Chapter 603
Thinking of this, Zheng Fa added, "However, in the future, the disciples of Jiu Shan Sect should learn more about formation techniques."
Sister Zhang nodded gently, "Yes, the Nine Chapters Formation is extremely useful for calculations and deductions."
"Sister, I plan to set up the Nine Chapters Formation on University Island, and I would like you to oversee it."
Although the Nine Chapters Formation had not yet been perfected into artificial intelligence—this theory isn't difficult, but the implementation is quite another matter.
What Zheng Fa had done in the modern world was essentially a simplification of Sister Zhang's original formation, a process of subtraction.
However, various artificial intelligence algorithms are additive; they must consider the properties of spirit stones and the selection of talismans, making the task much more complex.
But that doesn't mean they can't utilize the Nine Chapters Formation.
"What do you want to deduce? The Great Formation of Heaven and Earth? The Transformation Technique?"
"The Great Formation of Heaven and Earth is certainly something we need to deduce," Zheng Fa nodded, "but the most important thing is actually to regulate the allocation of resources within the Jiu Shan Realm."
"Resource allocation?"
"Don't you think there's a huge waste in the Jiu Shan Realm nowadays?" Zheng Fa said.
"I know, but there's nothing we can do about it..."
Indeed, there was little they could do.
To some extent, the economic operation of the Jiu Shan Realm was entirely at the mercy of Zheng Fa and Sister Zhang's intentions.
Of course, neither of them would want to do anything harmful to the Jiu Shan Realm, but wanting to do good doesn't mean it won't lead to bad outcomes.
"The Jiu Shan... no, the entire Xuan Wei Realm's economic system is riddled with loopholes," Zheng Fa said. "The spirit stone as currency is inherently unreasonable and cannot meet the demands of a large number of goods."
"On the other hand, trade is filled with barriers, such as between Haori Mountain and our Jiu Shan Sect."
Zheng Fa was not someone who knew everything from birth; after taking charge of the Jiu Shan Realm, he had read extensively in the modern world.
In his view, the Jiu Shan Sect currently lacked the soil for a market economy—Xuan Wei Realm hadn't even completed its social division of labor.
Not to mention, the Jiu Shan Realm simply hadn't developed long enough.
Thus, the "First Fifty-Year Plan" was born.
But that didn't mean there weren't problems; in fact, the problems were significant!
Such an economic plan requires extremely high data capabilities...
Just within the Jiu Shan Sect, the types of spirit materials needed by cultivators number in the thousands.
For each type of spirit material, they must determine how much to produce, how much will be consumed, and how to allocate resources—all of which Zheng Fa and Sister Zhang must plan and issue commands for.
The simplest example is what spirit herbs to produce in the medicinal garden to meet the needs of the Jiu Shan Sect disciples, which requires an enormous amount of calculation.
Let alone Sister Zhang being a person; even if she were a computer... it would still be overwhelming.
Previously, Zheng Fa and Sister Zhang had no choice but to focus on the most critical projects, sacrificing the smaller ones.
It's not that it was bad, but the resources and time wasted were also astronomical.
"Sister, I want to use the Nine Chapters Formation to allocate resources within the realm to maximize resource utilization," Zheng Fa shared his vision with Sister Zhang.
"Perfect, the data that Uncle Pang has compiled can also be input into the formation."
"In my view, using this method to utilize the Nine Chapters Formation is the fastest way to develop the Jiu Shan Realm. Of course, deducing the formation techniques is also necessary, but it's not the top priority."
Zheng Fa's idea could be summed up in one sentence—"Dude, the problem is the economy!"
The Xuan Wei Realm is different from the modern world, but human nature doesn't differ that much, naturally adhering to roughly equivalent economic laws.
Whether it's formations or various techniques, they might enhance the martial strength of the Jiu Shan Sect, but they cannot fundamentally improve its power.
Some knowledge may seem harmless, but it can be enough to become a dragon-slaying technique.
Yuan Shijie listened, feeling a bit confused, her mind blank, and couldn't help but turn her gaze to Sister Zhang.
Seeing Sister Zhang's expression, Yuan Shijie nodded, realizing that her junior brother was right!
After all, Sister Zhang's eyes were practically glued to her junior brother!
"Sister, also... if we are to deduce techniques, I think we should start with your Transformation Technique."
Zheng Fa added.
Upon hearing this, Sister Zhang's gaze softened even more, but she shook her head, "When I was comprehending the Dao, I actually tried to deduce the path of Transformation, but I still lack something."
"Hmm?"
