Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 121 - 27 The Great Way

Chapter 121: Chapter 27 The Great Way

Seeing Zhang’s lack of loyalty, Zheng Fa’s expression turned somewhat aggrieved.

He said to Zhang, "Zhang, I did all this for the workshop, for the Jiushan Sect, for you."

"For me?" Zhang was a bit confused.

"Zhang, when I saw the Sect Leader’s Lu’s World, I started thinking about something—if that could be displayed in the workshop for people to see?"

Zhang was taken aback, her eyes gradually lighting up as if Zheng Fa had awakened something in her.

She said to Zheng Fa, "Continue."

"Our Jiushan Sect’s workshop is showing some improvements, but as you know, it’s just a temporary measure—other workshops and sects will probably learn from us and use Guiding Ships as well."

Zhang gave a slight nod.

Other sects are not fools; Guiding Ships are readily available.

Once they learn about the results, many sects will likely imitate.

"Besides, Spirit Talismans are the same wherever you buy them. Our workshop is just a bit cheaper, but that’s really because we have too many Talisman Masters."

The problem Zheng Fa pointed out was actually very critical.

Their current method to attract customers was simply low-priced Spirit Talismans.

The product was too singular.

Moreover, these cheap Spirit Talismans were the result of internal competition among Jiushan Sect disciples—it was all hard-earned money.

And most people didn’t need to come to buy in person; they could just ask a friend or relative to buy on their behalf.

Jiushan Sect now came off not like a modern mall, but more like a wholesale market—sure, things are cheap in a wholesale market, but how many people would actually prefer to go to a wholesale market to shop?

Especially a wholesale market that sells only one type of product.

The bottom line is, they have no compelling reason to come to the Jiushan Sect to spend money.

But Lu’s World is different.

It could be made into a cinema.

Even a holographic cinema.

It’s a major attraction in modern malls.

And it’s a Jiushan Sect exclusive business!

"You mean... enact those stories from the storybooks using Lu’s World?"

The anger on the Sect Leader’s face slowly dissipated as he fell into thought.

"Do you think this method is feasible, Sect Leader?"

Zheng Fa asked.

"It’s feasible." The Sect Leader gave a slight nod: "Lu’s World is essentially manipulating talisman formations with Divine Thought to conjure up worlds—it doesn’t require very high cultivation."

"Is it... will people really watch this?"

The Sect Leader’s tone carried some self-doubt.

"Sect Leader, haven’t you come down the mountain yourself?"

"This?"

Zhang and the others were taken aback as they looked at Zheng Fa.

"Sect Leader, even someone as reclusive as you are willing to make this trip. Doesn’t that attest to the allure of these stories?"

"..."

Zhang looked at Zheng Fa, then at the Sect Leader, stepping in front of Zheng Fa.

Her face read only four words—He’s still of use.

Sister, aren’t you being a bit too pragmatic!

"Did you lure me down the mountain for this?" the Sect Leader suddenly asked.

"Disciple wishes to become the Sect Leader’s apprentice!" Zheng Fa admitted candidly.

"What if I still refuse?" the Sect Leader remained reluctant.

"Then I can only ask if Master Pang will learn the art of Lu’s World."

"Pah! With his blockhead, he’ll ruin any good storybooks he sees—those books would be wasted on him!" the Sect Leader cursed.

"No worries, I have plenty of storybooks; enough for Master Pang to get familiar with."

Hearing the bold words ’plenty of storybooks’, the Sect Leader’s expression twisted.

"Everything!" Zheng Fa added.

"I’ll take you in!" The Sect Leader’s face went through a series of changes: "I have a condition!"

Before he could finish, Zheng Fa rummaged through his pack, pulling out a few books.

"This is..."

"The rest."

The Sect Leader silently took the books, then sighed, "I always feel that you might be more troublesome than those two... if it wasn’t for someone speaking up for you."

"Speaking up for me? Yuan?"

"The Jiushan Ancestor." The Sect Leader glanced at him.

"The Ancestor?"

"He said that you chose wisely from amongst many, picking the Spirit Mountain Technique." The Sect Leader smiled: "It just so happens, I’ve practiced it as well."

...

On the way to find Zheng Fa, Zhou Qianyuan felt dejected, with Sun Daoyu at his side looking similarly sympathetic.

"Junior Brother, don’t overthink it... How could we defy the decisions made by the Master?"

"Senior Brother, I can accept that Master wants to take Zheng Fa as an apprentice... but it’s too much to ask me to go invite Zheng Fa."

On hearing this, Sun Daoyu looked even more sympathetic: "Aren’t you and Junior Brother Zheng the best of friends?"

Zhou Qianyuan’s face was still full of gloom.

"Junior Brother, think about it, the Master is also trying to appease Zheng Fa."

"Appease?"

"The Master is using a bit of coercion in taking this apprentice—it’s well known our two branches don’t get along well." Sun Daoyu explained; "Asking us to invite Zheng Fa is also a way to show our esteem for him."

Zhou Qianyuan sighed, nodded, and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for clearing up my confusion. I understand now."

"Don’t harbor such resentment in the future." Sun Daoyu advised: "Just as the Master said, having Zheng Fa in our branch is a good thing for us in the long run. At least now you don’t have to face both Zhang and Zheng Fa working against you."

Zhou Qianyuan nodded silently.

