[{"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-127":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},2263853,4418,"Chapter 127: Exclusion","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-127",127,"\u003Cp>Returning to the Eighth Peak, Zheng Fa could sense the changes within Master Pang’s lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These changes were hard to pinpoint at a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But along the way, the disciples of Master Pang moved with hurried, aimless steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their glances at him held surprise, yet secretly carried hostility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young Daoist acolytes rushed to report his arrival at Master Pang’s hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the feeling of being watched, subtly surrounded, the moment he stepped onto the mountain path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of it made Zheng Fa acutely feel the tension and despair hanging over the Eighth Peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa's initiation into the sect under the Sect Master had not spread widely—mainly because the Sect Master, after taking him as a disciple, became absorbed in film and television production, locking himself in his thatched hut with no patience for publicity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a few among Master Pang’s disciples knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last time Zheng Fa came, several senior brothers had greeted him warmly, as if they were family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, their eyes held a touch of awe, yet mostly distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa recalled Zhang Shijie’s earlier words—that his initiation into the sect under the Sect Master was a severe blow to Master Pang’s lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie had even warned Zheng Fa to maintain neutrality between the two factions in public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa had once thought Zhang Shijie overreacted, but today, observing the atmosphere on the Eighth Peak, he began to understand her concern—the rift between the two factions of Jiushan Sect ran far deeper than he’d imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Zhang Shijie hadn’t held things back, there might have been casualties during the Talisman Discussion at the Talisman Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he understood why Zhang Shijie had sent him to deliver the *Talisman Foundation Establishment Method*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just from this short walk, it was clear the tension between disciples of the two factions had already outweighed their kinship as fellow disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It revealed how much pressure his initiation into the sect under the Sect Master—and his closeness to Zhang Shijie—had placed on Master Pang’s lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Healing the rift between these two factions might prove harder than Zheng Fa had originally thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zheng Shidi!” came Sun Daoyu’s voice from behind: “What brings you to the Eighth Peak?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words “you” and “I” clearly marked the boundary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa turned and saw Sun Daoyu and another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Daoyu’s expression was no longer as warm as last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Zhou Gan’s condition left Zheng Fa utterly baffled—the man looked utterly defeated, gave him only a slight nod, showed no hostility, but had lost all his former confidence and swagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa still remembered their first meeting: Zhou Gan had stood before him, proudly introducing himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a spirited young man he had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he saw a man with a scruffy beard, wrinkled robes, who after nodding at him, kept his head down, avoiding everyone’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What puzzled Zheng Fa more was that while the senior brothers on the Eighth Peak regarded him with some tension, their eyes toward Zhou Gan were filled with outright exclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their attitude toward him was even colder than toward Zheng Fa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve come to visit Master Pang,” Zheng Fa said to Sun Daoyu, glancing at Zhou Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To pay respects to our Master?” Sun Daoyu blinked, then saw the young Daoist acolyte who had earlier rushed into the hall emerge and address the three: “Master invites Senior Brother Zheng inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Sun, Senior Brother Zhou, Master also summons you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them entered the hall together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, Master Pang’s demeanor was less warm than last time, but not hostile—merely distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Zhou Gan, frowned slightly, then turned to Zheng Fa: “Nephew, what brings you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa presented the *Talisman Foundation Establishment Method*: “The other day, Master bestowed upon me the thousand-year purple bamboo tear. I am deeply grateful, but I have nothing of value to offer in return—only this copy of the *Talisman Foundation Establishment Method*, which I humbly offer, hoping Master will not disdain it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang froze, stared at Zheng Fa for a long moment, then spoke: “The *Talisman Foundation Establishment Method*?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The one created by Zhang Shijie?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Master Pang said “Zhang Shijie,” his tone subtly sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa answered calmly, and Master Pang fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gestured, and the jade cylinder in Zheng Fa’s hand flew into his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang closed his eyes, seemingly using his spiritual sense to read the jade cylinder’s contents. When he opened them again, a smile had formed on his face: “The *Talisman Foundation Establishment Method* is indeed original. Zhang Shijie truly has astonishing talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did Master Pang smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa noticed that Sun Daoyu’s gaze toward him had softened considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The *Talisman Foundation Establishment Method* had eased the strange heaviness in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zheng Shidi, what do you think of your Senior Brother Zhou?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Zhou?” Zheng Fa turned to look at Zhou Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan, too, seemed surprised by his Master’s sudden question and blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Zhou has exceptional talent and fine character. He will surely become a pillar of Jiushan Sect,” Zheng Fa said thoughtfully, solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not flattery spoken before Master Pang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan’s talent and character far surpassed ordinary disciples—that was why Master Pang had taken notice of him, even nurturing him with the hope that he might one day counter Zhang Shijie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his current state puzzled Zheng Fa—he seemed to have suffered some setback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Gan has long admired your talisman cultivation. Why not let him follow you, assist you with tasks, and you teach him for a while?