Chapter 309
The fire and water swirled in the furnace, and five-colored spiritual energy surged from his mouth and nose.
In an instant, Zheng Fa found himself enveloped in clouds and mist, smoke and flames swirling around him, making everything appear hazy and indistinct.
Only a flying sword slowly took shape amidst the smoke and fire.
Zheng Fa's fingers gradually withdrew from the jade tube.
This time, the Tianhe Zunzhang's lecture was primarily a demonstration on how to refine treasures, with very few words spoken.
The most important part was just those few opening lines.
Yet, those few sentences sparked a boundless stream of thoughts in Zheng Fa's mind.
From this, it became clear that the original Tianhe method's concept of a personal treasure likely differed from the current understanding in the Xianmen (immortal sect).
The biggest distinction lay in the relationship with external objects.
The Tianhe Zunzhang's teachings seemed consistent, from the Golden Core's reliance on nothing external to the Zhuxian method's insistence on discarding all else but the sword.
In simple terms, it was all about self-reliance.
In contrast, from the perspectives of Senior Sister Zhang and Uncle Pang, the personal treasures still required external spiritual materials.
Zheng Fa found it hard to say which approach was superior—he had long understood that the current Xianmen had not completely abandoned the Tianhe method but had instead transformed and inherited it.
The Tianhe Zunzhang was indeed powerful.
But that didn’t mean the Tianhe method was without flaws… perhaps the Xianmen method was more suitable for ordinary people?
He felt the need to discuss this further with Senior Sister Zhang and the others.
However, one phrase lingered in his mind—“the human body is a small universe…”
This phrase bore a striking resemblance to what Tang Mu Dao had once said about the principles of the Golden Core and the formation of the universe.
This first person of the last tribulation seemed to have grasped the essence of the Golden Core?
Or perhaps it was precisely because of this that the Tianhe Zunzhang attained his innate divine abilities?
A thought struck him, and he swiftly made his way to the medicinal garden, gazing at the standing Sun and Moon Clock.
Previously, he had believed that the Tianhe Zunzhang had created the method for personal treasures only after understanding the nature of fate and spiritual treasures through the Tianbei realm.
But now it seemed that the Tianhe Zunzhang had ventured even further than he had imagined—he seemed to want to cultivate himself into a Tianbei realm?
Wasn’t his flying sword akin to the existence of the Sun and Moon Clock?
He pondered for a moment before flying toward Senior Sister Zhang's courtyard.
On one hand, he discussed new discoveries daily with Senior Sister Zhang and Uncle Pang.
On the other hand, as the newly appointed sect leader, he had many ideas that required Senior Sister Zhang's cooperation.
Upon arriving at the courtyard, he saw Senior Sister Zhang speaking to the Jiushan Ancestor, with a flying immortal brush dancing in the air, drawing a series of spiritual symbols.
The Jiushan Ancestor nodded gently, extending a hand as a seal flew out from his sleeve, merging with the spiritual symbols in the void.
Zheng Fa recognized this seal; it was transformed from the Shanhua Zhenxing talisman combined with Jiushan, which had previously blocked the Blood River Ancestor and possessed considerable power.
A few days ago, Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang had attempted to move Jiushan into the Jiushan realm, a task more challenging than Zheng Fa had anticipated—Jiushan was vast, and the Nine Islands of the Heavenly Palace seemed a bit too small to accommodate it.
In the end, it was Senior Sister Zhang and the Jiushan Ancestor who devised a way to bring it in as this seal, and Senior Sister Zhang even named it the Shanhua Seal.
Surrounded by spiritual symbols, the seal gradually transformed into a light screen.
On the top of the light screen were some words, reading “Tasks,” “Merit,” “Exchange,” “Announcements,” and so on.
“Has the contribution system been established?”
Senior Sister Zhang nodded, “This wasn’t difficult; the challenge was how to incorporate it into the Shanhua Seal.”
Zheng Fa understood what she meant.
Ultimately, this was an automated task system. What they referred to as merit was actually broader than heavenly merit—
Performing tasks in the mundane world to enhance Jiushan's incense was naturally considered merit.
But cultivating spiritual materials in the medicinal garden or repairing houses on the Nine Islands of the Heavenly Palace also counted as merit.
In the future, if someone created new knowledge of cultivation or achieved a ranking in the major examinations, they could also earn merit.
In simple terms, this was a new system that combined the Jiushan sect's administrative framework with the previous Tianbei realm's heavenly merit system.
Any action that contributed to the development of Jiushan would be rewarded with merit. As for the exchange rate between merit and spiritual materials, it had changed.
To be honest, it was much less than the same heavenly merit would yield in spiritual materials—Zheng Fa referred to this as a channel fee.
