Chapter 633: Chapter 305: Heart-to-Heart, Yearning to Leave

“In the short term, this is the most suitable path for the development of the Jiushan Sect. In the long term, I believe it is the most likely solution to the decline of Spiritual Energy.” At this moment, Zheng Fa’s words carried a hint of dominance, “As for the world’s cultivators loving or hating me, they are but gusts of frost on the road—what do they matter?”

“…” Xiao Yuying was speechless. “Your words, I fear, truly carry the essence of Tianhe Venerable’s true teachings.”

Zheng Fa chuckled.

He had no choice but to take this path, but once he chose it, he set aside his inner doubts and charged forward without hesitation.

A fleeting look of contemplation crossed Xiao Yuying’s eyes. After a while, she suddenly looked up and asked Zheng Fa, “You’ve said so much, but there’s a question you haven’t answered.”

“Oh?”

“At the beginning, I asked you what the Jiushan Realm, or rather the Xuanwei Realm, is like in your heart… you didn’t say.”

Zheng Fa hadn’t expected Xiao Yuying to be so persistent about this question.

As if she had realized his confusion, Xiao Yuying’s eyes grew a bit hazy, and she murmured softly:

“What you say is great, but whether it’s the Demon Ancestor or Tianhe Venerable, they all started with noble intentions, but in the end… they might have all led to less than ideal outcomes.”

“…”

Xiao Yuying’s thought process truly surprised Zheng Fa. To be honest, her insight also had a lot of validity, even embodying a certain truth.

“Fairy Xiao, at this moment, I somehow don’t want to let you leave…”

He sighed earnestly.

Xiao Yuying blinked, delighted instead of angry, with a smile on her face, as if she understood what Zheng Fa regretted.

“Fairy Xiao, if you ask me what the Jiushan Realm in my heart looks like… I, too, am a bit unclear and have never really figured out what the Jiushan Realm will finally become.”

Zheng Fa has always been candid, and at this moment, he spoke even more sincerely.

“Right now, if I were to clarify, it would probably be this sentence.”

Zheng Fa reached out his hand and wrote a line on the small table between them. The words etched deeply onto the table were also deeply imprinted in Xiao Yuying’s heart.

On the table were just ten characters: Cultivation into labor, Labor into cultivation.

Xiao Yuying’s face flashed with a look of understanding.

Zheng Fa further explained:

“Cultivation into labor means that in the future, all cultivators will no longer be allocated resources based on their cultivation level but rather on their contributions to the sect. This contribution can be military merit, completing tasks for the Affairs Hall, or conducting research. As long as they create value for the sect, it counts.”

“I understand… but it’s very difficult.”

Zheng Fa nodded. It is indeed very difficult, even somewhat of a dream.

Simply put, it inherently conflicts with the interests of high-level cultivators.

“Labor into cultivation, on the other hand, is my current goal. The abilities of cultivators are indeed powerful, and using them just for destruction is truly a pity…”

“A simplified outer elixir could completely transform the mortal world.”

“A simple spell could ensure a bountiful harvest in the mortal world…”

“As long as the spells from cultivation are used to transform the mortal world, and Immortal Law is directed from the research of dueling skills to the research of production skills, the resulting benefits would be immeasurable… Mortals, low-level cultivators, and perhaps even all future cultivators, might be freed from the burden of low-quality labor, focusing all their energy on exploring the Immortal Dao, advancing their own cultivation and the progress of the Jiushan Realm.”

“Perhaps, one day, we will have enough talent to solve the calamity of Spiritual Energy’s decline.”

At this point, Zheng Fa paused and addressed Xiao Yuying again: “This is just an attempt, isn’t it? Whether it will result in irreparable outcomes, I do not know… Fairy Xiao, if you could offer advice from the side…”

Through this conversation, besides being envious of Xiao Yuying’s expertise in archaeology and Thunder Skill, Zheng Fa was more impressed by her insight.

He believed his greatest strength was acknowledging his shortcomings; as the saying goes, learn from history… Isn’t Xiao Yuying, who excels in the history of Xuanwei, just such a mirror?

As Zheng Fa had just mentioned… he genuinely didn’t want to let Xiao Yuying leave.

With her knowledge, she would make an excellent policy advisor, helping to identify and fill gaps in the future, providing Zheng Fa with guidance.

Mm, it’s definitely not because of her influential background, ensuring immediate assistance in case things go awry.

Part of his discussion about the decline of Spiritual Energy was intended to keep Xiao Yuying—someone of her insight would surely understand that this approach Zheng Fa spoke of might hold the greatest hope.

The only possible angle to persuade Xiao Yuying to risk her life to help them was to solve the issue of Spiritual Energy’s decline…

Furthermore, Xiao Yuying’s broad vision allowed her to better comprehend the potential power in Zheng Fa’s words, even seeing the immense power contained within.

For someone like Master Pang, who is wholeheartedly devoted to the Jiushan Sect, strengthening the sect is reason enough to convince him.

But Xiao Yuying, the “historian,” is different.

Only such far-sighted, historically rooted insights could sway her.

Sure enough, after deep contemplation, Xiao Yuying’s expression of doubt gradually vanished, replaced by a look of conviction.

Unexpectedly, after a long silence, Xiao Yuying persisted, saying:

“I need to leave the Jiushan Realm…”

Zheng Fa sighed inwardly but kept his promise, saying, “Then I will see you off…”

“You mentioned finding me earlier, wasn’t it to restart the archaeological project group and have me explore the ancient relics within the Hundred Immortals Alliance?” Unexpectedly, Xiao Yuying smiled again, somewhat playfully. “How could I explore relics if I’m stuck in the Jiushan Realm?”

“Fairy Xiao, you really are…”

Zheng Fa was momentarily at a loss for words.

Previously, Mu Qingyan provided some information about former abodes or treasures from a “past life.”

At the time, with the threat of the Great Freedom Demon Emperor nearby and cultivators from the Five Sects present, Zheng Fa, out of innate caution, set it aside.

Now, however, there were no such concerns.

Conveniently, most of Mu Qingyan’s past life was spent nearby, and most of the relics she knew of were within the former grounds of the Hundred Immortals Alliance, now under Zheng Fa’s control, offering a solid justification.

The Jiushan Sect now needed vast resources, and with few concerns, it was the perfect time to engage in “archaeology” rather than treasure hunting.

He sought out Xiao Yuying for this reason—he wanted to establish a new archaeological project team to start excavating various relics.

It was unclear how Xiao Yuying observed himself and the Jiushan Realm, but she had grasped some of his thoughts…

Previously, she seemed determined to leave.

Zheng Fa’s complex expression seemed to amuse Xiao Yuying. She appeared as if she had successfully played a prank, smiling at Zheng Fa:

“I haven’t finished studying ‘Electromagnetism’ yet…”

That puts me at ease because one can never truly finish learning it…

The little deer on the screen silently turned its head, its gentle eyes gazing at Zheng Fa as if walking toward him.

In its mouth, it held a five-colored spiritual flower adorned with dew, as if offering it to Zheng Fa.