Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 196 - 96 Younger Generation

Chapter 196: Chapter 96 Younger Generation

Zheng Fa was not mistaken.

This Sunset Sword Immortal was behaving extremely peculiarly towards him.

"This is..."

Looking at the several jade boxes in front of him, Zheng Fa turned his gaze towards the two people.

Yan Wushuang, with an expression of helplessness, pointed towards Elder Han at his side.

Elder Han, smiling amiably, said, "It’s my first visit, and I can’t neglect the proprieties. These are just some modest gifts."

On the side, Master Pang scratched his head, his expression one of confusion and distress.

He always felt that the kindly old man before him, and the old man who had been too lazy to draw a second sword to save him, were not the same person...

Thinking of this, his expression became a bit more vigilant: Could these two be Demon Sect members in disguise?

"This is, Master Han..." Zheng Fa was also a bit bewildered: "You have shown great favor towards our Jiushan Sect, and we should be the ones visiting you to express our gratitude, especially since I was afraid of disturbing your peaceful cultivation previously."

"Great favor?" Master Han paused, as if he had understood something, and glanced at Master Pang before saying, "Saved him? It’s no big deal, his life isn’t worth much. It was just a casual stroke of my sword."

Master Pang’s vigilant expression slowly faded, and he even looked somewhat relieved—this is how the old man should be speaking!

"Take a look..." Master Han motioned towards the jade boxes in front of him.

Zheng Fa, unable to decline, opened a few jade boxes and peeked inside.

His expression got even stranger.

"Master Han... this gift is far too generous."

There weren’t many jade boxes, just three.

Two boxes contained elixirs, and one box contained spiritual materials.

Zheng Fa couldn’t recognize all of them, but he knew the value of several types of elixirs and spiritual materials were not low.

"Generous, what?" Master Han waved his hand, "I heard you practice Thunder Skill, and wanted to buy some Thunder-related spiritual materials, but..."

Master Han’s head turned towards the direction of Master Pang as if he had just remembered something, then stubbornly turned his neck back and continued, "I don’t know who it was, but they bought out all the Thunder-related spiritual materials on the market..."

"Master Han, I cannot accept this." Zheng Fa paused for a moment and then refused, "Your visit to our Jiushan Sect is an honor in itself, and we haven’t even had the chance to repay your kindness. How can we take your things?"

Honestly, this Sunset Sword Immortal was downright baffling to him.

Moreover, gifts obligate receivers to reciprocate.

A Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivator so eagerly trying to forge a relationship—deep down, Zheng Fa felt quite uneasy.

Master Han, seeing his determined expression, seemed a bit disheartened, but just obediently put away the jade boxes and stood to one side in deep thought, his short stature somehow looking a bit wronged.

Yan Wushuang and Zheng Fa, however, started a conversation.

"Talismans?" When Zheng Fa heard Yan Wushuang bring up talismans, he put aside the peculiar Sunset Sword Immortal and nodded slightly, "How would you like to cooperate, Mr. Yan?"

He had previously promised Yan Wushuang, and he certainly had no intention of going back on his word.

"I’ve thought it over, it’s still the same proposal—I can provide talisman paper and Spirit Ink, I can even provide Demon Blood, and help with sales. You just need to handle the production..." Yan Wushuang spoke confidently, "We’ll split the profits fifty-fifty!"

Zheng Fa nodded lightly.

This plan was fair; it didn’t seem like Yan Wushuang intended to take advantage.

According to this scheme, Jiushan Sect could practically be considered to be getting something for nothing in the future.

A single talisman used to earn about a dozen Spirit Stones.

Now, it would be about half of that, a few Spirit Stones.

But the catch was—there was virtually no risk involved.

There was no upfront cost.

It was akin to a technical stake in the venture.

Zheng Fa had another thought—

This level of cooperation was tantamount to establishing some initial ties between Jiushan Sect and Tianhe Sect.

After this turbulent episode, he really had little confidence in the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

It wasn’t much better than going it alone.

