Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 312 - 191: The Elderly’s Anger, The Youth’s Choice

Chapter 312: Chapter 191: The Elderly’s Anger, The Youth’s Choice

Yan Wushuang’s words deeply moved Zheng Fa.

Intelligence was naturally important.

Just as Yan Wushuang himself had said, the Jiushan Realm inevitably suffered from the drawback of having blockades in its flow of news.

And Yan Wushuang had a unique identity.

As the son of the Tianhe Sect Leader, he had access to far more information than Zheng Fa.

Moreover, he had the Unrivaled Society at his disposal, and with his keen eye, those he associated with were likely to be no ordinary cultivators.

The intelligence advantage that this network of relationships brought was even greater.

"This matter..." Zheng Fa hesitated, "To be honest, it would be highly beneficial to Jiushan, but Mr. Yan, is it convenient for you?"

He was worried that this would cause a great deal of trouble for Yan Wushuang.

Yan Wushuang seemed to sense his concern and said with a light chuckle, "In this world, probably no one is better at deflecting attention than Elder Han."

Zheng Fa watched as Elder Han approached them with a somewhat self-satisfied look on his face, his curiosity piqued, wondering why Yan Wushuang had such great confidence.

"Elder Han’s Lifebound Magical Treasure is called Ten Directions All Hearing..." Yan Wushuang explained, "Within a hundred li, anyone below Divinity Transformation, unless using special methods, will hardly be able to hide any words from him."

Zheng Fa was astonished.

What kind of keen hearing was this?

The Sunset Sword Immortal Elder Han strolled over slowly, looking at Zheng Fa with a beaming smile, seemingly unconcerned that Yan Wushuang had revealed his Lifebound Magical Treasure.

"Don’t worry about his safety with me watching over the lad."

Elder Han assured, patting his chest, walked up to the two of them, glanced at Yan Wushuang, and suddenly said, "I have something to tell you."

Yan Wushuang understood and walked over to Seventh Young Master and Zheng Shan...

"May I have a look?"

He said to Zheng Shan, who was close to despair, with a gentle smile.

Seventh Young Master looked somewhat unhappy, but he didn’t say anything; after all, he hadn’t figured it out either.

After a while.

The corners of Yan Wushuang’s mouth gradually straightened.

Seventh Young Master was laughing so hard that his teeth were bared.

Looking at Zheng Fa in front of him, the Sunset Sword Immortal Elder Han said joyfully, "I knew... if I offered the Unrivaled Society as proof of my commitment, you would trust me."

"..."

No, it’s not that you offered the Unrivaled Society as your proof of commitment.

Does Yan Wushuang know about this?

Only now did Zheng Fa confirm that the choices made by Yan Wushuang were mostly instigated by Elder Han.

"Many thanks to the senior for the high regard..."

Zheng Fa bowed his hands in thanks.

He felt a bit embarrassed; the Sunset Sword Immortal was being exceptionally kind to him.

"Because you are even better than the Patriarch!"

Zheng Fa was startled.

He always felt that Elder Han was somewhat like a fanatical fan.

Was he now saying that he himself was better than his brother, Tianhe Venerable?

"If you weren’t able to surpass the Patriarch, I wouldn’t regard you so highly, either."

"You have gained Innate Divine Ability at the Foundation Establishment... a step earlier than the Patriarch."

"You have been acknowledged by the Heavenly Stele and taken charge of a realm, also earlier than the Patriarch."

Listening to this, Zheng Fa also felt he was quite impressive...

"But these are just trifles!" To his surprise, Elder Han continued.

"Um?"

"The Patriarch has a major flaw!"

"..."

"He’s too distant from the human heart..."

Zheng Fa couldn’t help but nod.

He had considered this before; the problem with Tianhe Venerable was probably that he trusted himself too much.

"But you’re different," Elder Han said softly, "I’ve heard a lot about you at the Thunder Pool, from those of your Jiushan Sect, those cultivators in the Thunder Pool, those disciples of the Great Freedom Demon Sect..."

