Book 2: Chapter 204: Embracing All Rivers, A Proposal for Cooperation |
Vol 2 Chapter 204: Embracing All Rivers, A Proposal for Cooperation
Zheng Fa looked at the silent Mu Qingyan and felt like she’d been rendered speechless by Xiao Yuying.
And he was right.
Mu Qingyan was currently sunk deep in self-doubt:
She actually understood the value of the Golden Core Engineering project—but she still believed the secret realms and treasures outside were more valuable.
The problem was Xiao Yuying’s attitude.
Xiao Yuying was someone she could never compare to, in this life or the last—unless she one day successfully reached Soul Formation.
But now Xiao Yuying seemed to be the one seeking something from Zheng Fa—how could Mu Qingyan not understand the implications of that?
Electromagnetism…
As long as your math grades were up to par, you could take it as an elective.
But Xiao Yuying was willing to offer a Qingyun Immortal Fruit, and even seemed worried Zheng Fa wouldn’t accept her as a student…
Was Xiao Yuying stupid?
Mu Qingyan swallowed hard, staring blankly at Zheng Fa, only to hear him ask her, “Shall I send you out?”
“... Sect Master!”
“Hm?”
“I’m not leaving!”
Mu Qingyan’s face was filled with unwavering loyalty to the Jiushan Realm!
“Then that Boundless Sea External Pill…”
Mu Qingyan quickly said, “This disciple is willing to contribute to the Golden Core Engineering project!”
Zheng Fa looked at her for a moment, then lightly nodded and said, “Alright then. If you ever want to leave, just come talk to me. If you’re staying, I’ll convert this Boundless Sea External Pill into project contribution points. When the project concludes, you’ll receive both merit and honor—you won’t lose out.”
“... Thank you, Sect Master!”
That “thank you” was noticeably more sincere.
She seemed to understand that Zheng Fa had likely seen through some of her schemes or omissions—but hadn’t held it against her.
Feeling a bit uneasy, Mu Qingyan took her leave in a hurry.
Xiao Yuying glanced at her departing figure and suddenly said, “That disciple’s not quite normal. Probably has her own little agenda.”
Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang exchanged a glance and both smiled.
Xiao Yuying had only made a casual remark, and seeing they didn’t respond, she changed the subject: “About what I mentioned earlier—Sect Master Zheng, have you given it any thought?”
Zheng Fa was silent for a moment, then said, “Given the rapport between us, and Fairy Xiao’s prior assistance to the Jiushan Sect, in principle, I’m agreeable.”
Hearing that, Xiao Yuying tensed up: “In principle? What does the Jiushan Sect need?”
“That’s not what I mean. I just need to consult with some of the elders.” Zheng Fa had a vague plan forming but didn’t elaborate yet. “You’ve had a long journey, Fairy—why not rest for a bit?”
Seeing him say that, Xiao Yuying could only nod, though her eyes were still full of unease as she left.
……
“What do you think about Mu Qingyan?”
As soon as she left, Senior Sister Zhang asked.
They hadn’t brought it up earlier since it was an internal Jiushan matter—not appropriate to discuss in front of an outsider like Xiao Yuying.
“That matter…” Zheng Fa smiled, then suddenly said, “Didn’t you teach me this, Senior Sister?”
“Ah?”
“Don’t I have secrets of my own?”
Senior Sister Zhang was momentarily stunned, then also broke into a smile.
If we’re talking secrets, Zheng Fa had acted far more suspicious than Mu Qingyan ever had.
But Senior Sister Zhang had always turned a blind eye, deaf to it all.
That kind of protection—Zheng Fa had always kept in his heart.
“You’re different…” Senior Sister Zhang said seriously. “The Jiushan Sect survived because of you.”
“Of course you’d think I’m different, Senior Sister—but I’d say this: if it weren’t for your tolerance, I wouldn’t be here today, and the Jiushan Sect wouldn’t have this peace either.” Zheng Fa shared his thoughts, then added, “We have to admit that most geniuses in the Xuanyi Realm carry secrets of their own.”