Now, by connecting with Tianhe Sect, it would be advantageous even if not particularly useful—to put on another layer of "tiger’s skin," so to speak. Speaking reasonably, based on the strength of their two sects, the real cooperation should be like that between Chang Chun Sect and Jiushan Sect.

That couldn’t be called cooperation, it should be called paying protection money.

Thinking this way, the terms seemed even more favorable.

He exchanged glances with Zhang, and she simply said, "It’s your decision."

Master Pang also nodded on the side.

With his mind made up, Zheng Fa nodded to Yan Wushuang and said, "I accept these terms."

Yan Wushuang smiled and nodded, seemingly unsurprised.

After reaching a preliminary consensus, the rest were just details. Zheng Fa had his own people, and Yan Wushuang was not alone either; they could let others handle the negotiations.

However, Yan Wushuang brought up another question; "Junior Brother Zheng, how many kinds of talismans do we have now?"

Now that they were partners, Zheng Fa didn’t hide it, "Currently, we can stably produce fourteen types of talismans."

"Are they all related to the Divine Soul?"

"Yes." Zheng Fa was surprised at the observation this man had made.

"Brother Zheng, I have an idea... While the Divine Soul-related talismans are indeed very popular, we could also develop other types of talismans."

"This... at least the blood of the Great Freedom Demon Sect disciples won’t do."

Zheng Fa was somewhat helpless.

Those disciples of the Great Freedom Demon Sect were really disappointing!

"You mean..." Yan Wushuang suddenly understood, his eyes lighting up, "Could we try the blood of other Demon Sects?"

Master Pang turned pale when he heard this.

He stiffly looked around his Five Dragons Heavenly Palace, as if estimating his chances against several Demon Sects.

"Mr. Yan!" Zheng Fa quickly intervened, "One Great Freedom Demon Sect is already troublesome enough for Jiushan Sect!"

Realistically, were it not for the presence of the Great Freedom Demon Sect in Taiyang County, leaving no room for easing tensions with Jiushan Sect, Zheng Fa wouldn’t have the nerve to play with talismans so casually.

"What’s there to fear! Those people..."

"Let’s be cautious!" The Sunset Sword Immortal, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke up, "The Demon Sects are not so simple."

With that comment, everyone present was taken aback.

Given his status, his words carried considerable weight.

Master Han furrowed his brow and spoke, "The Ancestral Master... once truly did slay several Demon Ancestors, but this calamity, the legacies of these Demon Ancestors have resurfaced."

...

The implication here was rather horrifying.

"On the other hand, the secret realm of the Demon Sect." Master Han spoke as if to warn, "The rules are different from the Xuanwei Realm, and the performance of Demon Sect disciples in the Xuanwei Realm can hardly be compared to their prowess within the secret realm."

"One must not underestimate the Demon Sect."

Zheng Fa didn’t know why, but he always felt like this person was reminding him.

"...this, why does it sound so much like the Heavenly Stele?" Yan Wushuang murmured.

"...It’s not just you who feels that way." The Sunset Sword Immortal laughed oddly, "The Ancestral Master also thought so."

"The Ancestral Master once left a saying."

"What?"

"At least one among the Demon Ancestors was a Path-Opening Ancestor—it’s just that the Ancestral Master didn’t choose their path."

...

Zheng Fa couldn’t help but feel a bit pained in his teeth.

Thinking about his own Positive and Negative Five Elements Divine Light.

Based on this saying, had he suddenly become the third eldest in the Xuanwei Realm, or was that just a temporary ranking?

"Remember, do not enter the Demon Sect secret realm lightly until you reach Nascent Soul! Even with Nascent Soul, you can only be assured of keeping your life." The Sunset Sword Immortal repeated once more, and Zheng Fa felt he wasn’t wrong in his perception this time; the old man had actually been looking at him while speaking.

These words made Master Pang and others’ faces turn very grave.

They were currently suppressing the Great Freedom Demon Sect within the secret realm, preventing them from emerging, and Zhang had also made progress to the Nascent Soul Stage, indeed feeling quite pleased with themselves.

