Chapter 239: The Master's Grace

After hearing Zheng Fa's words, Sister Zhang's expression of confusion did not fully vanish, but she slowly nodded.

Touching the Lei Chi to cross the river is a very convincing reason.

At first, Zheng Fa had no such thoughts about the Heavenly Stele Realm—even then, he had merely treated it as a game.

Now, wanting to promote education in the Heavenly Stele Realm is mainly due to Tianhe Zunzhe's precedent.

In fact, the population of the Heavenly Stele Realm is very sparse compared to its area.

The population in Zheng Fa's current fief is probably just under two million.

Based on his estimate of the size of the Heavenly Stele Realm, if the population density is roughly the same—whether the entire Heavenly Stele Realm has ten million people is questionable.

But on the other hand, as long as productivity improves and grain output is sufficient, population growth has never been a problem...

Given Sister Zhang's current lifespan of ten thousand years, she can easily wait for this population explosion.

"How do you plan to educate them?"

Sister Zhang asked.

"I think, in the beginning, it is best to only conduct enlightenment-style literacy campaigns," Zheng Fa spoke, having already formed some vague ideas to discuss with Sister Zhang, "teaching only reading, writing, and mathematics, while subtly cultivating their identification with the Jiushan Sect and the New Law."

"Once they have a certain foundation of knowledge and emotional identification, we will then impart cultivation-related knowledge."

"Just as you said, Sister, we don't need to find geniuses in the Heavenly Stele Realm; the Xuanwei Realm has more people... What we want are geniuses who are helpful to us."

Sister Zhang nodded, her gaze filled with obvious praise: "I thought that since no one in the Xuanwei Realm has implemented this, I was worried you might have no leads, but I didn't expect you to have thought it through so thoroughly."

"However, there is one point I think you could improve."

"What?"

"Your heart is naturally good, but I feel the people of the Heavenly Stele Realm probably won't understand the importance of learning to read and mathematics."

Zheng Fa was stunned, yet he couldn't help but nod.

He himself had always been somewhat passionate about learning.

Modern society respects knowledge even more.

But the Heavenly Stele Realm... is a place where people can't even get enough to eat.

Sister Yuan, standing nearby, seemed to understand yet not quite, but was suddenly curious about the Heavenly Stele Realm and asked: "Is that little temple keeper you mentioned named Xiao Qing?"

Zheng Fa nodded toward Sister Yuan and said: "Yes, does Sister Yuan have an interest in her?"

"I just feel there is some fate involved; I am Qing Luan, and she is Xiao Qing..." Sister Yuan asked, "So Xiao Qing sounds quite formidable based on what you said?"

"Formidable? She can be considered formidable; the people of Banshan City respect her very much."

Nowadays, Xiao Qing in Banshan City is indeed second only to one god and above ten thousand men.

Hearing this, Sister Yuan's expression even showed a bit of envy.

Walking into the Lei Chi, Zheng Fa took out that bronze seal, looking toward Sister Zhang and the other two.

Sister Zhang nodded slightly; Zheng Fa gently fed spiritual power into the bronze seal, and a gray, misty void opening appeared, enveloping Sister Zhang and the other two.

Heavenly Stele Realm, within the Tiangong.

"Brother Yan, Immortal Xiao."

As soon as Zheng Fa entered the Heavenly Stele, he saw Yan Wushuang bringing Chu Tianque and the other two, chatting with Xiao Yuying.

The atmosphere between the two had improved significantly; it seemed the journey to the secret realm had fostered some friendship between them.

Seeing Zheng Fa enter, Xiao Yuying waved to him.

"Zheng Fa, I was just talking about you with Yan Wushuang."

"Hmm?"

"We agreed there's no need to compete; Yan Wushuang's organization sounds quite good too," Xiao Yuying smiled, "I have quite a few magical treasures and spiritual materials brought back from the secret realm that I don't need, and it would be perfect to sell them through him."

