Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 150 - 52 Awakening (4K)

Chapter 150: Chapter 52 Awakening (4K)

Zheng Fa walked along the mountain path of the Eighth Peak.

Now it was early morning, and there were quite a few disciples from Master Pang’s lineage on the Eighth Peak. When they saw Zheng Fa, the disciples with lower cultivation would bow to him first. Even the disciples with higher cultivation would smile at him.

Zheng Fa knew that this was due to the influence of the Yellow Bud Rice.

Initially, Zheng Fa had agreed with the Qianhe Sect that they would produce 300 stones of Yellow Bud Rice per month.

But those 300 stones were actually sold out in just ten days, and later on, they even had to limit purchases by outsiders.

Now, the Jiushan Sect had to order at least 600 stones of Yellow Bud Rice from the Qianhe Sect per month, which was double what was initially agreed upon.

The biggest beneficiaries of this transaction were the disciples of the Jiushan Sect.

Zheng Fa walked along, returning bows to these fellow brothers and sisters.

The journey, which usually took less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, hardily took an entire half-hour.

By the time he reached the grand hall of Master Pang, the sun was already high in the sky.

Master Pang was in the hall, and he did not seem surprised to see him, but simply nodded: "Nephew Zheng, what brings you to seek me out?"

Zheng Fa bowed to Master Pang and took the opportunity to look around the hall.

Many disciples were still there, curiously watching him.

Fairly speaking, among the three Nascent Soul masters of the Jiushan Sect, Master Pang truly valued his disciples the most.

Not to mention his own Master, Master Yuan.

He had yet to meet Master Huang, Zhang’s teacher, which was telling of his seclusion.

Only Master Pang would pull his disciples aside every few days to teach them.

Master Pang was one of the rare few who was always thinking of his disciples’ wellbeing.

Thinking of this, Zheng Fa even felt a bit envious of these fellow brothers.

"Master Uncle, I have come to request your assistance with a matter," Zheng Fa said. "Since Sister Zhang has taken many of our brothers with her, the Affairs Hall and marketplace are short on hands. I would like to ask if you could assign some brothers to help me manage the marketplace."

"..."

Master Pang slowly straightened his body and looked at Zheng Fa.

His expression spoke volumes—just after Nephew Zhang has left, are you already planning a revolt?

Zheng Fa obviously understood his thoughts.

The Affairs Hall and marketplace had always been Zhang’s turf; Master Pang’s lineage was not allowed to interfere.

"This matter, I’ve already discussed with Sister Zhang before she left," Zheng Fa explained. "Sister Zhang has agreed."

In reality, Sister Zhang taking away so many fellows this time was also aimed at clearing some obstacles for him.

Seeing Master Pang’s skeptical look, Zheng Fa had no choice but to further elucidate:

"Over the years in the marketplace, some disciples took advantage of Sister Zhang to seize profits by crafty means, and some even colluded with shady merchants."

"Although Sister Zhang has always been intolerant of this matter, to be frank, such things still happened again and again."

"Nowadays, the marketplace is more prosperous than ever, but those who reach out for a piece have become bolder and are more numerous than before."

Zheng Fa knew that such issues would continue in the future and might even become more intense—

He was confident that the spiritual stones and materials earned by the marketplace would only increase over time.

On the other hand, as the Spiritual Mechanism waned, these items would become increasingly valuable.

Even Sister Zhang had to admit that no matter how capable she was, she couldn’t control people’s greed.

It was only possible to suppress it by changing some rules.

"So, you want to ask for my disciples to go?"

"All the brothers are skilled in the Void Spirit Eye technique," Zheng Fa said with a smile. "I want to ask the brothers to take charge of the marketplace, firstly, to prevent disorder, and secondly, to oversee the marketplace disciples."

Master Pang’s direct disciples were all practitioners of the "Void Spirit Eye"—of course, with the unlucky exception of Qian Yuan.

In Zheng Fa’s mind, these were prime candidates for security!

Natural surveillants!

Hearing this, the disciples in the hall looked at each other, seemingly unenthusiastic—this job sounded boring and likely to offend others, particularly since the marketplace was Sister Zhang’s domain.

"Of course, I won’t leave the brothers to labor for nothing!" Zheng Fa held up three fingers and said, "Per month, on behalf of Sister Zhang, I will additionally provide our brothers with three Spirit Stones."

At this, the expressions of several brothers lit up with interest—

Boredom is good!

To take money for doing nothing, who wouldn’t want that?

It’s even better to offend others!

The ones you offend are those hoarding all the profit!

With Spirit Stones, everything is negotiable!

Master Pang looked at Zheng Fa, then at his disciples whose faces were flush with excitement.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Zheng Fa, with a single call to arms, could lead his disciples astray.

Three Spirit Stones a month actually wasn’t much—considering Master Pang’s disciples were all at least at the Foundation Establishment level, making this much income in the marketplace without much trouble wasn’t hard.

But it cannot be overlooked that Master Pang’s lineage was truly poor!

They managed the Discipline Court and were on a fixed income.

Unlike Sister Zhang’s lineage, which had the marketplace and its plentiful profits.

In the art of talisman painting, Master Pang’s disciples couldn’t compete with Sister Zhang’s lineage—the marketplace for Xuan-grade and above Spirit Talismans was largely monopolized by Sister Zhang’s lineage.

That was why Master Pang, despite being so dedicated to teaching his disciples, the strength of the two lineages hadn’t really distinguished one above the other—ultimately, Master Pang’s lineage had fewer resources to work with.

It’s no wonder there was resentment towards Sister Zhang.

Sister Zhang’s actions, on one hand, were certainly aimed at reorganizing the marketplace.

On the other hand, she was also conceding a step.

"I have underestimated Nephew Zhang’s magnanimity," Master Pang said after a long silence, finally nodding his head slightly: "Since that’s the case, whoever among you wishes to go may follow Nephew Zheng later."

After Master Pang finished speaking, he looked at Zheng Fa and suddenly asked, "You’ve reached the sixth layer of Qi Cultivation?"

"Yes!"

Zheng Fa bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment.

His cultivation had already been progressing rapidly, and with the recent days spent at Sister Zhang’s, where spiritual energy abounded.