"The method of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor doesn't quite align with my path."
Zheng Fa fell into thought upon hearing this. The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor's method, after all, is essentially the method of the Demon Sect.
If the Demon Sect's method doesn't work...
What about Haori Mountain's?
Oh, right, what about the Tianhe Sect!
I wonder if Xie Xianzi can obtain the techniques of the Xianjian lineage.
...
Xie Qingxue had returned to the Tianhe Sect for some days now.
But she hadn't rashly sought out the techniques of the Xianjian lineage for Zheng Fa—after all, this was the true transmission of the Tianhe Sect's Transformation, and even she, the current true transmission master sister, couldn't easily pass it on.
How could she just hand it over to Zheng Fa?
She walked out of the scripture building, frowning, her expression troubled.
The records about the true transmissions of the four lineages in the building were extremely scarce, and some she wasn't even qualified to view.
If it was kept so secret from her, it would be even more difficult to give it to Zheng Fa.
After pondering for a while, she realized that the only possible breakthrough might be through her master—if Zheng Fa's speculation about her master was true.
Is it true?
Thinking back on the people and events she had encountered since returning, Xie Qingxue furrowed her brows, finding it hard to decide.
After a moment of contemplation, she turned on her heel and flew toward the main hall.
The hall was still cold and empty, with only Master Yan sitting on a cushion, eyes lowered in meditation.
Xie Qingxue stood before her master, bowing her head in silence, waiting quietly while also thinking about how to speak.
"Qingxue?"
"Greetings, Master."
"Do you have something to discuss with me?"
Xie Qingxue bit her lip and asked, "Master, it seems that the Xuan Wei Realm is on the brink of chaos. How should my junior brother and I position ourselves?"
Master Yan looked up at her.
"The Jiu Shan Sect."
"The Jiu Shan Sect is just starting out, with a weak foundation. Why not return?"
Master Yan looked at her, a knowing expression flashing across her face, "There are dangers within the sect; I can't spare the time to worry about you two."
"Then why not seek refuge with the four sects?"
"...If you want to seek refuge, do you think they'll accept you?"
Xie Qingxue silently nodded, then suddenly tightened her grip on the Qingping Sword, whispering, "I was thinking, with my junior brother out there, his cultivation is progressing rapidly."
Master Yan nodded slightly, remaining silent, just watching Xie Qingxue with an inscrutable expression.
Xie Qingxue continued, "But he is still in the Hundred Immortals Alliance, and it will be very difficult for him to receive guidance from within the sect in the future." She lowered her head and said softly, "If... if there are changes within the sect, there will be no more path forward."
A silence fell over the hall.
"So what are you trying to say?"
"I was thinking, if Master could pass on the true secret techniques of our sect to me, I could conveniently pass them on to my junior brother in the future."
The silence in the hall stretched on even longer.
"True secret techniques? Which one does he want to learn?"
"My junior brother said that he recently obtained a formation for refining the Xianjian, and it seems he has a connection with it."
Master Yan's expression changed, staring intently at Xie Qingxue, "A formation for refining the Xianjian...?"
"Yes."
"He has quite the opportunity."
After a long while, Master Yan finally let out a gentle sigh.
"Unfortunately, it's not enough."
"Not enough?"
"This opportunity isn't enough for him to learn our sect's secret transmission..."
"Master..."
"However..." Master Yan looked at her, suddenly curling her lips into a smile, "If he has a technique useful for refining the Xianjian, then this opportunity will be sufficient."
Upon hearing this, Xie Qingxue looked at Master Yan, only to see her gaze fixed on her, devoid of any smile.
She remained silent for a moment, then gently nodded, silently bowing, and exited the hall.
...
Watching her figure disappear into the horizon, Master Yan slowly closed her eyes again.
"Your disciple..." A voice filled with amusement echoed from the shadows of the hall, "isn't afraid of your wrath."
Suddenly, another person appeared in the hall. Master Yan remained still, not even blinking, as if she had known all along.
The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor stood behind her, appearing completely at ease, as if the Tianhe Sect, fraught with danger for those of the Demon Sect, was just like home.
"She's a clever one. After returning for so many days, she must have already figured out something."
"Not just clever." The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor nodded in approval, "I sense a very familiar aura from her. Given time, she might far surpass you."
"Given time..." Master Yan looked up at the sky, "how much time is left?"
Upon hearing this, the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor shook his head, unable to refute, "Have you made your decision?"
"The arrow is on the string; it must be released."
"Then why hold onto the true secret techniques of the sect?"
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