I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Vol 2 Chapter 255 Let Me Take a Look, Chengkong’s Apology

Just as they were about to leave the Jiushan Realm, Yan Wushuang suddenly looked like he wanted to say something but held back, only to be unable to contain himself.

"Brother Yan?"

Seeing his expression, Zheng Fa asked considerately.

"Are you...?"

Yan Wushuang spoke so softly that Zheng Fa almost didn't catch what he was asking.

But he immediately understood—he was asking if he was the reincarnation of the Tianhe Venerable.

"I don't think I am."

Zheng Fa was silent for a moment before replying honestly.

Whether his transmigration was related to the Tianhe Venerable, even he wasn't sure anymore, but if it was about being the Tianhe Venerable himself...

Zheng Fa didn't think so either.

Yan Wushuang let out a light breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and smiled, "Good, it's good you're not. To be honest, if the Ancestor were standing in front of me, I'd be a little scared..."

"......"

"If you were the Ancestor, I probably wouldn't even dare to speak."

Watching Yan Wushuang leave with his Tongjian, looking completely relaxed, Zheng Fa took out the small booklet again and began decoding it according to the rules Yan Wushuang had explained.

The information inside the booklet was chaotic and disorganized.

Most of it was the words of the Tianhe Sect Master, with some bits from other elders.

The contents were mostly rumors within the sect about the previous era, nostalgic reminiscences of the Tianhe Venerable, and the sect's golden age.

Much of it was exaggerated and boastful, mixed with truth and falsehoods, and Zheng Fa couldn’t tell which was which.

The information lacked any coherent system and real evidence, making it dull and disappointing—but considering how much effort Yan Wushuang had put into collecting it, Zheng Fa still read through it carefully, word by word.

As his gaze drifted carelessly over a few words, he suddenly froze, turned back, and reread a line:

"Senior Sister said that the Ancestor’s mastery of the Sword Dao was actually related to the Nine-Turn Golden Core. Without this cultivation method, the legendary techniques of refining swords into threads and transforming swords into myriad forms would be nearly impossible."

"Thus, such sword techniques have already been lost to the sect."

Nine-Turn Golden Core?

Wasn't that the Nine-Turn Golden Core Method?

Zheng Fa stared at those four words for a long time, then went through the rest of the booklet, especially the parts where Xie Qingxue spoke, hoping to find more clues. ＲＡNǑ𝔟Ε𝐒

But whether Xie Qingxue had mentioned it unintentionally, or later deliberately avoided it, those four words—Nine-Turn Golden Core—never appeared again.

He gently closed the booklet, frowning slightly, a mix of shock and confusion in his heart.

Back then, when Jiushan Sect explored the so-called Tianhe Ruins, they found an ordinary-looking boulder.

From that boulder, Zheng Fa had obtained a fragmentary inheritance.

That inheritance was precisely the Nine-Turn Golden Core Method.

This method should have been the Tianhe Venerable’s foundational technique during his Golden Core stage.

Even now, Zheng Fa wasn’t entirely sure whether the one who set up the secret realm was looking for the Nine-Turn Golden Core Method, or for the Yin-Yang Fish Jade Pendant.

And now he heard it mentioned from Xie Qingxue?

"What’s wrong?"

Just then, Senior Sister Zhang arrived at his courtyard. Seeing his strange expression, she asked curiously.

Zheng Fa handed the booklet to her.

Senior Sister Zhang read that line and also frowned.

She knew the origin of the Nine-Turn Golden Core Method too.

"Xie Qingxue knows the Nine-Turn Golden Core Method?"

Zheng Fa nodded, "I don't know if she practices it, but she definitely knows about it."

Senior Sister Zhang pondered for a long time and guessed, "Actually, it’s not that surprising. After all, Tianhe Sect was founded on the Tianhe Venerable’s legacy, and she’s the Senior Sister there. It’s possible she would know."

"It’s possible, but..." Zheng Fa said slowly, "Setting aside everything else, that boulder should be a true relic of the Tianhe Venerable. Otherwise, it wouldn't just leave behind the name of a cultivation method."

"He even said that whoever practiced the Nine-Turn Golden Core Method would become him."

"And Tianhe Sect betrayed the Tianhe Venerable. If they knew about this, they wouldn’t allow future generations to practice this technique."

Senior Sister Zhang immediately understood—

If the sect really raised a new Ancestor, everyone would be in deep trouble.

