Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 274 - 162 Easy to Talk To

Chapter 274: Chapter 162 Easy to Talk To

The spiritual wisdom of the Sun and Moon Clock had indeed deteriorated significantly—it seemed to want to communicate with itself, but the various messages it transmitted were like babbling.

Somehow, Zheng Fa felt a pang of guilt...

The previous Heavenly Venerable had devoted himself wholeheartedly to this thing, to no avail, and in the end, he probably decided to destroy it if he couldn’t have it, dealing a vicious blow to this Sun and Moon Clock.

As a result, it became a bridal trousseau for himself.

It’s like... how should I put it, like a stunning beauty hit by a car, remembering nothing.

Then you just happen to pass by her sickroom...

And she calls you hubby.

What can you do...

You can only keep your laughter not so loud, otherwise it would be quite embarrassing if the Heavenly Venerable were to come back to life.

Zheng Fa carefully communicated with the Sun and Moon Clock for a while more, finally confirming the state of the other party—

The Heavenly Venerable had already inflicted heavy damage on it.

After two epochs, it was already operating on mere instinct.

Or to put it another way, if these spiritual circuits were compared to a computer—then the Sun and Moon Clock was in a state akin to having most of its data wiped clean, various software crashed, barely able to boot up.

The Positive and Negative Five Elements Divine Light was originally a method for establishing temporary contact with a Spiritual Treasure, but... this thing seemed to have no owner to begin with, now suddenly treating itself as having found its original master.

Feeling the various messages transmitted from the Sun and Moon Clock, Zheng Fa’s smile became more restrained.

"Disciple Zheng? How is it?" Junior Master Huang couldn’t help but ask.

"This Sun and Moon Clock is truly imperfect, and its functionalities are limited now..." Zheng Fa sighed softly.

The Sister Yuan next to him nodded and muttered, "I told you so, this thing looks like it has depreciated..."

But it was Junior Master Huang who shook his head and said, "From the Thunder Pool outside, this thing doesn’t seem as ordinary as you say, does it?"

Zheng Fa nodded and said:

"This Sun and Moon Clock, itself only retained partial instinct—among which the Thunder Pool is the mightiest."

"Additionally, it can alter the passage of time."

Junior Master Huang was greatly shocked and said, "This..."

"There are limits, one being it requires a lot of Heavenly Merit, and the other—changing the flow of time around a single plant or tree is feasible, but requiring Heavenly Merit to change a cultivator’s cultivation time is simply excessive."

Zheng Fa explained.

"This is not an ordinary Magical Treasure."

Zheng Fa nodded slightly and said, "If it were not so, the Heavenly Venerable could not rely on this Magical Treasure to become a major power during the Divine Dao Era."

It must be said, this Sun and Moon Clock is perfectly suited for expanding a power’s reach.

"Most importantly, I can now move the Thunder Pool!"

Zheng Fa stated quietly.

This Sun and Moon Clock and the Heavenly Stele Realm were originally two sides of the same coin; the Thunder Pool is but an outward manifestation of the laws of the Heavenly Stele Realm. Now that he controlled the Sun and Moon Clock, naturally he could move the Thunder Pool.

Junior Master Huang and Sister Yuan widened their eyes, both showing some delight.

The group had already discussed, if they could move the Thunder Pool, they would bring the Heavenly Stele to pick up Sister Zhang and others...

As for whether they could block the secret realm of the Great Freedom Demon Sect...

To be honest, Jiushan Sect already had enough on its plate.

But before returning to Jiushan Sect, he still wanted to look for Xiao Yuying first.

He had previously been reluctant to seek out Xiao Yuying, fearing the awakening of the Sun and Moon Clock’s spiritual wisdom.

Now he wanted to find her—because he feared the thing was too dull.

The weaker the Sun and Moon Clock’s spiritual wisdom, the more difficult it was for him to use, and the more spiritual power it consumed.