Now, upon hearing the Sunset Sword Immortal’s words, thinking about the proximity of the secret realm right beside the Jiushan Sect.

They couldn’t help but feel their hearts growing heavy.

"The truth and falsehood of the Demon Sect’s secret realm, I can’t clarify completely," The Sunset Sword Immortal continued, "If you wish to understand, you might as well make use of the Heavenly Stele."

The Heavenly Stele.

Zheng Fa and Zhang exchanged a glance.

Both understood each other’s thoughts.

They must take a look at the Heavenly Stele.

For one, it seemed to be greatly connected to the secret realm of the Demon Sect.

Additionally, because of the Thunder Pool.

If due to the Heavenly Stele, any change occurred in the Thunder Pool, and the Great Freedom Demon Sect ran out without any concerns...

It would be better for them to know in advance so they could escape.

...

Yan Wushuang chatted with Zheng Fa for a while longer before leaving together with the Sunset Sword Immortal.

After stepping outside the Thunder Pool workshop, both bore expressions of heavy thought, seeming somewhat puzzled.

It was the Sunset Sword Immortal who broke the silence first.

"What do you think..." he asked with a furrowed brow, "What’s the best way to befriend someone?"

Yan Wushuang’s expression was a bit odd as he responded:

"Elder Han... With your renowned reputation in the Tianhe Sect for not regarding anyone highly, isn’t it a bit late in your years to start learning the ways of the worldly?"

"..."

"Today, you came bearing gifts for Mr. Zheng."

"You also reminded Mr. Zheng not to enter that Demon Sect secret realm."

"You even suggested that Mr. Zheng look into the Heavenly Stele." Yan Wushuang’s speech quickened: "You speak of it since this Heavenly Stele is greatly beneficial for him practicing his Thunder Skill, right?"

"..." The Sunset Sword Immortal muttered: "Is it that obvious?"

"... Mr. Zheng is merely at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and you, Elder Han, are being so secretive, who wouldn’t be suspicious?" Yan Wushuang let out a sigh: "But I understand you, Elder Han, this is a matter that can’t be rushed."

"...Hm?"

"Mr. Zheng is your descendant, isn’t he? Which generation?" Yan Wushuang stroked his chin, feeling his guess was quite reasonable: "Did you abandon your family back then? Now feeling guilty?"

"..."

"Why does he have the surname Zheng?" Yan Wushuang looked at Elder Han with a somewhat disparaging gaze: "Didn’t you even leave your true surname to your own kin?"

"... To be considered his elder?" The Sunset Sword Immortal’s mouth agape: "Such a good thing, I don’t even dare to dream of!"

"Ah?"

...

Present day.

Just as Zheng Fa stepped out of the room, he saw Mrs. Tian with a furrowed brow, looking at the grass from before.

She seemed puzzled about something.

Old Man Bai was also accompanying her.

As Zheng Fa approached the two, he saw Mrs. Tian tear off a blade of grass and handed it to Old Man Bai’s mouth.

Into his mouth?

Zheng Fa watched, wide-eyed, as Old Man Bai chewed the grass blade twice, spat it out with a "ptui", and shook his head.

"Mrs. Tian... what are you two doing?"

Zheng Fa asked, unable to grasp the situation.

"I’m pondering over a problem." Mrs. Tian stood up, dusted off her hands, and said decisively: "Although the spiritual energy made these grasses grow deep and thriving, they are far from the Spirit Plants you mentioned."

"...There’s no spiritual energy in the grass?"

"Right, and it’s not just this one, it’s all of them." She pointed at the seedlings: "They are all the same."

"Mrs. Tian, I understand what you mean, I just have one question... to confirm if there is spiritual energy, can’t you just check with Spirit Eye technique? Why make Old Man Bai eat grass?"

"...He wanted to eat it."

"Ah?"

Old Man Bai smiled proudly: "The grass picked by Tian, sweet!"

"..."

Zheng Fa looked at the expression on Old Man Bai’s face, and felt as though it conveyed a message:

Young man, now you have your day!