Chapter 287
In an instant, Zheng Fa understood the thoughts of Zhang Shijie.
She furrowed her brows, lost in deep contemplation. After a moment, she spoke, “This matter requires creating a new circuit within the Mountain and River True Form Talisman... I can’t do it alone; I’ll need the help of our ancestral master.”
The ancestral master she referred to was the split spirit of the original master, now the current Grand Master of Jiushan.
Hearing this, Zheng Fa felt a surge of joy. Zhang Shijie was not one to speak lightly; her words suggested she had some confidence in this endeavor.
Noticing the smile on his face, Zhang Shijie shook her head, saying, “Don’t get your hopes up too high at the start. I’ve only just begun to grasp some insights in this area.”
“Don’t worry, I was thinking it might be simpler to first establish the task system for the Shumu Hall that we discussed earlier.”
Zheng Fa had his own reasons for suggesting this.
On one hand, creating something akin to artificial intelligence was far more complex—this was just a small program, perfect for Zhang Shijie to practice on.
On the other hand, this was actually quite important; it was a part of Zheng Fa’s envisioned new system for Jiushan Sect.
One could even say it was a kind of merit system.
Zhang Shijie seemed to understand his intention and nodded, “That’s quite simple. The most crucial part is actually the setting of the values.”
“Zhang Shijie, do you think we should teach the theory of spiritual energy circuits to our fellow disciples?”
Zheng Fa hesitated to ask.
Initially, he had been reluctant to teach it—not out of possessiveness, but because this knowledge seemed to pertain to the transformation of the spirit, and its dissemination could lead to unpredictable consequences.
However, if they wanted to build a computational platform for Jiushan, training programmers was essential...
“Teach, but not to everyone.”
“I think it’s great that you want to reform the Talisman Pavilion, but regarding what to teach... you need to think it over. Don’t forget what happened when the Jiuyou Demon Ancestor stormed into the Jiushan realm and killed the Celestial Master.”
“Moreover, the sudden concession of the Grand Master of Great Freedom makes me suspicious...”
Zhang Shijie seemed to have had her thoughts ready, and she poured them out.
“The only two possibilities that could make the Grand Master of Great Freedom sacrifice so much are a great opportunity or a great crisis.”
“Neither of these is good for us,” Zhang Shijie sighed. “Our Jiushan Sect has its share of conflicts. If the Grand Master of Great Freedom gains an opportunity and becomes stronger, we’ll be in even more danger.”
“If it’s a great crisis... can the Jiushan realm really avoid the dangers that even the Grand Master of Great Freedom fears?”
“Junior Brother, don’t let the existence of the Jiushan realm make you lose your caution.”
Zheng Fa fell into a brief silence.
He had many thoughts about the Jiushan realm, and it seemed Zhang Shijie had noticed.
Now, she was reminding him.
Beside them, Yuan Shijie seemed to understand as well, looking at Zheng Fa with a hint of concern.
“Zhang Shijie, our Jiushan Sect is self-contained; keeping secrets shouldn’t be too difficult,” Zheng Fa said with a smile.
He had indeed thought this through—implementing some form of entry and exit control.
Then he remembered something else.
“Shijie, I’d like to organize the sect’s ancient texts and secret methods once our Master and Uncle return,” Zheng Fa said after some thought. “I want to systematically summarize our existing knowledge, ideally with some categorization.”
“Categorization?”
“Basic theory and practical application,” Zheng Fa explained. “Basic theory includes topics like topology, the electromagnetism in ‘Introduction to Thunder Techniques,’ and agriculture...”
“These things, we should try to make as accessible as possible to all disciples.”
“On the other hand, some research results and applications derived from these basic theories... will require certain thresholds and resources.”
“For instance, the spiritual energy circuit; I think it should be considered a research outcome.”
“Like our Master’s talisman formations, and the talisman techniques... those are applications.”
What Zheng Fa was discussing was essentially the distinction between science and technology.
He elaborated on his thoughts, believing this categorization had two benefits.
On one hand, it would facilitate the dissemination of knowledge, preventing stagnation that could hinder scientific progress in the Jiushan realm.
On the other hand, Zheng Fa wanted to reward innovators more—like Li Nuo’s talisman prints; he even considered establishing some form of patent rights.
This could also help prevent sensitive knowledge from leaking out.
Zhang Shijie pondered for a moment and surprisingly found no major issues with his proposal. She looked at Zheng Fa, her eyes filled with curiosity and confusion.
“Shijie?”
“How long have you wanted to be the sect leader?”
“???”
...
“Zheng Zhenren... it’s my incompetence...”
Standing before Zheng Fa was Qian Zhenren, the agricultural general of the Qianhe Sect, who had yet to pass away.