But this was necessary…
After becoming the Jiushan sect leader, he realized that Jiushan was always in need of funds, especially since some tasks couldn’t generate incense.
Thus, merit was naturally devalued compared to heavenly merit.
…
The Heavenly Palace Island was bustling with activity.
Sun Daoyu squeezed through the crowd, heading toward the former Baibao Hall, now the Merit Hall.
The previous jade wall had changed its appearance, divided into several large sections.
After a long wait, Sun Daoyu finally reached the front. He took out his disciple token and held it up to the jade wall.
The jade wall displayed his name, cultivation level, and accumulated merit points.
Most astonishingly, it even showed his exam results from the last assessment…
He first clicked on the “Tasks” section, where the tasks were numerous, including building the Nine Islands of the Heavenly Palace, descending with the Sun and Moon Clock, and helping cultivate spiritual plants in the medicinal garden…
Sun Daoyu noticed that the initial tasks were all suitable for foundation-building stage cultivators, particularly those not good at math…
Very considerate, but also quite disheartening.
He then clicked on the merit section and discovered he had over forty merit points!
When he tapped on that number, the jade wall displayed several lines of small text:
“Repairing University Island—5 merit points.”
“Teaching on Le Tu Island—5 merit points.”
“…”
Only then did he realize that these were tasks he had completed for the sect before the merit monument had appeared, and he hadn’t expected Zheng Fa to have recorded them all.
His heart warmed, but he noticed the disciples behind him were already eager to try, so he quickly stepped aside.
As he exited the Merit Hall, he overheard some disciples discussing:
“I heard that in the future, no matter the cultivation level, resources can’t be granted privately anymore?”
“Zheng Fa said that unless the rules change, everyone will have to follow the rules…”
“In that case… we can accept it.”
Sun Daoyu nodded slightly.
Everyone had different levels of cultivation, and their abilities varied even more; it was indeed impossible to achieve complete equality.
But having a clear set of rules was a significant improvement over before.
This system was actually quite popular among the lower-ranking disciples.
…
Just as he stepped out of the Merit Hall, he noticed that the Fengshen Hall was also packed with people.
This was surprising—previously, the Fengshen Hall had been neglected, as the sect leader managed the Jiushan realm, rendering the Fengshen Hall less useful.
As he approached, he saw that the plaque of the Fengshen Hall had changed, now bearing the new name:
“Hall of Worthy Scholars”
Sun Daoyu was filled with confusion as he entered the hall, only to find that the original statues were gone—where the statues had once stood, several new figures had appeared.
He stepped closer, his eyes widening in disbelief.
He recognized the person in the statue!
First, there was an old man and a young boy walking hand in hand, with a plaque beneath them reading:
“Inventors of the Talisman—Li Nuo and Son”
Sun Daoyu swallowed hard and glanced to the side.
There, a group of figures squatted, with a plump middle-aged man in the center, and before them was a small rice seedling.
They also had a stone plaque:
“Inventors of the Qianhe Valley—Qian Zheng and Apprentice”
The plaque included descriptions of the talisman and Qianhe Valley.
Beneath the plaque was Li Nuo, bent over and weeping, while the ecstatic Qian Zhenren stood beside him.
Sun Daoyu smacked his lips.
Was it bittersweet?
As long as the Jiushan realm existed, the faces and names of these individuals would never be forgotten!
Of course, it was bittersweet.
But was he impressed?
Everyone knew that this time, the sect and the Hundred Immortals Alliance had struck a lucrative deal, and both the talisman and Qianhe Valley had earned a substantial amount of spirit stones.
Of course, he was impressed!
He looked at the other disciples; their expressions mirrored his own—
I also want to stand in this Hall of Worthy Scholars!
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 287: Promoting the Genius Elder
Chapter 287: Promoting the Genius Elder
“Your approach is truly effective!”
“It’s like these disciples have taken a powerful tonic!”
Elder Zheng Fa, peering through the door, observed the bustling crowd in the Hall of Worthy Scholars, noting the hopeful expressions on the disciples' faces. He remarked with a hint of surprise, “I thought I’d need to keep an eye on you, but I didn’t expect you to be such a capable sect leader!”
They were in the main hall of the Heavenly Palace Island.
At this point, the place had become the office for the higher-ups of Jiushan.
Firstly, it was a transportation hub for the Nine Islands of the Heavenly Palace, making travel convenient.
Secondly, it was spacious enough.
Hearing the sect leader's words, Senior Sister Zhang and the Jiushan Ancestor turned their attention to Zheng Fa.
Senior Sister Zhang said, “It really is different now. These disciples seem much more spirited, especially those with less talent.”
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