Chapter 338
Sure enough, Xiao Yuying nodded happily, looking quite understanding. "This is the predicament we people face!"
"Ordinary cultivators just need to follow the steps, practicing their techniques step by step. But for people like us... we have to innovate on the original methods. How would others know the difficulties we endure?"
The elder, who had been standing beside Zheng Fa, lifted his head slightly, his expression strange, as if he wanted to curse.
Zheng Fa pondered over this sentiment... this was truly a case of "Versailles"!
It was like a rich second-generation telling you how hard it is to start a business—though they have ample capital and connections, and losing money doesn’t hurt them, they live in the shadow of their parents! Unlike you, who can charge in light and unencumbered, without a shred of psychological pressure.
...No wonder the Master looked so defensive.
With Xiao Yuying talking like this, it was a wonder she could make friends!
He asked again, "So how do we innovate?"
"Insight!"
"…"
Zheng Fa hated that word.
Even in the modern world, he had sought out many texts on the Dao, but he couldn't tell if it was the inherent differences between the two realms or if these texts were just a mixed bag.
Of course, it could also be that he lacked talent in this area.
It was just... he found it all confusing, always feeling like he was on the verge of understanding but never quite there.
Especially the kind of cryptic writing that seemed to convey profound meanings; for someone like him, who wanted everything to be clear and straightforward, the experience was far from pleasant.
Seemingly having read his expression, Xiao Yuying smiled and said, "We cultivators with some talent have more advantages in accumulating spiritual power than others, but we often get stuck at certain cultivation checkpoints."
"Our physique, or rather our talent, gives us many advantages, but it also forces us to walk a path different from others."
"This path has no shortcuts; it can only rely on one's own insights."
Zheng Fa suddenly understood. He thought about how Senior Sister Zhang had a bit of this situation too.
Xiao Yuying continued, "For example, before reaching the Golden Core stage, everything went smoothly for me, but forming the core took nearly a hundred years. A significant portion of that time was spent grasping this insight."
"What is this insight?"
"Indescribable, cannot be put into words."
…Riddles, get out of Jiushan!
But Xiao Yuying took out a jade tube from her robe and handed it to Zheng Fa.
"What’s this?"
"Some insights I wrote down about forming the Golden Core. It might be useful to you."
Now Zheng Fa understood why Xiao Yuying had suddenly asked him about forming the Golden Core; she intended to give him this item.
"Thank you, Fairy!"
Zheng Fa accepted the jade tube with both hands, sincerely thanking Xiao Yuying.
This person truly put in the effort.
Xiao Yuying glanced at the Jiushan Sect disciple and said, "Jiushan Sect, may it last long and prosper..."
"…" Zheng Fa was puzzled by her words, then heard her continue, "In the Xuanwei Realm, countless sects have risen and fallen; the cycle of prosperity and decline has become commonplace..."
Zheng Fa remained silent, listening to her speak. Xiao Yuying had visited too many secret realms; calling her a historian of the Xuanwei Realm wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
"I’ve long grown accustomed to it; it all seems ordinary."
"But Jiushan Sect... deserves to last a little longer."
The elder beside them was taken aback, and his gaze toward Xiao Yuying softened instantly, likely feeling the same as Zheng Fa:
...Xiao Yuying's words were like a sweet and spicy flavor—sharp at times, but occasionally quite pleasant to hear.
Behind them, Mu Qingyan lowered her head, but in her heart, she thought:
This Fairy Xiao has seen the past, while I glimpse a corner of the future.
If the future is like that, then Jiushan Sect... deserves to thrive forever.
...
Since he needed to prepare for forming the Golden Core, Zheng Fa entrusted various matters to Senior Sister Zhang and the Master, returning to his own courtyard.
He sat on the meditation mat in the quiet room, three incense sticks burning slowly, the outside world silent. The elder sister, who practiced news writing daily in Senior Sister Zhang's courtyard, seemed to have changed locations these days.
Zheng Fa felt a warmth in his heart as he immersed his consciousness in the jade tube, reading Xiao Yuying's summarized insights on forming the Golden Core.
After a while, he opened his eyes, grinning, wanting to curse.
Xiao Yuying had written in great detail; aside from a few things she couldn’t disclose, she had almost shared all her thoughts before forming the Golden Core with Zheng Fa.
According to the jade tube, she had two main aids in forming her core:
First, Xiao Yuying emphasized that her own effort was the most crucial—she not only practiced diligently but also found many ancient texts and records in various secret realms, from which she summarized a wealth of experience.
Secondly, her transformation master had given her some insignificant help: her master had somehow found her a Nine-Leaf Bodhi Seed.
