Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 240 - 133 A Dream-like Day

Chapter 240: Chapter 133 A Dream-like Day

"Mr. Yan, this matter..." Zheng Fa thought for a while and still shook his head, "I can only say I’m sorry."

Yan Wushuang is a good person, perhaps a bit naive, but still a very conscientious cultivator.

Zheng Fa knew that such people were rare in the Xuanwei Realm.

Especially considering his background—put simply, he is a beneficiary of the Immortal Sect system.

Many desire his identity as the son of the Sect Leader of Tianhe Sect.

Regardless of whether his thoughts are impulsive, they still earn Zheng Fa’s recognition and even some respect.

But... revolution isn’t a dinner party, right?

Zheng Fa could only offer every kind of support apart from actual backing.

Zheng Fa’s straightforward refusal made Yan Wushuang’s expression darken.

"Mr. Zheng, you don’t agree either?"

"Who else disagrees?"

"Elder Han."

Zheng Fa nodded slightly, the old head of Sunset Sword Immortal may seem perpetually disgruntled, but hasn’t done much over the years.

Probably because he knows the difficulties involved.

Seeing the hurt look on Yan Wushuang’s face, Zheng Fa could only shake his head.

After all, Yan Wushuang’s current status and resources all come from his identity—if he really did as he proposed.

All these would become obstacles for him.

He thought he and the other party had somewhat similar ideals.

But Zheng Fa’s nature was always to consider failure before success.

Thus, he planned on gaining control over the Heavenly Stele Realm first, before formally advancing the research on new laws.

Even then, Zheng Fa didn’t think securing the Heavenly Stele Realm would solve everything.

He actually harbored an unspoken conjecture regarding Elder Han’s words—the Tianhe Venerable also had a Heavenly Stele.

To some extent, it placed him in an almost invincible position.

Elder Han said that the Tianhe Sect betrayed the Tianhe Venerable—this involves more difficulties than one might assume given Tianhe Venerable’s strength and the current state of power concentration in the Xuanwei Realm.

That the betrayal of the Tianhe Sect could lead to such despair for Tianhe Venerable.

It must be related to the Heavenly Stele Realm.

Thinking this, Zheng Fa was even more wary of the Tianhe Sect and unwilling to underestimate these people.

Seeing Zheng Fa lost in thought, Yan Wushuang looked increasingly dejected and whispered, "Elder Han asked me to invite you..."

"What?"

"He said, if I am to succeed, the only hope is to invite you along," Yan Wushuang explained. "Otherwise, there is no hope at all."

"Why would Sunset Sword Immortal value me so much?"

Zheng Fa frowned, he was also somewhat cautious regarding Sunset Sword Immortal, whose favor seemed even more unfounded than that of Xiao Yuying.

"He..." Yan Wushuang’s expression was peculiar, "This is Elder Han’s secret, I cannot reveal it—especially, I must not tell!"

Zheng Fa always felt that Yan Wushuang emphasized the word ’tell’ quite heavily.

"I can only say... Elder Han bears no ill will towards you, Mr. Zheng, he even regards you as the next grandmaster!"

"Hmm?"

Zheng Fa was startled, but saw Yan Wushuang frantically shaking his head, seemingly reluctant to say more.

"Zheng Fa, have you devised any strategies for that matter?" Xiao Yuying’s voice sounded from behind them.

Zheng Fa knew Xiao Yuying was referring to the Demon Race’s attack on Jiushan Sect, she probably spoke vaguely because Yan Wushuang was present.

"Strategy?" Zheng Fa shook his head, "Meet soldiers with arms, meet water with earth... Fairy Xiao, why are you asking this..."

Xiao Yuying tilted her head and said bluntly, "I was thinking, if Jiushan Sect falls, you could follow me."

"Ah?"

Zheng Fa didn’t expect another person trying to recruit him.

Yan Wushuang suddenly looked at Xiao Yuying, his face clearly written with disbelief—don’t tell me, you want to snatch him too?

"I am confident I can protect you..."

Zheng Fa, however, frowned and asked, "Fairy Xiao, do you think their methods target more than just the location of the Jiushan Sect?"

Xiao Yuying responded, "If Zhang Wuyi were still here, and you were still here, I don’t know how those people could sleep at night."

Zheng Fa gently nodded, he had considered this too, but currently had no solution.

Relying on the Thunder Pool, they might have a sliver of hope...

...

In the Heavenly Stele Realm, Half Mountain City.

Xiaoqing walked lightly through the city streets, sniffing the scent of meals wafting from various households.

Fewer people ate fish now, everyone was accustomed to tough days and couldn’t bear to eat it daily.

But the joy around the dinner table hadn’t diminished.

The chatter of adults, the frolicking children, the crackling sounds of burning firewood all brought joy to Xiaoqing’s ears.

In front of the temple, quite a number of people gathered, knowing the Lord of Thunder God liked tranquility, they simply arranged some straw mats outside.

People visited daily, the straw mats were never empty.

Several elders sat under the roof, chatting leisurely.

Xiaoqing went over.

"Xiaoqing is here?" one chuckled: "Have you eaten?"

"I have!" Xiaoqing nodded lightly.

She never lacked food.

"That’s good, we’ve eaten too."

The man replied, there was even a slight pride in his face.

But the others had the same expression—it seemed, having eaten was something quite worthy of pride.

