Chapter 239: The Master

After hearing Zheng Fa's words, Zhang Shijie's face still held traces of confusion, but she slowly nodded.

Mentioning the River Lord's crossing was a very persuasive reason.

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

Now, promoting education in the Stele Realm is primarily due to the River Lord's precedent.

In truth, the population of the Stele Realm is extremely sparse relative to its size.

Zheng Fa's current fiefdom has a population of barely two million.

Based on his estimate of the Stele Realm's size, if population density were similar—whether the entire realm had even ten million people was questionable.

But on the other hand, as long as productivity increases and food output is sufficient, population growth has never been an issue…

From Zhang Shijie's current ten-thousand-year lifespan, she could easily wait for this population explosion.

"How do you plan to educate?"

Zhang Shijie asked.

"I think, at first, we should only conduct basic literacy," Zheng Fa said. He had already developed vague ideas he intended to discuss with Zhang Shijie. "Teach only reading, writing, and arithmetic, while subtly cultivating their identification with the Nine Mountains Sect and the new laws."

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

"As you said, we don't need to find geniuses in the Stele Realm—there are more people in the Xuanwei Realm… what we need are geniuses who will help us."

Zhang Shijie nodded, her eyes filled with clear approval: "I thought no one in the Xuanwei Realm had ever implemented this, and feared you had no plan—but you've thought it through thoroughly."

"But there is one point I think you can improve."

"What?"

"Your intentions are good, but I suspect the people of the Stele Realm won't understand the importance of learning reading and arithmetic."

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

He himself had always been passionate about learning.

Modern society greatly respected knowledge.

But the Stele Realm… was a place where people couldn't even afford enough to eat.

…

Nearby, Yuan Shijie, half-understanding yet curious about the Stele Realm, suddenly asked: "The little temple attendant you mentioned—is she called Xiao Qing?"

Zheng Fa nodded to Yuan Shijie. "Yes. Are you interested in her?"

"I just feel a certain affinity—I'm a Blue Phoenix, and she's Xiao Qing…" Yuan Shijie asked. "And you said Xiao Qing is quite formidable?"

"Formidable? She is. The people of Banshan City hold her in high regard."

Nowadays, Xiao Qing in Banshan City stood just below a deity and above ten thousand mortals.

Hearing this, Yuan Shijie's expression turned slightly envious.

Entering Lei Chi, Zheng Fa pulled out the bronze seal and looked toward Zhang Shijie and Yuan Shijie.

Zhang Shijie gave a slight nod. Zheng Fa gently infused spiritual power into the bronze seal, and a gray, hazy portal appeared in the air, enveloping Zhang Shijie and Yuan Shijie.

…

In the Stele Realm, within Tiangong.

"Yan Brother, Xiao Xianzi."

As soon as Zheng Fa entered the Stele Realm, he saw Yan Wushuang and Chu Tianque conversing with Xiao Yuying.

The atmosphere between them had improved considerably—apparently, their journey through the secret realm had forged some rapport.

Seeing Zheng Fa enter, Xiao Yuying waved to him.

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

"Hmm?"

"We've agreed—we won't compete. Yan Wushuang's organization sounds good too," Xiao Yuying smiled. "I have many magic treasures and spirit materials brought back from the secret realm, which I don't need. I might as well sell them through him."

This remark made others envious.

He glanced at Xiao Yuying, then at Yan Wushuang, realizing their cooperation likely stemmed from a shared understanding of the new law—at least, after learning the flaws of the old law, Xiao Yuying probably harbored some preference for the new.

"So, Xiao Xianzi, you've joined Yan Brother's organization?"

"Just cooperation, that's all," Xiao Yuying waved her hands frantically. "I don't want to offend the River Lord Sect."

"…."

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

Yan Wushuang asked eagerly from the side.

Zheng Fa paused briefly, then spoke: "Though I'm only at Foundation Establishment, I wish to emulate Xiao Xianzi. Besides, aren't we already cooperating?"

Yan Wushuang's expression turned slightly disappointed, yet he nodded understandingly.

Xiao Yuying, however, smiled even more broadly. She patted Zheng Fa's shoulder. "Then it's settled—you're with me from now on! No demon clans or beast tribes will harm a single hair on your head."

"… Xiao Xianzi, I'm from the Nine Mountains Sect."

Zheng Fa reminded her dryly.

"I know. I'm not asking you to betray the Nine Mountains Sect—I just mean… wise birds choose good trees to perch on, right?"

Yan Wushuang beside them wore an expression of utter disbelief. Xiao Yuying's mouth…

How to put it? It somehow made it sound like she was cursing the Nine Mountains Sect.

Indeed, he wasn't the only one who misunderstood…

"The Nine Mountains Sect will only grow better!"

Zheng Fa's bronze seal flashed, and the figures of Zhang Shijie and Yuan Shijie appeared before everyone. Yuan Shijie's face was still puffed up with annoyance.

Xiao Yuying: "…"

Even she, for all her bluntness, felt embarrassed now.

"Zheng Brother… this…"

Yan Wushuang widened his eyes, pointing at Zhang Shijie and Yuan Shijie.

