Chapter 474
The article that Xie Qingxue mentioned, he was aware of its content, which explored the properties of spiritual materials based on the theory of spiritual material cycles.
The author of the article was a disciple of the Jiu Shan Sect, currently in the Foundation Establishment stage.
This disciple was somewhat cunning; he studied the laws of spiritual material cycles and meticulously researched the spiritual materials recorded in the Jiu Shan classics, categorizing them into the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. He then compared their properties and surprisingly summarized many common characteristics, thus providing numerous examples to supplement the theory of spiritual material cycles.
This work required little cultivation; it relied solely on inspiration and attention to detail. Yet, it proved to be immensely useful, which is why Zheng Fa selected it for inclusion in "Xian Dao" (the Way of Immortality).
"Later, I noticed the author's name," Xie Qingxue continued. "If I remember correctly, he should be a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
Yan Wushuang nodded, secretly rolling his eyes. How could someone at the Transformation stage possibly misremember?
"I actually hope I’m mistaken..." Xie Qingxue suddenly said, "I just can’t believe that something written by a Foundation Establishment cultivator could yield any insights for me."
This... was indeed the case!
At this moment, he could hear the shock and disbelief in his senior sister's tone, even a hint of frustration.
What kind of person was the senior sister?
She was the most talented disciple of the Tianhe Sect in this generation, renowned throughout the five sects of Xuanwei.
Her cultivation level was even at the Transformation stage.
Now, reading an article written by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, not only did she gain insights, but she could even comprehend the Dao!
That was truly terrifying.
Yan Wushuang was momentarily confused:
Was it that the Tianhe Sect was too weak, or that the Jiu Shan Sect was too strong?
Who truly represented the five sects of Xuanwei?
Xie Qingxue's voice reached his ears again:
"Is it that our Tianhe Sect's talents are inferior to those of the Jiu Shan realm?"
"Or is it that the classics of the Tianhe Sect are not as abundant as those of the Jiu Shan Sect?"
"Or perhaps, is it that our Tianhe Sect simply doesn’t know how to educate its disciples?"
Yan Wushuang remained silent. He could sense the unwillingness in his senior sister's tone. He harbored similar thoughts; no matter how much he respected Zheng Fa, as a disciple of the Tianhe Sect, he had been praised and revered since childhood, winning admiration simply by virtue of the name "Tianhe Sect."
Now, if the Tianhe Patriarch could not compare to Zheng Fa, he could accept that.
At least according to Zheng Fa, the Tianhe Patriarch came first, and he was a later arrival, so naturally, he would know a bit more and have a smoother path in cultivation.
But if the Tianhe Sect could not compete with the Jiu Shan Sect, that was another matter entirely.
Both sects belonged to the same era, and the Tianhe Sect had a richer accumulation. Yet now, the foremost disciple of the new generation of the Tianhe Sect was astonished by an article from a Foundation Establishment disciple of the Jiu Shan Sect.
His gaze fell again on "Xian Dao"; there were at least ten such disciples mentioned in this book.
In the future, there might be hundreds, thousands, or even millions...
He could see the significance of this, and he believed his senior sister could see it even more clearly.
Xie Qingxue continued to gaze at Zheng Fa's courtyard, murmuring:
"He has truly forged a different path... Where there is collective wisdom, nothing is impossible."
She paused for a moment.
"Perhaps in the future, everyone in the Jiu Shan realm, regardless of their cultivation level, even common folk, will be able to learn the Way of Immortality and contribute to it?" Xie Qingxue seemed to recall the flying boat she had seen earlier and added, "They could also benefit from the Way of Immortality."
Yan Wushuang understood his senior sister's words.
The path Zheng Fa had taken was, in fact, a new system:
To popularize the education of the Way of Immortality, allowing ordinary people to enjoy its benefits, while also utilizing the wisdom of the masses to delve deeper into the study of the Way of Immortality.
This formed a complete cycle; the development of the Way of Immortality would not abandon the lower classes, but rather seek to harness their wisdom.
As for the results... just look at these articles in "Xian Dao" and observe his senior sister's reaction, and one would know!
"I once saw a kind of acrobatics in the mundane world," Xie Qingxue murmured. "A group of people, some standing on the ground, while others stood on their shoulders, layer upon layer, until the highest person could fly higher than an ordinary martial artist."
"The more people there were below, the higher the one above could go. Once the acrobatics succeeded, everyone could earn money."
"The Jiu Shan realm is just like that."
Yan Wushuang pursed his lips, recalling a phrase Zheng Fa had once said: "Zheng Fa once told me that he stands on the shoulders of giants..."
Hearing this, Xie Qingxue laughed and said, "When cultivation reaches a point where there are no giants left, does he intend to use these people to build a towering mountain?"