"..."

Zheng Fa’s mouth twitched.

A thorough background check before making an investment, eh!

"You’ve risen quickly to prominence, yet very few disciples speak ill of you..."

"Ah, so there are?" Zheng Fa was curious as to who would speak behind his back.

"Who wouldn’t be talked about?" Elder Han glanced at him sideways and said, "As to who, I won’t say... Ear and mouth, one has to be dull."

"The two branches of your Jiushan Sect are constantly in conflict, yet you managed to gain the support of the masters and disciples of both, invisibly erasing the hatred between them, which is even rarer."

"..."

You really do know everything.

"You outshine the other cultivators and possess the Heavenly Stele, yet not many hold grievances in their hearts..."

That... Thanks to Fairy Xiao Yuying, who never showed up.

Of course, the fundamental reason was the thunder skill talent he had demonstrated at first; those cultivators probably expected it, which is why they were so calm.

"This, is where you truly surpass the Patriarch!"

"You flatter me, real one..."

Zheng Fa said, still somewhat astounded in his heart. Elder Han was clearer in his thinking than Zheng Fa himself; he even understood Tianhe Venerable’s shortcomings very well.

"Whether I’m flattering or not, don’t I know it myself?" Elder Han waved his hand, seemingly noticing the surprise on Zheng Fa’s face, and said with a smile, "Do you think I’ve said something bad about the Patriarch?"

"I thought... you would have great respect for Tianhe Venerable."

"I do respect him!" Elder Han nodded, "I wish I could be the Patriarch’s loyal dog, to die in his service."

"But I’ve never met the Patriarch, nor do I think he’s perfect in everything."

Zheng Fa looked at Elder Han, feeling that his eyes were like an endless void.

"What I know is..." Elder Han’s tone was very distant, "Nowadays, nothing’s all that great..."

Zheng Fa remained silent.

Elder Han pointed to his ears and smiled helplessly, "I’ve heard too much, things I didn’t want to hear."

Having said this, a flash of cyan light appeared in his hand, revealing a jade tube.

He thrust the jade tube into Zheng Fa’s hand and walked away with great strides, saying as he walked:

"What I learned from the Tianhe Sect, I won’t teach you, but this... the Tianhe Sect doesn’t deserve it!"

Zheng Fa bowed his head as his Divine Soul delved into the jade tube.

"The Tianhe Venerable on Lifebound Magical Treasures."

Zheng Fa looked up to see Elder Han squatting at the entrance of the village, engaging in a gentle conversation with a child from the village, showing no sign of the anger he had earlier.

...

Mrs. Zheng’s cooking was ready.

Since Elder Han didn’t wish to come over, it was just Yan Wushuang and Seventh Young Master keeping Zheng Fa and his family company at the table.

Yan Wushuang was still a bit unaccustomed: "I’ve long practiced Fasting... this..."

Zheng Fa smiled: "Today, there’s something specially prepared for you, Mr. Yan."

Yan Wushuang paused, looking down at the bowl of rice in front of him.

The rice in the bowl was special, the white grains dotted with blue and purple specks.

"Is this it?"

Zheng Fa gently nodded.

Seventh Young Master glanced at his own bowl of ordinary rice and pouted.

Yan Wushuang, curiously, took a chopstick-full of rice and tasted it slowly.

Seventh Young Master watched curiously.

All of a sudden, Yan Wushuang’s body shook, and his eyes welled up with tears, as if he was moved to tears by the taste!

Is it that delicious?

Seventh Young Master’s interest in this strange rice grew stronger in his heart.

"This rice..."

"It’s a new cultivar developed by the Jiushan Realm. I thought Mr. Yan might like it," Zheng Fa said with a smile.

"Like it! I love it!" Yan Wushuang stuffed the rice into his mouth in large mouthfuls, greedily and gleefully, even somewhat touched, "Mr. Zheng, what is this rice called?"

"Qianhe Valley."

"Mr. Zheng... I, I have a request."

"Hm?"

"I’ll pass on information to you, can you give me some more of this Qianhe Valley rice?"