He wore a troubled expression, looking as mournful as if he had just lost a husband.
Zheng Fa glanced behind him.
The disciples he brought along all wore somewhat dejected expressions, as if they were still unconvinced.
“Zheng Zhenren... the three tasks you assigned to me, I have no idea how to start.”
“We can’t experiment with the Spirit Wood Thunder for now... we don’t have anyone skilled in thunder techniques.”
“That’s no problem.”
Zheng Fa had anticipated this; Spirit Wood Thunder was not that simple. Currently, in the entire Jiushan Sect, only he and another now-unimportant leader had the capability.
“We can teach agriculture, but what to teach... we’re not sure. And as for cultivating new varieties...” Qian Zhenren hesitated, “I genuinely didn’t know where the spiritual seeds of the Qianhe Sect came from until you instructed me to look into some surviving texts.”
“It turns out the seeds of the Qianhe Sect, including the seeds of Huangya rice, were either passed down from the Xuanwei realm or discovered by our ancestors by chance...”
“Discovered by chance?” Zheng Fa asked.
“It’s like this: through generations of planting, sometimes a few seeds would turn out different, and our ancestors would select those unique ones.”
Zheng Fa immediately understood.
This was similar to the agricultural domestication process before genetic experiments. “Now, you want us to cultivate new varieties...”
Qian Zhenren remained silent, his face clearly conveying: We don’t have the capability, you know!
Zheng Fa thought for a moment and said, “How about this? In three days, come to the medicinal garden, and I’ll teach you how to cultivate new varieties...”
Qian Zhenren was taken aback, as if he wanted to say something but held back.
Watching him leave with his group of disciples, Zheng Fa knew he probably lacked confidence in himself.
His silence was mainly due to a clear understanding of the situation...
Zheng Fa then made his way to the medicinal garden.
He first looked at the Sun and Moon Bell floating in mid-air. The Sun and Moon Bell had been locked in a long standoff with the Blood River Ancestor’s flying sword, making Zheng Fa hesitant to descend.
In recent days, it seemed the two had reached a conclusion.
The Blood River Ancestor’s flying sword was, after all, fighting on unfamiliar ground, and its level was clearly inferior to the Sun and Moon Bell. As the battle progressed, it had become more subdued.
Now, it was being overwhelmed by the Sun and Moon Bell, with the blood-black sword body even displaying some golden patterns, as if tainted by the Sun and Moon Bell...
Zheng Fa gazed at the flying sword, feeling a twinge of hesitation—
He didn’t dare to use the Reverse and Positive Five Elements Divine Light, as the Blood River Ancestor was still around; he couldn’t afford to be reckless.
But he wasn’t planning to let the flying sword go—after all, the Blood River Ancestor had nearly wiped out the Jiushan Sect.
More importantly, he was considering the future.
Currently, he possessed two high-level magical treasures: one was the copper coffin, and the other was the flying sword.
Both were generously provided by the disciples of the Grand Master of Great Freedom.
Using these two items, Zheng Fa aimed to probe the depths of the Grand Master of Great Freedom.
Secondly, he wanted to prepare for his future Golden Core stage—everyone knew that Jiushan Sect had significant room for improvement in weapon forging.
These two items could serve as references.
The Sun and Moon Bell seemed to sense Zheng Fa’s arrival, emitting a soft hum, as if in delight.
Zheng Fa swept a wave of Reverse and Positive Five Elements Divine Light over it.
The Sun and Moon Bell trembled twice, appearing quite satisfied. Following Zheng Fa’s thoughts, it shrank down and floated to his side.
Zheng Fa gently stroked the Sun and Moon Bell, closing his eyes as his spirit descended into the mundane world, landing in Banshan City.
“Xiao Qing.”
In the temple, Xiao Qing was idly waiting when she heard Zheng Fa call out.
“Lord Thunder God?”
“Convey my orders: gather plants that look like this.”
A light screen appeared in the temple, displaying various types of rice.
“Understood!”
In the river valley, there were wild rice plants, which Xiao Qing recognized. She hurriedly dashed out of the temple and headed into the city.
Not just Banshan City.
Throughout the entire Jiushan realm, the same command from Zheng Fa echoed in every remaining temple...
Half a month later.
Xiao Qing placed several bundles of rice seeds wrapped in red cloth on the altar of the temple.
The rice seeds were bundled with red cloth, exuding a rough beauty.
Behind Xiao Qing stood a dense crowd of Banshan City residents.
Their eyes were filled with curiosity and confusion, unsure of what Lord Thunder God intended to do.
Zheng Fa, however, said nothing. He opened his eyes and looked at the Sun and Moon Bell, his mind stirring.
Dong!
Dong!
Dong!
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