"This Nine-Turn Golden Core Method might be taboo even within Tianhe Sect."

Her expression changed subtly as she spoke, seeming to grasp Zheng Fa’s meaning, "You’re saying Tianhe Sect might not have preserved the Nine-Turn Golden Core inheritance?"

Zheng Fa gave a light nod.

"Then how did Xie Qingxue..." Senior Sister Zhang’s expression turned strange, "Could she... be the reincarnation of the Tianhe Venerable?"

That line sounded a little too familiar...

Yan Wushuang had suspected himself, and now Senior Sister Zhang thought it might be Xie Qingxue.

Zheng Fa couldn’t say anything for sure—one sentence wasn’t enough to draw conclusions.

Maybe Tianhe Sect really did still have the Nine-Turn Golden Core Method;

their guesses would be meaningless.

Senior Sister Zhang thought for a while, then suddenly shook her head and laughed, saying, "Whether it’s true or not doesn’t really matter to us. But for Tianhe Sect, if their most outstanding disciple turns out to be the Tianhe Venerable reincarnated or otherwise related..."

"Then... things will get interesting."

A look of anticipation flashed across her face.

She knew Zheng Fa had always been a little wary of the Five Sects of Xuanyi.

A little trouble within Tianhe Sect wouldn’t be a bad thing for Jiushan Sect.

Zheng Fa suddenly thought of Yan Wushuang, who had happily left, and couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for the guy.

If the reincarnation of the Tianhe Venerable had been by Yan Wushuang’s side the whole time... Latest content publıshed on noveⅼfire.net

He wondered how the poor guy would feel when he found out.

...

At Tianhe Sect’s quarters, Xie Qingxue frowned as she looked at Yan Wushuang, who was giggling while holding the Tongjian.

"Junior Brother."

"......"

"Junior Brother."

"......"

"Yan Wushuang!"

Yan Wushuang’s hand trembled and he almost dropped the Tongjian.

He looked up blankly, only to see his Senior Sister standing beside him, her smile looking more like a sneer, her gaze locked onto the Tongjian.

"Senior Sister?"

"What are you giggling at? What's that in your hand?"

"......" Yan Wushuang tried to stash the Tongjian away while explaining nonchalantly, "Zheng Fa gave it to me, just for fun."

Xie Qingxue extended her hand.

"Let me see."

"Senior Sister..."

Yan Wushuang tried to resist.

"Either this thing ends up in my hand, or my hand ends up on your head."

Yan Wushuang touched the back of his head as if he felt a phantom pain.

"Senior Sister, can’t you just take a quick look?"

"Relax!"

After thinking it over, Yan Wushuang figured that without any ciphered techniques inside, there wasn’t much Jiushan Sect's secrets to worry about, so he obediently placed the Tongjian into Xie Qingxue’s hand.

...

"Senior Sister, can you give it back now?"

"I’ll return it in a few days, definitely."

"Senior Sister, the Tongjian..."

"What’s your rush? I didn’t say I wouldn’t return it."

"Senior Sister..."

"For a mere Tongjian, have you forgotten all the kindness I showed you when I taught you?"

Looking at his Senior Sister’s wounded expression, Yan Wushuang...

couldn’t stand it, but still held back.

A few days later.

When Yan Wushuang entered Xie Qingxue’s courtyard, he saw his Senior Sister holding the Tongjian, giggling foolishly.

"Senior Sister?"

With a flash, Xie Qingxue quickly stashed the Tongjian away, eyeing him warily.

"...Senior Sister, Zhenren Chengkong sent a message. The Chief Seat of Xuandu Temple from Taishang Dao, Zhenren Mingde, has arrived."

"Zhenren Mingde?"

Xie Qingxue’s playful expression instantly vanished, and she rose to head toward the grand hall, frowning as she walked.

"When you’re in the hall, be smart. Don’t speak recklessly."

Yan Wushuang looked a little confused.

"This Zhenren Mingde isn’t easy to get along with."

...

Zhenren Mingde was pure regional bias!

Inside Tongming Mountain’s grand hall, Zheng Fa sat quietly at his seat, watching a middle-aged Daoist sitting at the place of honor.

The man looked young, around forty, but his hair and beard were entirely white, giving off a strange appearance.

Even stranger was his behavior.

Today was a banquet hosted by Zhenren Chengkong to welcome their Chief Seat.

Since it was a banquet, naturally there should be food and drink;

everyone had spiritual wine and meat on the tables in front of them.

