Chapter 228: A Dreamlike Life

"Brother Yan, regarding this matter…" Zheng Fa paused for a moment, then shook his head. "I can only say I'm sorry."

Yan Wushuang was a good person; perhaps his ideas were naive, but he could still be called a cultivator with a strong conscience.

Zheng Fa knew that people like him were probably rare in the Xuanwei Realm.

Especially considering his background—put plainly, this man was a beneficiary of the immortal sect system.

How many people coveted his status as the heir to the Tianhe Sect?

Regardless of whether his ideas were impulsive, they still earned Zheng Fa's agreement—and even a measure of respect.

But… revolution isn't a dinner party, is it?

Zheng Fa could offer nothing but support short of actual assistance.

Zheng Fa's blunt refusal darkened Yan Wushuang's expression.

"Brother Zheng, you don't agree either?"

"Who else doesn't agree?"

"Han Lao."

Zheng Fa gave a slight nod; that old man, the Residual Sun Sword Immortal, looked like a grumpy elder but had done nothing all these years.

He must understand the difficulties involved.

Seeing Yan Wushuang's wounded expression, Zheng Fa could only shake his head.

After all, Yan Wushuang's current status and resources all came from his identity—but if he truly acted as he claimed, these would become his greatest obstacles.

They would all turn against him.

Though he felt he and Yan Wushuang shared a similar goal.

Zheng Fa's nature had always been to plan for failure before victory.

That was why he intended to fully control the Tianbei Realm before officially advancing his new method research.

Even then, Zheng Fa didn't believe controlling the Tianbei Realm would guarantee success.

He had an unspoken suspicion about Han Lao's words—that the Tianhe Patriarch also possessed a Tianbei Tablet.

In a sense, he was nearly invincible.

Han Lao claimed the Tianhe Sect betrayed the Tianhe Patriarch—but given the Patriarch's power and the Xuanwei Realm's reality where all might resides in the individual…

How could the Tianhe Sect's betrayal have driven the Tianhe Patriarch to such despair?

It must be tied to the Tianbei Realm.

Thinking this, Zheng Fa grew even more wary of the Tianhe Sect, unwilling to underestimate them.

Seeing Zheng Fa lost in thought, Yan Wushuang's expression grew more despondent. He whispered, "Han Lao said I should come ask you…"

"What?"

"He said, if I want to succeed, my only hope is to invite you to join me." Yan Wushuang explained. "Otherwise, I have no hope at all."

"Why does the Residual Sun Sword Immortal value me so highly?"

Zheng Fa frowned; he was wary of the Residual Sun Sword Immortal too—this man's favor felt as baseless as Xiao Yuying's.

"He…" Yan Wushuang's expression turned strange. "This is Han Lao's secret—I can't reveal it—especially not say it!"

Zheng Fa felt Yan Wushuang emphasized the word "say" unusually.

"I can only say… Han Lao bears no ill will toward you, Brother Zheng—he even regards you as his next ancestral master!"

"Huh?"

Zheng Fa froze, but Yan Wushuang shook his head frantically, as if refusing to say more.

"Zheng Fa, have you come up with a strategy for that matter?" Xiao Yuying's voice came from behind them.

Zheng Fa knew Xiao Yuying meant the demon clan's attack on Jiushan Sect; likely because Yan Wushuang was present, she spoke vaguely.

"Strategy?" Zheng Fa shook his head. "When soldiers come, send generals; when water rises, pile up earth… Xiao Xianzi, why ask this?"

Xiao Yuying tilted her head. "I was thinking—if Jiushan Sect falls, you can come with me."

"Huh?"

Zheng Fa hadn't expected another person trying to recruit him.

Yan Wushuang suddenly turned to Xiao Yuying, his face plainly saying: Wait, you want to steal him too?

"I'm capable of protecting you…"

But Zheng Fa frowned. "Xiao Xianzi, do you think their methods target more than just Jiushan Sect's base?"

Xiao Yuying said, "If Zhang Wuyi were still alive, and you were still here, I'd wonder how those people sleep at night."

Zheng Fa nodded slightly; he had considered this too, but had no solution for now.

With the aid of Lei Chi, they might still have a sliver of hope…

…

In the Tianbei Realm, Banshan City.

Xiao Qing walked cheerfully through the city, sniffing lightly and savoring the aromas drifting from every household's kitchen.

Fewer people ate fish now; everyone had grown used to hard times and couldn't bear to eat it daily.

But joy at the dinner table hadn't diminished.

Adults chatting, children playing, the crackling of burning firewood—all made Xiao Qing happy to hear.

Many people gathered before the temple; they knew the Thunder God liked quiet, so they simply placed several cushions outside.

Every day, people came to pay respects; the cushions were never empty.

A few elders sat together under the eaves, chatting idly.

Xiao Qing approached them.

"Xiao Qing's here?" one chuckled. "Have you eaten?"

"Yes!" Xiao Qing nodded lightly.

She never lacked food.

"Good, we've eaten too."

The man replied, a hint of pride on his face.

Yet the others wore the same expression—as if eating a meal was something truly worthy of pride.