"...Enough to last!"

Yan Wushuang nodded frantically, appearing utterly delighted.

Seeing him like this, Seventh Young Master couldn’t sit still, whispering: "I can also pass on information to the Jiushan Sect..."

"Ah?"

"Give me a taste too!"

Zheng Fa looked at Seventh Young Master, who was eyeing Yan Wushuang’s bowl of rice, sighed and advised, "This rice, ordinary folks may not get used to it..."

"..."

Seventh Young Master didn’t speak but was clearly a little unhappy.

"Then try it."

Zheng Fa scooped a small spoonful of Qianhe Valley rice for him.

"More! More!" Seventh Young Master was not satisfied, urging him.

Zheng Shan had an expression of pity.

Zheng Fa filled a whole bowl for him.

Seventh Young Master finally smiled, saying cheerfully to Zheng Fa, "When I return to the Hundred Immortals Alliance, I’ll definitely write you more letters, telling you everything!"

He stuffed his mouth full of Qianhe Valley rice and with cheeks bulging, smiled at Zheng Fa.

Then, they watched as Seventh Young Master’s smile slowly twisted, tears welling up in his eyes.

He fell silent.

"Is it tasty?"

Zheng Fa said gently.

"...It’s numb, can’t taste anything."

"Spirit grain is precious..." Zheng Fa said somberly, amidst Seventh Young Master’s look of despair.

At that, the tears in Seventh Young Master’s eyes finally fell in two streams, dropping onto the table.

Watching Yan Wushuang eat with relish, all he felt was remorse—

Why am I even trying to compete with this weirdo!

...

As they were eating, Zheng Fa said to Seventh Young Master: "Why not just stay in the Jiushan Realm? Didn’t the Tongming Master say..."

The smile at the corner of Seventh Young Master’s lips gradually faded.

"I... I know you mean well, the Jiushan Realm is safe and you’re here to look after me..." Seventh Young Master was silent for a long while before he spoke up, "but I... want to go back."

Zheng Fa said nothing, just looking at Seventh Young Master.

"Now... the Zhao Family has also lost its foundation, living at the mercy of the Hundred Immortals Alliance." Seventh Young Master explained, "When I return, I’ll have to succeed as the Family Head."

"..."

"Before, I was thoughtless, it was the identity of a Zhao Family Young Master that gave me joy for over a decade..."

"Now, I’ve gained some abilities, I can’t let my mother shoulder everything alone, nor can I abandon my sister."

Zheng Fa nodded slightly.

"Just as you have now become the Sect Leader of the Jiushan Sect and cannot let go of Jiushan."

"I can’t let go of the Zhao Family either."

Hearing this, Yan Wushuang glanced at Seventh Young Master, a look of surprise in his eyes, as if he suddenly understood why Zheng Fa was so close to this former young master.

...

After sending off Seventh Young Master and another person, Zheng Fa’s mind returned to the jade tube given to him by Elder Han, feeling curious.

According to Elder Han, this jade tube was probably not an inheritance of the Tianhe Sect, but something Elder Han obtained personally, and he was unwilling to give it to the Tianhe Sect, saying they were unworthy...

What could make this indignant old man react like this?

Only an original inheritance from the Tianhe Venerable would make Elder Han think that the current Tianhe Sect was unworthy!

Zheng Fa was most interested in the Tianhe Venerable’s Execution of Immortals Skills, but he had long heard of the techniques for Lifebound Magical Treasures—this could very well be counted as one of the foundations of the current Immortal Sect’s knowledge.

Moreover, it was greatly related to his Core Formation.

Inside the jade tube were not words.

But a segment like an image, showing an inheritance.

In the vision, a figure with indistinct features sat cross-legged on the ground, seemingly expounding teachings.

This seemed to be the perspective of a listener below.

"The most fundamental part of a Lifebound Magical Treasure is not in the words ’magical treasure’ but in ’lifebound’!"

"This magical treasure is not cultivated, but born—from our bodies!"

What is this?