Chapter 708
"Tai Shang Dao seems to have the intention to assist me in cultivating the Dongtian method..."
Zheng Fa quickly grasped the situation. The Yu Ye Dan and Tai Xuan Dan were the most suitable elixirs for cultivators to enhance their cultivation levels. If Tai Shang Dao was willing to sell them, it was likely that they were well-versed in the Dongtian method.
In the practice of the Dongtian method, the cultivation level of the cultivator within the Dongtian greatly influences the strength of the Dongtian's master.
Take the Jiu Shan realm, for instance. Although there weren't many fervent believers in Jiu Shan University, the power of incense offerings was still considerable.
When it came to divine consciousness, a Golden Core cultivator could match the strength of thousands of people, and for those with exceptional talent, it could be tenfold.
Thus, there are three methods to cultivate the Dongtian method:
First, brainwashing; second, increasing the population; and third, nurturing more high-level cultivators.
Currently, Zheng Fa's dharma body was too strong, making it unsuitable for him to cultivate in the short term.
The Tian He method was incomplete, leaving him with no viable options.
The best improvement would actually be the Yang Shen, or the Yang Shen body.
The cultivation of the Yang Shen body, especially for rapid advancement, naturally fell under the Dongtian method, leading to these three choices.
Brainwashing didn't align with Zheng Fa's thoughts, increasing the population would take time, and the third option of nurturing Jiu Shan disciples seemed the most feasible.
Since Tai Shang Dao wanted Zheng Fa to confront Hao Ri Mountain, they would naturally consider the Dongtian method, and selling these elixirs to Jiu Shan Sect was not without its plans.
After returning the list to Sister Zhang, Zheng Fa exchanged a few more words with the others before letting Sister Zhang and the rest leave.
Moments later, only Zheng Fa and Shi Nan Dang remained in the main hall.
Zheng Fa glanced at Shi Nan Dang, seemingly pondering how to start the conversation.
Shi Nan Dang felt a bit restless, shifting in his chair, alternating between tense and relaxed, feeling quite uncomfortable.
"Shi Shang Ren."
Zheng Fa's address was still polite. After all, although Shi Nan Dang had ulterior motives, he was doing good deeds, and Zheng Fa had no major objections.
"I observe that Shang Ren seems inclined to abandon the dark for the light."
Shi Nan Dang forced a smile, seemingly unsure of how to respond.
He intended to ally with Zheng Fa, but that was merely to sell his skills for survival.
The problem was... with Jiu Shan Sect's outrageous refining capabilities, was his technology still valuable?
Was he going to have to return to Hao Ri Mountain and sell his life?
Thinking this way, he found himself unable to voice his desire to ally.
Seeing his hesitation, Zheng Fa seemed to understand his thoughts and shook his head with a smile, "I understand your concerns, Shang Ren."
"Sending you to Hao Ri Mountain to risk your life would indeed be difficult for you."
Shi Nan Dang was taken aback, looking up at Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa nodded at him, indicating he wasn't speaking in riddles.
Initially, he had thought of sending Shi Nan Dang to gather intelligence for him, especially regarding Hao Ri Mountain and the Tian He Sect. However, Shi Nan Dang was solely focused on self-preservation and would never willingly agree. If forced, he might even sabotage the plan.
On the other hand, Zheng Fa was also not entirely at ease:
Even if the Tian Gang Di Sha transformations were quite formidable, Zheng Fa couldn't guarantee that the Dao Guo cultivators wouldn't notice any discrepancies.
Last time he met with Luo San Xian, he still had the Jiu You talisman in his divine consciousness.
If Shi Nan Dang were to be discovered by Hao Ri Mountain, his death wouldn't matter, but exposing the secrets of Jiu Shan Sect would be a significant risk.
Now that he was cooperating with Tai Shang Dao, Jiu Shan Sect had gained another source of intelligence, so he didn't need to rely solely on Shi Nan Dang.
In fact, with the deal struck with Tai Shang Dao, Zheng Fa's demand for refining talents had grown even stronger. If he could combine Hao Ri Mountain's refining techniques with modern concepts, the benefits would be evident.
"Shi Shang Ren," Zheng Fa observed Shi Nan Dang's surprise and joy, then asked, "Would you be willing to join my Tian Gong Pavilion? To guide the industrial transformation of Jiu Shan Sect?"
"Me?" Shi Nan Dang was taken aback, suddenly doubting himself. "What can I guide?"
Zheng Fa chuckled, "I've learned a bit of Hao Ri Mountain's refining secrets, and they are remarkable enough to greatly benefit Jiu Shan Sect."
Previously, Zheng Fa had learned quite a bit of Hao Ri Mountain's secrets while at Chong Xuan Sect, and they were quite useful.
Now, take machine tools, for instance; they were still in the early stages. While a successful flying sword production line was certainly a joy, advancing further wasn't a simple task.
Shi Nan Dang was still in a daze.
"Are you unwilling, Shang Ren?"
"Of course not! I'm more than willing!"
Shi Nan Dang suddenly stood up, feeling as if he had narrowly escaped death, a sense of hope blooming within him as he spoke loudly.
