Chapter 511
He remained unhurried, instead picking up the Baihua Ling Tea in front of him, sipping leisurely before finally lifting his gaze to the Baihua Fairy, smiling as he said:
"I’m just a mere Golden Core cultivator. What insights could I possibly have?"
The old monk from Leiyin Temple suddenly turned his gaze to Zheng Fa, his pupils a cold, indifferent gold.
Yet Zheng Fa seemed oblivious to the monk's reaction, tossing the lid of his cup aside.
The lid clattered against the cup, producing a sharp, ringing sound.
Zheng Fa's expression, tinged with impatience, was even colder and sharper than that of the old monk:
"Everyone here speaks half-truths and still claims to want to hear my insights?"
"Isn't that laughable?"
His demeanor exuded confidence, causing the flickering golden light in the old monk's eyes to momentarily pause.
The Baihua Fairy's smile appeared somewhat forced as she spoke, "Zheng Zhangmen, why do you say such things?"
Zheng Fa snorted lightly, "As a mere Golden Core, I know nothing of the concept of repaying heaven and earth. All I understand is that Dao Fruit cultivators are both the law and the person! To pass on the Dao is a form of cultivation!"
"And how does that relate to repaying heaven and earth?"
At this moment, he could no longer hide; he had to present something substantial!
Based on Tang Lingwu's conjecture about the Dao Fruit cell nucleus, Zheng Fa could first deduce that—
Dao Fruit cultivators possess a dual nature of celestial law:
They are both immortals, or rather, living beings with wisdom, yearning for survival.
But on the other hand, they are also the law itself!
As long as the laws they create are sound, they will not truly die. The perfection of the law is their own progress, or the transformation of the law signifies their own mutation.
In fact, Tang Lingwu once made a metaphor that was almost conjectural—
If the world were viewed as a computer, then a Dao Fruit cultivator could even be seen as open-source software, or a programming language.
The others who follow the cultivation methods of Dao Fruit cultivators are, to some extent, users and improvers of this open-source software.
They maintain the vitality of this software, expand its content, and enrich its functions.
This is why Zheng Fa said that passing on the Dao is part of cultivation!
In his heart, Zheng Fa leaned more towards this explanation—not out of arrogance, but because he believed this interpretation, compared to the five sects' notion of repaying heaven and earth, eliminated an unsatisfactory assumption: that heaven and earth possess their own will, which could reward or punish cultivators, yet this will is self-contradictory.
According to Occam's Razor, he was more inclined to trust Tang Lingwu's understanding…
Of course, at this moment, he couldn't find a second explanation that gave him more confidence.
As Zheng Fa spoke, the hall fell into silence. Wu Zhi and Xie Qingxue looked somewhat confused, but they all turned to the elder seated before them.
The old monk from Leiyin Temple lowered his gaze, softly chanting a Buddhist verse, his face full of compassion.
The Baihua Fairy's expression tightened, her smile stiffening—one could tell she was worried about having offended Zheng Fa.
Xie Qingxue's face lit up, while Wu Zhi lowered his eyes. At this moment, who could fail to understand that Zheng Fa's words were the truth recognized by Dao Fruit cultivators!
And anyone capable of articulating such truths was, at the very least, not inferior in insight to Dao Fruit!
His strength was proven by the death of the Great Freedom Demon Emperor.
His knowledge was confirmed by the firsthand accounts of the five sects' Dao Fruit.
In other words, it was only at this moment that Zheng Fa's strength, or hidden methods, were truly acknowledged by the Dao Fruit cultivators of the five sects!
Zheng Fa smiled, seemingly unbothered—
The benefits he had gained surpassed the understanding of these people:
Just now, he had come to a realization: the theory of the spiritual energy cell nucleus seemed to have received partial validation, at least aligning with the understanding of these Dao Fruit cultivators!
The atmosphere in the hall finally relaxed. The Baihua Fairy even stood up, gently bowing to Zheng Fa, apologizing:
"Zheng Zhangmen, it is not that we are making things difficult for you, but… our five sects have reached our current status through great tribulations."
"Your Bai Xian Alliance has developed so rapidly, we truly have our doubts."
Though her words were no longer polite banter, they sounded much more sincere than before.
She continued, "In truth, our concern stems from the fact that if your strength is insufficient, it would be a disaster for you to independently govern the Xuanwei Realm in the future."
Zheng Fa was taken aback, unsure why the Baihua Fairy would say such a thing.
But he knew he had no choice—
He attended the five sects' alliance not to vie for territory, but to dispel their suspicions.
But what did the Bai Xian Alliance mean by "disaster"?
