Seeing Shi Junxi’s expression change, Mu Zixiao realized something was wrong. She shrank back and cautiously asked, “Should I not have said that?”
Shi Junxi remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a sigh. “If I hadn’t used a Divine Artifact to isolate this Tianshu Hall from the three realms, your words today would have gotten you killed ten times over.”
“It was reckless of me, Master.” Indeed, even if they were just discussing, she shouldn’t have exposed her mentor’s secrets in public.
Ultimately, it was her curiosity. According to the recent, slightly smoother analysis of the surrounding figures by Weike, there might be changes in the Upper Realm, with powerful figures maneuvering against each other.
She wisely refrained from asking further about her master’s identity in the Upper Realm.
“Reckless is an understatement. If you’re not careful, you might just bring the sky crashing down.” Shi Junxi pressed his temples, his handsome brow slightly furrowed. “I’ve already mentioned the difficulties of Merit Cultivation. How do you plan to address them?”
Mu Zixiao nodded slightly. “Thank you for the question, Master. Merit Cultivation is indeed prone to unexpected issues. So, I’ve calculated an optimal method to compensate for the lack of combat strength. This extends from the day you introduced me to the ‘Divine Descent’ of the Formless Bone in the hall. Since puppets can summon deities to the mortal realm, if I have sufficient spiritual power and Merit, I should also be able to…”
“Deities from the Upper Realm won’t help you.”
“What I’m about to tell you next is a secret more important than my own life.”
As she spoke, Mu Zixiao stepped forward and lightly tapped the notebook. The final chapter of the notebook suddenly filled with many words.
This was an encryption method Mu Zixiao had developed.
Shi Junxi read the newly appeared text, his expression growing increasingly grave.
Mu Zixiao swallowed nervously, her heart uneasy. After being rescued by Shi Junxi and regaining full consciousness, she had considered how difficult it would be to rely solely on herself. Revealing this was a gamble. These words could not be spoken aloud, explained in detail, or fully articulated—they could only be understood intuitively.
After reading carefully, Shi Junxi closed the notebook, gently clasped his hands together, and the notebook turned to flames, vanishing without a trace.
“Within the three realms and beyond, there is no longer any record of this.” With that, Shi Junxi took out a jade pendant and placed it on the table. “I am willing to lend you a hand. Let’s see what earth-shattering changes this world will undergo.”
Deeply moved, Mu Zixiao stepped back three paces, knelt on the ground, and solemnly kowtowed three times.
“Master…”
“Enough, no more talk. Tell me how you plan to accumulate Merit.”
Mu Zixiao scrambled to her feet.
Indeed, to achieve Ascension through Merit, even if Mu Zixiao performed sect tasks every day until she grew old and died, she would never form a Golden Core.
Where to begin? Of course, by starting with endeavors that benefit Cultivators and mortals alike.
“Master, I plan to start with Wood Spiritual Root Merit Cultivation! Vigorously develop agriculture, mass-produce spiritual plants to help reduce Spirit Stone consumption, benefit mortals by promoting agricultural tools, and ensure people’s basic livelihoods.”
The moment she mentioned developing agriculture, Mu Zixiao perked up, as if her racial talent had been awakened. “Farming depends on three things: the heavens, the land, and the spiritual plants. For Cultivators, observing the heavens is merely a matter of setting up an array—not difficult at all.
As for the land, in the cultivation world, spiritual herbs grow because of Spiritual Soil, and rare spiritual plants thrive due to the uniqueness of their growing environment. As long as we can simulate these conditions, we can achieve success.”
As for spiritual plants, of course, it is because mass-producible and highly effective spiritual plants are not common. They require screening and selective breeding. Planting only one type of crop can affect the soil, so it is necessary to rotate cultivation based on the planting cycles of the selected spiritual plants. Calculating these cycles is also of utmost importance.”
Mu Zixiao already had a few target crops in mind. As long as she was given a few experimental fields, supplemented with seasonal arrays and catalytic spiritual liquid, along with Weike’s big data collection and computation, this task would not be difficult to accomplish.
Shi Junxi gave her a strange look. “Were you studying farming before?”
Mu Zixiao forced a dry laugh. “Theoretical knowledge, mostly theoretical knowledge.”
Shi Junxi pondered for a moment. “Let’s give it a try first. You’ll need people who know how to cultivate spiritual plants to assist you, as well as some helpers to carry out this task. I can help you find those who know how to cultivate spiritual plants, but you’ll need reliable people to work under you and help you realize your grand plans.”
Mu Zixiao held her breath. Was she supposed to go socialize?
Shi Junxi, already having a slight understanding of her temperament, pretended not to notice. “Go and select a few promising candidates from the outer sect disciples.”