I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Vol 2 Chapter 253: Returning with New Skills, an Unexpected Turn

In the nursing home.

The Jade Slip of Creation floated above Zheng Fa’s head, emitting a purple profound light that shone onto the tablet in Zheng Fa’s hand.

In just one breath, the Jade Slip retracted its light and obediently fell into his hand.

"Done?"

Old Bai, who had been holding his breath, hurriedly asked, eyeing the Jade Slip in Zheng Fa's hand with curiosity.

Zheng Fa chuckled lightly and handed the Jade Slip to Old Bai.

With the Jade Slip, he no longer needed to memorize everything painstakingly...

Old Bai flipped the artifact over and over in his hands, full of childlike curiosity.

It was obvious: this was the first true artifact in the modern world... not counting the voltage regulator. Artifacts had always been stuff of legend in modern times!

If they were in the Xuanyi Realm, no cultivator would casually hand their life-bound artifact to someone else to play with.

Such an act was considered a major taboo—only those closest to one's heart could ever be allowed.

Even with Senior Sister Zhang’s Flying Immortal Brush, Zheng Fa had never touched it.

But as he watched Old Bai lifting the Jade Slip and squinting at the sun in the sky, Zheng Fa felt no worry at all.

Closest loved ones...

Who said this old man wasn't?

Topology in Talismans—Starting from the Little Rain Talisman was still only the first edition:

Not all talisman diagrams were complete.

There were still details that, due to time constraints, Old Bai hadn’t been able to polish.

But even as it stood, the amount of work was staggering—collecting diagrams was one thing, but writing detailed explanations for each one was not something achievable in just a few months.

Who knew how long Old Bai had been preparing, how much thought he had poured into it, how many nights he had worked silently?

Thinking of it this way, maybe it was partly his fault that Teacher Tian had no children...

After a while, Old Bai handed the Jade Slip back to Zheng Fa, looking somewhat bored: "This thing... isn’t all that interesting after all!"

Hearing that, Zheng Fa lowered his eyes slightly.

Actually, there were interesting ways to use it—he had considered creating a few Tongjian devices in the modern world, so that Old Bai and the others could also participate in the forums.

Using Zheng Fa himself as the server, it wasn't impossible.

But after some thought, he gave up:

Not because he distrusted Old Bai and the others—he had complete trust in them—and not out of security concerns, since he wasn’t too worried about leaking some secrets in the modern world. ꞦâƝоBËs

The problem was, Old Bai and the others were his own secrets!

The stones retrieved from the Tianhe Venerable’s secret realm had made Zheng Fa realize something: the Five Sects of Xuanyi were searching for the Yin-Yang Fish Jade Pendant.

Did they know it was connected to the modern world?

If so, letting Old Bai and the others interact directly with the Xuanyi Realm... the risk would be far too great.

Taking the Jade Slip back, Zheng Fa saw that on the second jade tablet, a character had appeared—an ancient Xuanyi glyph meaning "Talisman."

Using Old Bai’s book as the starting point, the Jade Slip's talisman knowledge base—or rather, its internal knowledge network—was now officially being built.

According to Zheng Fa’s plans.

In the future, Tongjian users would be roughly divided into two types:

One type would be anonymous users, who could only access relatively unimportant sections like the forums.

The other type would be non-anonymous users, who had to be verified before gaining access to the newly forming internal knowledge network.

Simply put, an internal and external network.

"You’ve got the Jade Slip now. So when are you planning to work on that... controlled nuclear fusion thing?" Old Bai's eyes lit up, clearly finding that idea more exciting. "Team Leader Yang’s been waiting!"

Zheng Fa thought for a moment and replied, "Once the spiritual roots matter is resolved, it really should be pushed forward."

Old Bai was referring to the Golden Core Project.

Its primary use in the modern world would be for the spiritual material synthesis factory—on one hand, supplying cultivation needs for people like Old Bai, and on the other, combining with industrial techniques to optimize production processes.

It would also feed back into the Jiushan Realm’s spiritual material synthesis technology.

Zheng Fa had always kept this in mind.

Old Bai nodded lightly, then suddenly darted off, rushing outside in a hurry.

"Professor Bai?"

"I’ve been so busy with your book lately, I haven’t had time to hang out with Little Tian! She’s been ignoring me lately..."

Zheng Fa reached out his hand, but didn’t manage to say: "Maybe... it’s because Teacher Tian is even busier?"

...

Teacher Tian was busy helping Zheng Fa cultivate the next generation.

