Chapter 533
Zheng Fa presented the grand market of the Bai Xian Alliance, a vast marketplace established through maritime trade routes.
From her perspective, such conditions were quite tempting.
“Secondly…” Zheng Fa pondered for a moment, “After they accumulate a certain level of contributions, my Jiu Shan Sect can accept them into the Jiu Shan Realm, allowing them to study and reside there…”
Sister Zhang’s expression shifted slightly, her tone peculiar. “Junior Brother, are you… offering benefits?”
Even the usually composed Xiao Yu Ying rolled her eyes.
Did one just waltz into the Jiu Shan Realm whenever they pleased?
With such a significant background, would she even be able to leave once she entered?
Zheng Fa, however, smiled and turned to Madam Xuan Hua, asking, “Let’s not talk about anything else. Madam Xuan Hua, have you ever regretted joining the Jiu Shan Sect?”
Madam Xuan Hua opened her mouth, clearly a bit embarrassed, and fell silent.
But that silence was an answer in itself.
Xiao Yu Ying had to admit that compared to the outside world, the Jiu Shan Realm had many advantages—openness to immortal techniques, increasingly abundant resources, and a stable environment.
Perhaps some cultivators who thrived on chaos might not appreciate it.
But to be fair, the reason she was willing to stay in the Jiu Shan Realm for so long had nothing to do with fear of any inner demons or oaths.
At that moment, Zheng Fa shifted his perspective. “Sister, I think you’re underestimating yourself.”
“Ah?”
Sister Zhang blinked, and Zheng Fa continued:
“Our Jiu Shan Sect is now on equal footing with the Five Sects. While it may seem unappealing for them to join the Jiu Shan Sect, what if we offered them a chance to join the Tai Shang Dao or the Lei Yin Temple?”
Sister Zhang was stunned for a moment before breaking into a smile. “The Jiu Shan Sect is developing so quickly… I’m a bit unaccustomed to it.”
When Zheng Fa put it that way, it sounded quite appealing.
After all, the Jiu Shan Sect had only risen in prominence for a few years, and Sister Zhang herself hadn’t yet adjusted to their current status.
Everyone present understood Zheng Fa’s intention; he had established a concentric circle structure:
The outermost layer consisted of sects or cultivators akin to a commercial alliance, enjoying the protection of the Jiu Shan Sect.
The middle layer was a technical alliance, able to partake in certain profit distributions.
At the very center was, of course, the Jiu Shan Realm, where they could access the Jiu Shan Sect’s high-quality educational resources and welfare system…
“Xiao Xianzi, you’re well-versed in many matters. What do you think of my idea?” Zheng Fa asked Xiao Yu Ying.
After a long silence, Xiao Yu Ying finally uttered four words: “Too insidious…”
Sister Zhang and Madam Xuan Hua were momentarily taken aback, clearly not understanding the remark. But Zheng Fa smiled awkwardly, as if Xiao Yu Ying had articulated his thoughts.
Seeing his reaction, Xiao Yu Ying sighed, “I don’t know how the leaders of the sects in the Bai Xian Alliance will choose, but I do know how the skilled and capable cultivators within the alliance will decide…”
“After all, those who are fiercely loyal to their sects are few and far between… Moreover, technical cooperation isn’t considered betrayal, right?”
“When those talented cultivators flock to the Bai Xian Alliance, or when they become disillusioned with their own sects due to collaboration with the Jiu Shan Sect… the sects in the Bai Xian Alliance will find themselves powerless.”
Sister Zhang finally grasped the situation. She knew her junior brother had always been skeptical of the Bai Xian Alliance, which was understandable given the Jiu Shan Sect’s past experiences within it.
But now, the Jiu Shan Sect simply didn’t have the time or energy to unify the Bai Xian Alliance by force.
While military unification was straightforward, the aftermath would be troublesome. Ultimately, the Jiu Shan Sect sought not just numbers but the accumulation of various techniques within the Xuan Wei Realm.
Thus, her junior brother’s choice was to cut off the talented cultivators from the major sects of the Bai Xian Alliance.
As Xiao Yu Ying had said, not every genius was fiercely loyal to their own sect.
Even those who were loyal would find their loyalty tested when they joined the profit-sharing system of the Jiu Shan Sect and began receiving spirit stones from it… how much of that loyalty would remain was hard to say.
Over time, the development of those sects was easy to imagine.
“This matter… I fear that even if the leaders understand, they will be powerless to act.”
Who would dare to restrict the Bai Xian Alliance cultivators from voting with their feet?