On the other hand, he also had an idea:

To write his own spiritual circuits on this treasure.

To return to Jiushan Sect, of course, he needed to first bring back those disciples from the Thunder Pool.

As soon as Zheng Fa exited the Heavenly Stele, he realized a crowd was waiting for him outside.

Leaving Xiao Yuying aside for the moment.

Yan Wushuang was there too, but more importantly, the Sunset Sword Immortal Elder Han had also come.

This was unusual—Thunder Pool had a strong restraint on high-level cultivators, with Nascent Soul and above cultivators generally unwilling to enter the Thunder Pool.

And yet, Elder Han was here.

Zheng Fa felt that the look these people gave him—was complex.

It’s like when you see the top student in your class, and you even know that he has a bright future, you should foster a good relationship with him...

But when you look at him, you can’t help but feel an unbearable sourness.

Thinking this, Zheng Fa understood why these people were waiting here.

"A few days ago, all of us were expelled by the Heavenly Stele and can no longer enter," said Xiao Yuying.

"Look at the Heavenly Stele."

Zheng Fa looked up to see that the names of everyone on the stele ranking had disappeared, even his own name was gone.

"Mr. Yan, didn’t you say... that Tianhe Venerable’s name was left on the Heavenly Stele?"

Zheng Fa was still a bit puzzled.

"...This, it might just be the personal hobby of the Ancestor..."

"..."

"I know this, the Ancestor is someone who likes to write his Taoist name everywhere."

Suddenly, Elder Han said from the side.

...So, is it like a ’Tianhe Was Here’ kind of message?

Zheng Fa increasingly felt that Tianhe Venerable’s character left something to be desired.

The group spoke for a bit, and then other cultivators surged forward to ingratiate themselves with him.

Only then did Zheng Fa realize what this crowd was doing here...

After a while, Zheng Fa had become acquainted with quite a few cultivators.

These cultivators were quite perceptive; seeing Xiao Yuying, Yan Wushuang, and Elder Han nearby, they clearly knew they had important things to discuss with Zheng Fa. After a few words, they all excused themselves.

Only Xiao Yuying and the two others were left.

Why Xiao Yuying was waiting for him was something Zheng Fa clearly understood.

It’s nothing more than that transaction.

However, the presence of Yan Wushuang and primarily Elder Han... left Zheng Fa somewhat puzzled.

"Heavenly Stele Realm..." Elder Han sighed, "Our Tianhe Sect’s Heavenly Stele Realm is now essentially ruined."

"Ah?"

Zheng Fa had never heard of this before.

"You must be in control of that so-called Qi Fortune Spiritual Treasure, right?"

Zheng Fa nodded.

"In the Heavenly Stele Realm of our Tianhe Sect, the Qi Fortune Spiritual Treasure has long ceased to appear... In fact, there hasn’t been a soul within the Heavenly Stele Realm for a long time."

"Why is that..."

Zheng Fa was surprised.

"Heh... Do you know what the Tianhe Ancestor’s Lifebound Spiritual Treasure is?"

"..."

Zheng Fa was starting to understand.

"They betrayed the Ancestor in the past, even tried to seize the Ancestor’s Lifebound Spiritual Treasure—unexpectedly, even though the Ancestor was ambushed by them, the Lifebound Spiritual Treasure remained hidden and no one could survive within the Heavenly Stele Realm."

"The reason why our Tianhe Sect has always wanted to see another Tianhe Ancestor emerge is also related to this matter."

Zheng Fa nodded.

To be honest, there was something else that surprised him—

He himself wanted to inscribe new spiritual energy circuits on the Sun and Moon Clock, ultimately, due to a lack of trust, he wanted the Sun and Moon Clock to become his own creation.

But he didn’t expect the Tianhe Venerable to have done the same!

And it seemed to be a success!

This made him even more interested in the Tianhe Law, especially the Execution of Immortals Skills.