Senior Sister Zhang nodded: “So you mean, judge by actions, not intent?”
...Talking with Senior Sister Zhang was always so effortless.
“Yes. Our Jiushan Realm has its own system. No matter what her background is or what thoughts she has, as long as she contributes, she’ll be rewarded. If she acts against us, then we deal with it.”
“No need to be overly suspicious—better to make more friends, fewer enemies…”
Senior Sister Zhang nodded again, understanding Zheng Fa’s point—
In a world like the Xuanyi Realm, expecting someone to be entirely selfless was unrealistic. Especially for many geniuses, who had their own fateful opportunities.
Besides, Zheng Fa had that kind of heart—one that could embrace all rivers.
……
“External Pill Method… it’s more troublesome than I thought.”
Looking at the contents of the Boundless Sea External Pill, Zheng Fa frowned, as if he’d hit a wall.
Senior Sister Zhang picked up the handwritten copy and immediately understood his concern: “The alchemical furnace is too unique.”
“Yes, I already knew that the furnaces required for external pill methods were demanding. But from what’s recorded in this Boundless Sea External Pill, it seems every technique has its own specific furnace.”
In this method, aside from the materials needed to forge the pill, the most troublesome part was the furnace.
“This furnace seems to be modeled after the body of someone who practices the Boundless Sea Scripture.”
“So, to create the best external pill for yourself, you’d need to first make a furnace modeled after your own body?”
Zheng Fa nodded lightly.
“Now it makes sense why the external pill method is so rare… even our Jiushan Sect, with generations of Nascent Souls, never had something like this.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“Having the Boundless Sea External Pill gives us a direction.”
“First, we need to try refining it—to help the project team get familiar with the process, and to test our theories.”
“Next, we’ll see if we can adapt the approach of this Boundless Sea External Pill to develop a Divine Thunder External Pill, or even a Dragon-Tiger External Pill.”
Senior Sister Zhang listened to his plan without objection—clearly, her thoughts aligned with Zheng Fa’s.
“Of course, one single Boundless Sea External Pill might not be enough to help us understand the whole principle…” Zheng Fa added. “I plan to ask Fairy Xiao if she has any related inheritances—maybe we can trade, and study them side by side.”
“This is the matter you said you'd consult with us about?”
“No, that’s still a small matter.” Zheng Fa shook his head. “I want to appoint Fairy Xiao as a Professor of Archaeology in the Jiushan Realm—especially to collaborate with her on archaeological work.”
This idea had come to Zheng Fa during his research on the Golden Core Engineering project.
Senior Sister Zhang looked slightly surprised and turned to Zheng Fa.
“Senior Sister, we have to admit—our Jiushan Realm has too shallow a foundation.”
“……”
While the Jiushan Realm Zheng Fa envisioned leaned more modern, he didn’t plan to forcefully transplant it.
Cultivation civilization and modern civilization had a key difference—
With massively extended lifespans, the Xuanyi Realm really did operate on a “the older, the stronger” basis!
And… there also seemed to be a “first come, first served” logic—like the Path of the Dao, where earlier pioneers monopolized entire fields, leaving successors stuck in their shadows.
In the Xuanyi Realm, archaeology was practically the most critical field of research…
And he had no confidence that Jiushan’s people could outmatch the accumulated knowledge of countless past eras in the Xuanyi Realm…
Even if they could—
Why not take it all anyway?
“You mean, to study ancient inheritances using Jiushan methods? Like that disciple of the Tianhe Venerable?”
Senior Sister Zhang suddenly understood.
As expected, Senior Sister knew his heart!
“Xiao Yuying… probably won’t agree.”
Senior Sister Zhang frowned.
Zheng Fa nodded. Someone as proud as Xiao Yuying—giving gifts was one thing. She was rich, and many treasures meant little to her.
But to be used as a tool by others—that was a different story.