The Jiu Shan Sect’s lack of action didn’t mean they lacked the means…
Zheng Fa found this insidious assessment quite accurate…
When he studied in the Kingdom of the Summit, he also found it rather cunning—seemingly fair and just, without any hint of coercion, yet the major sects of the Bai Xian Alliance would likely find themselves unable to resist the Jiu Shan Sect in the future.
It would ultimately lead to a situation where the strong grew stronger, and the weak had no chance of rising.
Therefore, Zheng Fa was somewhat “merciful” in giving those sects an opportunity: “I will send letters to the major sects, allowing them to choose to join the technical alliance as a sect.”
Sister Zhang and the others were left speechless.
The so-called market of this technical alliance was still in its infancy, and asking those sects to contribute their techniques seemed a bit difficult.
But it had to be said that compared to the future, today’s brave sects had truly seized an opportunity…
Recalling Zheng Fa’s exchange with Zhao Jing Fan, Xiao Yu Ying now understood: “You’re aiming for the Qing Mu Sect?”
Zheng Fa nodded.
The reason for choosing the Qing Mu Sect was simple.
On one hand, the Qing Mu Sect had accumulated enough in alchemy, which would be of the greatest help to the Jiu Shan Sect now.
On the other hand, the Qing Mu Sect was quite unfortunate, nearly destitute at this point.
Desperation breeds change, doesn’t it?
…
A few days later, the leader of the Qing Mu Sect, Song Zhangmen, gathered with the elders in the discussion hall.
They looked at the several communication talismans in front of Song Zhangmen, frowning, their expressions grim.
“Technical alliance…” an elder snorted, “They’re probably trying to pull a fast one.”
“Exactly. They say they’ll share profits with us… but we’ve already given away our best techniques. In the future, whether we get more or less, it’s still up to them to decide, right?”
“That Zheng Fa is truly insatiable compared to Tong Ming Shang Ren!”
At that moment, another elder voiced his concern: “If we refuse, do you think Zheng Fa will be enraged?”
As soon as those words were spoken, the hall fell into silence.
Clearly, they were all worried about this; otherwise, they would have already sent a letter of refusal.
Song Zhangmen shook his head and sighed, “Zheng Fa sent me a letter saying it’s entirely voluntary and won’t be forced.”
“…”
“Is that trustworthy?”
Clearly, these people didn’t have much faith in Zheng Fa’s character, and neither did Song Zhangmen.
Or rather, he understood that as a leader, if he placed his hopes on the character of others, it would be rather naïve.
“Whether it’s trustworthy or not, we don’t have to agree immediately. Let’s see how others respond.”
The elder added.
That made sense.
The early bird gets the worm.
Others…
Song Zhangmen glanced at a communication talisman, his gaze deepening.
Others were quite formidable.
The leader of the Chong Xuan Sect had also sent a communication talisman, filled with resentment towards the Jiu Shan Sect, clearly expressing some discontent due to Zheng Fa’s recent message.
That was to be expected.
But what puzzled Song Zhangmen was that this leader of the Chong Xuan Sect even subtly hinted… that he wasn’t afraid of the Jiu Shan Sect.
Though the Chong Xuan Sect was one of the top ten sects, it was merely a Yuanying sect; where did they get their confidence?
There was likely some influence from the Five Sects behind this.
Thinking of this, Song Zhangmen felt a tightening in his chest, sensing that the Bai Xian Alliance would face increasing troubles in the future.
He just didn’t know if Zheng Fa was aware of it.
And how would his Qing Mu Sect navigate this situation?
…
After aimlessly pondering for a while, Song Zhangmen tapped the table and said to the elders:
“What’s the situation in the sect?”
As soon as he spoke, the elders couldn’t care less about their anger, their faces filled with worry.
“The Fu Yao leaves and the ivy in the herb garden… have almost all been destroyed. What’s left is…”
Listening to this, Song Zhangmen felt his heart bleed.
The Qing Mu Sect specialized in alchemy, and the herb garden was their most important treasure trove. Now, with this assessment, their past accumulation was nearly gone.
“Due to the shortage of medicinal materials, not many people are coming to our market now…” another elder added, “Even if they do come, we can’t fulfill the orders from other sects.”
Song Zhangmen’s expression grew increasingly grim as his heart sank with the news.
He had already moved past his earlier anger, but he still couldn’t accept the dire situation in the sect.
To say that the foundation of the Qing Mu Sect was still intact—at least they still had a batch of excellent alchemists, right?
But on the other hand, the losses within the sect were too great. Restoring their former glory wouldn’t be easy, and it would depend on whether opportunities arose.
He glanced again at the communication talisman from the Jiu Shan Sect, the technical alliance, the profit-sharing…
He slowly pondered, suddenly looking up and calling out to a disciple outside, “Bring Zhao Jing Fan to me.”
Zhao Jing Fan?
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