Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 122 - 28: Let It Go

Chapter 122: Chapter 28: Let It Go

Zheng Fa was cultivating the "Void Spirit Eye".

The "Void Spirit Eye" Divine Skill was, to him, renowned and well-known.

The Jiushan Sect was currently divided in a struggle between two lineages.

If one were to say that Zhang’s lineage’s Basic Skill is the "Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method".

Then, Master Pang’s lineage’s Basic Skill would be the "Void Spirit Eye".

Zheng Fa had already understood the wonders of the "Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method"; without it, his cultivation would not have progressed so swiftly, nor would he possess any Divine Skills in this modern world.

Thus, the "Void Spirit Eye" which is held in equal regard to the "Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method" and reportedly flawless, naturally raised his expectations.

He took out the thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears given by Master Pang.

Just by the name, Zheng Fa had assumed it was some kind of liquid.

But what Master Pang gave him were actually four pieces of transparent solid, resembling slightly purple-tinted crystals.

Zheng Fa placed a piece of the thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears on his right eye, spiritual power surged in his palm, infusing into the crystal.

The crystal of the thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears slowly began to melt, transforming into a warm stream that seeped into his eye socket. Initially, his right eye felt a warmth, followed by a slight stinging pain.

As time passed, the sting became more apparent and deeper—it felt as though someone was leisurely carving with a scalpel on his eyeball.

It tormented him, mixing slight fear into his pain.

Had it not been documented in "Void Spirit Eye" by Master Pang, he would have even suspected that he was going blind.

Until two sticks of incense burnt down, the crystal in Zheng Fa’s palm gradually depleted, and the excruciating pain slowly receded like a tide, leaving behind a wave of coolness over his eyeball.

Zheng Fa opened his eyes, touched his forehead and collar, the damp sensation testified to the intensity of the pain he had just endured.

This even made him consider resting a couple of days before cultivating the left eye.

However, the changes in his right eye from cultivating the "Void Spirit Eye" made him feel that the pain was worthwhile.

Standing before the mirror, Zheng Fa could see faint silver light twinkling in his right eye while operating the "Void Spirit Eye".

Even more peculiar was—Zheng Fa saw a different world.

While operating the "Void Spirit Eye," he looked out the window and noticed that objects a hundred meters away seemed just before him.

And the world in front of him seemed clearer.

Or rather, more complex.

He again observed those talismanic diagrams floating in the air.

But to Zheng Fa’s surprise, the talismanic diagrams no longer appeared isolated.

In his previous observations, these "little fish" seemed to swim around independently, roaming chaotically with little apparent relation to each other.

But after cultivating the "Void Spirit Eye," he could see faint lines connecting some of the talismanic diagrams.

Some talisman diagrams had these invisible lines, while others did not, with no discernible patterns.

In the jade tube that recorded "Void Spirit Eye," Zheng Fa read a sigh-filled statement from Master Pang:

"People say that Primordial Talismans are limited, yet most have never clearly seen what Linked Talismans truly look like."

Thinking about this statement, and observing these more discreetly revealed talismanic diagrams before him.

Zheng Fa also somewhat understood Master Pang’s thoughts—The more one knows, the more despair some feel towards humanity’s ability to comprehend the world, including many scientists.

Perhaps the talismanic diagrams seen after achieving "Void Spirit Eye" seemed incomprehensible to Master Pang, naturally leading him to disbelieve that cultivators could fully resolve these diagrams.

But in Zheng Fa’s view, "Void Spirit Eye" and "Primordial Talisman Foundation Establishment Method" not only do not conflict, but seem like they were naturally made for each other.

"Void Spirit Eye," according to Master Pang’s records, is divided into three realms: Viewing Qi, Microscopic, and Void.

Viewing Qi enhances one’s vision, allowing one to see far distances and also observe the flow and properties of Spiritual Energy in the void.

In "Void Spirit Eye," Master Pang mentioned that reaching this stage allows one to seize the initiative in battles and even spot the flaws in an opponent’s spells.

Microscopic is hardly described in "Void Spirit Eye".

But from the literal meaning, it probably enhances a cultivator’s ability to observe microscopic entities.

As for Void.

Master Pang did not mention it at all, only stating that it’s practically impossible to achieve this realm before Nascent Soul.

Zheng Fa sorted through his thoughts internally.

Viewing Qi—a telescope, seemingly with some analytical capabilities?

Microscopic—a microscope, possibly even at the level of an electron microscope.

As for Void, the information is too sparse for a good understanding.

But this idea of training both eyes as experimental instruments triggered Zheng Fa’s extensive speculations—the significance of observational instruments to science is self-evident.

With this thought, Zheng Fa gritted his teeth and took out another piece of thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears.

...

At Zhang’s home, Zhang continued writing the exercises that Zheng Fa had sent over.

Yuan, as usual, was chattering away.

The two had been interacting like this for decades, long accustomed to it.

Yet today, Yuan suddenly said, "I feel something is not right?"

Zhang paused her pen, not lifting her eyes, but lightly asked, "What’s not right?"

Yuan looked around the study room, glanced at Zhang, thought deeply for a moment and then suddenly said, "Someone’s missing! Zheng hasn’t come!"

Zhang gave her a light glance and did not speak.

"Zheng used to come every day to play with you... er, discuss the ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method’ with you, but it seems he hasn’t come these past few days?"

"He has only recently become a disciple."

