Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 185 - 85 Quiet

Chapter 185: Chapter 85 Quiet

Dao?

Zhang seemed to have exaggerated a bit with her words.

Zheng Fa was taken aback.

His idea was rather simple—

The Five Elements Sub-talismans are intrinsic properties of Spiritual Energy.

The talisman base’s material foundation is Spiritual Energy.

Therefore, to perfect the talisman base, only the Five Elements Sub-talismans are needed.

As for the other two types of sub-talismans, they are not necessary for the talisman base, and as for what they are—Zheng Fa currently cannot be certain.

Right now, he actually favors Tang Lingwu’s theory of interactivity amongst sub-talismans:

These two types of sub-talismans determine how Spiritual Energy interacts with other substances, but exactly how they determine this, Zheng Fa also has no clue at present.

Now, what Zheng Fa is saying is—I’ll not concern myself with what these two types of sub-talismans represent for now, because the essence of the talisman base is Spiritual Energy, so I’ll just focus on the Five Elements Sub-talismans, which can explain the phenomenon of Yin Yang mutual generation rather well.

Furthermore, because the phenomenon of Yin Yang mutual generation can be inferred, when the Five Elements Sub-talismans are generated, those two types of sub-talismans will also be produced accordingly.

This point seems quite straightforward.

But the issue is, if the Five Elements Sub-talismans had not been discovered, such an idea would not be possible.

Without understanding the relationship between Yin Yang and chirality, this idea could not exist.

...

Zhang had stopped talking.

Her whole body became transparent like glass, and within her, two lotus platforms joined at the base appeared.

This time, the two twin lotus platforms slowly merged into one.

And in the center of the lotus platform, a Golden Core appeared, like a lotus seed, embedded in the heart of the lotus.

Inside the Golden Core, there was a baby-like figure, with eyes closed as if in deep sleep.

The figure’s face bore an eight-part resemblance to Zhang.

Except that its body proportions were of a standard three-head height, its face was childlike and extremely cute.

The talismanic diagrams on the petals, corresponding to the Five Elements Sub-talismans, transformed into a circle of five-colored halos, slowly ascending above "little Zhang’s" head like a multicolored hairband.

The remaining petals also gradually peeled off from the lotus platform, wrapped around "little Zhang" and turned into a set of pink and white garments.

Those other two types of sub-talismans turned into the golden patterns on the hem of the dress, lending it a somewhat mystical appearance.

"Little Zhang" seemed to feel Zheng Fa’s "affectionate" gaze, and her eyes opened, looking towards Zheng Fa.

Her gaze was a bit fierce.

But combined with her diminutive size and chubby face,

It somehow made her look even cuter.

Zheng Fa was not scared at all.

"You should go back first!"

Just as Zheng Fa was deeply engrossed, Zhang suddenly spoke.

Zheng Fa inexplicably sensed a hint of shyness in her words.

"Zhang?"

Zheng Fa asked, puzzled.

"I have gained insight and am ready to form my Nascent Soul now," Zhang spoke softly: "Forming the Nascent Soul may lead to a tribulation, and it could be dangerous for you to be here."

Zheng Fa was shocked and nodded, preparing to leave.

"Don’t be in a hurry to establish your Foundation." Just before Zheng Fa could take a step, he heard Zhang speak again: "After I form my Nascent Soul and see if there are any lingering risks with the ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method’, then you can establish your Foundation without it being too late."

Zheng Fa was stunned.

He hadn’t expected Zhang to be so considerate.

"Zhang?"

"You won’t give up the ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method’, right?"

Zhang, as if seeing through him, smiled and spoke.

"Yes."

Zheng Fa would never give up the ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method’.

The reason was simple; his biggest asset in the modern world was not that he was a cultivator, but rather the ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method’.

The nine spirit talismans in the ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method’ are his foundation in the modern world.

The ’Spirit Mountain Technique’ relies on the Enlightenment Talisman.

Healing and saving lives depend on the Nourishing Spirit Talisman and Taiyin Talisman.

Cultivating Spirit Plants relies on the Evergreen Talisman.

Along with some self-protective Spirit Talismans, one could say that without the ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method’, he would nearly lose eighty percent of his abilities in the modern world.

Zhang quietly watched him.

Zheng Fa felt a bit embarrassed.

Zhang was probably considering his well-being, which is why she thought to use the Spirit Transformation Pill to eliminate the Primordial Talisman base—this is almost the most stable path.

But he had his reasons that he couldn’t disclose.

"I won’t ask why, nor will I pressure you," Zhang broke the silence after a while and spoke: "But I have one requirement—after I’ve survived the tribulation of forming the Nascent Soul, then you can establish your Foundation."

"Zhang?"

"Let me test whether your theory is effective first..."

"Yes..."

Hearing Zhang’s words, Zheng Fa pursed his lips, at a loss for words.

After all, Zheng Fa’s theory was just that—a theory.

Whether it actually worked like that, Zheng Fa himself was not certain—Zhang’s words probably meant she was willing to clear the path for Zheng Fa.

Or at least, she wanted to ascertain that this method was truly capable of forming the Nascent Soul.

...

Zheng Fa walked out of the Thunder Pool and discovered that the commotion of Zhang forming her Nascent Soul was quite significant.

He turned his head to look, and above the skies of the Thunder Pool, five-colored auras cascaded down like waterfalls, while Spiritual Energy surged like tidal waves.

This spectacle enveloped hundreds of miles of sky, visible to everyone.

His brow furrowed slightly, betraying a bit of worry as he slowly returned to the workshop.

As soon as he arrived at the Five Dragons Heavenly Palace, he was stopped by Master Pang.