"How many years have I lived? Thirty-four." The elder continued. "Not one day has been as good as this."

"All thanks to the Thunder God."

"Yes."

Xiao Qing smiled proudly.

"Fewer people have died these past few months, right?" someone asked.

"Yes. In the past, which family didn't lose someone each year? These past months… I haven't heard of any daughters being taken, any elders starving to death, or any children dying from malnutrition."

"I know of a few deaths—besides those struck dead by lightning in the river valley, all others died climbing the mountain."

"There's no helping it," someone shook his head. "The mountain rains often, paths are slippery—someone might fall at any moment…"

"Who doesn't die climbing the mountain? Where would the mushrooms come from? I say, life in Banshan City is already good enough—it's like a dream!"

…

"Xiao Qing, gather some people and collect the mushrooms from these jars—see how much there is."

As Xiao Qing stepped into the temple, the Thunder God said.

"Jars?" Xiao Qing slapped her forehead, remembering the jars the Thunder God had blessed.

"Mushrooms? Can mushrooms grow inside jars?"

She curiously carried out the jars behind the statues.

Then went outside to summon the elders.

The group harvested the mushrooms from the jars.

Banshan City had no precise system of measurement—or rather, no one collected taxes, and few traded, so such things had gradually been forgotten.

Thus, mushroom harvests were counted in baskets.

The group busily counted the mushrooms in the jars.

Xiao Qing ran back to report:

"Thunder God, the jar with the least mushrooms holds only one-tenth of a basket."

"The one with the most holds two-thirds of a basket!"

"Is the largest amount what you used to eat regularly?"

"Yes! We ate it often!"

Xiao Qing nodded.

Zheng Fa stared at the nearly full basket of mushrooms, surprised—the yield was too high!

It even surpassed the output of modern highest-yield edible fungus farms.

But honestly, Zheng Fa's current conditions were extremely basic.

Perhaps only the species differed.

The most important factor was the spiritual energy environment:

In the nursing home, with spiritual energy, many vegetables grew tall and robust.

The Tianbei Realm had no shortage of spiritual energy.

Zheng Fa now understood why Banshan City could support tens of thousands of people.

Spiritual energy brought the Tianbei Realm harsh thunderstorms.

But on the other hand, it truly nurtured the life within the realm...

"Lord Thunder, you mean... this jar can grow mountain mushrooms on its own?"

Xiao Qing stared blankly at the statue, looking somehow less convinced of Lord Thunder now.

"Not on its own—you bring these wood shavings and straw into my temple—after the consecration, plant this mushroom inside, and you can raise it at home. You don't have to use a clay jar, but be careful: if any other kind of mushroom grows, don't eat it."

Zheng Fa explained.

The initial fungal strain and growth medium had been selected.

He naturally intended to promote it in Banshan City—indeed, throughout the sealed lands.

Banshan City was still mostly an experimental base.

After all, though Xiao Qing was young, she was still quite capable.

Once results were proven in Banshan City, spreading them to other settlements would be easier.

"So we can eat mountain mushrooms without climbing the mountain?"

An old man said dully.

Others stared, stunned.

"And we can eat our fill!" someone calculated, "One jar holds half a basket—raise more, and we'll have enough to eat!"

"..."

After these people left, Xiao Qing sat on the meditation cushion, grinning proudly: "They said just the other day that lately, life felt like a dream."

"I say, they never lived this well in their dreams!"

"Because there's no Lord Thunder in their dreams!"

Zheng Fa watched Xiao Qing muttering to herself, then saw her suddenly burst into tears.

"Lord Thunder..."

"Hmm?"

Seeing Xiao Qing's face crumpled in tears, Zheng Fa felt puzzled.

In his memory, this girl had always been strong.

Even when starving and stealing offerings, he'd never seen her cry.

Yet Xiao Qing just cried, saying nothing.

Zheng Fa tried to listen to her thoughts, but found she herself didn't know why.

This girl, after all, was a mortal—she cried herself to sleep, leaning against the base of the statue.

She seemed to be dreaming.

"Mother, I won't eat mountain mushrooms anymore... Father, I want Mother back..."

"Father... we have food now..."

Zheng Fa froze.

Suddenly, he understood why Xiao Qing had cried.

"Mother left. Father left too." In her dream, Xiao Qing's brow tightened further, as if caught in a terrible nightmare.

"I must protect the temple Father left behind..."

"..."

"Lord Thunder, don't leave..."

Xiao Qing slept through the night in the temple.

She was woken by a clamor outside.

She looked out and saw everyone from the city had come.

They carried loads, shovels, and all kinds of tools, radiating an air of determined action.

"What are you doing?"

In her daze, Xiao Qing even wondered if the Thunder Cult had returned.

"Build a temple!"

One man said first.

"Build a temple?" Xiao Qing looked utterly confused.

"We're building a bigger, better temple for Lord Thunder!"

As soon as he spoke, everyone behind him erupted in agreement.

Zheng Fa watched from within the temple—their expressions, even calling them fanatics felt too mild.

(End of Chapter)