Chapter 527
However, in the "Jiu Shan Jin Dan Fa," it seemed that this vessel had yet to be found.
Thinking of this, Zheng Fa turned to Xiao Yu Ying and asked, "Xiao Fairy, do you have any ideas?"
Since Xiao Yu Ying had posed the question, whether she had seen something or already knew something, it surely wasn’t without purpose.
"I don’t have any ideas," Xiao Yu Ying gently shook her head, then pointed to the five-colored spirit orchid. "But this orchid should be of some help to you."
Zheng Fa looked at the jade deer. Its eyes were large and dark, pure and clear, staring at Zheng Fa as if urging him to take the orchid.
Xiao Yu Ying lightly traced the characters on the low table, seemingly lost in thought, and explained, "I once visited an ancient cultivation cave. Based on its style, I deduce that the owner must have lived at the end of the last epoch."
Zheng Fa trusted Xiao Yu Ying’s perspective as a historian.
But the end of the last epoch? Wasn’t that the same era as the Tianhe Zun Zhe?
"The cultivator of that cave had a cultivation level at most at the Yuanying stage, but... he witnessed the rise of the Tianhe Zun Zhe."
Xiao Yu Ying’s words confirmed Zheng Fa’s suspicions.
"So, this spirit orchid is related to the 'Jiu Zhuan Jin Dan Fa'?"
This was actually quite easy to guess.
Xiao Yu Ying mentioned the "Jiu Shan Jin Dan Fa" and spoke of the ancient cultivator from the end of the last epoch...
Naturally, the connection between the two was the "Jiu Zhuan Jin Dan Fa."
Xiao Yu Ying nodded and continued, "The owner of that cave was actually quite poor. It seems he spent all his savings in an attempt to break through, but in the end, he failed..."
There was an inexplicable disdain in Xiao Yu Ying’s tone, as if she were looking down on the plight of the impoverished.
"But he still left behind quite a few jade tubes."
"In one of those jade tubes, there was a record of a rumor:"
"When the Tianhe Zun Zhe was at the Jin Dan stage, it seemed he obtained a five-element orchid, which later led to his legendary status as the first to achieve the Jin Dan."
"It seems the Tianhe Sect has been cultivating and acquiring five-element orchids ever since... they must be of great use."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa began to ponder.
This was merely a rumor, but Xiao Yu Ying’s words hinted at many intriguing points.
The Tianhe Zun Zhe obtained the five-element orchid during his Jin Dan period, subsequently gaining immense fame. While it couldn’t be definitively said that this was related to the "Jiu Zhuan Jin Dan Fa," the timeline matched—Tianhe Zun Zhe must have perfected the "Jiu Zhuan Jin Dan Fa" during his Jin Dan stage.
On the other hand, if the Tianhe Sect had been continuously seeking to acquire five-element orchids, that raised further suspicions:
Based on Zheng Fa’s understanding of the cultivators in the Xuan Wei realm, if it were merely a fleeting opportunity, the Tianhe Zun Zhe wouldn’t have instructed the Tianhe Sect to search for five-element orchids again. After all, treasures from the Jin Dan stage would likely be of no use to him later.
Instead, it would be necessary for the techniques required by the disciples, which is why the Tianhe Sect would have a demand for the five-element orchid.
So, what techniques corresponded to the Jin Dan stage and were also part of the Tianhe Sect’s methods—
The most famous, of course, was the "Jiu Zhuan Jin Dan Fa"!
Of course, this was still just speculation. To be honest, it was merely a possibility.
The Tianhe Zun Zhe had more than one technique, and even the method for his life spirit treasure had to be cultivated during the Jin Dan stage.
He looked up at Xiao Yu Ying, who nodded and said, "The jade tube also mentioned that, according to the rumor, the Tianhe Zun Zhe created an extremely powerful Jin Dan technique,"
"This Jin Dan technique requires a special elixir, and the main ingredient for this elixir is the five-element orchid."
Zheng Fa slowly nodded, then looked at the orchid in the deer’s mouth, realizing, "So this is the five-element orchid?"
"Yes." Xiao Yu Ying also gazed at the orchid, her tone tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "That Yuanying cultivator naturally wanted to glimpse the secret technique, so he somehow found a five-element orchid and planted it in his cave."
"Unexpectedly, when I entered his cave, the five-element orchid had somehow been passed down through generations."
"He himself had long turned to bones."
Xiao Yu Ying then recalled something, her expression growing serious. "But the five-element orchid is now... almost nonexistent in the Xuan Wei realm."
"Nonexistent? That shouldn’t be the case."
Zheng Fa furrowed his brow.
According to Xiao Yu Ying, the five-element orchid should have a strong survival ability, at least capable of stable reproduction under certain conditions.
"I later inquired about this... In the Xuan Wei realm, the seeds of the five-element orchid are extremely rare, and most cultivators have never even heard of this spirit plant."