And as it turned out, creating life was no easy task—especially for men.

"Dead again?"

In the lab, Zheng Fa asked the slightly frustrated Teacher Tian.

"Yes, that spiritual energy structure from your cells—once it enters those plant cells, not only does it fail to sustain them, it kills them even faster."

Teacher Tian paused:

"Three seconds max—then they die."

"Not just mulberry cells... all plant cells suffer the same fate."

Everyone frowned, lost in thought.

Tang Lingwu slowly spoke up:

"There are three possible reasons..."

"First, our theory is wrong—the spiritual energy structure can't serve as a cell nucleus."

Zheng Fa stayed silent.

This was the worst possibility—and highly likely.

After all, this theory had no precedent in the Xuanyi Realm—there were no successful cases.

And this failure, if true, would be the most hopeless—because there would be no solution.

"Second, the species is wrong," Tang Lingwu continued, seeming to find the first reason too grim. "The mulberry trees and plants we have are too different from the legendary Fusang Tree."

"I’ll have the Grain Company continue searching for seeds. Aunt Yang will also help source rare seeds from national seed banks."

Zheng Fa nodded.

For this, they really might need to rely on national resources...

Still, if the species mismatch was the issue, there might still be hope in the Xuanyi Realm.

Modern and Xuanyi worlds were fundamentally different;

many species only existed in Xuanyi.

Maybe suitable plants for cultivating a Fusang Tree couldn't be found here—but could be found there?

In fact...

Zheng Fa suddenly had a thought: the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots were rare, but might they have close relatives?

If a Fusang relative could be found, would the results be different?

That meant hope might yet lie with the Five Sects of Xuanyi—if such close relatives existed, they would surely be rare spiritual plants.

And the sects were the most likely to know.

"Third, environmental factors, such as insufficient spiritual energy density to sustain a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root."

After hearing Tang Lingwu's summary, everyone felt the problem must fall within these three areas. The rıghtful source is novel-fire.ɴet

Old Bai glanced at Zheng Fa and suddenly said, "Zheng Fa, you don’t seem worried at all?"

"Not worried," Zheng Fa smiled. "Research always has obstacles."

"But a few days ago, you were all fired up..." Old Bai muttered.

...

Zheng Fa truly wasn’t worried.

Even if the Fusang Tree couldn’t be cultivated—he had thought of another technique.

Having returned with new skills, Zheng Fa summoned Senior Sister Zhang, Martial Uncle Pang, and Zhenren Qian to his courtyard—in the Jiushan Realm.

"Cellular dedifferentiation?"

After hearing Zheng Fa’s idea, Zhenren Qian scratched his head, looking like he was thinking: Why didn’t I think of that?

Zheng Fa had remembered this during an earlier conversation with Teacher Tian about cloning.

In simple terms, plant cell dedifferentiation used the totipotency of plant cells. Root tip or stem cells could be placed in a petri dish, and with hormones and nutrients, be reverted into undifferentiated cells capable of developing into an entire plant.

To put it even more simply—you could grow a whole new plant from a single leaf!

"You mean... the Tranquility Bamboo?"

Martial Uncle Pang spoke in a small, trembling voice, as if afraid someone else would overhear.

Looking at him, Zheng Fa noticed that Martial Uncle Pang’s face was flushed, his eyes full of excitement.

Even Senior Sister Zhang’s breathing had grown heavier.

Clearly, she too was stirred.

"Exactly... I don't know how different Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots are from ordinary plants, but if their cells are also totipotent..."

"If we can’t cultivate the Fusang Tree, isn’t the Tranquility Bamboo good enough?"

Zheng Fa said with a smile.

This was why he wasn’t in such a rush anymore.

Maybe cultivating a Fusang Tree was too hard—

But the Tranquility Bamboo seemed much more achievable!

"Tranquility Bamboo... good enough?"

Martial Uncle Pang twitched at the corners of his mouth.

If Zhenren Chengkong heard this, he might cry!

Seeing their excitement, Zheng Fa poured a bit of cold water:

"There are two challenges. First, how to induce plant dedifferentiation."

In the modern world, the technique was mature.

But in the Jiushan Realm, it was still at the beginning stages—past experiments had succeeded, but without deep understanding, practitioners only thought it was due to spells.

"Second, and most important—can the Tranquility Bamboo even be cultured this way?"

Upon hearing this, Senior Sister Zhang calmed slightly and said:

"Then we’ll do both at once—pursue both Fusang Tree and Tranquility Bamboo."

