[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world":3,"chapter-cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-105":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Cultivation: I Studied Abroad in the Modern World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2263831,4418,"Chapter 105: Value","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-105",105,"\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin looked at Zheng Fa, her eyes filled with pleading and stubbornness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa shook his head slightly and said to her, “I’m not refusing—I just can’t do it yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the “Character Dao Foundation Establishment Method,” what he cared about most was the “Spirit Mountain Method.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Spirit Mountain Method required at least Qi Refining seventh layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its core, this technique is one meant to benefit others—you must have abundant spiritual energy within yourself if you wish to guide others toward cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Refining seventh layer is barely enough to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This proves in practice that if you want to save all beings, you must at least become a Buddha…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I have money.” Tang Lingwumin pointed to the bank card on the table; she didn’t ask if he believed her, but said stubbornly, “If it’s not enough, I’ll ask my dad for more…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not about money…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just don’t want to live under my mother’s watchful eyes all the time,” Tang Lingwumin suddenly said. “Even a moment of freedom—even the briefest moment—would satisfy me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Zheng Fa fell silent for a moment before saying, “When the time comes, I’ll help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin stared into his eyes and slowly nodded, as if believing his promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the room grew quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-haired old man beside him shook his head, as if trying to ease the heavy mood, and spoke up: “By the way, even without revealing the secrets of cultivation, you could still show these character diagrams to someone who understands computers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa slapped his forehead and remembered someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his social app and searched his contacts for a white puppy…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t find it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scrolled through his phone’s contact list and finally found the name Han Xiaobai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His avatar had changed to a lone wolf walking alone in the desert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Han, you there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sent the message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reply was brief; clearly, he was impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d like to ask you something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa briefly described the core ideas of the “Character Dao Foundation Establishment Method.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you mean, you had a way to classify those character diagrams before, but you don’t understand their patterns?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long explanation, the other finally understood Zheng Fa’s meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie had already classified part of the diagrams using Yin-Yang and Five Elements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there were too many diagrams; she could only test a small portion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This isn’t easy. You can only try luck—I can only think of using machine learning algorithms for image recognition.” The other typed a long string: “Use the diagrams you’ve already classified as a training set, then let the computer extract features and determine the type of other diagrams.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa understood, and began to grasp the other’s meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s that I can’t see the features of these diagrams myself—so let the computer find them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether those features are correct…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’ll depend on later verification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I can’t guarantee accuracy,” the other added. “It’s kind of a dumb method.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-haired old man nodded slowly as he read the message: “It’s a viable approach—we can analyze it later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa typed a few more words: “Brother Han, can you do this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I could do it—it’s not hard…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what’s the price this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t want to do it. Find someone else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the other’s blunt refusal, Zheng Fa froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was thinking how to reply, a small hand suddenly reached out before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa looked up and saw Tang Lingwumin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin extended her hand and softly said, “Let me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa thought for a moment and handed her the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Tang Lingwumin type four characters on the screen: “I’ll pay more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just don’t want to do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa gestured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way—I can’t afford this price!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fifty thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s really not about money!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One hundred thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa watched Tang Lingwumin raise the price with a blank expression, and suddenly felt a touch of awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he ever spoken too loudly to this little heiress before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you an orphan? How can you treat money like this? Were you lying before?” The other, clearly worn down by Tang Lingwumin, sent another message: “I used to work for money because I had a girlfriend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin blinked, glanced at Zheng Fa, and didn’t understand the logic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now she’s gone—money is garbage!” Han Xiaobai, as if unburdening himself, explained bluntly: “I’m poor now, but I’m happy! Money means nothing to me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy had been willing to work before just to buy his girlfriend a phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it seemed she’d left him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m now empty of all attachments, calm and desireless—only missing the step into monastic life,” Han Xiaobai said. “Find someone else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-haired old man nodded, also sighing: “That’s why people should marry. Men who don’t marry are too carefree—they lose all motivation to work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin frowned, suddenly turned on her camera, and sent a selfie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa and the white-haired old man stared, confused about what she was doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you a girl?” The other was clearly stunned by Tang Lingwumin’s appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m his girlfriend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Are you using a stolen photo of a beautiful woman to trick me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin immediately initiated a video call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long pause, the other answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the screen appeared a face with a receding hairline, clearly worn out from endless late nights—Zheng Fa now understood why this guy struggled so much with relationships.