Chapter 316
The scarcity of this particular type is quite understandable. After all, the Lei Fa (雷法, Thunder Technique) is inherently violent, and cultivators must tread carefully, let alone plants.
But if this technique proves useful in the Jiu Shan Realm (九山界, Nine Mountain Realm), then the methods for cultivating new spirit plants would multiply.
For instance, merging foreign spirit grains with the ordinary rice seeds found in the Jiu Shan Realm, absorbing the spiritual energy organelles from the foreign grains while ensuring the local rice adapts to the realm—this was previously impossible. Take Huang Ya Mi (黄芽米, Yellow Bud Rice), for example; it cannot grow in the Jiu Shan Realm, making hybrid experiments unfeasible.
Even the spirit plants from the medicinal garden could be fused to create a variety of inexpensive spirit vegetable crops.
Moreover, one could cultivate various economic crops—like mulberry leaves or different types of wood for crafting magical tools...
It could be said that while this technology might be just a small step in the modern world, it represents a giant leap for agricultural development in the Jiu Shan Realm!
...
"You've made progress too?" Zheng Fa (郑法) looked at Cheng Yun (程运) with a hint of surprise.
"Progress..." Cheng Yun scratched his head, appearing a bit shy. "It's not as impressive as the new spirit plants."
---
**Chapter 294: Discontent**
Elder Yuan (元老头) leaned against the window, a cloud of gloom hanging over his face, clearly feeling defeated.
Uncle Pang (庞师叔) glanced at Zheng Fa, then at Elder Yuan, a smirk creeping onto his lips.
"When I completed my foundation establishment, even though my spiritual power was more than sufficient, I still didn’t dare to hastily form my golden core."
Elder Yuan muttered.
"Then I spent thirty years refining my spiritual power and soul."
"Followed by another forty years mastering the secret techniques of golden core formation, striving for perfection without a single mistake."
"Finally, I secluded myself for over thirty years before successfully forming a superior-grade Shen Xiao Jin Dan (神霄金丹, Divine Sky Golden Core)."
...
In the Xuan Wei Realm (玄微界), it is often said that forming a core is a decision one never regrets. Elder Yuan's caution is not unusual.
"Now you tell me..." Elder Yuan's eyes grew increasingly resentful, "there's a shortcut?"
"..."
"While other cultivators focus on refining their spiritual power and soul, you, on the other hand, are polishing your techniques?"
"..."
Uncle Pang's gaze towards Zheng Fa shifted, as if he too found the situation absurd.
Seeing Elder Yuan's evident frustration, he cleared his throat and said to his senior brother, "Regardless, Zheng Fa is still your disciple... The future disciples of Jiu Shan will remember this!"
Unexpectedly, Elder Yuan became even more disheartened and replied, "Do you think I’m not happy?"
"Huh?"
"The future disciples of Jiu Shan will be able to cultivate a simplified version of the Shen Xiao Jin Dan!" Elder Yuan lamented, "Why should that be?"
Zheng Fa couldn't help but twitch his lips.
Ever since Elder Yuan stepped down from his position as sect leader, he had shown signs of letting loose—he had even asked Sister Zhang (章师姐), who speculated that this might be a form of cultivation that leads directly to one's true self before reaching the Transformation Stage.
But...
Thinking about Elder Yuan's words...
Well, it does sound a bit like graduating from school and then finding out the playground is closed...
Or suddenly announcing in college that the math exam is canceled...
Or buying a house...
It really is a bit disheartening.
"Senior brother, the disciples of Jiu Shan are also our juniors, right?" Uncle Pang comforted. "So just relax."
"Do you think your Long Hu Yuan Dan (龙虎元丹, Dragon Tiger Primordial Dan) can escape this?" Elder Yuan scoffed, looking at Uncle Pang. "What do you think this Jin Dan Project is? You don’t know?"
"..."
Uncle Pang's smile gradually faded, and his gaze towards Zheng Fa seemed to carry a hint of resentment.
"Cough!" Zheng Fa quickly interjected, "Master, Sister Zhang and I have already selected a group of participants for the Jin Dan Project..."
The Jin Dan Project is currently the most critical research task in the Jiu Shan Realm.
It’s not just Zheng Fa and Sister Zhang who are involved.
Three Grand Elders are also part of it.
Especially Elder Yuan, who cultivates the Shen Xiao Jin Dan and has experience that could greatly benefit the project.
Seeing that Zheng Fa was discussing serious matters, Elder Yuan stopped his complaints and began examining the list Zheng Fa provided.
"There are thirteen other foundation-established cultivators in the sect besides you? All participating?"
"Yes, they were already planning to form their golden cores, so they are naturally interested in this project," Zheng Fa replied.
The total number of disciples in Jiu Shan Sect was around a thousand, with fewer than twenty at the golden core stage, the vast majority being foundation and qi refining disciples.
