Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 114 - 20 Unrivaled

Chapter 114: Chapter 20 Unrivaled

Seeing that Zhang looked somewhat off, as if she harbored some regrets.

Zheng Fa quickly changed the subject: "Senior Sister, I have something to ask for your guidance."

"What is it?"

"Since there are Five Elements Child Talismans, could there be a Yin Yang Child Talisman?" Zheng Fa posed his own question: "But when I apply the same line of thought to the analysis of the Yin Yang Talisman Diagram, I can’t seem to find the parts that embody Yin and Yang."

In modern times, he and Old Man Bai actually tried many different methods.

Whether it was having Han Xiaobai modify algorithms.

Or the three of them using topological analysis.

The Yin Yang Talisman Diagram indeed seems to have no similar parts.

"Yin and Yang... I am not sure either." Zhang slowly furrowed her brow: "But Yin and Yang should be different from the Five Elements."

"Why is that?"

Zhang did not speak, her form radiating light, as she revealed her Primordial Spirit Dao Body once more.

The Twin Lotus Platform in her Dantian spun leisurely, one of the lotuses slowly collapsed, as if it had withered all of a sudden.

But the next moment, Zheng Fa clearly saw that the remaining lotus sprouted several root-like lines, growing spontaneously.

The vanished lotus then slowly reappeared.

"This is..."

Zheng Fa had a moment of realization.

"Yin and Yang are twin births; one cannot exist without the other." Zhang said.

Zheng Fa nodded slightly, his brow also slightly furrowed.

He understood the meaning of Zhang’s words—

The essence of the unity of the Five Elements is that they are like components of an object.

But the meaning of the twin birth of Yin and Yang seems to be like light and shadow, as if one lotus exists, the other is inevitably there, and can even regenerate itself from a temporary destruction.

This is even more perplexing than the Five Elements Child Talisman.

Apparently seeing the confusion on his face.

Zhang comforted him: "The Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method was originally founded by the Jiushan Ancestor, and I only made initial improvements, there is no need to hurry."

"Umm..."

"If you need anything in the future, feel free to come to me." Zhang said warmly.

"It’s not fair!" Yuan, who was aside, grumbled: "Whenever I come to you, Senior Sister, I have to pick a time when you’re free!"

While she spoke, she leaned her whole body on Zhang, as if to claim her authority in front of Zheng.

"Every time you come, you give me a headache."

Zhang gave her a look but didn’t move away, letting her lean on her.

"And what about him?" Yuan said dissatisfiedly: "You even let him have his way!"

"He comes..."

Zhang suddenly chuckled lightly, her slender figure rose effortlessly, standing upright in the sky.

Zheng Fa walked out of the study, looking up at Zhang overhead.

Now, as the night had fallen, the sun had long disappeared, leaving only layers of dark clouds occupying the sky of the Jiushan Sect.

Zhang’s body glimmered with dazzling five-colored light, with a wave of her hand, the high and impenetrable sea of clouds dispersed, revealing a clear sky.

Her light shone like a colorful aurora, illuminating the snowy peaks of Jiushan, and reflecting back, making the whole Jiushan Sect appear as stunningly beautiful as the aurora night.

Zhang slowly descended beside the two, glanced at Yuan, and said with a smile:

"Look, the sky brightens when he comes."

...Senior Sister, you really know how to tease with special effects.

...

"Nephew Zhang has attained full mastery of the Five Elements."

On the eighth peak of Jiushan, a middle-aged man with a figure like a wealthy commoner from the mortal world sighed as he watched this spectacle.

"Full mastery of the Five Elements? Master, what state is this?" Sun Daoyu, who was standing beside him, asked.

This man was Sun Daoyu’s Master Pang, and upon hearing his disciple’s question, he patiently answered: "When the Five Elements are cultivated to perfection and then merged with Yin and Yang, one achieves Gold Core Great Success and Nascent Soul becomes likely."

"Then... is Senior Sister Zhang about to advance to Nascent Soul?"

Sun Daoyu’s tone was mixed with both joy and worry.

"Just one more step, just one step away." Master Pang shook his head, his tone rather filled with regret: "I originally thought that fixing the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method and balancing the Five Elements would suffice, but now it seems, merging Yin and Yang is also a threshold, this Cultivation Technique has too many flaws."

"...Then Master, shall we still exchange it?"

Hearing that the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method was not completely improved, Sun Daoyu hesitated, and his interest in the cultivation method evidently waned.

After all, if this Cultivation Technique was still incomplete, he had no need to practice it—although the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method was good, he still preferred cultivation methods that directly targeted Nascent Soul.

"Exchange! Not to mention two shares of thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears, even if her price is higher, I must exchange—however, I want to exchange with someone else!"

Unexpectedly, Master Pang nodded firmly, even more urgently than before.

"Ah? Who?" Sun Daoyu was stunned.

"Whoever improved this Cultivation Technique, that’s who I want to exchange with."

Master Pang looked at the courtyard of Nephew Zhang, as if seeing a certain figure within.

"Nephew Zhang?" Sun Daoyu started: "Master, if you want to take Nephew Zhang, I’m afraid Master Huang will fight you to the death."

"Who said it was her?"

Master Pang glanced at him as if looking at a fool.

"Then who is it?"

"Zheng Fa." Master Pang’s eyes glittered with silver light, looking towards the mountain base: "He is the one who improved the Cultivation Technique."

Sun Daoyu was stunned.

Even though the person speaking was a Nascent Soul True Master and his own Master, disbelief was predominant on his face.

"Master... Zheng Fa is only at the early stage of Qi Cultivation, having entered less than three months ago!"

