Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 124 - 30: Viewing the Mountain

Chapter 124: Chapter 30: Viewing the Mountain

Hearing the Sect Leader’s words, Zhang and her companion had the sense to try to leave.

But the Sect Leader waved his hand, indicating there was no need for such formalities.

"There’s nothing to hide, indeed, I don’t have much to teach him." Seated on the cushion, he said to the three, "The Xuanwei Realm in my Qi Refinement years has changed a lot from now."

Zheng Fa was taken aback, somewhat grasping the Sect Leader’s meaning.

"When I was cultivating, I also practiced the Five Thunders Body, but back then there were plenty of Xuanlei Stones!" The Sect Leader reminisced, "Unlike now, this damned thing is exorbitantly expensive, and the Five Thunders Body is almost lost."

"Not just Xuanlei Stones, but Spirit Grass, Spirit Pills, Spirit Talismans, they were all cheaper back then..." The Sect Leader’s tone was nostalgic, "During my Qi Refinement days, who cared about ten or eight Spirit Stones?"

The Sect Leader’s words rendered the three silent.

"If you ask me how to cultivate to Nascent Soul, how would I know? I just practiced carelessly!"

Seeing the innocent expression on the Sect Leader’s face, Zheng Fa pondered his words and finally realized what his own master meant—good old days were gone!

He now understood why the Sect Leader said he couldn’t teach him.

The changes in the environment meant that the Sect Leader’s successful experience during the Qi Refinement period was no longer suitable for the current Zheng Fa.

"To speak of guiding your cultivation, you are practicing the Chi Xiao Technique. Many people have practiced this technique, and it’s hard to go astray."

The Sect Leader added with a bit of helplessness in his tone, "I really don’t have much to teach you."

Zheng Fa inevitably looked a bit disappointed.

The Sect Leader felt he hadn’t taught much and after thinking it over, suddenly raised his brows and said, "Alas, today I will teach you about my talisman formation Dao."

"Talisman formation?"

The Sect Leader proudly smiled and said, "I, your Master Pang, and Nephew Zhang’s master, Huang, each have our own understanding of talismanic magic."

"Your Master Pang relies on the ’Void Spirit Eye,’ prefers to act later and strategize first. If you ask me, it’s just like an old turtle’s fighting style."

"Huang... mhm, her method not everyone should learn as it’s suited for those who fear death."

Zheng Fa glanced at Zhang and noticed that her expression did not show any confusion, seeming to be accustomed to this evaluation.

"As for me, I specialize in talisman formations."

Zheng nodded, recalling the Lu’s World technique which the Sect Leader mentioned to be a kind of talisman formation.

"A talisman formation is laying out Spirit Talismans to form an array—compared to ordinary arrays, this talisman formation has lower requirements but its power is not diminished," the Sect Leader continued to explain, "For example, Lu’s World is set with ten Spirit Talismans, forming an illusion array. Compared to a single Spirit Talisman, this illusion array lasts longer, and affects a slightly larger area."

"But what I am best at is killing formations!" Zheng Fa heard the Sect Leader say proudly, "Give me a chance to lay out the Circulation Divine Thunder Formation—if the enemy’s cultivation does not exceed mid-Nascent Soul, I can blast them into a life-and-death dilemma, with no return!"

Geez.

Our master here talks big!

Zhang and her companion also showed surprised expressions.

Apparently, they didn’t expect this sect leader, who had stayed indoors for a thousand years, to possess such strength.

"May I ask, Sect Leader—what quality of Spirit Talismans does this Circulation Divine Thunder Formation require?" Zheng Fa suddenly remembered something.

"Top-tier talismans."

"And how many would that be?"

Zheng Fa had a bad feeling about this.

"Three hundred and sixty-five."

Since Zheng Fa didn’t know the value of top-tier talismans, he looked towards Zhang.

Zhang pondered for a while and then said, "With those Spirit Stones, you might as well throw them directly at someone’s face, the effect might be similar, and maybe you’d even gain an ally."

Got it... No wonder this old man is so poor!

"The value of Nascent Soul’s body wasn’t this cheap before..."

The Sect Leader said somewhat gloomily.

"Master, is it because you haven’t left the house in a thousand years..."

"Times have changed!" The Sect Leader sighed deeply, looking very disheartened.

It was clear that due to the decline in Spiritual Energy, such aggressive tactics were now an outdated version in this era.

"By the way, if you leave the mountains in the future and travel around Xuanwei, don’t use your master’s name."

Huh?

Why does this sound familiar?

"Master, I’m not the type to cause trouble everywhere."

Zheng Fa said, feeling slightly aggrieved.

"...What I mean is, I still have a few old grudges." The Sect Leader waved his hand and explained, "I can’t blast everyone to death."

"Would... such significant figures come after me?" Zheng Fa wondered.

That would be quite lacking in class.

"Are you underestimating your master?"

"?"

"I may not kill them, but they won’t have an easy time either!" The Sect Leader said a bit proudly, "Those few people will have to nurture their injuries for at least a thousand years, if not a hundred."

"..."

Not killing them.

Means Master’s enemies are strong.

Taking long to heal.

Means deep grudges were formed.

Is the troublemaker you, elder?

"Right now, I think Master Pang isn’t so bad after all." After a long silence, Zheng Fa dryly sighed.

"Him? Following him, you wouldn’t even know how to practice the ’Spirit Mountain Technique’." The Sect Leader sneered.

"Ah?"

"That ’Spirit Mountain Technique’ you hold, was created by the Jiushan Ancestor..."

Zheng Fa suddenly remembered that incomplete version of the ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method’.

"Master, are you suggesting?"