Zhang explained softly.

"A disciple?" Yuan frowned, "That old man, after taking a disciple, burrowed back into his room to research storytelling scripts, aiming to create a masterpiece... How could he spare any attention for Zheng?"

"..."

"Don’t you find it strange, Zhang?"

"I don’t think so." Zhang put down her pen and said lightly, "Before, Zheng was from our lineage, but now he belongs to the Sect Leader, and things are naturally different."

"How are they different?"

"...Before, he came to me because I could protect him and provide him with resources, teach him the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method, and even grant him the authority to manage the workshop. Now that he is a disciple of the Sect Leader, he naturally no longer needs these."

Zhang’s expression remained neutral as she spoke.

"Sister... are you saying that Zheng Fa is ungrateful? That he forgot about you after climbing up the ranks?" Yuan widened her eyes, a bit surprised.

"He owes me nothing; after all, he was the one who told me about the Five Elements Child Talisman, so it can’t be considered ungrateful," said Zhang, gently shaking her head. "It’s natural for people to aim higher—that’s human nature. Haven’t we seen enough of such people over the years?"

"..." Yuan’s expression still looked unhappy, as if she was a bit angry with Zheng Fa.

"Actually, it might not be that he doesn’t want to come, but rather he was considering Master Pang," Zhang suddenly said.

"Ah?"

"I was thinking about why Master Pang insisted on taking Zheng Fa as his disciple," Zhang explained. "It’s probably because Zheng Fa was too outstanding, making Master Pang worried about the safety of his lineage. Now, if Zheng Fa were to continue having close interactions with me, Master Pang might worry even more."

Yuan listened but still seemed a bit confused.

"Now that Zheng Fa is a disciple of the Sect Leader, if he kept coming to see me every day, would Master Pang think the Sect Leader is also favoring our lineage? Breaking the internal balance of the sect is not good—now that external threats have appeared, we can’t have internal conflicts anymore."

Zhang had to explain in detail.

Yuan nodded, finally understanding.

But after a while, she suddenly spoke again, "Zhang, why did you suddenly think of so many reasons?"

"..."

Yuan suddenly realized something: "You’re not used to it either! I knew I shouldn’t have asked..."

"Still better than being a disciple of Master Pang," Zhang reprimanded. "At least we are not enemies now, Yuan, you should see the bigger picture."

"I just can’t see it as openly as you do, Sister!"

Yuan muttered.

She sat in a chair to the side, no longer speaking, her mouth pouted as if she was sulking.

"Zhang! Yuan!"

A voice came from the door.

Zheng Fa quickly walked in, then paused, looking at his own attire.

"Why are both of you looking at me like this? Is there something inappropriate about me?"

"Why have you come again?"

Yuan hummed softly.

Zheng Fa didn’t understand the implication of ’again,’ and didn’t even notice Yuan’s dissatisfaction in her tone.

He said with a smile, "A few days ago, Master Pang called me over and bestowed upon me the thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears!"

Hearing this, Zhang and Yuan exchanged a puzzled glance.

"Since when has Master Pang been so generous?"

"I haven’t finished yet!" Zheng Fa said with a smile. "Master Pang gave me a share for two! I brought one for you, Zhang!"

Having a microscope, how could one forget the laboratory?

Zhang, I’m fleecing Master Pang to nurture you!

"...For me?"

Zhang was stunned, looking at Zheng Fa with a particularly complex expression.

"Yes, a share for two, and I’ve already used one," Zheng explained. "These past few days, I’ve been cultivating the Void Spirit Eye. This cultivation technique is indeed very profound, and it should be greatly beneficial for the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method. The other share is for you, Zhang."

Even without discussing the potential future microscopic or even void-level benefits to talisman research.

Just the Viewing Qi realm alone can enhance a person’s combat power significantly.

Seeing Zhang staring at him without speaking for a long time, Zheng Fa couldn’t help but feel puzzled: "Zhang, you..."

Zhang suddenly smiled.

How to describe that smile?—Like thawing ice and melting snow.

Yuan looked at Zheng Fa, then back at the smiling Zhang.

She grimaced as if disgusted, muttering in a low voice, "See the bigger picture? Pah!"

...

Zhang took the two thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears and suddenly said, "You should give the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method to Master Pang in a few days."

"Ah?"

Zheng Fa was startled, not understanding why she would say that.

He had never thought about this; most of the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method still belonged to Zhang, and although he practiced it, he had not planned to pass it on to others.

"Master Pang mentioned before that he wanted to trade the thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears for the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method. Now that you’ve taken these tears, though they were also a gift from an elder, it might still make him feel uncomfortable."

"Yes."

Zheng Fa had thought about this himself.

At that time, Master Pang clearly looked pained.

"If you give the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method to him, Master Pang will think you are considerate, and as a future disciple of the Sect Leader, you will also need his support."

"Support?"

Zheng Fa looked at Zhang, suddenly sensing ulterior motives in her words.

"Sister, you?"

Zhang, holding the two thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears, smiled and said, "At least in front of others, you must show impartiality towards our two lineages, understand?"

Zheng Fa also looked at the two thousand-year-old purple bamboo tears.

Is it just these two items that make Zhang think so highly of helping him?

This is clearly a bright support for him to be the future Sect Leader of Jiushan Sect.

If only Master Pang knew what was worth fighting for?

Why not just uproot the entire thousand-year-old purple bamboo and send it over?