But the honored guest, Mingde, had an empty table.

Not because Zhenren Chengkong was neglectful, but because...

this man simply refused to eat.

Not only did he not eat, he didn’t even look or smell at the food.

It was already awkward enough.

And then listening to how he talked to Zhenren Chengkong:

"Chief Seat, let me introduce you, this..."

Zhenren Chengkong pointed at Zheng Fa, trying to make an introduction.

"No need."

Zhenren Mingde cut him off directly.

"Then this person..."

"Also unnecessary."

The people below exchanged glances;

although they didn’t dare speak, they kept giving each other meaningful looks. This Mingde Zhenren—not only did he refuse to eat the spirit meat or drink the spirit wine of Xuanyi Realm, he didn’t even want to meet the cultivators from Xuanyi Realm.

Ever since entering the hall, he only greeted the people from the Five Sects, his gaze never once landing on the cultivators of Xuanyi Realm.

It was as if the wine, the meat, and even the people of Xuanyi Realm were filthy...

Calling it arrogance was putting it mildly.

Some of the cultivators present couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful.

Zheng Fa, however, found it rather comforting—

To be honest, after being targeted by the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor, having a powerful cultivator who didn’t even spare him a glance oddly gave him a sense of safety.

The Five Sects of Xuanyi were exactly the kind of existence he preferred to keep his distance from.

It was nice being invisible.

Unlike the others' resentment, Zheng Fa leisurely picked up his chopsticks and focused on dealing with the spirit meat before him.

At a feast, one must show respect to the food.

Jiushan Realm lacked nothing but this kind of thing.

If only he could pack some to go... otherwise, at the very least—

"Where’s the Tranquility Bamboo?"

Suddenly, a cold voice from Mingde Zhenren came from the head of the hall.

Zheng Fa suddenly found the meat in his mouth much less flavorful.

"……"

"The disciple is nurturing it."

Zhenren Chengkong answered softly.

He didn’t even dare to look in Zheng Fa’s direction.

"Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots are precious;

no mistakes can be allowed..." Mingde Zhenren continued, "No need to let others treat it. Apart from the people of Taishang Dao, no one else may touch it."

"......Yes!"

Seeing some dissatisfaction on Chengkong’s face, Mingde Zhenren said slowly, "Think about how the Tranquility Bamboo got hurt... Regardless of the character of outsiders, if even my Taishang Dao cannot save a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root, how could those cultivators from minor sects manage it?"

"......"

There was nothing Chengkong could say to that.

"Better to be cautious. Don’t waste your effort on anything else."

...

Before Zhenren Chengkong could even come find him, Zheng Fa took the initiative to deliver the Tranquility Bamboo to his courtyard.

"This..."

Zheng Fa handed the Tranquility Bamboo to Zhenren Chengkong and said, "I’ve made it difficult for you."

"It’s actually my fault. I said I’d lend it to you for three months, but now, not even twenty days have passed, and Mingde Zhenren has already arrived." Chengkong sighed, then added, "You’ve seen what he’s like. He’s suspicious by nature, especially toward people from Xuanyi."

"Why?"

"You should know—Netherworld Immortal was his disciple."

Zheng Fa had indeed heard this rumor.

"What you might not know is that Netherworld Immortal was originally from Xuanyi Realm. Mingde Zhenren accepted him as his sole disciple, pouring all his heart and soul into him."

Zheng Fa’s expression turned a bit understanding.

"But for some reason, Netherworld Immortal insisted on betraying the sect. Since then, the Chief Seat’s temperament has changed..."

Makes sense—once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of the well rope.

Zheng Fa smiled and said to Chengkong, "Please, take back the Tranquility Bamboo."

Chengkong accepted the Tranquility Bamboo, examined it briefly, and let out a light sigh.

There wasn’t much change to the Tranquility Bamboo;

during their experiments, they had only used a few thin slices, and had been extremely careful—at least, to Chengkong’s eyes, there was no obvious difference.

Zheng Fa returning the Tranquility Bamboo naturally meant their experiments had already seen initial success;

keeping it would only invite trouble.

After all, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots were of great importance.

If something happened to it while it was in Jiushan Realm, there would be no way to explain it.

On the other hand, there was also Mingde Zhenren.

It was obvious he wasn’t easy to deal with. Zheng Fa didn’t want to draw any attention, so he might as well return it early and avoid the hassle.

