Chapter 630
"That's true!" Xie Qingxue nodded lightly, her expression one of agreement. "Whenever I go out, it's always a crowd around me. I hardly get to go out at Tianhe Sect."
This was something Zheng Fa hadn't anticipated.
Indeed, with her status as Senior Sister Zhang, her visits to Jiushan Fangshi felt more like inspections by a leader.
If others felt uneasy, she felt even more so.
Moreover, she was extremely busy.
Xiao Yuying was also well-known, likely facing similar troubles. She was engrossed in the marketplace, her tone cheerful. "Exactly! With this marketplace, things are so much more convenient now."
Seeing Senior Sister Zhang and her companions so absorbed in their shopping, the prospects of this marketplace were even better than he had imagined!
Zheng Fa glanced at the others and noticed Uncle Pang staring blankly at Uncle Huang, his expression complex, lost in thought.
"Uncle?"
Uncle Pang, however, seemed to want to keep something hidden, and quietly transmitted his thoughts:
"How many years has it been?"
Zheng Fa was puzzled and asked through the transmission, "What do you mean, how many years?"
"The one with the surname Huang—how long has it been since she smiled like that?"
There was a hint of faint nostalgia in Uncle Pang's tone.
Zheng Fa looked up at Uncle Huang, who was standing next to Senior Sister Zhang, chattering away as she picked out dresses.
From their conversation, it sounded like the two of them were planning to buy the same dress to wear together.
As Uncle Pang had said, Uncle Huang wore a remarkably bright smile while choosing clothes.
In all the years Zheng Fa had been at Jiushan Sect, he had never seen Uncle Huang smile like that.
He then heard Uncle Pang let out a soft sigh:
"Back in the day, that Huang loved to roam the marketplace, going every day. One day she'd buy a dress, the next day some jewelry—she was quite the spendthrift, and my senior brother would often complain to me, sometimes even borrowing money. But then... she never went to the marketplace again."
He hadn't expected Jiushan Marketplace to have such an effect.
Watching Uncle Huang's smile, Zheng Fa felt a sense of accomplishment, believing Uncle Pang must be quite pleased as well...
"Some things never change, how shallow!"
"?"
So you’re afraid to say it outright, huh? Afraid of getting hit, are you?
Seeing Senior Sister Zhang and her friends still lost in shopping, Uncle Pang shook his head, impatiently saying, "Taking so long to pick a dress is a hassle. If it were me, I’d be done in half a stick of incense! Now tell me, what does Jiushan Entertainment do?"
"Jiushan Entertainment is quite simple." Zheng Fa tapped on the light screen, opening Jiushan Entertainment. "It's basically news, dramas, and stories."
"News? The one that Yuan Shizhi is in charge of?"
Uncle Pang looked surprised.
"That's the one."
"What good is news for outsiders? It could easily leak secrets."
Uncle Pang clearly didn't understand.
Zheng Fa smiled but didn't explain.
This matter, not just Uncle Pang, but even the publicity genius Yuan Laotou, probably didn't fully grasp the true power of controlling public opinion.
Seeing that he wasn't saying anything, Uncle Pang didn't press further and turned his attention to the other two sections.
"Dramas? Like that one about saving..."
"Yes, there are quite a few dramas in the sect now. In the future, we can put them up here for other cultivators to pay to watch."
"…That's great! That will definitely make money!" Uncle Pang exclaimed, "It might even earn more than the marketplace!"
Zheng Fa nodded lightly; Uncle Pang truly had a knack for mundane affairs.
From his observations over the years, many cultivators' need for entertainment often surpassed their basic physiological needs.
Cultivators have an exceptionally long theoretical lifespan, yet they live under constant threat, carrying immense psychological pressure.
Even those at the Golden Core stage can skip meals if they choose.
If a cultivator were to lie idle, they would be utterly aimless, bored out of their minds, not knowing how to pass the time.
They are severely lacking in entertainment activities.
The theater at Jiushan Fangshi has long had tickets in high demand.
Dramas have become the marketplace's signature, attracting many outside cultivators.
"However, stories like this seem a bit outdated. They probably won't earn much. They can't compare to dramas, which are fresh and unique in the Xuanwei Realm."
Uncle Pang asserted confidently, "Not to mention, I used to read a lot of stories when I was young, but I've long lost interest. Plus, having to pay? No way!"
Before Zheng Fa could explain, a hurried voice interrupted.
"What about the next part?"
Zheng Fa and Uncle Pang turned to see Elder Xiong standing nearby, looking anxious.
"What next part?" Uncle Pang asked, confused.
"The story!"
Uncle Pang was curious. "What story? What's it about?"