He could understand the Tianhe Sect’s desire—to control a Qi Fortune Spiritual Treasure was to avoid one cycle of spiritual energy decline.

Of course, they were anxious.

Thinking of this, Zheng Fa had an idea and looked towards the Heavenly Stele—

Perhaps acquiring the Sun and Moon Clock would be far more useful than he had initially thought...

...

"What about you?"

Yan Wushuang said with a flushed face, "The deeds of the Unrivaled Society are too risky... I thought, maybe on normal days, I could make use of your Heavenly Stele Realm to lay low."

"Unrivaled Society?"

"Oh, that’s the new name I’ve chosen. How is it?"

Yan Wushuang said excitedly.

Zheng Fa couldn’t help but sigh: "You do have the style of the Tianhe Ancestor..."

Yan Wushuang wasn’t actually rash.

He knew he was dealing with a great taboo... and naturally, he had his eyes on the Heavenly Stele Realm.

He probably had this idea before.

Of course, he must have given up the dream the moment he saw Xiao Yuying.

Not to mention Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa pondered for a moment.

This was no simple matter... Was the Heavenly Stele Realm completely safe?

At least, the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor would dare to say no.

"This isn’t necessarily impossible." Zheng Fa thought for a moment; the risks he was taking were probably not small either, and Yan Wushuang’s troubles... demanded extra payment!

"Mr. Yan, you said before that you have channels all over the Xuanwei?"

In Zheng Fa’s view, the greatest value of Yan Wushuang was his connections and some business acumen.

Jiushan Sect might become a thorn in some people’s sides in the future.

But the connection with the Xuanwei Realm must not be severed, they also need resources.

He increasingly viewed the Hundred Immortals Alliance as dispensable...

In that case, it was even more necessary to find other trade routes for Jiushan Sect.

Yan Wushuang was taken aback, then realized: "Mr. Zheng, I don’t need my share of the profits from the talismans! The required talisman papers and Spirit Ink, my Unrivaled Society will cover it all!"

"Mr. Yan, let’s discuss this matter in detail later..."

Zheng Fa smiled and replied.

Yan Wushuang’s face turned pale: "What if I rename the Unrivaled Society to Zheng Fa Society?"

"That won’t do, how could I claim what Mr. Yan has built with his own hands?"

"..." Yan Wushuang sighed deeply, "I’m just afraid it won’t be mine in the future."

Zheng Fa wasn’t worried about Yan Wushuang’s unwillingness to cooperate with Jiushan Sect—

He just wanted money.

Not having a stable base could be deadly.

Yan Wushuang wasn’t foolish...

Yan Wushuang left with Elder Han.

Only then did Zheng Fa see clearly—Yan Wushuang seemed to have convinced Elder Han somehow.

Now even the Sunset Sword Immortal was protecting him close at hand.

Even willing to enter the Thunder Pool...

Or rather, Yan Wushuang probably had something that could move the Sunset Sword Immortal.

...

"Fairy Xiao, please come in."

Zheng Fa extended his hand, and a glowing portal appeared in the space.

Xiao Yuying nodded, as if she trusted Zheng Fa completely, she entered the portal.

To be honest, Zheng Fa keenly felt a subtle change in Xiao Yuying’s attitude.

Before... It’s not that Xiao Yuying wasn’t a good person; on the contrary, she had always been kind.

But it was a kind of lofty kindness.

But since Zheng Fa took control of the Sun and Moon Clock, her attitude towards him changed slightly—for instance, she wouldn’t have waited quietly on one side before, not saying a word, just watching Zheng Fa talk with others.

"Fairy Xiao, please wait a moment longer, I need to go and fetch my fellow disciples to avoid any accidents," Zheng Fa said apologetically, "I wish to return to Jiushan Sect as soon as possible."

"Alright, it just so happens that I’m free, I’ll cultivate here."

Xiao Yuying nodded, very understanding and easy to talk to...