CHAPTER 632: CHAPTER 305: HEART-TO-HEART, YEARNING TO LEAVE

"Simplifying the cultivation technique will lower the threshold for cultivation. Even if the spiritual energy does not decline, it will intensify the competition among existing cultivators... Spiritual materials, spirit lands, and spiritual energy are all limited."

"You know yet..."

Zheng Fa shook his head, interrupting Xiao Yuying’s words, and continued, "Building factories, training workers, even workers who don’t require cultivation, will lower the profits of artifact refining cultivators, and may completely eliminate some traditional artifact refining methods..."

"The same goes for talismans."

"The danger of this path now... To be honest with you, Fairy Xiao, I’ve known for a long time."

What Zheng Fa and Xiao Yuying said were actually on the same topic—the current situation of the Xuanwei Realm, where Xuanwei cultivators, through overwhelming force and extraordinary skills, control, or rather monopolize, all the resources of the Xuanwei Realm.

These people are naturally small-scale artisans.

The sects of the Xuanwei Realm are akin to feudal lords.

Zheng Fa’s reform lowered the threshold for acquiring force, simplified technology, and spread it...

Industry is bound to impact handicrafts, and factories will inevitably challenge the feudal lords.

In this, he was more thorough than any previous cultivator in the Xuanwei Realm, and it was precisely for this reason that Xiao Yuying said he stood against all cultivators.

He had actually anticipated this.

Xiao Yuying, at this point, said nothing.

She looked at Zheng Fa with confusion, her eyes asking—since you understand so well, why do you choose this path?

To this, Zheng Fa gave an explanation that was no more than ordinary:

"I have no choice."

Zheng Fa’s words left Xiao Yuying momentarily stunned.

"This is a choice made out of necessity, Fairy Xiao; now my Jiushan Sect can only advance and not retreat, and besides this path, I really can’t find any other way to quickly strengthen our sect in a short time."

Xiao Yuying was about to say something more.

"Fairy Xiao, whether you suggest joining the Five Sects of Xuanwei, or letting your master protect me... not to mention what happens to the Jiushan Sect, just speaking of myself... I still hope to have my life in my own hands."

Zheng Fa said frankly, "There are some things I can naturally endure, and some things I fear I just can’t learn."

"..."

Xiao Yuying pressed her lips together, unsure what was best to say, and it seemed like she understood some of Zheng Fa’s choices.

"Moreover, Fairy Xiao... you say I’ve betrayed the cultivators, but I feel that perhaps it’s the cultivators who have betrayed mortals."

These words from Zheng Fa made Xiao Yuying frown, "What do you mean by this?"

"I didn’t feel this way before, but ever since I learned some secrets of the Dao Fruit, I’ve had somewhat different views..." Zheng Fa explained, "Whether it’s the Divine Dao, the Immortal Dao, or any cultivation method, in the end, they all need people, most of whom are mortals..."

"And the Dao Fruit, maybe it is the origin of all cultivation techniques."

"Cultivators themselves achieve from mortals, not to mention that Daoist skills may also exist and thrive because of mortals..."

"If treating mortals a bit better is regarded as betraying cultivators, then who exactly is betraying whom?"

When Zheng Fa initially learned about the Dao Fruit, he recalled a line from an essay he had read: I thought it was the masses saving the Buddha.

Xiao Yuying was dazed, seemingly not having thought about this problem before, nor knowing how to face Zheng Fa’s rebuttal.

"Of course, this matter isn’t clear as I said, if it weren’t for having no choice... I wouldn’t choose this path either."

Zheng Fa said honestly.

He really didn’t have such a profound sense of ethics; ever since he joined the Jiushan Sect, he always had grievances and confusion, but to say he would sacrifice himself for fairness or something, truthfully speaking, he couldn’t do it.

If it weren’t for today, where the Jiushan Sect seemed dazzlingly bright but was actually in a precarious situation, he wouldn’t make this choice.

The danger of this path, he understood better than anyone.

Xiao Yuying said nothing, but after pondering for a long time, she said, "But..."

"Fairy Xiao, I just said I have no choice for short-term interests..." Zheng Fa interrupted her and continued to explain, "In the long term..."

"In the long term, you’ll become the enemy of all cultivators, whether they are from the Demon Sect, the Immortal Sect, or Ancient Immortals and Ancient Gods..."

"No, in the longest term, we all have to face the decline of spiritual energy..." Zheng Fa said slowly, "Without solving this matter, cultivators will cease to exist."

"This path... can it solve the disaster of spiritual energy decline?"

Xiao Yuying’s eyes widened.

But Zheng Fa shook his head honestly, and said slowly, "I don’t know, I don’t currently have enough understanding of the spiritual energy decline, but... Fairy Xiao, you know the history, you know that exterminating mortals, the Demon Ancestor did that, exterminating cultivators, the Heavenly River Ancestor did that..."

"We must find a new method."

"A new method..." Xiao Yuying understood to some extent, "Are you talking about your method?"

"The ’Immortal Dao’, I know, Fairy, you have subscribed."

"...Collective wisdom?"

Xiao Yuying seemed unsurprised, she had long been familiar with Zheng Fa’s ancient wisdom in the Jiushan Realm.

"Yes, if I alone can’t find a way, can’t a million people find it? If a million people can’t, can’t a billion people find it?"

"...What if they really can’t?"

"If they truly can’t, then I’ve done my best. Fairy Xiao, you who know more about the past than I do, do you think there’s a better way?"

Zheng Fa spread his hands, looking helpless yet detached.

Zheng Fa’s words were honest and straightforward, but Xiao Yuying thought for a long time, frowned, as if pondering a better choice.

But...

She couldn’t come up with anything either; on the contrary, a look of being convinced by Zheng Fa appeared on her face.

Of course, she couldn’t figure it out, as Jiushan Sect’s rapid progress now could be said to be a testament to the power of this path.