"My Divine Register has advanced further—it can now bring people in."

Zheng Fa explained softly.

"Cough, I'm leaving first!"

Xiao Yuying turned and fled. Zhang Shijie narrowed her eyes, watching her retreating back.

"Zhang Shijie, I told you—every man and woman outside is scheming for Zheng Shidi!"

Yan Wushuang blinked, feeling he should leave too, yet still asked enviously: "Zheng Brother, how does your Divine Register bring people in?"

Clearly, he was deeply envious of this new function of the bronze seal…

After all, he had rich connections.

And a Sunset Sword Immortal as his bodyguard…

In terms of recruiting people, Yan Wushuang likely feared no one. "It's simple."

"Please tell me, Zheng Brother."

"Earn ten thousand Heavenly Merits, and Tiangong will automatically upgrade itself," Zheng Fa said earnestly. "No need for us to worry."

Yan Wushuang's expression shattered. He fell silent for a long while before speaking:

"Zheng Brother… I don't have ten thousand Heavenly Merits—is that because I don't like them?"

"…."

"Goodbye!"

…

In the Stele Realm.

Xiao Qing sorted through the offerings received over the past few days, calculating how to distribute them to the elderly in the city.

Although Banshan City had few people, there were still hundreds who qualified…

She couldn't ask the elderly directly—this touched their personal interests.

Suddenly, the temple began to shake gently.

Xiao Qing panicked, looking around. The deity statue before her trembled violently, as if the ground itself were quaking.

"Lord Thunder?"

The statue gave no response.

Xiao Qing called out several more times, but only her tearful cries echoed in the temple.

Watching the trembling statue, she threw herself at its feet, as if trying to steady the massive figure with her frail body.

Just as she was still in terror—

Two shadowy figures appeared beside her. The shadows gradually solidified into two female-shaped statues, shorter than the Thunder God statue, faceless, and dressed as women.

Xiao Qing stood frozen, unsure what was happening, when a girl's voice rang out in the temple.

"Is this Banshan City?"

Yuan Shijie's voice echoed in the temple, filled with pity: "Everyone here is so thin."

"Lord Thunder?"

"I'm here," Zheng Fa said. "These are my two…"

He was still thinking how to introduce Zhang Shijie and Yuan Shijie.

"Subordinate deities."

Zhang Shijie's voice rang out.

Zheng Fa was startled—he understood Zhang Shijie's meaning: this fiefdom should have only one voice, at least for now.

"A deity?" Xiao Qing's eyes sparkled, her expression cheerful. "Lord Lei is growing stronger!"

Xiao Qing's standard for judgment seemed to be the number of people…

Zheng Fa couldn't help smiling inwardly, but she was right.

Xiao Qing continued: "With two Noble Ladies now, Lord, can you find two temple attendants too?"

"Hm?"

Xiao Qing explained: "There are more and more matters in this city, and I… I'm not as clever as those elders…"

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

"When distributing offerings, I always have to count for ages…"

"I'm not good with words—they listen to me only because of Lord Lei…"

From her expression, it was clear Xiao Qing was under great pressure…

"Lord Lei, could you replace me?"

As she spoke, Xiao Qing sounded almost resigned, her expression deeply reluctant.

Being a temple attendant wasn't just her family's hereditary profession—it was also why she was now respected.

Zheng Fa understood—Xiao Qing had already tried very hard.

Banshan City had no proper knowledge transmission; Xiao Qing might have heard stories from her father or ancestors, but… the previous temple attendants were best at deceiving people and stealing offerings.

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

To suddenly manage tens of thousands of people—even with elders assisting—must have left her trembling with fear.

"Distributing offerings? How do you distribute them?"

Zhang Shijie's voice suddenly sounded.

"It's just…" Xiao Qing stammered out an explanation of Zheng Fa's rules.

Zhang Shijie didn't even take a breath—her spiritual sense swept through.

The allocation plan Xiao Qing had struggled over for ages, Zhang Shijie stated instantly, perfectly accurate for hundreds of people.

"Noble Lady… so powerful…"

Xiao Qing's eyes sparkled, gazing at Zhang Shijie's statue with profound admiration.

"You can be just as powerful."

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

"I… can I?"

"You can," Zheng Fa said with a smile. "Can you become a competent, capable temple attendant?"

"Yes! Yes!"

Xiao Qing nodded vigorously, her face flushed with excitement.

Zheng Fa sent out a spiritual thought—a glowing orb flew from the statue toward Xiao Qing. When the light faded, two books appeared in her hands.

"Elementary Grammar"—this book primarily contained knowledge Zheng Fa had learned in the Zhao household, focused on the foundational teachings of the Xuanwei Realm.

"Elementary Mathematics"—this book contained mostly modern elementary school math.

Xiao Qing stared at the two books before her. Though she couldn't read, she understood these were Lord Lei's gifts, and her expression grew even more excited.

"Do temple attendants have to learn these?"

Zhang Shijie whispered secretly.

"I don't know about others, but mine must learn."

"This girl is so pitiful… I used to envy her…"

"Sister, don't say that… look how happy she is?"

"True—she'd never smile if she could read…"

(End of Chapter)