Chapter 432
The defending side had a Golden Core cultivator, but he was the only one and was injured, relying solely on the sect's grand formation for support.
The Golden Core could see that he was on the verge of collapse and could only roar within the formation, "My sect is also among the celestial gates! We have resisted the Great Freedom Demon Sect here for a long time, suffering many casualties, and now we are labeled as remnants of the demon sect!"
Yan Wushuang, hidden nearby, felt confused as he watched.
A Golden Core cultivator outside the formation coldly replied, "To survive under the rule of the demon sect, you are naturally remnants of the demon sect!"
"Four of my direct disciples have died, and my fellow brothers have suffered heavy losses!" The Golden Core inside the formation lamented, "How can you slander us like this?"
The other disciples within the formation also had red eyes, looking extremely furious.
From these people, it was clear they were not practicing the demon sect's techniques; instead, they bore injuries caused by the demon sect's methods.
Yan Wushuang had some suspicions in his heart and decided to reveal himself, making his identity known and driving away the attackers.
"Yan Zhenren..."
The Golden Core he saved was naturally grateful, and Yan Wushuang asked, "How many of you are there like this?"
The Golden Core was taken aback and shook his head, "I can't say for sure. Some sects may have submitted to the demon sect."
"But there are still many sects like ours, with nowhere to go after leaving our spiritual veins, only able to hold on with great difficulty. We barely endured until the demon sect retreated, but... those people say that the Taishang Dao has given this land to them and labeled us as remnants of the demon sect..."
Yan Wushuang asked a few more questions before continuing on his way to Jiushan Sect.
Yet, he couldn't shake off the thoughts from earlier.
Zheng Fa did not take Liangzhou, so Shang Kongzi naturally adjusted the distribution plan, giving Liangzhou to many small and medium sects—this was also to use their hands to clear out the remnants of the demon sect.
But now it seemed that these sects probably hadn’t done much to manage the demon sect disciples in the county town; instead, they were preparing to sweep away the local forces first and plunder resources.
That sect he had just encountered might have been targeted because of a spiritual vein.
He suddenly began to doubt his earlier thoughts—would things really improve after the demon sect left?
After two days of travel, Yan Wushuang finally caught up with the Sun and Moon Bell.
"Yan brother!"
Zheng Fa, upon seeing him, seemed too rushed for pleasantries and led him toward the medicinal garden.
To avoid trouble, the tranquil bamboo in the garden had been hidden away, but many more disciples had gathered.
In front of these disciples lay a map, depicting the mountains, rivers, and geography of the mortal realm in the Jiushan world.
Qian Zhenren was waiting in front of the map.
"Zhangmen!"
Upon their arrival, the group immediately called out, as if they had been waiting for Zheng Fa.
Yan Wushuang was astonished to see that there were actually over a thousand disciples here, which accounted for more than seventy percent of the Jiushan disciples!
Clearly, something significant was about to happen in the Jiushan world!
Noticing the serious atmosphere, he wisely chose to remain silent and observe from the side.
Zheng Fa stepped up to the map, waved his hand, and the map floated into the air, growing larger and covering half the sky.
Words and images began to appear on the map, and to Yan Wushuang's surprise, they were names of crops, densely packed, with different types of crops labeled in every corner of the map.
"It is now the spring planting season. Qian Zhenren has already investigated the water quality and soil conditions across the mortal realm and created this agricultural planning map."
"You all have learned some agricultural knowledge, and now you are being sent down to guide the mortals in cultivating the land and conducting spring plowing."
Yan Wushuang's eyes widened; he never expected that Zheng Fa would gather the majority of the sect's disciples and take this matter so seriously just to help mortals with their spring plowing.
"This is a major event for our Jiushan world. If you do well, you will naturally earn merit!"
Zheng Fa was extremely serious, showing no signs of treating this as a trivial matter.
"On the other hand, when you return, I hope you can provide a summary, including how to interact with mortals, how to inspire their motivation, and how to manage manpower..."
"If the summary is well done, I will grant you additional merit."
The disciples responded enthusiastically, accepting the task and heading down to the mortal realm.
Only Yan Wushuang remained, still in a daze.
Zheng Fa seemed too busy to pay him any mind and turned to Qian Zhenren.
Qian Zhenren reported, "According to your instructions, I have already sent disciples to places where spiritual plants can be grown."
"As for other crops, given that the Jiushan world has abundant rain and fertile land, I have mostly chosen newly cultivated rice."
"Oh, and also spiritual mulberry."
Zheng Fa nodded; no matter what, planting staple foods was the right choice, and the conditions in the Jiushan world were indeed suitable for rice.
He examined the map closely and saw that it was densely annotated, showing Qian Zhenren's dedication. He praised, "Once the spring plowing is finished, I will record a significant amount of merit for you."