"At least, with the Tranquility Bamboo, our chances are much higher!"

Hearing this, Martial Uncle Pang couldn’t help but sigh:

"Back then, when you asked to borrow the Tranquility Bamboo, I didn’t get it. I thought it wasn’t worth it. But now, it feels priceless!"

"Zheng Fa, you had this plan all along?"

Zhenren Qian looked at his Sect Master with awe.

Yes, he hadn’t thought of it—or rather, hadn’t realized the potential of this technique—but the Sect Master clearly had!

To outsiders, it had looked like a huge loss.

Who would have thought it might end with them borrowing a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root?

Zheng Fa didn’t say anything—he just showed a look of quiet confidence.

Senior Sister Zhang shot him a glance, pressing her lips together as if barely holding back a smile.

Mount Tongming.

Zhenren Chengkong, however, couldn't laugh—he was frowning with worry.

"Tell me, how should I bring this up to Zheng Fa?"

Zhenren Tongming sighed beside him and asked, "The Chief Seat is really arriving in half a month?"

"Yes! The sect has already sent word—at most half a month!"

"A Soul Formation cultivator coming down the mountain so quickly?"

"The Senior Uncle... is Qin Mu's master..."

Now Zhenren Tongming understood.

The meaning behind Zhenren Chengkong’s words was clear—the incoming Chief Seat of Taishang Dao wasn’t just coming for sect matters but also for personal grudges.

Netherworld Immortal Qin Mu was a traitor from Taishang Dao.

This time, the Chief Seat's urgency was naturally to resolve that grudge.

"You want to get the Tranquility Bamboo back?"

Zhenren Tongming asked.

Zhenren Chengkong nodded lightly, his face still filled with worry. "Lending out the Tranquility Bamboo was something the elders would never have permitted. If the Senior Uncle arrives and finds the Tranquility Bamboo in Zheng Fa’s hands..."

"I’ll just be punished at most."

"But Zheng Fa would be in real trouble."

Zhenren Tongming was stunned. "That Chief Seat... not easy to deal with?"

"You know Taishang Dao usually welcomes external disciples."

Zhenren Tongming nodded—he was proof of that.

"But recently, some within have different views. One, because spiritual energy is declining, our resources are more limited."

"Second, within the Cave-Heaven World, our Taishang Dao already has many disciples. Taking in outsiders naturally makes some people unhappy."

Zhenren Tongming started to understand and said, "So this Chief Seat opposes recruiting disciples from the Xuanyi Realm?"

"Mm..." Zhenren Chengkong sighed. "And he has another reason: Netherworld Immortal Qin Mu was his disciple—the only one he ever took in the Xuanyi Realm."

"..."

Zhenren Tongming grimaced—no wonder.

It was understandable from the Chief Seat’s perspective.

The problem was, Zhenren Chengkong had lent out the Tranquility Bamboo precisely to draw Zheng Fa into Taishang Dao.

But for the Chief Seat?

Take in disciples?

What disciples?

Just get the Tranquility Bamboo back!

"I promised Zheng Fa he could borrow the Tranquility Bamboo for at least two months..." Zhenren Chengkong sighed. "Now only half a month has passed..."

Zhenren Tongming found himself at a loss.

Zhenren Chengkong wanted to win Zheng Fa over, but if he reneged now, wouldn't that be shooting himself in the foot?

"Actually... it’s not so bad," Zhenren Tongming suddenly said after frowning for a long time. "That Tranquility Bamboo doesn’t even have its root anymore. Whether Zheng Fa keeps it for half a month or two months... doesn’t seem to make much difference?"

Zhenren Chengkong was stunned for a moment, then suddenly understood.

"That's true. He should realize by now that borrowing the Tranquility Bamboo was a losing deal—maybe he even regrets it a little. Tongming, prepare some cultivation pills... I’ll go talk to Zheng Fa!"

"Exactly, maybe Zheng Fa would love it if you swapped the reward!"

...

Zheng Fa was staring intently at Ancestor of the Blood River and a few Demonic Sect disciples behind him, his expression a little complicated.

He looked over at Zhenren Qian.

Zhenren Qian nodded at him.

"...You're saying the Great Freedom Demonic Sect’s charm techniques also work on trees?"

"Not all of them..." Ancestor of the Blood River hurriedly replied. "Most don’t work, but a few techniques can accelerate plant growth."

As he spoke, he cast a spell onto a blade of grass at his feet.

