chsdbacks Chapter 229: Core Attractiveness
Chapter 229: Core Attractiveness
If someone dared to do that, they would likely be attacked by cultivators from all over the world the very next day, leaving not even ashes behind. Not only would their secret be completely exposed, but they would also attract the jealousy and encirclement of countless people with ulterior motives.
Imagining the scene of being chased and threatened, Zhang Ping couldn't help but shudder, a chill running down his spine. He quickly shook his head and muttered to himself, "No, no, the sect's atmosphere can't be corrupted. I'm a proper cultivator."
After muttering to himself, he pondered for a moment, then put down his brush and wrote two large characters on the rice paper: "Source of Life".
With the sect's core strength secured, the next challenge is finding a way to recruit disciples.
Zhang Ping got up and took a hardcover booklet from the low stool beside the bed. The edges of the booklet were slightly curled from being turned over, and the pages were filled with densely packed small characters. It was all the latest information about Penglai Immortal City that he had collected bit by bit from his conversations with cultivators traveling to and from various places on the flying boat these past few days.
The information gathered in Luhua City was mostly old news; the cultivation world changes rapidly, and such information had long lost its value. However, these cultivators who frequently traveled as merchants to various places were far more knowledgeable about the movements of Penglai Immortal City.
He traced the words on the booklet with his fingertips and read them aloud in a low voice: "If the information is correct, there are roughly two ways to recruit disciples. One is to rent a shop in Penglai Immortal City, run a business while opening the door to accept disciples, and wait for people to come to the door to worship;
Secondly, by paying a fee in spirit coins, sect information can be published in the *Penglai Gazette*, spreading throughout families, cities, and markets of all sizes in the Taihu region.
This "Penglai Daily" is an official communication channel established by the Penglai Immortal City, similar to the newspapers in his previous life. It is published every three months and not only records the major and minor events in the Taihu Lake region and popular local rumors in Penglai, but it is also said to have a special section for publishing information about newly established sects.
Many independent cultivators who want to join a sect will read every issue, specifically looking for a new sect that suits their taste.
As Zhang Ping looked at it, he couldn't help but chuckle. He pointed to the three characters "Penglai News" and muttered to himself: The more I look at this, the more it resembles those job postings from my previous life.
The newspaper ads are job postings, the independent cultivators are job seekers, and the sects are employers. It's a two-way street.
Those with good talent vie to enter major sects; those with less talent can only choose smaller sects with weaker foundations; as for those exceptionally talented geniuses, even the three top sects—Qingdan Immortal Sect, Qingchi Sect, and Tianya Sword Sect—would fight tooth and nail to get their hands on them.
As he thought about it, Zhang Ping chuckled to himself—after all this time, he was going to start his own business and become a boss from scratch?
However, despite his delight, he knew that while the Penglai Gazette was excellent, publishing in it would cost a considerable amount of spirit coins. The exact amount was unknown to the cultivator who had told him about it, so he could only write it down and plan to inquire further once he arrived in Penglai Immortal City.
Putting all that aside, he picked up his pen again and added a small "+" sign after "Hehuan Sword Sect," then wrote down a line of small characters: pills, formations, talismans, and magical artifacts.
His previous success in imprinting the sword heart with the Blade Spirit Grass gave him a completely new perspective.
Since corresponding beast markings can be imprinted on the path of swordsmanship, it's not impossible for them to exist on other paths as well. For example, beast markings that can identify spiritual herbs and are proficient in alchemy, or beast markings that can understand the principles of formations and are proficient in formations…
These things, though perhaps hard to find or rare in the world, opened up a completely new path for Zhang Ping.
If we can find them all in the future, it will not only greatly enhance the sect's foundation, but also attract more disciples with better talent, so that they can truly take root in this world of myriad spirits.
The explosions outside the window continued to rise and fall, and blood rain continued to pour down as countless people risked their lives for the opportunity before them.
Inside the room, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Zhang Ping held a brush, looking at the sect's blueprint gradually becoming clear on the Xuan paper. The light in his eyes was even brighter than the red glow that filled the sky outside the window.
Time slipped by quietly as the ink in the inkstone dried and was replenished, and the spiritual energy in the dantian circulated and stopped.
Zhang Ping lived his days with great order. Half of his mind was devoted to cultivation, repeatedly reviewing his own ability system and making his foundation more and more solid. The other half of his mind was devoted to the future planning of the sect. From the selection of the sect site and the layout of the halls, to the rules for disciples and the allocation of resources, he wrote everything down clearly.
A month has passed in the blink of an eye.
Over the past month, earth-shattering events have been reported almost daily in the heart of the northern historical sites.
Sometimes, when Zhang Ping took a break from his cultivation and walked to the edge of the deck, he could feel the powerful force that pierced through space through the dense rain. The force made the deck of the flying boat under his feet tremble slightly, and even the spiritual energy around him rippled.
Looking up, all one could see was a vast expanse of rain and fog, making it impossible to discern any real change.
That day, another muffled rumble rolled in from the northern horizon, making the windowpanes rattle softly.
Zhang Ping finished his last stroke, blew on the still-wet ink on the Xuan paper, and carefully stored the thick stack of bound sect regulations, along with his writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, into the mustard seed space opened up in his inner body.
He raised his hand to brush off non-existent dust from the hem of his clothes, then pushed open the door and walked out of the room.
There were already quite a few people standing on the deck, nearly half as many again as half a month ago.
"Brother Zhang? You've finally shown up! I was wondering why I hadn't seen you for the past few days."
A group of cultivators were gathered around the railing, whispering and discussing in the direction of the core area. Their voices were not concealed, and their faces showed more or less some fear. They were obviously talking about the danger hidden in the ruins that were about to be revealed to the world.
One of the female cultivators caught sight of Zhang Ping, her eyes lit up instantly, and she immediately greeted him with a smile.
The female cultivator's name was Luo Yan. She wasn't exceptionally beautiful, but she was pretty and pleasing to the eye. She had round, almond-shaped eyes with a natural droop at the corners. When she spoke, she always looked at people with her eyes open, conveying a timid and soft demeanor.
His nose bridge was slightly flat, which made him look less sharp and instead added a touch of neighborly friendliness.
She had originally gone to the ruins area with the group, but was seriously injured there half a month ago. She and several other injured cultivators returned to the flying boat, bringing back a lot of information from the depths of the ruins.
Zhang Ping had initially intended to gather information, so he chatted with her several times and even gave her a healing herb that he had obtained by chance before.
Over time, Luo Yan grew closer to him and developed a fondness for him. Every time they met on the deck, she would take the initiative to come over and start a conversation.
"I spent the last couple of days in seclusion, focusing on my cultivation, and haven't had a chance to come out." Zhang Ping returned a gentle smile and stepped forward. "Has there been any new development in the outside world?"
As he approached, the crowd that had been gathered around the railing immediately parted to create an opening, and even their voices subconsciously fell silent.
Among the cultivators present, the highest level of cultivation was barely touching the threshold of the Divine Integration Realm. Even the few with outstanding talent had only cultivated blood and qi with attributes, without even getting close to the Divine Integration Realm.
No one dared to be negligent towards Zhang Ping, a young prodigy who had already firmly established himself at the Divine Harmony Realm and was clearly from a major sect; they all held genuine awe in their hearts.