"Ah, I...," Qian Zhenren looked a bit embarrassed.
Zheng Fa patted his shoulder and smiled, "Get more spiritual materials, practice hard, and once you reach the Golden Core stage, I’ll be waiting for you to contribute another eight hundred years to the Jiushan world!"
Upon hearing this, Qian Zhenren not only didn’t feel burdened but instead broke into a grin.
Yan Wushuang watched the two of them, then glanced at the map in the sky, and the image of those Golden Core cultivators who were intent on seizing spiritual veins flashed through his mind. Looking at Qian Zhenren, he found himself, like Zheng Fa, hoping for this person to achieve the Golden Core stage.
He gazed at the map, a smile slowly forming on his lips, as the accumulated frustration from the journey seemed to dissipate.
After sending off the cheerful Qian Zhenren, Zheng Fa turned to Yan Wushuang and said, "Sorry, these past few days have been busy with spring plowing."
"It's fine!" Yan Wushuang waved his hand, "I actually enjoy watching."
"Enjoy watching?"
Zheng Fa shot him a puzzled glance, but he seemed genuinely busy. Seeing that Yan Wushuang wasn’t upset, he hurried off toward the University Island.
The two entered a courtyard.
As soon as Yan Wushuang stepped inside, he was taken aback.
Remnants of the demon sect!
True remnants of the demon sect!
Blood River Old Ancestor floated in the courtyard, surrounded by several Golden Core cultivators from the demon sect, with Lin Bufan standing among them.
No one spoke.
Except for Lin Bufan, the faces of the Great Freedom Demon Sect disciples were filled with a sense of despair.
They silently stared at the interior of the room, where wooden racks were set up, layered with mulberry leaves.
Among the leaves, spiritual silkworms were happily munching away, swaying their heads.
"What’s going on?"
Zheng Fa asked as he entered.
Blood River Old Ancestor turned his head away, seemingly unwilling to acknowledge Zheng Fa.
Lin Bufan reported, "We have already found the spell to stimulate the silkworms."
Blood River Old Ancestor's face darkened further.
Yan Wushuang rubbed his ear, looking as if he had misheard.
Stimulating silkworms?
The enchanting techniques of the Great Freedom Demon Sect were notorious, and many in the celestial gates had fallen victim to them, with many more turning pale at the mere mention.
Yan Wushuang also found this method vile and difficult to defend against, feeling the utmost disdain in his heart.
But imagining Blood River Old Ancestor, a transformation stage cultivator, focusing on a bunch of soft, squirming silkworms while employing that enchanting technique...
Yan Wushuang couldn’t help but smirk, suddenly finding the demon sect's methods oddly endearing.
Of course, judging by Blood River Old Ancestor's expression, he clearly didn’t appreciate being seen as too down-to-earth.
Zheng Fa chuckled, "What’s wrong? Feeling embarrassed, unwilling to do it?"
"...Willing!"
Those who could survive in Jiushan Sect had no hard bones left.
"Very good, you can start by trying to cultivate the silkworms. In the future, if our Jiushan world is to develop animal husbandry, you will be of great help!" Zheng Fa smiled, "If you achieve merit, I will naturally grant you your freedom."
He pointed at Lin Bufan and said, "Of course, if you remain stubborn, I won’t need so many demon sect disciples."
Upon hearing this, the Golden Core cultivators from the demon sect nodded in agreement.
Zheng Fa then carefully inspected the silkworm room, confirming that the cultivation of the silkworms was proceeding smoothly before he left with Yan Wushuang, satisfied.
Seeing that Zheng Fa seemed to have nothing else to attend to, Yan Wushuang couldn’t help but ask, "Are you planning to have these demon sect disciples cultivate spiritual beasts?"
"Not just spiritual beasts," Zheng Fa sighed, "Our Jiushan world is currently impoverished and needs to support an entire realm of people. We also need to cultivate ordinary pigs, ducks, cattle, and sheep."
"As for those silkworms, I plan to find a few high-yield varieties to distribute to the mortals."
Yan Wushuang trusted him sincerely, so Zheng Fa had nothing to hide and explained, "In the future, those mortals will plant rice and raise silkworms, at least they won’t have to worry about food and clothing."
"So you want to use demon sect disciples?"
"Oh, we really don’t have many talents in this area," Zheng Fa shook his head, then added, "The demon sect's methods do have their merits in this regard."
After all, among the ancestors of the Great Freedom Demon Sect, there were some ruthless individuals who specialized in plants.
Yan Wushuang fell silent. After a long pause, he suddenly brought up the conflict they had encountered earlier.
Zheng Fa listened, not finding it strange—
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