[{"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-122":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},2263848,4418,"Chapter 122","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-122",122,"\u003Cp>Zheng Fa was cultivating the Void-Spirit Eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Void-Spirit Eye was a technique he had long heard of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jiushan Sect was now divided into two rival branches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Zhang Shijie’s branch’s core scripture was the Spirit-Character Foundation Establishment Method,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then Pang Shu’s branch’s core scripture was the Void-Spirit Eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He already understood the wonders of the Spirit-Character Foundation Establishment Method; without it, his cultivation would not have progressed so swiftly, nor would he have possessed any supernatural abilities in the modern world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Void-Spirit Eye, famed alongside the Spirit-Character Foundation Establishment Method and rumored to have no flaws, naturally filled him with great anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took out the thousand-year purple bamboo tear given to him by Pang Shu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just from the name, Zheng Fa had assumed it was a liquid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what Pang Shu had given him were four transparent solids, faintly tinged purple like crystal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa pressed one thousand-year purple bamboo tear against his right eye, channeling spiritual power from his palm into the crystal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crystal formed from the thousand-year purple bamboo tear began slowly melting, turning into a warm stream that seeped into his eye socket; his right eye first felt warmth, then a faint sting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed, the sting grew sharper, deeper—it felt as if someone were delicately, leisurely carving patterns into his eyeball with a surgeon’s scalpel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It filled him with pain and a touch of fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Pang Shu not recorded the process in the Void-Spirit Eye manual, he might have suspected he was going blind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two incense sticks later, the crystal in his palm was exhausted; the excruciating pain receded like a tide, leaving behind a gentle coolness across his eyeball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa opened his eyes, touched his forehead and collar—wetness confirmed how intense his suffering had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made him consider resting two days before cultivating his left eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the changes in his right eye after cultivating the Void-Spirit Eye made him feel the pain had been worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing before the mirror, Zheng Fa saw a faint silver glow flickering within his right eye as he activated the Void-Spirit Eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More strangely—he saw a different world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he looked out the window while activating the Void-Spirit Eye, objects a hundred meters away appeared as if right before his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the world before him seemed clearer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, more complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw again the glyph-patterns drifting through space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what surprised Zheng Fa was that these glyph-patterns were no longer isolated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his earlier observations, these “little fish” had seemed to swim independently, scattered and unrelated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after cultivating the Void-Spirit Eye, he now perceived faint lines connecting some of the glyph-patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some glyph-patterns had these lines, others did not—no pattern could be discerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the jade cylinder recording the Void-Spirit Eye, Zheng Fa found Pang Shu’s sighing words:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many say the Primordial Glyphs are finite, yet most have never even seen what a glyph-pattern truly looks like.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of those words, and gazing at the glyph-patterns revealing more secrets to him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa began to understand Pang Shu’s mindset—many who know more become more despairing of humanity’s ability to comprehend the world, including many scientists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the glyph-patterns revealed by the perfected Void-Spirit Eye had seemed incomprehensible to True Person Pang, leading him to doubt any cultivator could ever fully decipher them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to Zheng Fa, the Void-Spirit Eye and the Primordial Glyph Foundation Establishment Method were not in conflict—they were made for each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Pang Shu’s records, the Void-Spirit Eye had three stages: Observing Qi, Entering the Minute, and Penetrating the Void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Observing Qi enhanced vision, allowing one to see great distances and perceive the flow and nature of spiritual energy in empty space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Void-Spirit Eye manual, Pang Shu wrote that reaching this stage granted decisive advantage in combat, even enabling one to spot flaws in an opponent’s spellcasting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manual offered little description of the Entering the Minute stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But from the name alone, it likely enhanced the cultivator’s ability to observe microscopic phenomena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Penetrating the Void,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Shu said nothing at all, only that it was nearly impossible to achieve before the Nascent Soul stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa mentally organized his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Observing Qi—telescope, perhaps with analytical functions?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the Minute—microscope, possibly even electron-microscope level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Penetrating the Void, there was too little data to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the idea of turning both eyes into experimental instruments filled Zheng Fa with imagination—observation instruments were undeniably vital to science.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Zheng Fa gritted his teeth and took out another thousand-year purple bamboo tear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Zhang Shijie’s home, Zhang Shijie was still working through the exercises Zheng Fa had delivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shijie chattered as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had lived this way for decades; it had become second nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, Yuan Shijie suddenly said, “I feel something’s off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie’s brush paused; she didn’t look up, only spoke softly: “What’s off?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shijie glanced around the study, then at Zhang Shijie, thought for a moment, then exclaimed: “Someone’s missing! Zheng Shi-di hasn’t come!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie gave her a light look, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zheng Shi-di used to come every day to play with you… I mean, to discuss the Spirit-Character Foundation Establishment Method with you. He hasn’t come these past two days?