Zheng Fa had heard of the Nine-Leaf Bodhi Seed, rumored to be a treasure for enlightenment in the Xuanwei Realm.
He believed that 99% of cultivators in the Xuanwei Realm had probably only heard of it, and many might even think it was a myth...
To translate Xiao Yuying's words, it was 99% sweat combined with 1% help from an elder that led her to success!
Zheng Fa slowly set down the jade tube, feeling that if he continued reading, Xiao Yuying would become his inner demon.
After all, where would he find a transformation master?
However, Xiao Yuying wasn’t showing off; she detailed her experience using the Nine-Leaf Bodhi Seed—her mind became incredibly sharp, ideas flowing one after another, as if she had lived several lifetimes in an instant...
Then she grasped a spark of inspiration.
Zheng Fa shook his head; the Nine-Leaf Bodhi Seed was something he couldn’t even dream of.
Yet, after reading the jade tube, he found he hadn’t gained nothing.
Xiao Yuying shared a crucial piece of information: she had also modified her cultivation technique, with the most significant change being the replacement of the Tian Gang and Di Sha Qi (Heavenly and Earthly Energy) with something else, which subtly aligned with Zheng Fa's thoughts!
From "The Golden Core Project," Zheng Fa confirmed one thing—Golden Cores are like nuclear reactors, and the "Shenxiao Golden Core" is the process of transforming certain particles, or the Tian Gang and Di Sha, into energy and new particles.
And the Fusang wood, or rather, the fruit that grows on the Fusang wood... according to myth, is the sun.
Regardless of the mythical significance of the sun in the Xuanwei Realm, in modern astronomy, most of the reactions in the sun are actually proton-proton chain reactions.
In other words, they start with two hydrogen atoms.
According to Xiao Yuying's line of thought, if he were to replace the Tian Gang Qi in the Tian Gang and Di Sha Qi with a flow of hydrogen atoms, wouldn’t that subtly align with the Fusang wood and even the Qingyang Dao Body?
This was something he had been contemplating but couldn’t quite confirm.
However, the jade tube Xiao Yuying provided today gave him a lot of confidence.
Just as he was pondering this, a sudden sound of footsteps came from outside the courtyard.
Zheng Fa looked up and saw the elder entering his courtyard, holding a notebook. Without saying a word, he simply shoved the notebook into Zheng Fa's hands and said, "These are my insights from when I condensed the Shenxiao Golden Core. Take a look."
Zheng Fa was taken aback, and then he heard the elder say, "I can’t help you with much else; after all, you’re different from me. Just take a look at this notebook... As for the matters of Jiushan Sect, you need not worry; I will help handle them. Just focus on your seclusion."
...This old man, who hadn’t shown much interest in Jiushan Sect affairs when he was the sect leader, was now voluntarily taking on responsibilities?
He wanted to say something, but the elder waved his hand and wandered off.
Zheng Fa flipped through the notebook sent by his master; the ink was fresh, and the content was quite chaotic, as if the old man had hurriedly written it down recently, likely inspired by Xiao Yuying's jade tube.
Before he could finish reading the elder's notes, Uncle Pang arrived with another notebook of insights on forming the Golden Core.
Even Senior Sister Yuan had managed to put together one of these!
How to put it... reading Senior Sister Yuan's notes, he could simultaneously feel her sincere intentions and her clumsy writing...
Senior Sister Zhang hadn’t come—she had already shared her insights with Zheng Fa... how could she let Xiao Yuying steal the spotlight?
A day later, someone Zheng Fa hadn’t anticipated walked into his courtyard.
"Uncle Huang?"
Zheng Fa approached, surprised.
After entering the Jiushan Realm, everyone’s attitude had changed somewhat, including his master.
Not only because he subtly possessed the ability to transform, but more importantly, the lives and deaths of the Jiushan Sect members now rested in his hands... Zheng Fa could understand this change. Yet, Uncle Huang remained indifferent; Zheng Fa had assigned her to manage the Law Enforcement Pavilion, and she did, but she usually kept to herself, hardly speaking to anyone except Senior Sister Zhang.
This person seemed to embody the idea that those without desires are strong.
Who would have thought she would suddenly come to his courtyard today?
Uncle Huang didn’t say much upon meeting; she simply handed a jade tube to Zheng Fa.
"What’s this?"
Uncle Huang replied, "Insights on forming the Golden Core."
Zheng Fa accepted the jade tube, and Uncle Huang continued, "It’s not mine."
"Eh?"
Zheng Fa couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
"Do you know what kind of Golden Core I formed?"
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