Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 188 - 88: Habits

Chapter 188: Chapter 88: Habits

Zheng Fa had not expected that Master Pang would invite those Nascent Souls over and still mistrust them.

"I’ve told you before that some sects within the Hundred Immortals Alliance are unreliable." Master Pang seemed to have noticed Zheng Fa’s surprise and chuckled lightly, "Regarding Zhang’s achievement of Nascent Soul, they are probably more resistant than the Demon Sect."

"Master Pang, just one more Nascent Soul..."

"Is Zhang just an ordinary Nascent Soul?" Master Pang sneered, "She’s someone who could rival Nascent Souls while still at the Golden Core stage—after she forms her Nascent Soul, her strength will probably surpass mine by a third. She would definitely be considered exceptionally strong within the Hundred Immortals Alliance."

"Then why have you invited these people here?"

"I’ve invited most of the nearby Nascent Souls from the Hundred Immortals Alliance today. As expected, some have already shown ulterior motives."

Zheng Fa agreed, "So these people are not only unhelpful but might also become enemies?"

"Keeping them in plain sight is better than letting them scheme in the shadows. And through them, I’ve also confirmed that the Great Freedom Demon Sect is indeed making a move against us," Master Pang spoke indifferently.

Zheng Fa nodded his head.

He trusted Master Pang’s judgment of these people. And with their malicious intent, it’s difficult to say whether they’ve heard some rumors—maybe there’s even collusion inside and out.

"But you cannot stay here, there are too many Nascent Souls around," Master Pang sighed, "I can’t always protect you, nor do I have the capability... Zhang’s Nascent Soul Formation was too abrupt, otherwise, I would have had you return to the mountain first."

Zheng Fa shook his head.

That was impossible, once Zhang showed signs of Nascent Soul Formation, the Jiushan Sect would become a target.

Him going back alone was tantamount to seeking death.

"Currently, you’re in the most dangerous situation. First, you are a well-known prodigy in our sect, those people might also have their eyes on you," Master Pang frowned, "On the other hand, your close relationship with Zhang is no secret..."

"Master Pang, are you saying that some might use me to hinder Zhang’s Nascent Soul Formation?"

"To achieve Nascent Soul, one must face the Heart Demon Tribulation," Master Pang nodded, "Naturally, they will interfere in this regard."

"For the Great Freedom Demon Sect, as long as it’s killing a member of our Jiushan Sect, it’s acceptable. If they can’t kill Zhang, attacking our Five Dragons Heavenly Palace is also a choice, even an inevitability—first kill us, deprive Zhang of support. Once Zhang forms her Nascent Soul and is isolated, she will naturally be easier to deal with."

"But those on the Righteous Path have fewer choices, the best method—of course, is to kill you, so that Zhang cannot overcome the Heart Demon Tribulation."

Zheng Fa was silent.

"With those ill-intentioned Nascent Souls within and the Great Freedom Demon Sect from without, my Five Dragons Heavenly Palace is indeed beset by troubles," Master Pang said with a smile, "I wonder, how many of the Jiushan Sect disciples in the palace will remain after this ordeal."

Silver light flashed in Master Pang’s eyes as he surveyed the Five Dragons Heavenly Palace, seemingly observing every disciple within, especially those under his tutelage.

He peeked openly without expression, but Zheng Fa beside him didn’t know what to say.

To say Master Pang doesn’t care about his disciples would be a lie.

But unquestionably, Master Pang is prepared to sacrifice these disciples.

He talked about being worried that Zheng Fa might be harmed, but both he and Zheng Fa knew clearly—once a Nascent Soul battle begins, none of the disciples in the Five Dragons Heavenly Palace will be safe.

Zheng Fa was simply a bigger target.

Master Pang’s current reluctance was not feigned, but as Sun Daoyu said:

Given a hundred choices, he would still choose the Jiushan Sect.

"Master Pang."

"Hmm?"

"Let me take my fellow apprentices into the Thunder Pool," Zheng Fa proposed.

Master Pang was taken aback, looking at Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa shared his thoughts.

"My fellow apprentices have already undergone numerous trials in the ’Great Dao Competition,’ and now that they have received special training from Lin Bufan, they are particularly familiar with the Thunder Pool environment."

"Moreover, the strength of those high-cultivation cultivators in the Thunder Pool has also been greatly suppressed."

"It’s possible that within the Thunder Pool, fellow disciples could turn from a burden into an asset."

