Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 324 - 201 Confidentiality Agreement

Chapter 324: Chapter 201 Confidentiality Agreement

"Alright!"

In the grand hall of Heavenly Palace Island, Zheng Fa waved his hand, passing the lengthy document in front of him to Zhang.

Zhang picked up the document, read it from start to finish, then raised her head and looked at Zheng Fa in silence.

Beside them, Master Pang, too, craned his neck to read over the document. After a long look, he seemed to become more confused, and couldn’t help but read aloud softly:

"Golden Core Project Confidentiality Agreement"

"Article 1 (Definitions)"

"The ’Confidential Information’ referred to in this Agreement means any information provided by the Jiushan Sect (hereinafter referred to as Party A) to __ (hereinafter referred to as Party B) in oral, written, or any other form, including but not limited to project data, experimental processes, unpublished research results, etc."

...

"Article 5 (Breach of Contract)"

"If Party B violates the confidentiality obligations of this Agreement, they shall voluntarily undergo the great calamity of the Heart Demon..."

...

"Article 6 (Performance of Agreement):"

1. The effectiveness and performance of this Agreement shall be guaranteed by a Heart Demon Oath, the text of which follows: ..."

...

The wording was a bit tricky, and it took Master Pang some time to understand it: "So... you’re planning to use the Heart Demon Oath to ensure the results of the Golden Core Project aren’t leaked?"

"Yes, Bufan, take a look at this agreement, especially the Heart Demon Oath, for any issues," Zheng Fa turned to consult the expert, Lin Bufan—an apostate of the Great Freedom Demon Sect, whose motto was to fully utilize everyone’s talents and resources.

Lin Bufan: ...There’s a big problem. Is this how the Heart Demon Oath should be used?

He pondered for a moment, then hesitantly said, "The Heart Demon is also rather mysterious in the Great Freedom Demon Sect, seemingly different from the Demon Ancestor’s inheritance. No matter what Cultivation Technique one practices, they will encounter their Heart Demon. Once a Heart Demon Oath is taken, it becomes very difficult to contravene the content of the oath. And this oath in the agreement... seems to be flawless."

Of course, it’s hard to find flaws...

Don’t you know what an ironclad labor agreement is!

Lin Bufan fell silent for a moment, then spoke again, "In the past, nobody used a Heart Demon Oath like this..."

At these words, Zhang’s expression became even more peculiar, probably recalling her own Heart Demon.

This damn Heart Demon thing is about to be ruined by this junior brother!

"Is everyone supposed to sign this agreement?"

Master Pang asked with furrowed brows.

"That’s the plan," Zheng Fa shook his head, "Haven’t we already classified various inheritances before?"

"For knowledge of a high confidentiality level like the Golden Core Project, such agreements are unavoidable."

"There is also another situation... should the time come for disciples to wish to leave the Jiushan Realm to travel, they will need such an agreement even more."

But Zhang frowned, "The sect itself has methods for maintaining secrecy."

The sects of the Xuanwei Realm aren’t fools, every major inheritance has its own methods of confidentiality—

The lower-end is to hide key information, not to leave it to text, passing it on through master-disciple heart-to-heart transmission.

The higher-end, such as the original inheritance of Jiushan Sect, comes with various codes and even oaths akin to the Heart Demon Oath.

At the top-level, like the Great Freedom Demon Sect, the Cultivation Technique Lin Bufan practiced is told to you in clear terms, yet you wouldn’t dare cultivate it!

Actually, given the disposition of cultivators in the Xuanwei Realm, most of them would keep secrets voluntarily—or rather, value their own possessions.

"Senior sister, our research and Cultivation Techniques are probably different... Our research involves craftsmanship and principles..." Zheng Fa began to explain, "Such things, sometimes just a thought process, are vastly different from Cultivation Techniques, sometimes even unrelated to Spiritual Power, and previous confidentiality methods are not detailed enough."

In the end, they’re too easy to circumvent.

"On the other hand, these strict agreements sometimes serve not to deter but to encourage."

"Hm?"

Zhang was taken aback, and even Master Pang turned to look over.

"The more detailed and clear we are in our stipulations, the better everyone knows what can be exchanged..." Zheng Fa explained, "Defined boundaries are actually much better than vague ones."

"If the law is unknown, the power is unpredictable..."

Having previously managed the Law Enforcement Pavilion, Master Pang understood immediately.

"Yes, this is also why I hope Master Pang, you could lend a hand to Junior Master Huang, as the current regulations of the Law Enforcement Pavilion are too rudimentary... Master Pang, you have many years of experience managing the Law Enforcement Pavilion."

This was another matter that left Zheng Fa feeling helpless, as he was not a professional in the field and in the Jiushan Realm of the modern era, there was no reference to follow; they could only take one step at a time.

Master Pang nodded as well, again expressing his admiration, "These methods... I don’t know where you come up with them from."

Zheng Fa always comes up with one scheme after another, but inexplicably, each one has its own logic, and some have even had remarkable effects.

However, Zhang started to laugh, as if she had gotten used to the unusual methods.

"Nephew Zhang? What are you laughing at?"

Zhang glanced at Zheng Fa, and seeing that he was also looking at her, she explained, "These methods of junior brother Zheng are just superficial."

"Hm?"

"His every idea is actually centered around one point..."

Zheng Fa looked at Zhang curiously.

"These agreements, as well as those previous educational methods, everything is to encourage and maintain the research and development of the Jiushan Realm..."

Master Pang slowly nodded with a slight frown.

Zheng Fa also couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration within—perhaps Zhang was indeed the person in the Xuanwei Realm who understood him the best.

Based on his childhood experiences, he knew he wasn’t a simple person, and he actually didn’t want to trust in human nature—he knew that Jiushan Disciples even felt he was too generous at times and bore resentments.

But that wasn’t his intent.

To some extent, he just wanted to create a system where the eager contributors and diligent researchers could receive more positive gains.

After all, he believed more in changing social mores through the distribution of benefits.

...

"Qing Yan, have you looked over this confidentiality agreement?" Mu Qingyan, hearing her senior sister’s question, lowered her head to look at the agreement in her hands.

It was a bit convoluted and detailed but when read, was almost plain, leaving little room for ambiguity.

The agreement was long, but its message was simple: do not casually disclose the research outcomes and methods of the "Golden Core Project;" it was just the language used was particularly precise.

"It seems too stringent..."

The senior sister sighed as she read.

"No... it’s quite relaxed."

Mu Qingyan suddenly said.

"Huh?"

"If you had to choose between a Sect Leader who is capricious and shrouded in mystery, and one who is clear and straightforward, never punishing without teaching... which one would you like?"

"Uh..." The senior sister blinked, understanding.

"Moreover, didn’t Master Zheng say? If you don’t want to sign, you just can’t join the ’Golden Core Project’—there are no other consequences."

Hearing this, the senior sister nodded slowly, seeming to think that Mu Qingyan made a lot of sense.

"Qing Yan, you’re speaking up for Master Zheng!"

She suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

Mu Qingyan pouted but did not retort.

She lowered her head, no longer looking at the content of the agreement, and wrote her name on it.