Among the remaining disciples, there were nearly a hundred foundation disciples.
Only about ten had reached the peak of foundation establishment.
Naturally, they were interested in the Jin Dan Project.
"If your project truly succeeds, then... won’t Jiu Shan Sect gain thirteen more golden core disciples? Oh, and with you, that makes fourteen—doesn’t that mean a doubling of our numbers?"
Elder Yuan calculated, his expression turning more astonished.
Uncle Pang was equally moved.
With Elder Yuan included, Jiu Shan Sect had only twelve golden core cultivators.
If the Jin Dan Project truly succeeded...
Then the number of golden cores in Jiu Shan Sect would more than double!
Zheng Fa smiled but remained silent...
What he wanted was not merely a doubling of golden core numbers; he aimed for these disciples to achieve superior-grade golden cores!
After all, without a superior-grade golden core, forming a Nascent Soul would be nearly impossible—just look at Sister Zhang; despite her accumulation, forming a Nascent Soul was an arduous challenge.
Elder Yuan clicked his tongue for a while, then looked at the names on the list, paying special attention to the backgrounds and specialties of this group.
"The disciples sent by the Bai Xian Alliance (百仙盟, Hundred Immortals Alliance)... are still a bit too green; they probably won’t achieve anything significant in the short term."
Zheng Fa understood what his master meant; these disciples, whether in cultivation level or knowledge, were still insufficient to meet the requirements of the Jin Dan Project.
If they were expected to produce results in the short term, it would be quite difficult.
He smiled and said, "Let’s take it step by step, starting with small projects, gradually accumulating technology and experience. At least..."
"Hmm?"
Zheng Fa's expression was earnest: "It won’t take a hundred years."
"Rebellious disciple!"
...
In the living quarters of the Bai Xian Alliance disciples, Mu Qingyan (沐青颜) lay on her bed, her youthful face creased with worry, as if trapped in a nightmare.
After a while, she slowly opened her eyes.
Currently, she was only at the Qi Refining stage and could not replace sleep with cultivation.
That wasn’t the issue.
The problem was...
She stared blankly at the beam above her head, her face pale, as if she were still standing in that desolate wasteland filled with bones...
Since her rebirth, she hadn’t had a single good night’s sleep. The millennium following her rebirth in the Xuan Wei Realm was filled with bloodshed, desolation, displacement, and devastation.
Even though her talents and temperament were exceptional compared to others, allowing her to achieve the Nascent Soul stage in just a few hundred years, she had inevitably lost too many friends and witnessed too much suffering.
If she were still a Nascent Soul, with her powerful soul and some secret techniques, these memories would not disturb her.
She wouldn’t even need to sleep.
But now, with her low cultivation level, these memories felt overwhelmingly heavy.
So much so that she had nightmares every night, never experiencing a peaceful night.
Hugging her knees, Mu Qingyan sat by the window, gazing at the hazy sky outside Qiu Xian Island (求仙岛), waiting for dawn like she always did.
The Nine Islands of the Heavenly Palace (天宫九岛) were perpetually shrouded in mist, with the sun often appearing as a vague outline, distinguishing day from night only by the changes in light.
"Qingyan, you’re up so early again?"
A neighbor’s senior sister noticed her staring out the window and called out.
"Yeah, can’t sleep."
"Then shall we go to class together?"
Mu Qingyan nodded and walked out with her senior sister, who remarked, "I don’t know what you’re always looking at. The Jiu Shan Realm is fine, but the scenery is a bit too monotonous."
She smiled but said nothing, and her senior sister continued, "But life here is simple; you either attend classes or take on tasks at Tian Gong Island to accumulate some merit... I actually quite like it."
"..."
Seeing her silent, the senior sister asked again, "What about you?"
Mu Qingyan paused for a moment before replying:
"I don’t like it."
...
The two arrived at University Island, where they were to attend a talisman class taught by Grand Elder Pang.
The talisman classes in the Jiu Shan Realm have three teachers; the most popular is Zheng Fa, followed by Zhang Zhenren (章真人, Master Zhang), but they also enjoy Grand Elder Pang's classes.
Each of the three focuses on different aspects, but all are profound and extensive, attracting not only disciples from Jiu Shan Sect but also those from the Bai Xian Alliance, who never miss a class.
As they entered the classroom, they found Zheng Fa sitting in a corner, with Master Zhang beside him, seemingly waiting for class to begin.
The two were not surprised; they merely offered a slight bow and took their seats to listen.
After class.
On their way to Tian Gong Island, the senior sister suddenly said:
"Actually, the Jiu Shan Realm is really quite nice."
"..."
"Just think about it; Grand Elder Pang is a Nascent Soul master, and he never avoids us outsiders when teaching..." she continued, "Moreover, he doesn’t just fool around; didn’t you see that both Zheng Fa and Master Zhang came to attend the class?"
"True."
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