She laughed for a moment, then suddenly sighed, "It seems he really can."
Just then, from the direction of Zheng Fa's courtyard, a golden sun leaped into view. To the two of them, this golden sun resembled a rising dawn, brimming with a powerful, latent energy.
They both knew this was Zheng Fa's golden core, but this golden core was more robust, more vibrant, and even more... intense than usual!
"Is Zheng Fa about to break through?"
Yan Wushuang exclaimed in surprise.
Xie Qingxue, however, remained silent, simply watching Zheng Fa's golden core, her lips pressed together.
...
Zheng Fa was indeed advancing.
He had been condensing his golden core for some time now, and his cultivation had not slackened; his accumulation was gradually deepening.
However, compared to his previous rapid progress, it was not as remarkable.
Today's advancement came from a different understanding of the Xuanwei principles:
With Xie Qingxue's help, they had now comprehended the first four transformations of the "Nine Transformations Golden Core Method," which encompassed all five elements of Yang.
He had just re-refined the spiritual material particles from the "Book of Creation," initially producing a ring of five-element energy.
Once the five-element ring was formed, the "Book of Creation" underwent a transformation, containing five times more spiritual energy than before, and its energy became more erratic and varied.
This was just a minor change.
The flow of spiritual energy within the "Book of Creation" was also smoother and more refined than before.
The abundance of spiritual energy brought about a greater storage capacity.
And the smoother flow resulted in a faster response speed—like upgrading a CPU.
What surprised Zheng Fa even more was that the little figure of the Nascent Soul within his golden core was also moving, reaching out toward the "Book of Creation." The book flew into the little figure's hands, cradled in its embrace, with spiritual energy continuously flowing between the book and the little figure.
Zheng Fa could sense that the formation speed of the little Nascent Soul in his golden core had increased by more than five times!
Previously, according to his estimates, he was still a decade away from achieving a complete golden core, which was not too fast, considering that his Qi was too thick, slowing down the formation of his Nascent Soul.
This was normal; cultivation naturally required a solid foundation before taking off.
But now, after re-refining the "Book of Creation," it seemed to have naturally become an accelerator!
He felt puzzled and looked at the "Book of Creation" in the little figure's hands, immediately discovering the clue, or rather the reason—Wood Element Talisman!
In Zheng Fa's theory, the Wood Element Talisman could create a key equivalent to a DNA structure. Now that the spiritual material particles in the "Book of Creation" encompassed all five elements, they all possessed the Wood Element Talisman, which seemed to give them a self-replicating ability, much like DNA!
He didn't even need to guide it with his divine sense; the "Book of Creation" autonomously directed the operation of the golden core, refining the heavenly and earthly energies, condensing the spiritual material particles, and growing on its own.
In this way, Zheng Fa's little Nascent Soul naturally benefited as well.
This thing was somewhat like... an automatic cultivation cheat?
Zheng Fa felt a surge of excitement, thinking that if the Nine Transformations were perfected and the "Book of Creation" became even stronger, would it be even more effective?
If that were the case, he might not need two years to condense his Nascent Soul; it could even be shortened to one year!
...
The changes in the "Book of Creation" were not visible to the outside world.
However, both Xie Qingxue and Yan Wushuang sensed the change in Zheng Fa's golden core cultivation speed.
"This..." Feeling the rapidly growing little Nascent Soul within the golden core, Yan Wushuang's face twitched as he suddenly realized a problem, "At this rate, how long until Zheng Fa surpasses me?"
Xie Qingxue turned back to look at her junior brother, her gaze filled with pity.
"Three months..." she paused, then added, "if his cultivation method doesn't see any other improvements."
Yan Wushuang's eyes widened slowly.
When he first met Zheng Fa, he was also at the golden core stage, while Zheng Fa had just reached Foundation Establishment.
Now, he was still at the golden core stage.
But Zheng Fa was about to surpass him.
He suddenly realized that he seemed to be falling behind!
"It's okay."
Yan Wushuang looked up at his senior sister, feeling grateful—after all, this senior sister was not one to offer comfort easily.
Xie Qingxue said sincerely, "Even the Patriarch would have no way to change that; it’s not your fault."
Yan Wushuang looked at this senior sister, feeling utterly confused:
"Weren't you the one who criticized Zheng Fa on the Jiu Shan forum?"
Didn’t you used to complain about Zheng Fa with a face full of disdain?
Why the sudden change of heart?
"The Patriarch..." Xie Qingxue grasped the hilt of her Qingping Sword, lowering her gaze, "would also be pleased to see someone stronger than him."
...
In the sea, the monk from Leiyin Temple, Wuzhi, touched his sleeve, his face full of anticipation.
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