Chapter 180
Zheng Fa was cautious by nature, especially since the atmosphere in the nursing home was still quite pleasant.
Hiring someone required careful consideration.
“I’m not talking about manpower; I’m talking about money!” Teacher Tian said, reading Zheng Fa’s expression: “Do you think agricultural research is just about farming? Just plow a couple of fields and set up a few greenhouses?”
Zheng Fa and the others were taken aback.
Subconsciously, they had indeed thought that way.
“Wait a moment, let me write you a simple list.”
Teacher Tian turned and walked into the room, returning a while later with a piece of paper in hand.
“Take a look.”
Zheng Fa glanced at it, and the page was filled with a dense list of equipment names.
Some were standard lab equipment: microscopes, centrifuges, balances, incubators, and so on.
There were also some items he could roughly understand, like DNA extraction equipment and PCR machines.
As for the chromatographs and mass spectrometers, he was lost; the more advanced equipment was beyond his comprehension.
Each piece of equipment had a price next to it, mostly ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions.
“I never paid much attention to lab procurement prices before, so I could only write down my estimates,” Teacher Tian explained. “Modern agricultural research is inseparable from laboratories… In recent years, molecular marker gene sequencing and intelligent analysis systems have also been added.”
“In other words, to establish a relatively complete lab, not counting land and building renovations, you’re looking at several million to tens of millions.”
Old Bai muttered from the side, “...At least in mathematics, we save money; a hundred thousand worth of draft paper can last a college for twenty years.”
Zheng Fa understood Teacher Tian’s point—times had changed!
Research required significant investment.
And this was just the initial outlay.
“Xiao Zheng, do you see it now…” Old Bai sighed, “No matter what woman it is, as long as she’s a woman—talent equals money.”
“Wait, that’s not right?” Old Bai suddenly realized, glancing at Tang Lingwu beside him. “There’s also a talent that brings in money!”
Tang Lingwu’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the list, a hint of disdain on her face, as if to say—this is it?
……
In the Xuanwei Realm.
Suddenly, Uncle Pang sought out Zheng Fa and said, “A disciple reported from the market that a few disciples from the Demon Sect came to the market and were captured. They claimed to know the whereabouts of Master Zhang.”
“They came to the market?”
Zheng Fa was taken aback. Although the Leichi Market was a mixed bag, it was also quite dangerous for disciples of the Demon Sect.
“They came to sell blood…” Uncle Pang’s expression was complex, a look of someone who had seen too much on his face. “They said they had sold it several times and were being watched by other loose cultivators, who wanted to see where they got the blood from.”
“...And then they were discovered?”
“Right. This group probably drew too much blood and was too weak, so they were caught immediately.”
Zheng Fa pursed his lips, unsure of what to say—
This was probably what they meant by not letting middlemen profit…
At that moment, Uncle Pang sighed, “What has that damned Demon Sect turned people into?”
?
Zheng Fa felt a sense of sympathy for the Demon Sect.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 176: Coming into the World
“Found Master Zhang!”
Sister Yuan rushed in, calling out to Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa perked up and quickly asked, “How is Master Zhang?”
“No major issues. She can still communicate with those disciples, but she has sealed herself within the Leichi, so we can’t rescue her.”
Zheng Fa nodded slightly, having anticipated this.
If it were otherwise, the Great Freedom Demon Sect would have likely captured Master Zhang by now.
He thought for a moment and headed towards the door.
“Where are you going, Junior Brother?”
“I’m going to see Master Zhang.” He wanted to confirm her situation personally.
“I’m going too!”
Sister Yuan followed him out of the Wulong Heavenly Palace.
As soon as they entered the market, they noticed something was off—many people in the market were heading towards the Leichi.
They moved hurriedly, their expressions betraying an uncontrollable eagerness, like hunting dogs catching the scent of prey.
Yet when others asked them, they fell silent, refusing to speak, their eyes glinting with caution.
A sudden thought struck Zheng Fa—
In this place, the only thing that could excite these people so much was one thing: the Tianbei (Heavenly Tablet)!
With the establishment of the Leichi Market, news of the Tianbei had spread far and wide.
No one knew exactly what the Tianbei was, but everyone had heard of the tales surrounding the Tianhe Zunren (Heavenly River Venerable) and the Tianbei.