Hearing this, one couldn't help but feel envious.

He looked at Xiao Yuying, then at Yan Wushuang, knowing the basis for their cooperation was likely a consensus on the New Law—at the very least, after Xiao Yuying learned of the problems with the Old Law, her heart probably leaned somewhat in that direction.

"So, Immortal Xiao, are you joining Brother Yan's organization?"

"Cooperation, just cooperation," Xiao Yuying waved her hands frantically, "I certainly don't want to offend the Tianhe Sect."

"..."

"So, Brother Zheng, what are your thoughts?"

Yan Wushuang asked expectantly from the side.

Zheng Fa pondered slightly for a moment and spoke: "Although I am currently only at the Foundation Establishment stage, I also wish to emulate Immortal Xiao; besides, Brother Yan, haven't we had cooperation for a long time?"

Yan Wushuang's expression showed a bit of disappointment, but he nodded understandingly.

Xiao Yuying, however, smiled even more happily; she patted Zheng Fa's shoulder and said, "Then it's settled, from now on you follow me! No matter what demon clans or devil sects, they won't harm a single hair on your head."

"... Immortal Xiao, I am a person of the Jiushan Sect."

Zheng Fa reminded her speechlessly.

"I know that; I'm not asking you to betray the Jiushan Sect, it's just that in the future... a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, right!"

Yan Wushuang, standing nearby, heard this and his face showed a speechless expression; Xiao Yuying's mouth...

How to put it, it sounded as if she was cursing the Jiushan Sect.

Indeed, more than one person had misunderstood...

"Our Jiushan Sect will only get better and better!"

The bronze seal on Zheng Fa flashed, and the figures of Sister Zhang and Sister Yuan appeared before everyone; Sister Yuan's face was still puffed up with anger.

Xiao Yuying: "..."

Even with her loose tongue, she felt awkward at this moment.

"Brother Zheng... this..."

Yan Wushuang's eyes widened as he pointed at Shijie Zhang and the other.

"My Fengshen Book has advanced further; it can now bring people along."

Zheng Fa explained softly.

"Ahem, I'll take my leave first!"

Xiao Yuying turned and ran, while Shijie Zhang squinted, watching her back.

"Shijie Zhang, I told you that both men and women outside are all coveting Shidi Zheng!"

Yan Wushuang, standing nearby, blinked, feeling he should leave too, yet he asked with a hint of envy: "Brother Zheng, how can your Fengshen Book bring people in?"

It was clear he was very envious of this new function of the bronze seal...

It made sense; not only did he have rich connections,

he also had the Residual Sun Sword Immortal as a bodyguard...

In terms of calling for reinforcements, Yan Wushuang probably feared no one. "It's quite simple."

"Please tell me, Brother Zheng."

"Just earn ten thousand Heavenly Merits, and this Tiangong will automatically upgrade for you." Zheng Fa said earnestly, "No need for us to worry."

Yan Wushuang's expression crumbled; he remained silent for a long time before speaking:

"Brother Zheng... I don't have ten thousand Heavenly Merits, but is that because I dislike them?"

"..."

"Farewell!"

Inside the Heavenly Stele Realm.

Xiao Qing was organizing the offerings from these few days in the temple, calculating how to distribute them to the elders in the city.

Although Banshan City had few people, there were still several hundred elders who met the criteria...

She couldn't ask those elders about this matter, after all, it concerned their vital interests.

Suddenly, the temple shook slightly.

Xiao Qing looked around in panic, seeing only the statue before her trembling incessantly, as if an earthquake had struck.

"Lord Lei Shen?"

The statue did not respond.

Xiao Qing called out a few more times, but the temple held only her crying voice.

Watching the statue tremble incessantly, she threw herself at its feet, as if trying to steady the massive statue with her slender body.

Just as she was still in a state of panic,

two shadowy figures appeared beside her. The shadows gradually solidified, revealing two statues shorter than the Lei Shen statue, dressed as women, with no faces, appearing before Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing stood stunned, not knowing what had happened, when a young girl's voice rang out in the temple.