The grass, originally just an inch tall and frail, quickly grew into a thick, green giant python as wide as a bowl. It writhed menacingly on the ground, baring its fangs as if ready to devour people.

Zheng Fa watched for a while, then looked at Zhenren Qian.

"I observed it under the microscope formation—the spell produces something like growth hormones, just as you said, Sect Master..."

Zheng Fa looked at the proud Ancestor of the Blood River and sighed inwardly—this Great Freedom Demonic Sect was way too wild.

From a scientific standpoint, charm techniques mainly involved manipulating nerves and hormones.

And it seemed the Great Freedom Sect’s charms specialized in hormone production?

The fact that they could produce growth hormones wasn’t unreasonable...

What was unreasonable was—you guys even messed with plants?

"Where did this technique come from?"

Zheng Fa asked.

"It was created by our ancestors..."

Ancestor of the Blood River paused, confused why Zheng Fa was asking.

"I'm just curious... what were your sect’s ancestors thinking when they invented this?"

"Thinking... thinking of... uh..."

Ancestor of the Blood River was left speechless.

Behind him, Lin Bufan lowered his head slightly, feeling ashamed of his Demonic Sect heritage for the first time...

Zheng Fa had Zhenren Qian take Ancestor of the Blood River away, but kept Lin Bufan behind.

"How’s it going?"

Over the past few days, Zheng Fa had let Lin Bufan stay with the others partly because of their shared background—Lin Bufan could guide them—and partly because he trusted him more, since Lin Bufan's soul imprint was in Zheng Fa’s hands.

"No unusual behavior, but they haven’t truly given their hearts to Jiushan..."

Lin Bufan answered honestly.

"No problem. As long as they don't cause trouble, they can’t stir up any real waves in Jiushan Realm..." Zheng Fa waved his hand, not pressing it further. "As long as the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor exists, they’ll never truly align with us."

Zheng Fa understood very well:

According to Ancestor of the Blood River, the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor had an extremely strong hold over his sect’s disciples.

Lin Bufan hadn’t been purged yet, probably because the ancestor hadn't revived.

But for the others, they were likely still waiting for the ancestor to rescue them.

Among them, Zheng Fa trusted Lin Bufan the most—followed by Ancestor of the Blood River, who had probably offended the ancestor...

"I... will definitely keep an eye on them!"

Lin Bufan said through gritted teeth.

"No, I’m not asking you to spy on them," Zheng Fa waved his hand. "You’re from the Great Freedom Demonic Sect. Our Jiushan Sect's legacy isn’t much use to you..."

"Young Master?"

Lin Bufan's eyes widened.

"Among them, there are Golden Core cultivators, even a Soul Formation cultivator like Ancestor of the Blood River. You have a special status in Jiushan now—they’ll probably try to curry favor with you..."

Lin Bufan hadn’t expected Zheng Fa to be thinking on his behalf...

He opened his mouth but couldn’t find any words.

"Study well. I have other tasks for you later..." Zheng Fa smiled. "You can’t spend your whole life selling blood."

"Yes!"

Lin Bufan bowed deeply and turned away, slowly leaving while touching his face.

...

Three days later.

"It succeeded?"

Zheng Fa hadn’t expected good news so soon—cultivating Tranquility Bamboo’s first step: dedifferentiating plant cells—had been achieved in just three days.

"This wasn’t hard. I just hadn't paid attention before," Zhenren Qian explained. "Actually, protoplast fusion was the harder part..."

Zheng Fa nodded slowly. Technically speaking, dedifferentiating cells was simple.

Once again—it was all about having the right knowledge system.

"Besides, with Blood River and the others helping, we succeeded after just five trials!"

Zheng Fa glanced at Ancestor of the Blood River nearby and couldn’t help but nod approvingly—the Great Freedom Demonic Sect’s disciples were truly capable.

That Great Freedom Demon Ancestor was really wasting talent!

"In that case, you and Blood River can try next to dedifferentiate the Tranquility Bamboo cells."

Zhenren Qian wasn’t surprised, but Ancestor of the Blood River looked completely blank. "What cells?"

"Tranquility Bamboo."

Ancestor of the Blood River fell into deep thought—why did that sound so familiar?

He looked down at the sword underfoot and suddenly remembered:

Oh right, I was killed by that thing!

Zheng Fa also felt a little awkward, finally realizing how heartless he was being—letting Ancestor of the Blood River help cultivate the Tranquility Bamboo was a bit like asking a chicken to heat the pot, or a pig to sharpen the knife...