"Is Nephew Zhang forming her Nascent Soul?"

Obviously, he too understood the cause of the spectacle in the sky.

"Yes, I had an epiphany by chance," Zheng Fa nodded lightly. "I’m trying to form my Nascent Soul."

"Good!" Master Pang took a long breath and said loudly, his expression genuinely joyful: "With Nephew Zhang’s talent, once she takes this step, she’ll have three times more assurance than others!"

The other disciples from the Five Dragons Heavenly Palace also beamed with joy.

Nobody was foolish; although Zhang might be overbearing within the sect, that was an internal matter.

To the outside world, she was Jiushan Sect’s pillar.

It’s clear to anyone that Jiushan Sect is facing a threat from the Great Freedom Demon Sect - having one more Nascent Soul is of great significance.

Moreover, her Nascent Soul at the Golden Core Stage could already be on par with an average Nascent Soul true master.

"Is it you?"

After his joy, Master Pang suddenly seemed to think of something, looking at Zheng Fa with a strange expression.

"...I just made a small contribution," Zheng Fa said modestly: "It’s still due to Zhang’s own extraordinary talent."

Master Pang nodded slightly, not saying whether he believed it or not, but his expression showed some perplexity.

"Master Pang?"

"Do you think... could I have wrongly blamed that person with the surname Huang?"

"Ah?"

"You, a Qi Refinement Realm cultivator, can help Nephew Zhang break through to Nascent Soul," Master Pang said slowly. "My friend can’t even save his wife without getting caught in trouble..."

"Hmm?" Zheng Fa didn’t understand the logic of Master Pang.

"Perhaps it’s not that the person with the surname Huang was too impulsive, but rather my friend... wasn’t talented enough?"

A look of relief appeared on Master Pang’s face.

Zheng Fa felt an itch to scratch his head.

The knot has been untied just like that?

This logic seems somewhat reasonable...

But it looks like that’s all there is to your friendship.

...

Master Pang shook his head, quickly moving on from the matter and began talking about another issue: "Of course it’s good news that Nephew Zhang is forming her Nascent Soul, but I’m afraid the Great Freedom Demon Sect won’t just sit by and watch."

Zheng Fa nodded lightly.

Previously, the Nascent Soul cultivators from the Great Freedom Demon Sect who were chasing Zhang were blocked by the Mystical Gate Mirror, but in fact, they still had the upper hand.

If Zhang trapped herself to death, it would certainly be good for them.

Even if there were changes in the Thunder Pool, and they were to lay siege to Zhang again, she would be easy prey.

So, they were not in a hurry.

But now, with the Thunder Pool still there, Zhang was about to advance to Nascent Soul.

Naturally, they could no longer endure.

This was also what Zheng Fa had been worried about before.

"The Nascent Soul formation will only take about ten days. During these ten days, there may be great changes in the workshop and in the Thunder Pool!" Master Pang said with a solemn face, instructing the disciples in the hall: "Pass on my order, starting from today, martial law is enacted in the workshop, and no disciples may leave without permission!"

Hearing him say this, the faces of the disciples couldn’t help but show tension, and fear was evident in their eyes—

Everyone knew that these few words were laden with life-threatening danger.

In the following days, the Five Dragons Heavenly Palace was especially quiet, with noticeably fewer footsteps.

Everyone was preparing for a major battle.

...

Modern age.

Early morning at 4:30.

Zheng Fa opened his eyes on time, gently pulled back the covers, and cautiously got out of bed, proceeding to the bathroom to wash up.

With his current level of cultivation, these movements were so silent that the only sound was the running water from the faucet.

In reality, washing up wasn’t all that necessary for him anymore.

He only maintained a daily routine of washing up so as not to arouse the suspicions of his dormitory roommates.

After getting ready, he shouldered his backpack and left the house around 4:40.

By 5 o’clock, he arrived at a secluded lawn and sat down to cultivate.

Going to university presented an inconvenience – he had to stay on campus from Monday to Friday and had nowhere to cultivate.

Unlike in Qingshui High School where he could cultivate at home at night.

In the dormitory, the roommates would inevitably ask questions.

Later, he simply came to this lawn next to the gym - it didn’t attract much attention.

Mainly because he found there were quite a few eccentrics at Beijing University.

There were those who practiced vocal exercises in the early morning.

Some danced with an unsharpened long sword.

There were also one or two practicing boxing.

All of them were students.

His sitting meditation was actually quite ordinary among them...

He cultivated until nearly 8 o’clock, then Zheng Fa stood up and headed towards the university library. If he did not have morning classes, he usually went to the library.

At this time, the library had not yet opened.

But many students were already queuing.

Zheng Fa stood behind a male student, who turned around, saw him, and greeted with a smile: "This early again? You, a freshman, are more punctual than us who are rushing to finish our theses!"

This was a graduate student from the physics department, surnamed Yang, recently probably engrossed in his thesis, coming to the library every day, and had become somewhat familiar with Zheng Fa.

"You’re just a freshman, why don’t you enjoy college life?" Senior Yang, seemingly recalling his own past, said: "Let me tell you, the first two years of university are the most comfortable days of life... It’s not too late to suffer in the library later on."

Zheng Fa shook his head.

Suffering?

He didn’t feel that way...

He liked the library.

Enjoying reading in the library was one reason.

Sometimes when he got tired of reading, he also liked to observe the students in the library - some of them were also reading, some solving problems.

There were also some who had brought a computer or phone to play with in the library.

Generally speaking, everyone was very quiet.

It was similar to the recent quietness in the Five Dragons Heavenly Palace.

Only, the reasons for this quietness were different, which made him like the library even more.