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s only just become a disciple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie explained softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple?” Yuan Shijie frowned. “That old man took a disciple and locked himself in his room to study storybooks, claiming he’ll write a masterpiece… How could he possibly have time for Zheng Shi-di?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhang Shijie, don’t you find it strange?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not at all.” Zhang Shijie set down her brush. “Before, Zheng Shi-di was one of our branch. Now he’s the Sect Master’s disciple—he’s different.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is he different?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Before, he came because I could protect him, provide resources, teach him the Spirit-Character Foundation Establishment Method, even grant him authority over the market. Now he’s the Sect Master’s disciple—he no longer needs these things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie spoke calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister… are you saying Zheng Fa is ungrateful? That he climbed to higher ground and forgot you?” Yuan Shijie widened her eyes in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He owes me nothing. The Five-Element Glyphs were his discovery—I can’t call it ingratitude.” Zhang Shijie shook her head gently. “People rise upward—it’s natural. How many have I seen do the same over the years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Yuan Shijie’s expression remained sour, as if annoyed with Zheng Fa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It may not be that he doesn’t want to come—it’s because he’s considering Pang Shu.” Zhang Shijie suddenly said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought about why Pang Shu insisted on taking Zheng Fa as his disciple.” Zhang Shijie explained. “Probably because Zheng Fa stood out too much, making Pang Shu fear for his branch’s safety. If Zheng Fa continues to associate closely with me, Pang Shu will grow even more anxious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shijie listened, confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zheng Fa is now the Sect Master’s disciple. If he keeps coming here daily, won’t Pang Shu think the Sect Master favors our branch? Disrupting the sect’s balance isn’t wise—external threats have already appeared; we cannot afford internal strife.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie had to explain in detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shijie nodded, finally understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after a moment, she suddenly asked: “Zhang Shijie… why are you suddenly thinking up so many reasons?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shijie suddenly realized: “You’re not used to it either! If I’d known, I wouldn’t have begged…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better than becoming Pang Shu’s disciple.” Zhang Shijie reprimanded. “At least we’re not enemies now, Yuan Shimei. Learn to let go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just don’t have your ability to let go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shijie muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sat on a nearby chair, silent, cheeks puffed out like a child sulking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhang Shijie! Yuan Shijie!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice came from the doorway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa stepped in quickly, then froze, glancing at his attire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you two staring at me? Is something wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you back again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shijie sniffed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa didn’t understand the “again,” nor did he notice Yuan Shijie’s tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled. “A few days ago, Pang Shu called me over and gave me a thousand-year purple bamboo tear!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhang Shijie and Yuan Shijie exchanged glances, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did Pang Shu become so generous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not done!” Zheng Fa grinned. “Pang Shu gave me two portions! I brought one for you, Zhang Shijie!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a microscope, how could you forget the lab?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie, I’m plucking Pang Shu’s wool to feed you!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...For me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie froze, her expression deeply complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, two portions—I’ve already used one.” Zheng Fa explained. “These past two days I’ve been cultivating the Void-Spirit Eye. It’s incredibly wondrous—it will greatly aid the Spirit-Character Foundation Establishment Method. The second portion is for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without considering the future benefits of Entering the Minute or Penetrating the Void to glyph research—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just the realm of Qi Observation is enough to greatly enhance a person’s combat power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa saw Zhang Shijie staring at him, silent for a long while, and asked hesitantly, “Zhang Shijie, you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie suddenly smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to describe such a smile—sudden warmth after lingering cold, ice melting, snow dissolving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shijie glanced at Zheng Fa, then at the smiling Zhang Shijie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She grinned, as if disgusted, and muttered under her breath, “Cheer up? Pfft!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie took the two pieces of thousand-year purple bamboo tear and suddenly said, “In a couple of days, bring the ‘Rune Foundation Method’ to Master Pang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa froze, unsure why she would say that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never considered this—the ‘Rune Foundation Method’ was mostly hers; though he practiced it, he never intended to pass it on to anyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Pang already said he wanted to trade thousand-year purple bamboo tears for the ‘Rune Foundation Method.’ Now that you’ve obtained these tears—even though they were given by an elder—he may still feel uneasy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa had thought of this too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang’s expression had clearly been pained at the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring the ‘Rune Foundation Method’ to him. Master Pang will see you as someone who understands the bigger picture. Later, as the Sect Master’s disciple, you’ll need his support.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Support?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa looked at Zhang Shijie and suddenly sensed hidden meaning in her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie gazed at the two thousand-year purple bamboo tears and smiled, “At least in public, you must show impartiality between our two branches. Do you understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa stared at the two thousand-year purple bamboo tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait—just these two things? Could they make Zhang Shijie care so much for him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was blatant support for him becoming the next Nine Mountains Sect Sect Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why bother competing with Master Pang at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why not just uproot the entire thousand-year purple bamboo and send it over?\u003C\u002Fp>",1790,"2026-06-19T19:16:02.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a310f82b14cab5f59168854624ad8a5221742966d6ae079a87037f11b999a28a","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-123","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-121",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]