"Let me tell you, this story is quite interesting. The protagonist starts off having his fiancée stolen by a disciple of Haori Mountain, left gravely injured and on the brink of death. Just when it seems all hope is lost, he stumbles upon a ring containing the remnant soul of a powerful being, leading to a series of fortunate encounters. He joins Jiushan Sect and soars to success, awakening his talent for artifact forging, and in just ten years, he becomes a Golden Core cultivator."
At this point, Elder Xiong paused, looking at Zheng Fa with a hint of grievance in his eyes. "I just saw the protagonist seeking revenge on that scoundrel from Haori Mountain, and then it ended?"
Uncle Pang was taken aback, staring blankly at Zheng Fa. "What story is this? I've never seen it before."
"I just wrote it."
Uncle Pang's curiosity grew.
He opened the tome in his hand, found the story interface, and began reading.
As a Yuanying cultivator, he read quickly, and his expressions changed even faster, like a face-changing act. One moment he was gritting his teeth, the next he was beaming with joy.
He occasionally slapped his thighs, the sound echoing, completely oblivious to his surroundings.
After half a stick of incense, he looked up at Zheng Fa.
"What happens next?"
"Next, there's a fee."
"…"
Upon hearing this, Uncle Pang pulled out a spirit stone and handed it to Zheng Fa without hesitation.
Zheng Fa gave him a card, explaining to the somewhat confused Uncle Pang, "This is a Good Deed Card. If you input the serial number on it into the tome, you'll earn Good Deed Points. These points can be used for shopping in the marketplace or to watch dramas and stories in Jiushan Entertainment."
The biggest challenge in monetizing these two applications was actually the lack of a suitable payment system.
Given the fragmented currency system in the Xuanwei Realm, Zheng Fa couldn't think of a solution at the moment. For now, he could only rely on a system similar to game point cards:
Tome holders could purchase physical point cards, recharge Good Deeds, and then spend them.
Though it was a bit cumbersome, given Jiushan's current technological capabilities, this was the only method Zheng Fa could come up with for now.
…
Uncle Huang walked over with Senior Sister Zhang, glancing at Uncle Pang, whose expressions were shifting like a kaleidoscope, and asked in confusion:
"What’s he doing? Is he losing his mind?"
"Reading a story."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Huang let out a cold laugh. "That Pang fellow, after all these years, still hasn't changed—so childish!"
Madam Xuanhua hesitated for a moment before speaking up for Uncle Pang. "You can't really blame Elder Pang."
"Why's that?"
"This story, while the plot is a bit thin and the language almost simplistic, is so engaging that I couldn't put it down. Just the other day, I ended up reading it for a whole day and night, almost neglecting my duties at Tiangong Pavilion."
"…Is it really that good?"
Uncle Huang was taken aback.
Uncle Pang looked up, his gaze oddly fixed on Zheng Fa.
"It’s not just good! Zheng Fa's story, tsk..."
"Tsk what?"
"The antagonist in this story is a true disciple of Haori Mountain, and his surname is Lu. He's so arrogant and unreasonable, sinister and ruthless. Haori Mountain puts on a facade of righteousness, but they're just a den of thieves." Uncle Pang's tone grew increasingly peculiar. "The protagonist joins Jiushan Sect, where the brothers are friendly, the elders are loving, and justice prevails. Everyone is united."
"Who wouldn't curse Haori Mountain after seeing that?"
"Who wouldn't admire Jiushan Sect?"
"And it’s written so well, with no flaws in the details."
Of course, there were no flaws.
When Zheng Fa wrote this, he deliberately crafted the plot to be appealing.
But the techniques, secrets, artifacts, and the customs of the Hundred Immortals Alliance, especially the rules of Haori Mountain, were all authentic and realistic.
He had personally gathered materials from Chongxuan Sect and conducted field research. As a true disciple of Haori Mountain, he had access to first-hand information—who would dare to say it was false?
This story, in modern terms, would be considered pure fiction.
But in the Xuanwei Realm, it could almost be called documentary literature.
Modern readers might label it as cliché and juvenile, but Zheng Fa wouldn't dare to argue.
Yet in the Xuanwei Realm, these cultivators would have to respectfully refer to it as... the Brilliant Dream of Jiushan!
"The portrayal of Jiushan Sect in this story is so perfect..." Uncle Pang looked at Zheng Fa with an oddly intense gaze. "I felt embarrassed just reading it."
The others exchanged glances, their expressions equally strange.
Elder Pang was probably the one who cared the most about Jiushan Sect in the hall.
If he said that, it was easy to imagine how exaggeratedly good Jiushan Sect appeared in this story.
At that moment, Sun Daoyu walked in from outside the hall, bowing to the Yuanying cultivators and then cupping his hands to Zheng Fa. "The disciples of the sect have all arrived. Please give your instructions, Sect Leader."
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