"Asset?" Master Pang’s eyebrows knit together.

"I plan to take my fellow disciples and block the entrance of the Great Freedom Demon Sect!"

Zheng Fa suddenly stated.

"...Block the entrance?" Master Pang was stunned; he looked at Zheng Fa, and his eyes gradually brightened, but then his expression changed to one of confusion: "Are you Zheng?"

"?"

"You actually have such courage?"

"I just need to borrow some Spirit Talismans from you, Uncle Master."

"Spirit Talismans?"

...

At the entrance of the Great Freedom Demon Sect’s Secret Realm.

Groups of the Demon Sect’s disciples stood inside the gate, ready to swarm out in full force.

They looked tense but also excited.

Most of them were Foundation Establishment cultivators, with a few Golden Core Stage adherents of the Great Freedom Demon Sect among them maintaining order loudly.

Leading one of the groups, Lin Yangtian frowned slightly, feeling somewhat vigilant.

The Thunder Pool outside had too many restrictions for Golden Core cultivators.

"Yangtian, what are you thinking?" A Golden Core cultivator familiar with him noticed his expression and asked.

"I’m worried about the attack on Jiushan Sect."

"Hah, what is Jiushan Sect worth? If it weren’t for us being trapped by the Thunder Pool previously, why would they even be allowed to stand aside?" That Golden Core cultivator sneered: "I’ve heard that there’s a bounty for the blood of our Holy Sect’s members in that Thunder Pool workshop; this is utterly outrageous. Today, as we march upon them, we must make them understand that our Holy Sect is not to be humiliated."

Lin Yangtian remained expressionless.

To be honest, he didn’t care – humiliated is as humiliated does.

Was their reputation any good after hiding in the Secret Realm for so many years?

Their might today was immense, firstly, of course, because of Zhang Wuyi—

Zhang Wuyi’s rapid approach to the Nascent Soul stage had provoked bitter memories for the higher-ups of the Holy Sect, even a determination to exterminate the woman at any cost.

On the other hand, it was also because of the bounty placed by Jiushan Sect in the Thunder Pool workshop.

Because of that bounty, for a while, many disciples of the Great Freedom Demon Sect hardly dared to step out of their doors.

It really was quite stifling.

Lin Yangtian still frowned slightly, always feeling that there was something odd about Jiushan Sect—the inexplicable exposure of his nephew Lin Bufan under his command had left him baffled.

"What are you pondering? The strength of Jiushan Sect is heaven and earth apart from our Holy Sect, and they have only an outsider at the Nascent Soul stage, this battle is truly an easy task." A fellow sect member next to him laughed: "If you hadn’t gone to Jiushan Sect before and had some understanding of them, how could you be leading the vanguard? I’ve heard that although the Thunder Pool workshop is newly established, it’s also wealthy. If we can really break through the Thunder Pool workshop, we might make a fortune."

Lin Yangtian also showed a smile.

Right, fighting for the glory of the Great Freedom Demon Sect didn’t interest him.

But fighting for the wealth of the Thunder Pool workshop—

He was still willing to take the lead.

He directed several Foundation Establishment cultivators in his group to step through the Secret Realm Gate.

The next moment, he saw some commotion in the group ahead.

People were rapidly retreating backward.

"What’s going on?"

He frowned, his voice unexpected.

"Enemies are attacking!" A Foundation Establishment cultivator shouted ahead: "They’ve blocked the gate to the Secret Realm, and the three senior brothers ahead are already dead!"

Lin Yangtian and a nearby Golden Core cultivator exchanged glances—

Wait, weren’t we the ones who were supposed to attack?

How did we get attacked instead?

"Who is it?"

"It seems to be from the Jiushan Sect!"

"..."

How come the factions outside are even more ferocious than us?

...

Zheng Fa led the Jiushan Sect disciples, looking at the seemingly black stone arch with a cautious expression.

The arch wasn’t large, seemingly only allowing two or three people to pass through simultaneously.

Coming to block the gate seemed dangerous, but in reality, it was much safer than being in the Five Dragons Heavenly Palace.

In the Thunder Pool, anyone above Foundation Establishment must be circumspect!

Sun Daoyu stood by, his expression somewhat tense.

"Junior brother, should we wait for more of them to come out before we attack?"

"Do we even have a lot of people, senior brother?"

Zheng Fa was a bit speechless.

Sun Daoyu looked around and fell silent.

There weren’t many Jiushan Sect disciples, and altogether there were less than fifty Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Now he understood what Zheng Fa meant.