Seeing his intentions, Chengkong explained further, "The Chief Seat coming early isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Netherworld Immortal is still at large. Though I told everyone I wasn’t worried, it was just to calm people’s hearts."

"Does Mingde Zhenren have a way to deal with Netherworld Immortal?"

"After all, they were master and disciple," Chengkong shook his head, "The Chief Seat has his own methods to track him. Before, Netherworld Immortal hid in the Great Freedom Heaven, and we didn’t dare enter rashly. But now, as long as he remains within Xuanyi Realm, the Chief Seat can find him."

"At the very least, he won’t be able to hide and plot in secret."

Hearing this, Zheng Fa also felt relieved—

Netherworld Immortal being alive was a big concern, especially given his tendency to lurk.

If someday he revived the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor...

With Mingde Zhenren able to track him, it was definitely good news.

Chengkong added, "The Chief Seat’s quick arrival was to prevent accidents."

"You don’t need to explain. Mingde Zhenren coming early puts me at ease," Zheng Fa said.

Seeing the sincerity in his expression, Chengkong smiled faintly, and with a twist of his wrist, a jade-green pill bottle appeared in his hand.

"This is?"

"This is the Taishang True Spirit Pill of our Taishang Dao."

"Taishang True Spirit Pill?"

Chengkong shoved the bottle into Zheng Fa’s hand and said:

"Our Taishang Dao is famous for its alchemy, and the Taishang True Spirit Pill is a unique pill of our sect."

"This pill is only effective for cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage, particularly beneficial for the growth of the Divine Soul. It’s one of the best pills for Golden Core stage cultivators."

"The spiritual materials required for this pill are rare. Even our disciples find it difficult to obtain—unless someone is highly valued by the sect, they rarely get the chance to use one."

Hearing this, Zheng Fa was surprised.

Taishang True Spirit Pill—it seemed to be tailored for Golden Core stage cultivators.

But for a Soul Formation cultivator like Chengkong Zhenren to praise it so highly... it almost seemed a little petty.

It felt like even he couldn’t easily get one himself, making it all the more precious.

"You’re currently at the early stage of Golden Core. It’s the best time to grow your Divine Soul. This Taishang True Spirit Pill is perfect for you."

"I don't deserve such a gift without merit..."

Zheng Fa was tempted—after all, when it came to alchemy, Jiushan Realm wasn’t exactly skilled.

Whereas Taishang Dao, like Chengkong had said, was renowned for it.

His progress at the Golden Core stage had been a little slow;

if he could use the Taishang True Spirit Pill, it might really help.

"When I heard the Chief Seat might arrive early, I started thinking about compensating you," Chengkong said, "But you wouldn’t accept any territory, and now I had to reclaim the Tranquility Bamboo early. After considering it, the best I could do was give you a useful pill."

"This Taishang True Spirit Pill—I didn’t even have one on hand. I only managed to get it thanks to the Chief Seat’s visit."

It was clear Chengkong had gone to some effort.

Zheng Fa thought for a moment and decided to speak honestly, "Actually, by borrowing the Tranquility Bamboo, we’ve already gained something. There’s no need to talk about compensation."

"Harvest?"

Chengkong turned his head and glanced at the Tranquility Bamboo,

seeing that it hadn't even lost a single leaf, his expression was full of disbelief, as if he thought Zheng Fa was just trying to comfort him.

Without saying another word, he firmly pressed the pill bottle into Zheng Fa’s hand.

"Zhenren?"

"……Do you have complaints?"

Chengkong suddenly asked.

"Absolutely not!"

"Then take it!" Chengkong said sternly, "Otherwise, you’d be treating me with distrust and injustice!"

"……"

With that said, Zheng Fa had no choice but to accept the pill bottle.

Holding the Taishang True Spirit Pill, he returned to the laboratory.

Martial Uncle Pang, with sharp eyes, immediately noticed the bottle in his hand and asked curiously, "What’s that?"

"Zhenren Chengkong’s apology gift."

"Apology gift?"

Everyone was stunned.

They glanced at the embryonic form of the Tranquility Bamboo slowly taking shape in the petri dish, then at the pill bottle in Zheng Fa’s hand, falling into silence.

Zheng Fa said helplessly, "What could I do? If I didn’t accept it, he would have flipped the table."

Ancestor of the Blood River had a thoughtful look on his face, suddenly feeling like he had grasped a profound truth:

How was it that Zheng Fa managed to get treasures faster than their Holy Sect did by killing and looting?

Learned something today!