The Sect Leader threw him two Jade tubes, and with a smirk said, "This modified version I have, that’s the one fit for people to practice."

"..."

Zheng Fa immersed his Divine Sense into the jade tube and discovered that the two versions didn’t differ much in terms of cultivation methods.

But there was one issue—the Sect Leader’s version of the "Spirit Mountain Technique" actually required a real mountain!

He threw himself two jade tubes; one contained the revised "Spirit Mountain Technique," while the other was a theory called "Spirit Vein Theory."

It was about how to find the right mountain range and cultivate the "Spirit Mountain Technique" with the help of the direction of the mountain’s rivers.

"About the Jiushan Ancestor..."

"It was a mountain itself!" The Sect Leader seemed slightly frustrated when mentioning this, as if he had been tricked by the original "Spirit Mountain Technique:" "No need to look for a mountain at all!"

"...Master, so to cultivate the ’Spirit Mountain Technique,’ one must reside in the mountains?"

Thinking of this old man who had stayed home for a thousand years, Zheng Fa felt a bit worried.

How could one practice this in the modern era?

"That’s not necessary; it’s only through specific mountain ranges that you can transform the Spiritual Power within you into Spiritual Energy to be released."

The Sect Leader’s explanation was a bit vague, and Zheng Fa took another look at the revised "Spirit Mountain Technique" to finally understand the Sect Leader’s point—

To put it metaphorically:

The Spirit Mountain Technique is somewhat like turning oneself into a giant, humanoid battery.

But he needs a signal tower to turn the Spiritual Power within him into the Spiritual Energy in the void.

As for why the Jiushan Ancestor didn’t discover this issue, it’s because he himself was essentially a Spirit Vein, a product intertwined with runes and the trinity of Jiushan.

The cultivation techniques created by the Jiushan Ancestor were all tricky!

"Do you know why I was willing to accept you as a disciple?" The Sect Leader suddenly said.

Zheng Fa looked down at the revised "Spirit Mountain Technique" in his hands.

"I worked hard to revise it, it would be a waste if no one cultivated it." The Sect Leader nodded, indicating Zheng Fa guessed right: "But it’s not easy to find a fool willing to cultivate the ’Spirit Mountain Technique!’"

"..."

The group then discussed how to revise "Rescue Little Cultivator Pang Qian"—in fact, in Zheng Fa’s opinion, his version still had many issues.

One being his memory wasn’t so good; he didn’t remember each scene when he first saw the original, so there were still many unclear parts.

He planned to watch it again carefully in the modern era.

Another issue was the format.

He watched it on a computer, not even in 3D.

While the Sect Leader came up with a holographic projection mode.

The experience was also somewhat different.

The Sect Leader had plenty of ideas—he had been playing around in Lu’s World for many years, after all.

As Zheng Fa was about to take his leave, Zhang suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke to the Sect Leader:

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, it appears that a spirit cave has emerged in Taiyang County, the Chang Chun Sect has already sent people to seek our Jiushan Sect’s help."

Upon hearing this, the Sect Leader, who was generally indifferent, suddenly showed a gravity on his face.

"What’s your opinion?"

"The emergence of a spirit cave, the major factions of the Hundred Immortals Alliance will all have some thoughts, it may even attract the covets of the Demon Sect." Zhang slowly said, "The Chang Chun Sect has always been respectful towards our sect, contributing annually; we cannot neglect to help."

The Sect Leader nodded: "Since your master has entrusted the Affairs Hall to you, he trusts your capability—just go ahead and do it."

"Yes."

After the two walked down the ninth peak, Zheng Fa looked at Zhang, wanting to ask something.

"Zheng, your current task is to practice hard." Zhang, as if knowing his thoughts, gently said.

"I understand."

Zheng Fa fell silent for a moment, then responded.

The three walked in silence for a while, none of them speaking.

Until the moment they parted, Zhang suddenly said, "You have already been of help."

"Ah?"

"The Five Elements Child Talisman has increased my power quite a bit." Zhang looked into the distance, her eyes seemingly ablaze, "If those petty people still think that I have stagnated over these decades and are causing trouble in the dark..."

Zheng Fa was startled, watching Zhang turn to him with a smile while saying, "The Jiushan Sect still has me, as well as three Nascent Soul Real People, you don’t need to worry, Junior Brother."

Watching Zhang leave.

Zheng Fa knew, however, that the situation was not that simple.

The Sect Leader’s expression was rarely that serious.

He recalled Zhang’s earlier intention to move Yuan; perhaps it was also for this matter.

This clearly was no small matter in Zhang’s mind.

...

In the modern day, Zheng Fa sat in his seat, deep in thought.

He felt that his cultivation was not progressing slowly.

But compared to the troubles Zhang and the others were currently facing, it probably wasn’t very useful.

If he really wanted to help quickly, establishing a Spiritual Energy laboratory in the modern era should no longer be delayed—the results of the study, even if he couldn’t use them immediately, would still be helpful for Zhang and the others.

But—Spirit Mountain Technique required mountains!

Where could he find the right mountain range?

"Zheng Fa, my mom asked the housekeeper to make some soup, and I brought you a bowl."

Tang Lingwu’s voice came from the front row.

Zheng Fa looked up, his eyes lighting up.

Isn’t this the mountain coming to me?

"Just for a bowl of soup, you’re smiling this broadly?" Next to him, Wang Chen sarcastically said.

"You don’t understand, what I see is a mountain!"

"Pfft! It’s not that I don’t understand; I see you as a brother, and you know the rule ’Don’t covet a friend’s wife’!" Wang Chen avoided looking at Tang Lingwu, his face showing an air of loyalty: "A friend’s wife should not be disrespected!