"Let them come out bit by bit, and we strike all at once!" Zheng Fa said: "Don’t worry about using up the flower spirit talismans! We have enough for today!"

Behind him, Li Nuo was leading a group of Jiushan Sect disciples, waving talisman seals, quickly making Spirit Talismans.

"Oh, right, where are the bodies of those Demon Sect disciples? Drag them over, don’t waste them."

Sun Daoyu’s mouth twitched.

What kind of strategy is this to loot from the enemy?

I always felt that the style of our Jiushan Sect is a bit unorthodox.

However...

He turned his head back to look and saw an endless flow of Spirit Talismans behind him, and he had to admit, it felt oddly reassuring.

...

Soon, the people inside seemed to have realized that Zheng Fa and his group had blocked their Secret Realm gate.

At first, a few Foundation Establishment cultivators tried to rush out and were directly killed by Zheng Fa and the others concentrating their attacks.

Later, they probably felt Foundation Establishment cultivators were too fragile, so two Golden Core cultivators rushed out from the arch.

Golden Core cultivators, with their Taoist Bodies, were much stronger than Foundation Establishment.

Both were enveloped by a protective black mist, enduring the onslaught of Xuan-grade talismans like waterfalls, charging toward Zheng Fa and his group.

"Junior brother!"

Seeing their fierce and ferocious appearances, fear appeared on the faces of the surrounding Jiushan Sect disciples.

Zheng Fa could see clearly that these two were not unaffected by those Spirit Talismans; they were merely resisting with their physical cultivation.

Behind them followed many Demon Sect members, taking advantage of the two Golden Core cultivators to carve a path and finally they burst into the Thunder Pool.

These people were previously cornered by Zheng Fa and the others into the Secret Realm, not daring to show their heads, but now their faces were excited as they energetically flew toward Zheng Fa and his group.

He glanced at the Jiushan Sect disciples beside him and whispered softly: "Retreat."

Upon hearing this, the Jiushan Sect disciples, although confused, retreated due to Zheng Fa’s authority.

Only those from the Great Freedom Demon Sect, the two Golden Core with many Foundation Establishment disciples, charged at them.

Zheng Fa watched them get closer and suddenly lifted his hand to remove his Taoist robe, carefully placing it into the Storage Bag at his waist.

The leading two Golden Core from the Demon Sect paused their steps, as if they remembered something at the same time.

Zheng Fa smiled lightly as a Spirit Talisman flew into the thunderclouds above.

This was the Thunder Fire Talisman—an Earth Grade Talisman—borrowed from Master Pang, containing the Divine Sense and might of the Golden Core Stage.

In a flash, the thunderclouds in the sky started to roar like raging waves.

They were provoked by the Golden Core Divine Sense within the Thunder Fire Talisman.

Heavenly Thunder rained down like a downpour, within a hundred zhang around Zheng Fa, the space turned into a playground of dancing lightning.

The ferocity on the faces of the two Golden Core cultivators in front of Zheng Fa gradually turned to stupefaction.

Then gradually to fear.

Finally, they turned and ran.

But in this Thunder Pool, they dared not use Magical Treasures or Divine Skills.

They were quickly caught up by the unrestrained Zheng Fa.

Under two bolts of Heavenly Thunder, both Golden Core were seriously injured.

Other Demon Sect disciples, seeing Zheng Fa coming at them with a sky full of Tribulation Thunder, also changed their expressions and scrambled back into the Secret Realm.

The problem was...

When they were rushing out, they thought the Secret Realm gate was crowded.

Running back in, it became even more crowded...

...

From a distance, Yan Wushuang was watching the situation here with two True Inheritors from Haori Mountain and the Supreme Dao.

Seeing Zheng Fa like this, the three of them were stunned.

The one from Haori Mountain, Chu Tianque, had a complicated expression, looking at Zheng Fa and then at Yan Wushuang beside him.

After a long time, he slowly opened his mouth to say:

"Does this Mr. Zheng have any kind of connection with you, senior brother?"

Yan Wushuang was also stunned, wasn’t this fighting style a replica of his?

After pondering for a long while, Yan Wushuang suddenly burst into laughter:

"Mr. Zheng is indeed just like me in his peculiar ways!"

"Peculiar ways?"

The other two exchanged glances, as if they also understood what these peculiar ways were.

Their gazes toward Zheng Fa couldn’t help but become a mix of respect and distance.