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Holy shit!” The moment he saw Tang Lingwumin, the guy let out a startled cry: “Real?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not lying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Clearly unused to speaking with women, Han Xiaobai stammered for a long time, then asked: “Was that you who kept raising the price?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. He never lied to you,” Tang Lingwumin glanced at Zheng Fa. “I’ll pay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...He has a girlfriend as beautiful as you, and you’re still paying him to do things?” Han Xiaobai clearly broke: “Work for this bastard? I refuse!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll have him teach you how to date.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll do it!” Han Xiaobai instantly changed his mind: “Fast and perfect, guaranteed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, he had a strong desire to learn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After ending the video call, Tang Lingwumin handed the phone back to Zheng Fa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face bore two clear words: Done!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zheng Fa reached to take the phone, Tang Lingwumin suddenly said: “I can help you a lot too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa froze, looking at Tang Lingwumin, and suddenly understood why she had done all this…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Tang Lingwumin’s view, Zheng Fa needed Bai Huzi because of his mathematical knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to that, her own mathematical ability was clearly inadequate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her actions were merely to prove she was truly useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Tang Lingwumin overthought it—her status as a heiress alone was enough to make Zheng Fa submit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zheng Fa returned home, he saw the adjustable transformer on the chair and immediately remembered what Zhang Shijie had said about the thousand-year purple bamboo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie said it was the only one in Jiushan Sect, uniquely owned by Master Pang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had felt envious when he heard it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now he looked at his own adjustable transformer, bought for less than two hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm—who can’t afford a unique spiritual treasure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa plugged the variable transformer into the power source, gripped the wires with both hands, and set the voltage dial to 90V.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar tingling sensation came, but Zheng Fa felt today’s current was weaker—this voltage seemed lower than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when he stood before the mirror did he understand why—his skin refinement was complete!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could clearly see that when practicing the Five Thunder Body Art, a thin membrane formed over his skin, glowing faintly like polished jade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa fetched a kitchen knife and drew it lightly across his fingertip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade slid as if cutting tough oxhide—unable to pierce the membrane on his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Xuanwei Realm, Zheng Fa’s courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qi and the other two had grown familiar; they knocked and walked into the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa had just finished drawing the talismans and, seeing them, stepped out holding five spirit talismans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qi took the talismans, his face bright with joy: “Brother, you’re drawing five spirit talismans a day now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I advanced to Qi Refining Second Layer a couple days ago—my spiritual power has increased significantly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qi and the others exchanged glances, each seeing excitement in the others’ eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your advancement speed is far faster than most dual-spirit-root cultivators!” Han Qi praised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa could tell these three were genuinely happy for him—after all, a talented protege meant a better future for their own lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, here’s the money from selling talismans these past two days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qi pulled out a spirit stone from his robe and handed it to Zheng Fa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa hesitated, then did not reach out to take it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brothers, keep this spirit stone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qi’s lips trembled, his voice tinged with bitterness: “Have we done something wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Zheng Fa paused, then explained: “You three have worked tirelessly for me this past month—I should be repaying you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Repaying us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I calculated it—the profit from our talisman sales, after accounting for stall costs, has been about eleven or twelve spirit stones a month, which includes your labor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Han Qi clutched the spirit stone in his hand, dazed. He opened his mouth, voice dry: “You’re really giving it to us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two behind him looked like country bumpkins, staring at the spirit stone as if in a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brothers, do you think it’s too little?” Zheng Fa frowned. “I don’t know the market at Jiushan Sect—what do you think’s fair?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too much! Too much!” Han Qi hurriedly said. “Brother, you misunderstand—I just... let me put it this way: we’ve served many senior brothers before, done plenty of work, and never received a single coin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Then how did you live?” Zheng Fa widened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior brothers eat us, we eat junior brothers...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qi’s voice grew quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa understood now—this trio’s old pattern resembled street thugs extorting protection money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder they’d acted so unscrupulous the first time he met them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Han Brother, I’m now Qi Refining Second Layer—I’m not like those senior brothers who let you bully others. Even if I could, I wouldn’t. Do you understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We understand! We understand!” Han Qi and the others nodded frantically. “Who wants to do evil when you can earn cleanly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa nodded. “Then why did you come today? Just to deliver the spirit stone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No! Sister Yuan ran into us tonight and told us to pass on a message—she says you must prepare your ledgers by tomorrow evening; Sister Zhang will inspect them.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1810,"2026-06-19T19:16:02.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d850a587d5afe870a912930e6aa5f38b72333e061d72808c65bc041eea63cb21","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-106","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-104",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]