He listened as the Baihua Fairy explained:
"Zheng Zhangmen speaks wisely. We cultivators are, after all, going against the heavens…"
"To pass on the Dao to the world is to strengthen ourselves. What need is there for the notion of repaying heaven and earth? That is the talk of common folk, something we only jest about."
"Passing on the Dao is the best way for us scattered immortals to cultivate! Yet the mundane world is ultimately ignorant, which can affect our Dao Fruit."
Zheng Fa listened carefully as the Baihua Fairy continued:
"The divine path benefits all beings, tainting them with worldly desires, leading to madness."
This echoed the messages left by Jiu You from years past.
It seemed correct.
"But the immortal path is different. The immortal sect selects those with exceptional talent and intellect, choosing the best among the mundane to avoid losing their sanity."
Zheng Fa had not heard this before, but it made sense now:
Those with exceptional talent, in Tang Lingwu's metaphor, were akin to core contributors:
Perhaps ninety percent of the useful code was written by just a few individuals…
As for the rest, well, they could choose not to write if they couldn't.
"But those with exceptional talent also have a fatal flaw… If their talent is too astonishing, they may usurp the nest, forming their own Dao Fruit."
"Hence, the emergence of the Demon Ancestor."
The Demon Ancestor… equivalent to a closed system?
Emphasizing control?
In this way, Zheng Fa began to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the divine path, immortal path, and demonic path.
The divine path had the most significant issues, nearly leading to its extinction.
The immortal and demonic paths each had their pros and cons, thus enduring to this day.
But the question remained: what was the great calamity?
And why did the five sects occupy territory and population?
Various conjectures flashed through his mind, and finally, Mu Qingyan's face appeared before him:
"Divine beings walk the earth, ancient immortals dwell atop mountains."
"Immortals and gods have become the rulers of Xuanwei."
If what she spoke of the future were true, then these so-called ancient immortals and divine beings were the five sects of Xuanwei?
With this thought, Zheng Fa suddenly had another conjecture:
The emergence of the five sects in the world, controlling Xuanwei, was to prevent ancient immortals and divine beings not belonging to the five sects from using the mundane population of Xuanwei to enhance their strength?
To put it in Tang Lingwu's terms, was it to seize the market first?
Of course, such actions could also enhance the strength of these Dao Fruit cultivators.
But broadly passing on the Dao, even employing divine methods, would always have some repercussions.
If it weren't for the need to respond to the great changes in heaven and earth, the five sects likely wouldn't resort to such previously avoided methods.
Even this moment's deliberate harmony and slight tolerance towards Zheng Fa might be a fear of internal strife?
As he pondered, he glanced around the hall, realizing it was the perfect time to verify many things, and boldly asked:
"This alliance meeting is to control the speed of the ancient immortals' revival?"
Wu Zhi and the others looked puzzled, clearly having never heard of any revival.
But the expressions of the Baihua Fairy and the others turned serious as they looked at Zheng Fa, their tone becoming more equal:
"Indeed, according to the records of the Taishang Dao, this calamity is greater than any before, a calamity of immeasurable proportions, where all realms converge, and spiritual energy will truly be severed."
"The emergence of immortals and gods would inevitably disrupt Xuanwei."
"As the custodians of Xuanwei, our five sects must exercise caution."
Zheng Fa understood—
No ancient immortals are allowed to emerge (×).
Only our ancient immortals are allowed to emerge (√).
But… what business did the Tianhe Sect have in this?
Zheng Fa cast a strange glance at the Tianhe Sect's Master Yan, wondering why they seemed so eager for the Tianhe Venerable to return.
But the notion of all realms converging? The implications of that left Zheng Fa with more thoughts.
At this moment, it was not the right time to ask—this idea likely wasn't a secret among Dao Fruit cultivators. Asking too many questions could expose him as a pseudo-scholarly type.
At this point, Zheng Fa could confirm three things:
First, before attaining Dao Fruit, cultivators are learners, thus indifferent to passing on the Dao. After attaining Dao Fruit, a cultivator's strength, at least in the scattered immortal stage, is largely determined by the number and quality of those practicing their methods.
The nine tribulations of scattered immortals are likely not a fabrication; passing on the Dao probably does aid in overcoming tribulations.
Second, what Mu Qingyan spoke of regarding the future is highly likely true. Most of the ancient immortals and divine beings probably do not belong to the current five sects of Xuanwei; otherwise, they wouldn't be so vigilant.
Third, the five sects will not only control the revival of Dao Fruit cultivators but may also prohibit non-five sect cultivators from advancing to Dao Fruit—Zheng Fa's current stability is indeed because he is already regarded as a Dao Fruit, or rather, he has a Dao Fruit backing him.
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