Master Pang glanced at him, as if looking at a fool: "You’ve been watching Zheng Fa for so long, and you haven’t figured it out?"

"What have you thought of?"

"Idiotic!" Master Pang’s face showed a hint of frustration, born from his disappointment: "Order! You noticed first that Zheng Fa solved the issue of elemental disharmony, and only after that did Apprentice Zhang advance!"

"...Right." Sun Daoyu blinked in realization, but still asked, "Maybe Sister Zhang just let Brother Zheng practice first to test it out?"

"Just now, Zheng Fa visited Apprentice Zhang’s house, and then, Apprentice Zhang achieved elemental perfection."

"..."

Sun Daoyu blinked again, looking towards his master’s silver-glowing eyes.

"Right now, Apprentice Zhang is seeing Zheng Fa off... Hmm, he walked him out the front door and even walked a few extra steps, seemingly reluctant to part."

"..."

Master Pang turned his head to look at Sun Daoyu, asking in a deep tone: "Tell me, if I visited Apprentice Zhang’s house, would I receive such hospitality?"

"..."

Your vision is sharp you’re indeed extraordinary!

"But Master, Zheng Fa has already rejected us before."

Sun Daoyu reminded him.

"Last time I did not pay him enough attention, this time I will visit him in person."

"Master!"

"What’s the matter, isn’t Junior Zhou someone I accepted as a disciple personally?"

"Master, haven’t you said before that a Nascent Soul nowadays will only go all out to cultivate one True Inheritor?" Sun Daoyu whispered, "Junior Zhou is the True Inheritor you picked..."

Master Pang fell silent for a while.

"Your Junior Zhou has a broad heart."

"Ah?"

"Since he also wants to follow Zheng Fa to learn talismanic magic, why not let him become a disciple of Zheng Fa, to serve as my grand-disciple?"

"...Junior Zhou’s heart may not be so broad."

...

After seeing off Zheng Fa, Sister Zhang did not return home. Instead, she flew towards the seventh peak of Jiushan.

Atop the seventh peak stood a palace that seemed built from icy jade.

The palace gates were firmly shut, no sign of life could be heard, and it appeared desolate.

Only when Sister Zhang arrived at the gate did a somewhat cold female voice arise: "Wuyi, what brings you here?"

"Disciple has a matter to consult with Master."

"Come in."

The gate opened on its own without a breeze, revealing the scene inside the hall.

A female cultivator sat within, her complexion seemingly colder than the mountainous snow, but warmth flickered in her eyes as she looked at Sister Zhang.

"What matter?" she asked: "Matters of our lineage can be decided by your word alone, no need to consult me."

"Master, I wish to ask you to accept one more disciple."

"Hmm?"

"Disciple?" The woman seemed genuinely surprised by her own disciple’s request, with a look of astonishment: "You know I have the least patience for teaching disciples."

Sister Zhang fell silent for a moment, as if recalling some unpleasant memories, but still spoke up:

"Disciple’s intention is to ask Master to bestow those spiritual materials accumulated by our lineage to that disciple for cultivation."

"..." Upon hearing this, the woman abruptly stood up, staring at Sister Zhang for a while, a look of excitement creeping onto her face.

"Wuyi... has the Red Bird Star shifted?"

"...No."

"Then it must be someone has threatened you!"

When the woman said this, the cold wind within the hall seemed to carry a more forbidding chill.

"No."

"... Then have you lost your senses?" The woman kept staring at her, seemingly unable to comprehend: "Those spiritual materials were prepared for your Nascent Soul formation, some were even collected by you."

"Disciple just feels that this junior brother... is worthy."

"I’ve never heard you praise someone like that." The woman, finally interested, beckoned warmly for Sister Zhang to come closer.

Her expression softened with recollection: "In my memory, little Wuyi would never suffer any disadvantage, never concede anything."

"Spiritual materials, mine."

"Cultivation methods, mine."

"Even the entire Jiushan Sect is mine."

The woman spoke with some tenderness.

Sister Zhang gently smiled: "Master, that was me in my naive youth, thinking everything could be solved by my talent."

"... How formidable you are, practising the ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method’ just like that, no scolding ever worked on you." The woman curled her lips as she spoke: "So, you regret it now?"

"No regrets." Sister Zhang shook her head: "Disciple never felt that I was oppressing anyone. With the decline of Spiritual Mechanism, having those materials myself is better than giving them to mediocre talents..."

"Ha!" The woman laughed heartily, as if recalling something: "I remember when you first joined, you dared to tell me that the future of Jiushan Sect, the future of the Xuanwei Realm—they rest on your shoulders! How old were you then? Twelve?"

"Yes." Sister Zhang laughed as well: "Disciple’s thoughts have not changed."

"And now you’re thinking of giving those spiritual materials to someone else?"

"If I’m better, then I should have them. If he’s better, then he should have them." Sister Zhang’s simple words left the woman speechless for a long while.

After a long silence, the woman finally spoke: "Tell me about this disciple."

Sister Zhang sat beside her own Master and began to recount the story of Zheng Fa.

A long time later, the woman sighed lightly: "He’s talented, no wonder you value him so much."

"So, Master, would you consider accepting another disciple?"

"I cannot agree."

"Master?"

"It’s already difficult for a Nascent Soul to cultivate a True Disciple with potential for Nascent Soul... If you give those resources to him, you will have nothing left."

"Master, after decades of Golden Core without the slightest progress, the disciple has despaired and doubted. Only after much thought, did I realize one thing." Sister Zhang shook her head, "No matter how scarce the spiritual materials, a fellow cultivator who can mutually sharpen and promote one another, that’s unmatched in this world."