"Given the Master’s regard for Zheng Fa, he will surely show benevolence this time." Sun Daoyu speculated: "Only then will Zheng Fa willingly accept him as a Master. You just have to observe what the Master does today and you’ll know how to deal with Zheng Fa in the future."

"...Elder Brother’s guidance, Junior Brother will bear in mind." Zhou Qianyuan softly expressed his gratitude: "It’s just that, this really weighs on my heart."

"..."

"As a child, I had an old friend."

"An old friend?" Sun Daoyu didn’t know why he suddenly brought this up.

"He had a girl, a childhood friend, who grew up with him since they were little, sharing a very deep bond." Zhou Qianyuan continued to narrate: "Later on, he made another friend in school, and they hit it off immediately, as if they shared the same soul and purpose."

Sun Daoyu listened, his face still a little puzzled.

Clearly not understanding why his junior brother was suddenly saying all this.

"One day, he introduced his childhood friend to his schoolmate..."

Sun Daoyu froze for a moment, his expression somewhat hesitant to hear the whole story.

"Later on, he ended up drinking at their wedding."

After telling the story, Zhou Qianyuan slowly sighed: "Elder Brother, do you think I look like I’m introducing my childhood friend to my schoolmate?"

Sun Daoyu was silent for a while before speaking: "Does your childhood friend bear some resemblance to Master?"

"..."

"Why sigh then? I think your schoolmate should be the one sighing!"

"It was just a metaphor! Moreover, it wasn’t me, it was an old friend!" Zhou Qianyuan became anxious.

"Elder Brother, I understand... To encounter such a thing twice in one’s lifetime, it really hasn’t been easy for you."

"It wasn’t me!"

Sun Daoyu looked unconvinced, he even consoled him: "But on the other hand... you now have the experience, once bitten twice shy!"

...

When Zheng Fa was called to appear before Master Pang, he was still somewhat confused.

He looked at Sun Daoyu and Zhou Qianyuan who brought him here, his face filled with doubts.

The two said nothing, so he didn’t know why Master Pang wanted to see him—he had already apprenticed under the Sect Leader.

"Are you Zheng Fa?"

Master Pang asked.

"Yes."

Before a Nascent Soul master, Zheng Fa was still very respectful.

After all, he dared to satirize the Sect Leader only because Yuan had told him that the Sect Leader wasn’t easily angered.

But... Master Pang didn’t have such a genial reputation in the sect.

Master Pang oversaw the Discipline Hall and was prone to leaving a stern impression in the minds of the sect disciples.

Among the sect and workshop disciples, particularly the rumors of those from Zhang’s lineage, Master Pang was regarded as someone who never smiled, even someone cruel and harsh, always wearing a stern face.

Of course—since these disciples were all from Zhang’s lineage, he always questioned the objectivity of their opinion.

But Zheng Fa didn’t expect the reputation to be so misleading.

Master Pang can actually smile quite warmly!

"I’ve heard about you long ago." Master Pang said gently: "I’ve also reviewed those talismanic magic you taught Qian Yuan—quite profound and elaborate."

"Master Pang’s talismanic Dao, I also admire it greatly," Zheng Fa reciprocated courteously.

"Ha! Qian Yuan didn’t learn much, you’ll find out eventually."

Zhou Qianyuan’s face darkened at the side.

Zheng Fa was puzzled, learn what eventually?

"Also, your improvements to the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method impressed me as well."

Master Pang knew about this too?

"I know, Nephew Zhang treats you very well, she’s a generous person, but I’m not petty either!"

"Huh?"

"Take these two pieces of thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears!"

"This... I cannot accept undeserved rewards."

"Have you not heard, it’s impolite to refuse the gifts from your elders?"

Master Pang shoved the two pieces of thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears into Zheng Fa’s hands.

"But..."

"But what? One piece is for you, and the other, you can give to other fellow disciples..."

Master Pang hinted further.

Zheng Fa suddenly understood, this Master Pang probably thought he would definitely apprentice under him.

He was being given the items in advance?

Also, an extra piece to win over the fellow disciples of his lineage?

"Master Pang... I have already taken a master."

"Apprenticed? To whom? A certain Mr. Huang?" Master Pang’s expression stiffened.

"No."

"Then who else dares to compete with me for disciples?" There was a hint of anger in Master Pang’s tone.

"The Sect Leader."

"...Who?" Master Pang’s expression stiffened, he slowly asked: "Did Yuan leave his seclusion?"

"...Hmm." Zheng Fa watched his expression, carefully offering back the two pieces of thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears: "Master Pang, perhaps you’d like to take them back?"

"If I said they’re for you, then they’re for you!" After a long silence, Master Pang abruptly said: "Would I be so petty?"

As Zheng Fa walked away slowly with the thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears, Master Pang’s face twitched, his expression desolate.

"Master... those two pieces of thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears?" Sun Daoyu looked perplexed: "Why did you..."

Clearly, he didn’t believe his master was a generous person.

"Do you know what kind of person the Sect Leader is?"

"What?"

"He’s protective." Master Pang sighed: "He has only ever accepted two disciples."

"The eldest disciple lured away a Demon Sect enchantress, and he protected her within Jiushan Sect, facing wave after wave of the Demon Sect, he killed several Nascent Souls."

"The second disciple broke a previous seal, even the Righteous Path came to cause trouble... they too got beaten by him."

"..."

"Even if he had apprenticed under Mr. Huang, I could’ve gotten him back, but apprenticed under Yuan... that’s like throwing meat buns to a dog." Master Pang said bitterly.