Zheng Fa suddenly looked up at Xiao Yu Ying and said, "Deliberately destroyed?"
"That seems to be the case."
To say it was destroyed naturally pointed to the actions of the Five Sects; aside from them, few others had the capability.
But on the other hand, this also made Zheng Fa understand why Xiao Yu Ying was so certain that the five-element orchid was related to the "Jiu Zhuan Jin Dan Fa":
After all, if it weren’t for the "Jiu Zhuan Jin Dan Fa" or something as taboo as the Tianhe Zun Zhe, the Five Sects wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to turn a perfectly good spirit plant into an endangered species.
This meant that the five-element orchid was indeed quite precious.
"Xiao Fairy, is this orchid... for me?"
"I’ll give you one, but what I want later is not just one."
"Well..." Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa laughed, "Ten or a hundred will do!"
Protecting endangered species and maintaining the ecological environment of the Xuan Wei realm was what Jiu Shan Sect excelled at.
What could be more endangered than a unique spirit root?
Didn’t Master Qian manage to cultivate one?
Xiao Yu Ying nodded, smiling, then turned her gaze back to the characters on the table. After a long pause, she said, "Your idea... in the future, the Jiu Shan Sect will likely find it very difficult."
Zheng Fa silently nodded.
It would indeed be difficult.
He had never seen anyone truly succeed—perhaps it could be said that he had now embarked on a path that was genuinely different from the modern one, at least not merely following in others' footsteps.
In the future, there would be no stones to touch for guidance on success or failure.
"If it weren’t for the circumstances, I wouldn’t want to be this way."
Zheng Fa shook his head.
If it weren’t for the current situation in the Xuan Wei realm and the crisis facing the Jiu Shan Sect, he truly wouldn’t want to.
"If it weren’t for the circumstances, I wouldn’t want to help you..."
Xiao Yu Ying mimicked him, wearing a wry smile.
"..." Zheng Fa looked at Xiao Yu Ying.
"I’m a cultivator too." Xiao Yu Ying stood up, looking at Zheng Fa with sincerity. "If it weren’t for the decline of spiritual energy... I would never stand on your side."
To be honest, this was very real.
Xiao Yu Ying was not the type to possess great altruism.
Among the three women in the Xuan Wei realm with whom she had the best relationship, Senior Sister Zhang was naturally different; they had always been of one mind.
Xie Qingxue had a great secret that Zheng Fa had stumbled upon, and out of necessity, she had to cooperate with her.
But Xiao Yu Ying was different.
Now it seemed that this woman had a mysterious identity and a significant background, giving her many choices. She was free and unrestrained; if she wanted to leave the Jiu Shan realm, Zheng Fa’s consent wouldn’t be the only way.
In other words, if she didn’t approve of Zheng Fa’s actions, she could indeed withdraw.
Only the decline of spiritual energy could move her.
Moreover, the more one prided themselves on their talent, the more they cared about the decline of spiritual energy... If one could only cultivate to the Jin Dan stage in their lifetime, what use was it to worry about the decline of spiritual energy?
"In the future, if the Five Sects come looking for trouble, you can say..." Xiao Yu Ying suddenly said, "This taboo 'Jiu Shan Jin Dan Fa' has my Xiao Yu Ying’s share. If they want to cause trouble, count me in."
With that, she waved her sleeve, and the painting screen was put away.
The little deer in front of Zheng Fa transformed into wisps of green spiritual energy, slowly dissipating.
Then, she opened her right hand and reached out to Zheng Fa.
"Hand it over."
"What?"
"The archaeological... plan, or whatever..." Xiao Yu Ying seemed to remember something, pouting slightly as she muttered, "I think I was tricked into joining the Jiu Shan Sect by this very thing back in the day."
Xiao Fairy really had a keen eye; Zheng Fa had indeed prepared an archaeological project list.
"This is the information provided by Mu Qing Yan, with dozens of entries, some even marked with potential dangers and valuable treasures inside..."
"Take a look, Xiao Fairy."
"Dozens..." Xiao Yu Ying was somewhat speechless. "She really trusts you."
"Doesn’t Xiao Fairy trust me too?" Zheng Fa said with a hint of pride. "Mu Qing Yan has good character and cultivation; she’ll be a talent in the future. Xiao Fairy, please keep an eye on her for me."
Dozens of ruins and secret realms were quite a lot, but considering that Mu Qing Yan had lived for thousands of years in her "previous life," it wasn’t exaggerated to say that a valuable ruin would emerge every century.
In Zheng Fa’s view, Mu Qing Yan’s willingness to provide so much information wasn’t purely out of trust.
These dozens of ruins, given Mu Qing Yan’s cultivation level, would yield little benefit for her now, not to mention how to protect her interests after gaining those benefits.
On the contrary, by collaborating with the Jiu Shan realm, she could obtain the resources she desired more quickly...
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