In many people's minds, the Tianbei was synonymous with dominance in the Xuanwei Realm.
But Zheng Fa had some doubts—
There wasn’t just one Tianbei.
The Tianhe Sect had always had one, yet they hadn’t seen another Tianhe Zunren emerge.
This was merely his inner suspicion; he would need the opportunity to witness the Tianbei himself to understand the true situation.
Compared to the loose cultivators rushing towards the Leichi, he felt a bit more composed.
……
He wasn’t the only one feeling calm.
As he and Sister Yuan walked towards the market’s exit, a voice suddenly called out from a nearby tavern:
“Zheng Daoyou?”
Zheng Fa looked up to see Yan Wushuang leaning against the railing on the second floor, speaking to him.
“Brother Yan.”
He greeted Yan Wushuang, and the two had become quite familiar over this period—
Yan Wushuang was very invested in the blood trade.
Recently, he had become a major client in the market.
They had encountered each other several times during transactions, growing even more acquainted.
Seeing Zheng Fa, Yan Wushuang waved excitedly and said, “Come up and sit!”
Zheng Fa exchanged glances with Sister Yuan, and they walked up to the tavern together.
The second floor was sparsely populated; most cultivators had likely headed towards the Leichi.
Only one table remained, where three people were leisurely drinking.
It was just three individuals.
Yan Wushuang was one.
The other two were a young man and woman.
“Come, come, come, Zheng Daoyou, let me introduce you,” Yan Wushuang said warmly. “This is Brother Chu from Haorishan, a true disciple of the sect, and this is Sister Xue from Taishangdao, also a true disciple.”
Zheng Fa was taken aback.
Even the usually carefree Sister Yuan wore a rare serious expression.
Not for any other reason, but because both Haorishan and Taishangdao, like the Tianhe Sect, were renowned among the five major sects of the Xuanwei Realm.
The arrival of true disciples from these two sects in the Leichi Market was news they hadn’t heard at all.
“Brother Chu, Sister Xue.” Yan Wushuang introduced the two to Zheng Fa. “This is Zheng Fa, a disciple of Jiushan Sect and a local landlord. As for this… I don’t know her name.”
He looked at Sister Yuan and smiled apologetically.
The two looked at Zheng Fa first, seemingly recognizing his Qi Refining stage cultivation, then turned to Sister Yuan.
Brother Chu’s eyes flickered with a hint of multicolored light, as if he had noticed something, and his brow furrowed slightly.
Sister Xue from Taishangdao, however, showed no change in expression.
After the four exchanged greetings, the room fell into a moment of silence.
Zheng Fa could tell that the three had likely been having a good conversation before, or else Yan Wushuang wouldn’t have looked so pleased—yet as soon as he and Sister Yuan arrived, the two had little to say.
This was quite normal.
On one hand, he and Sister Yuan were strangers to them.
The three had been chatting comfortably, and then two strangers suddenly barged in.
It was only natural for the conversation to stall.
On the other hand, it was also due to the differences in sects and cultivation levels.
In terms of sects, the Hundred Immortals Alliance couldn’t compare to Haorishan and Taishangdao.
Not to mention Jiushan Sect, which was just a part of the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
And Zheng Fa was merely a Qi Refining disciple.
Even though he held the title of a junior master within Jiushan Sect, outside of it—who cared about that?
You weren’t the junior master of Haorishan.
Sister Yuan had sufficient cultivation, but Brother Chu seemed to have some reservations about her demon lineage.
Not everyone was like Yan Wushuang, who had some peculiar preferences.
He didn’t feel angry but also didn’t want to force a conversation, so he simply clasped his hands and said to the three, “I have some matters to attend to at the Leichi…”
“Perfect! We’re heading to the Leichi too!” Unexpectedly, Yan Wushuang interrupted him and said, “Let’s go together.”
Zheng Fa glanced at the two. Regardless of what they thought, they were both nodding in agreement.
The five of them walked together, and Yan Wushuang seemed to sense the awkward atmosphere, saying:
“Who would have thought the Tianbei would be so close to the Great Freedom Demon Sect? What a coincidence… If it weren’t for Jiushan Sect issuing that bounty, that area would be swarming with people. Who would know where this thing was hidden?”
Yan Wushuang’s words made Zheng Fa realize his guess was correct—the Tianbei had indeed emerged.
And it was somewhat related to him…
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