten words on the low table: Cultivation becomes labor, and labor becomes cultivation.

A look of realization flashed across Xiao Yuying's face.

Zheng Fa further explained:

"The laborization of cultivation means that all cultivators will no longer be allocated resources according to their cultivation level, but according to their contributions to the sect. This contribution can be military merit, some tasks in the General Affairs Hall, or research. Anyway, as long as they create value for the sect, it's all fine."

"I understand... but it's hard."

Zheng Fa nodded. This is indeed difficult, and can even be said to be a dream.

It's very simple, this thing naturally goes against the interests of high-level cultivators.

"My goal now is to transform myself into an immortal through labor. The abilities of immortal cultivators are actually very strong. It is a pity to use them to destroy..."

"A simplified external elixir can completely change the mortal world."

"A small spell can bring a good harvest to the mortal world..."

"As long as we use the magic of immortal cultivation to transform the mortal world, and change the immortal method from studying the way of fighting to studying the way of production, the benefits generated will be limitless...Mortals, low-level cultivators, and even all cultivators in the future may be able to get rid of the burden of low-quality labor and use all their energy to explore the immortal way, promote their own cultivation and the progress of the Nine Mountains Realm."

"Perhaps one day, we will have enough talents to solve the calamity of spiritual energy decline."

Zheng Fa paused at this point. He turned to Xiao Yuying and said, "This is just an attempt on my part. I don't know if it's right or not. I don't know if it will lead to irreversible consequences... Fairy Xiao, if you could advise me..."

Through this conversation, Zheng Fa was not only envious of Xiao Yuying's attainments in archaeology and thunder magic, but more importantly, he was convinced by Xiao Yuying's vision.

He thought that his greatest strength was that he could admit his own shortcomings. The so-called history is a mirror... Isn't Xiao Yuying, who is proficient in the mysteries of history, a mirror? Just like what Zheng Fa said just now... He really couldn't bear to let Xiao Yuying go at this moment.

Judging from this woman's insights, she is really a good policy advisor. She should be able to fill in the gaps and give Zheng Fa some reminders in the future, which should be very useful.

Well, it's not that I'm attracted by her powerful background, so that I can have someone to rely on in an emergency if something goes wrong in the future.

When he talked about the decline of spiritual energy just now, he wanted to use this opportunity to keep Xiao Yuying - from the other party's perspective, he should be able to understand that the idea Zheng Fa mentioned now may be the most promising.

The only possible angle for Xiao Yuying to risk her life to help them was to solve the problem of the decline of spiritual energy...

But Xiao Yuying had a broad vision and could understand the power of Zheng Fa's ideas better than others. She could even see the tremendous power contained in them.

For someone like Uncle Pang who is devoted to the Jiushan Sect, the reason of strengthening the Jiushan Sect is enough to convince him.

But "historians" like Xiao Yuying are different.

Only this kind of long-term vision, even thinking derived from historical laws, can impress the other party.

Sure enough, after Xiao Yuying thought about it, the doubt on her face gradually disappeared, and instead she showed an expression of conviction.

But what he didn't expect was that Xiao Yuying was silent for a long time, and when she spoke again, she still insisted: "I want to leave the Nine Mountains Realm..."

Zheng Fa sighed in his heart, but he kept his promise and said, "Then I will see you off..."

"You just said you wanted to find me. Don't you want to restart the archaeological project team and ask me to explore the ancient relics in the Baixian League?" Unexpectedly, Xiao Yuying laughed again, a little naughty, "I am in the Jiushan Realm, how can I explore the relics?"

"Fairy Xiao, you are really..."

Zheng Fa was speechless.

Previously, Mu Qingyan provided some information about caves or treasures from the "previous life".

At that time, the threat of the Great Free Demon King was nearby, and the cultivators from the five sects were also here. Zheng Fa, out of his inherent caution, put it aside.

Now I have no worries.

It just so happened that Mu Qingyan had spent most of her time in the past life nearby, and 80% of the ruins she knew were located in the former territory of the Hundred Immortals Alliance. Now they were under the control of Zheng Fa, so he had a legitimate reason to do so.

The Jiushan Sect is in need of a large amount of resources right now, and there is no worry for the time being, so it is a good time to do some tomb raiding... no, archaeological work.

He came to Xiao Yuying because of this matter - he wanted to form a new archaeological project team and start excavating various ruins.

I don't know how Xiao Yuying observed me and the Nine Mountains Realm, but she actually grasped some of his thoughts...

Just now he seemed determined to leave.

The complicated expression on Zheng Fa's face seemed to amuse Xiao Yuying. She smiled at Zheng Fa as if her prank had succeeded:

"I haven't finished studying Electromagnetism yet..."

Then I feel relieved. There is no end to learning this stuff...

The little deer on the screen turned its head silently, and its pair of warm eyes stared at Zheng Fa, as if walking towards him.

In the deer's mouth, there was a five-colored magical flower covered with crystal dewdrops, as if it was going to hand it to Zheng Fa.

(End of this chapter)