"How many years have I lived? Thirty-four years." the elder continued, "Never have I lived as well as now."

"All thanks to Lord of Thunder God."

"Right."

Xiaoqing smiled proudly.

"People have been dying less these past few months, right?" someone asked.

"Yes, which family didn’t lose someone every year before? These past few months... it seems I haven’t heard of any daughters being abducted, any elders starved to death, or any children who died of illness because they had no milk to drink."

"I know a few who died, other than those struck by lightning in the valley, they all died on the mountain."

"That’s unavoidable." someone shook their head, "The mountains are slippery with rain, who knows when you might fall..."

"Who doesn’t die on the mountain? Where else would the mountain mushrooms come from? If you ask me, we in Half Mountain City live days good as dreams!"

...

"Xiaoqing, go find some people and collect the mushrooms from these jars to see how many there are."

As soon as Xiaoqing entered the temple, she heard Lord of Thunder God speaking.

"Jars?"

Xiaoqing slapped her forehead, remembering those jars that had been consecrated by Lord of Thunder God.

"Mushrooms? Mushrooms can grow in jars?"

Curiously, she moved the jars from behind the statues.

Then she went out and called a few elders.

A group of people picked the mushrooms from the jars.

Half Mountain City actually doesn’t have any precise measurement system, or rather, there are no taxes collected, and not many people trade, so these things were gradually forgotten.

So the counting of mountain goods was done by baskets.

Several people busily counted the mushrooms in these jars.

Xiaoqing ran to report:

"Lord of Thunder God, the least amount in the jars is one-tenth of a basket."

"The most is two-thirds of a basket!"

"Are these mushrooms something you used to eat before?"

"Yes! We eat them often!"

Xiaoqing nodded her head.

Zheng Fa was also a bit surprised looking at that nearly half basket of mushrooms— the yield was too high!

It even surpassed the highest-yielding modern edible mushroom farms.

But to be honest, Zheng Fa’s current conditions were actually quite simple.

Perhaps it’s because the varieties are different.

The most important factor is the environment of Spiritual Energy:

The nursing home had Spiritual Energy, and many vegetables grew tall and robust.

The Heavenly Stele Realm was rich in Spiritual Energy.

Zheng Fa now understood why such an environment in Half Mountain City could sustain these tens of thousands of people.

Spiritual Energy brought the harsh thunderstorm environment to the Heavenly Stele Realm.

But on the other hand, it indeed nurtured the creatures within the realm...

...

"Lord of Thunder God, are you saying... these jars can grow mushrooms by themselves?"

Xiaoqing looked at the statues, seemingly somewhat disbelieving Lord of Thunder God.

"Not by themselves, but you use these wood shavings and grass as materials, come to my temple— um, after consecration, plant these mushrooms in them, and then you can cultivate them at home. You don’t necessarily need ceramic jars, but be careful not to eat mushrooms that grow into different appearances."

Zheng Fa explained.

The initial strains and cultivation bases were selected.

He naturally wanted to promote it in Half Mountain City, or more precisely, across the feudal lands.

Half Mountain City was more like a research base.

After all, although Xiaoqing was young, she was quite capable.

The outcomes produced in Half Mountain City could then be promoted more easily to other gatherings.

"Not going up the mountain, yet still able to eat mushrooms?"

An old man said blankly.

The others looked stunned.

"We can even eat till full!" someone calculated, "Half a basket per jar, growing more will be enough for us to eat!"

...

After these people left, Xiaoqing sat on the cushion, smiling smugly, "They were saying recently that these days feel like a dream."

"In my opinion, they can’t have such good days even in their dreams!"

"Because there’s no Lord of Thunder God like you in their dreams!"

Zheng Fa looked at the muttering Xiaoqing, only to see her suddenly start crying while she talked.

"Lord of Thunder God..."

"Hmm?"

Seeing Xiaoqing’s crying face crumpled up, Zheng Fa was a bit puzzled.

In his memory, Xiaoqing had always been quite strong.

Even when she was starving and stole offerings to eat, he had never seen her cry.

But Xiaoqing was just crying without saying anything.

Zheng Fa tried to listen to her heart, but found that she herself didn’t seem to know why.

After all, this girl was just a mortal, crying and crying, then fell asleep leaning on the base of the statue.

She seemed to be dreaming.

"Mother, I don’t want mushrooms... Dad, I want mom back..."

"Dad... we have food now..."

Zheng Fa was startled.

Suddenly understood why Xiaoqing cried.

"Mom left, dad left too." The dreamy Xiaoqing’s eyebrows furrowed tighter, seeming to have a bad dream.

"I have to protect the temple dad left behind..."

...

"Lord of Thunder God, don’t go..."

...

Xiaoqing slept in the temple all night.

She was awakened by the noise outside the temple.

Stepping outside, she saw that it seemed like the whole town had come.

They were carrying poles, shovels, and various other tools, having the air of starting a big endeavor.

"What are you doing?"

In a daze, Xiaoqing even thought Thunderbolt Sect was making a comeback.

"To repair the temple!"

The lead person stated.

"Repair the temple?" Xiaoqing looked puzzled.

"We want to build a bigger and better temple for Lord of Thunder God!"

Upon hearing this, the people behind him all loudly agreed.

Zheng Fa looked from inside the temple at the expressions of these people— calling them zealots felt an understatement.