Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 566 - 566 565 The Grand Vision Double Monthly Ticket

566: Chapter 565: The Grand Vision [Double Monthly Ticket] 566: Chapter 565: The Grand Vision [Double Monthly Ticket] Yu Zhengxing’s voice was stern and forceful, “The rise and fall of the Continent is the responsibility of cultivators; this is not merely my own dream, but the dream of successive generations who have guarded Loulan Town.

It just so happened that this dream was passed down to me at a time when the heaven and earth are undergoing changes.

This is my destiny, as well as yours!”

Hou Niao covered his face, his mood heavy: So, I am supposed to use my personal savings to fulfill such destiny?

Yu Zhengxing swept his hand grandly, articulating his dream, “We shall establish a line of Protective Forests along this Dark River, to block the wind and sand coming from the Extreme West.

If we can accomplish this, and persevere for a few hundred more years, this place will once again shine with the glory of the Snow River of history, and you all will be the founders and witnesses of this great undertaking, your names etched into history!”

His words were impassioned, but the hundred cultivators below remained unmoved.

Clearly, these people were not ones who could be easily swayed by lofty promises.

A cultivator raised his voice with an inquiry, “Uncle Master, as you said, the glory of the Snow River once spanned the entire Snow River Basin, stretching for tens of thousands of miles.

I wish to know, is this great undertaking to be carried out in the direction of Loulan alone, or along the entire Northwest Border?”

Yu Zhengxing was disappointed by their petty concerns but still took pains to explain,

“We in the direction of Ancient Lop are daring to take the lead for nearly three hundred miles of river course, the first to set our hands to the task!

As cultivators, we ought to be pioneers, not meek followers trotting behind others…”

A voice below objected, “Don’t give us high-minded talk, get to the practical stuff.

We’re not children; sweet talk won’t solve our problems!”

Yu Zhengxing dared not scold the cultivator who spoke out of turn, knowing this reflected the thoughts of the majority.

He had to give them a reason compelling enough to persuade them.

“These three hundred miles of Dark River in the direction of Ancient Lop are the shallowest in the entire desert’s network of subterranean rivers, with an average depth of about fifteen zhang.

If we rely solely on the roots of trees to draw water, they need only penetrate five zhang beneath the sand, and in some places, abundant sources of water appear even closer to the surface.

That’s why we in the direction of Ancient Lop are the first to make an attempt.”

Another voice posed a skeptical question, “Uncle Master, the great undertaking that you speak of, has it garnered support from higher authorities?

Have the Daoist powers of the Northwest countries come on board?

Are those regions around us on Iron Stone Hill, Quicksand Dunes, Tea-Horse Road, Seabuckthorn Ocean, Magnificent Carvings, Triangle Sand State, and others starting together with us?

If only we are planting trees and stemming the sands in our direction, how effective will it be?”

Yu Zhengxing recognized this as the key issue he must convince everyone of.

This was not a task for one man or a few people; the afforestation of three thousand miles of the desert was enormously complex and involved large implications.

“No!

The Northwest countries are skeptical about this plan, and Daoist factions from other directions think we are completely delusional!

Therefore, we must rely solely on our own strength to set an example.

If we succeed, there will be no need to say anything further, for all regions will surely follow suit.

If we fail, well, that goes without saying…”

“This might be a gamble—it all depends on whether you have the courage!”

Then a voice cut to the heart of the matter, “Uncle Master, this isn’t just about courage; it’s about investment!

Since there is no support from higher levels, where will the resources come from?

Where will we gather the manpower?

You’re not suggesting we dig into our own pockets and offer our undivided dedication, are you?”

Yu Zhengxing was candid, “As there is no unified arrangement from above, of course, there will be no allocation of resources.

Everything must rely on ourselves, and I can say with full responsibility that even if tree planting and sand control succeeds, and our experience is promoted throughout the entire Northwest Border’s Dark River, and we are recorded in the annals of history, the resources you have contributed will not receive even the slightest compensation.

Or perhaps, you can seek reimbursement from the countless frontier inhabitants of the Northwest Border?”

The scene fell into silence, these blunt truths were more straightforward and had a greater impact on hearts.

Importantly, cultivators are a profession extremely sensitive to the principles of causality—not a matter of fanciful whims, but something that will be reflected in every stage and challenge of their future cultivation.

Yu Zhengxing, however, didn’t give them much time to consider.

Issues like this just become more indecisive the more you deliberate, requiring a decisive strike to cut through the entanglement.

“Hou Niao, what do you say?”

Hou Niao wore a look of deep grievance on his face, filled with dissatisfaction.

Fancying that I’d stand out as the scapegoat.

When Yu Zhengxing revealed his true intention, the significance of this mission became crystal clear; the existence of the underground Dark River was not a matter of a day or two, but a secret that flowed beneath the sands for centuries.

With the abilities of Golden Core cultivators, how could they not be aware of its course?

At the very least, successive generations of Golden Core cultivators in charge of defending Ancient Lop were very clear on this.

The reason they were tasked to explore the underground Dark River was not for some so-called immortal creatures but to have them experience firsthand the true state of the desert and for all cultivators to gain a more concrete understanding of it.

As the maps from each squad came together, they seemed to piece together a vision, a dream, a future.

To say one’s heart wasn’t moved would be a lie, but he still had many questions that needed clarification.

“Uncle Master, do we have a selection of trees suitable for the desert environment?”

Yu Zhengxing declared with energy, “Poplar trees are drought-tolerant, saxaul are tenacious, and pine trees have deep roots.

These trees are commonly found throughout the Northwest, they are easy to collect, convenient to transport, and easy to plant…

What we need to survive are the initial two or three years.

We’ll establish Arrays over the Dark River, forcing the Water Element upwards.

As long as the trees’ roots have gone down after two or three years, we will no longer need to tend to them.”

“The resource issue you mentioned—is it the consumption of the Array?”

Yu Zhengxing nodded, “A strip of forest stretching over three thousand miles long and at least several miles wide—if we lay out Water Element Formations throughout, it will require a vast amount of Spirit Stones and materials for the arrays.

This is the primary consumption.”

“When planting trees over the Dark River, a thousand miles ahead of Loulan City, have you considered the threat of undying creatures?”

“The undying creatures will certainly try to stop us.

As soon as they realize, they will not let humans succeed in halting the southward advance of the desert.

Thus, the core of the plan is to build a New Loulan over the Dark River!

Moving forward to build the city allows for the quickest response to an undying creatures’ invasion from the south.

When the king is dead, the society perishes; when cultivators are present, the poplar grove is protected!”

“Just a hundred people to hold the line—is it enough?”

“You haven’t even defended yet, why speak of success or failure?

When you fight a person, do you ask yourself whether your Hand Sword strike will be lethal?

If you dither, how will anything be achieved?

Be more decisive!”

Hou Niao slowly stood up, realizing that getting to know this old man was a grave mistake, yet he couldn’t avoid it.

Given the status of these disciples, he, Hou Niao, the Sword Master, was indeed one of the highest-ranking among them.

Flipping open his robe, everyone was shocked to see the Treasure Gourds belted around his waist.

Just how much had this man embezzled?

One by one, he removed them, laying them out in front of everyone, “I ask a few more questions because I am responsible for my own wealth!

Since you, Uncle Master, dare to wager, so do I!

Thirty-seven Treasure Gourds, I’m all in!”