Seeing his enthusiasm, Zheng Fa raised a hand to signal him to sit down, saying, "There's one more thing I need to ask of you, Shi Shang Ren."
"Ask?" Shi Nan Dang was determined to kneel, his attitude becoming increasingly respectful. "What does the leader mean? As long as I can do it, I will certainly agree!"
"I want you to return to Hao Ri Mountain."
"…"
Shi Nan Dang was left speechless, his mouth agape, seemingly wanting to swallow back his earlier bravado.
Zheng Fa glanced at him and suddenly laughed, "I can see that you still have some loyalty to Hao Ri Mountain."
Shi Nan Dang's expression grew increasingly bitter, and he fell silent, unable to refute. After all, he had spent tens of thousands of years at Hao Ri Mountain; how could he not have some feelings?
It wasn't that he didn't want to do anything for Zheng Fa; it wasn't entirely out of fear of danger.
Zheng Fa shook his head, "It's not about returning to the mountain gate, but rather going to the border of my Bai Xian Alliance."
Shi Nan Dang's expression brightened a bit, but he was still puzzled. "To there? Isn't the spiritual vein there all destroyed?"
"Shi Shang Ren, I want to borrow the name of Hao Ri Mountain's Hua Shen for a purpose," Zheng Fa replied, shaking his head. "Some cultivators from Bai Xian Alliance have been fleeing to Hao Ri Mountain."
"Especially those Yuanying cultivators who came from Hao Ri Mountain; they are fleeing rapidly."
"There are quite a few of them, and many have high cultivation levels. It would be somewhat difficult for Jiu Shan Sect to stop them."
Upon hearing this, Shi Nan Dang began to understand.
"I want you to go to the border of Bai Xian Alliance..." Zheng Fa said slowly, "to assist them."
"…Assist?"
Shi Nan Dang repeated the word, his expression growing increasingly strange.
This group of cultivators had gone through great hardships to escape the pursuit of Jiu Shan Sect, only to plunge headlong into his arms... it was almost pitiful to think about.
"Yes, in Bai Xian Alliance, do you think they can come and go as they please?"
Zheng Fa's expression also showed some anger.
Previously, he wanted to capture these people mainly because he lacked labor. Now that magical tools could be exchanged for spiritual pills, which would aid in his Yang Shen body cultivation, how could he let a lack of workers ruin his plans?
But recently, when Han Lao and the others investigated, they discovered that many cultivators had caused significant havoc in Bai Xian Alliance before leaving:
They probably thought they wouldn't be able to return and were worried about not being able to settle down in other places, so they took everything they could carry.
Various spiritual mines and fields were left in ruins, pockmarked and devastated.
Even worse, they didn't spare even a little money from the mortals, robbing and plundering before hastily leaving.
Zheng Fa was in dire need of people and money to cultivate the Dongtian method, and now this group had fled with Bai Xian Alliance's cultivators and resources...
They had escaped the borders, taking with them a fortune!
This was intolerable!
...
Shi Nan Dang transformed into a young cultivator, standing on a Shen Xiao flying boat, gazing out at the vast sky and sea.
He had stayed in Jiu Shan realm for a while longer, partly to change his foundation and undergo the purification of the Great Sun True Fire, while also practicing the Tian Gang Di Sha transformations.
On the other hand, he was also helping Jiu Shan Sect advance its industrial automation transformation.
Only recently, after achieving minor success in the Tian Gang Di Sha transformations, was he able to conceal himself well enough to leave Jiu Shan realm, preparing to wait for opportunities in Hao Ri Mountain's territory.
As he departed from Jiu Shan realm, he felt an immense sense of relief, even more so than when he was at Hao Ri Mountain.
After all, while cultivating the Chi Xiao Yu Ce, he had known he could be at the mercy of others at any moment. Now, however, Shi Nan Dang understood that as long as he had Zheng Fa's Great Sun True Fire, he didn't need to worry too much.
It truly felt like breaking free from a cage.
He even felt a bit regretful—had he known it would be this enjoyable, he would have defected much earlier!
"Shi Zhen Ren?"
A girl's voice rang in his ears. Shi Nan Dang turned to see a female disciple from Jiu Shan Sect, named Xiao Qing, traveling alongside him.
This time, he was with a group of Jiu Shan disciples, also serving a protective purpose.
"Is there something you need?"
His mood was good at the moment, and besides, he had heard that Xiao Qing seemed to have a special relationship with Zheng Fa, so he didn't put on any airs of a Hua Shen.
Xiao Qing, being around thirty, still looked like a slender young girl, her expression innocent, only slightly more confident than before, with a cultivation level at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
"Shi Zhen Ren," Xiao Qing was the leader of the group of Jiu Shan disciples and one of the few who knew Shi Nan Dang's true identity, so she was quite respectful. "I heard that you came from outside the Bai Xian Alliance?"
"Yes."
Shi Nan Dang furrowed his brow, unsure of her intent in asking this, and felt a hint of anger, thinking she was subtly alluding to his status as a traitor.
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