"So this is Banshan City?"

In the temple, Shijie Yuan's voice sounded, her tone full of pity: "Everyone here is so thin."

"Lord Lei Shen?"

"I am here." Zheng Fa spoke: "These are my two..."

He was still thinking about how to introduce Shijie Zhang and the other.

"Subordinate Deities."

Shijie Zhang's voice rang out.

Zheng Fa paused, understanding Shijie Zhang's meaning—this consecrated land was best served by a single voice, at least for now.

"Subordinate Deities?" Xiao Qing's eyes sparkled, her expression somewhat joyful. "Lord Lei Shen is becoming more and more powerful!"

Xiao Qing's standard for judgment seemed to be numbers...

Zheng Fa couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, though she was indeed correct.

He heard Xiao Qing continue: "With two Niangniangs, Lord, can you find two Temple Keepers for us?"

"Hmm?"

Xiao Qing explained: "There are more and more matters in the city, and I... I am not as smart as those grandfathers..."

"When the uncles and fathers in the city have conflicts, I don't know how to mediate."

"When distributing those offerings, I always have to calculate for a long time..."

"I also don't know how to speak; they listen to me only because of Lord Lei Shen you..."

From her expression, one could see that Xiao Qing was under great pressure...

"Perhaps Lord Lei Shen, you should replace me..."

As she spoke, Xiao Qing felt a sense of giving up; her expression was extremely reluctant.

Being a Temple Keeper was not only a profession passed down through her ancestors but also the reason she was so respected now.

Zheng Fa understood in his heart—Xiao Qing had actually tried very hard.

Banshan City had no proper transmission of knowledge; Xiao Qing might have heard some past events from her father and grandfather, but... the previous Temple Keepers were most skilled at bluffing people and stealing offerings.

Setting those aside, Xiao Qing was merely a teenage girl, not some genius.

Suddenly having to manage tens of thousands of people, even with the assistance of those elders, she was likely trembling with fear.

"Distributing offerings? How to distribute?"

Shijie Zhang's voice suddenly rang out.

"It's just..." Xiao Qing stammered, explaining Zheng Fa's rules.

Sister Zhang didn't even take a single breath; she swept her divine consciousness across the area.

The distribution plan that Xiao Qing had failed to calculate clearly after half a day, Sister Zhang spoke out directly, accounting for several hundred people without the slightest error.

"Hongshan Niangniang... so powerful..."

Xiao Qing's eyes sparkled as she looked at Sister Zhang's statue, her gaze revealing extreme admiration.

"You can be this powerful too."

A thought stirred in Zheng Fa's heart, and he suddenly spoke.

"I... I can?"

"You can." Zheng Fa's tone carried a hint of amusement as he opened his mouth to say, "You can become a competent and capable temple attendant; are you willing?"

"Willing! Willing!"

Xiao Qing nodded her head frantically, her expression agitated.

With a movement of Zheng Fa's divine sense, a ball of light flew from the statue toward Xiao Qing; as the light dissipated, two books appeared in Xiao Qing's hands.

"Elementary Grammar"—this contained knowledge primarily based on what Zheng Fa had learned at the Zhao family, mainly leaning toward elementary education in the Xuanwei Realm.

"Elementary Mathematics"—this contained mostly modern primary school mathematics.

Xiao Qing stared at the two books before her; although she was illiterate, she understood this was a gift from Lord Lei Shen, and thus her expression was especially agitated.

"Does one have to learn these things to be a temple attendant?"

Sister Yuan secretly transmitted her voice.

"I don't know about others, but I have to learn them."

"This little girl is so pitiful... I was actually envious of her before..."

"Sister, don't speak nonsense... look how happily she is smiling?"

"That is because if she were literate, she wouldn't be able to smile at all..."

(End of Chapter)