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang suddenly said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” Zheng Fa was taken aback: “I entered the sect at the same time as Senior Brother Zhou; we merely exchange insights and spar. Besides, he is your beloved disciple—how could I possibly teach him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Gan? Are you willing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang ignored his question and turned to Zhou Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan, though startled, looked as if his spirit had been crushed—he merely nodded, voice flat: “Willing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wonder if my nephew finds my disciple worthy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zheng Fa knew he could not refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He now understood Master Pang’s intent—Zhou Gan’s favoritism was nearly common knowledge in Jiushan Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Placing Zhou Gan beside him was Master Pang’s way of showing support for this Sect Master disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like an ancient imperial court placing the children of loyal ministers beside the Crown Prince—over time, they became the Crown Prince’s faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Zheng Fa lead Zhou Gan down the mountain,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Daoyu asked: “Master, are you really letting Zhou Shidi follow Zheng Fa?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What else can I do? Behind him stands overwhelming power!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang glanced at his disciple and snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Overwhelming power?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you not understand what it means that this boy carries Zhang Shijie’s *Talisman Foundation Establishment Method* and gives it away freely?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That Zhang Shijie is close to him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It means he stands behind the Sect Master, the man surnamed Huang, and Zhang Shijie—three people! Even if I had three heads and six arms, I couldn’t fight them all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Sun Daoyu grimaced, imagining his Master being beaten by a mob.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just don’t get it—I thought Zhang Shijie was the one calling the shots with Zheng Fa…” Master Pang frowned. “But today, it seems Zheng Fa is the one in charge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Daoyu finally understood: his Master had sent Zhou Gan to follow Zheng Fa because Zheng Fa was now the rising tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what about Zhou Shidi…” Thinking of Zhou Gan’s state earlier, Sun Daoyu worried: “I fear he’ll think Master has abandoned him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has he been having a hard time lately?” Master Pang suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Daoyu lowered his head, too afraid to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course—he was neglected when I tried to take Zheng Fa as my disciple. He must have felt slighted.” Master Pang spoke as if seeing clearly: “Lately, have your senior brothers and sisters assumed he’s fallen from favor and deliberately ostracized him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master sees clearly. Zhou Shidi never cared much about factional lines—he used to visit Zheng Fa’s home daily, angering many senior brothers and sisters. These past few days… he’s suffered greatly,” Sun Daoyu replied honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why I’m sending him to Zheng Fa’s side first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master means to separate him from those senior brothers and sisters?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang nodded, then turned to Zheng Fa: “Zhang Shijie supports this Zheng Fa, but if he truly wants to secure his future position as Sect Master—he must treat our lineage equally, and earn the respect of your senior brothers and sisters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah? So Zhou Shidi is a test of Zheng Fa’s attitude?” Sun Daoyu realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Gan is already my disciple with the least factional bias…” Master Pang shook his head. “I couldn’t unite the two factions. Zhang Shijie couldn’t either. I want to see if he can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if he can’t?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then when Zhou Gan suffers under Zheng Fa, he’ll realize his Master hasn’t treated him poorly.” Master Pang smiled. “That way, he’ll learn to respect his Master again. As for the future Sect Master position—who knows what the future holds?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Descending the Eighth Peak, Zheng Fa turned to look at Zhou Gan behind him—the man still looked half-dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Zhou, what’s wrong with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked Zhou Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan shook his head, as if unwilling to answer, and replied flatly: “What orders do you have for me, Senior Brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Orders? No. Tomorrow, I’m visiting Zhang Shijie. Come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan nodded, asked nothing else, mechanically bowed to Zheng Fa, then turned and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his back, Zheng Fa frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His state felt familiar—the look of a young man full of ideals, entering society, then brutally crushed by reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan Yuan couldn’t sleep early that night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t get up, just lay with his eyes open, staring blankly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when the time he’d agreed upon with Zheng Fa arrived did he open his courtyard gate and step out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many senior brothers from Master Pang’s lineage lived nearby; in the past, they’d been quite warm, and Zhou Gan Yuan had found it pleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But recently, things had grown worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lowered his head slightly, hurrying through the varied glances of several senior brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of them said a word, yet he understood their meaning—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Master had gifted Zheng Fa the thousand-year purple bamboo tear, they all looked at him with faint mockery, and the old warmth was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan Yuan clenched his teeth and walked to Zheng Fa’s gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint bitter smile crossed his face—he had once believed, before joining Jiushan Sect, that his Master favored him, and he had held beautiful illusions about Jiushan Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was determined to pursue the Dao of Talisman Arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to bring honor to his Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with his Master’s favor, he had never cared about factional divisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only today did he realize he had offended so many people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the senior brothers who had once been kind and respectable suddenly banded together to ostracize him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally understood how deep Jiushan Sect’s factionalism ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Zheng Fa’s courtyard gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan Yuan shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa was probably no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those senior brothers were still from the same Master; their past warmth had been hollow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Zheng Fa belonged to different lineages; Zheng Fa likely saw him as even more distant than those senior brothers, and his former courtesy and respect had merely been pretense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knocked on the door. Zheng Fa opened it and said at once: “Let’s go to Zhang Shijie’s place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Zheng Fa, Zhou Gan Yuan arrived before Zhang Shijie’s small courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help feeling nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To those in their lineage, Zhang Shijie was a figure who inspired fear just by being mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This courtyard carried the same intimidating aura as a dragon’s pool or tiger’s den; no fellow disciples had ever dared approach it before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie waited for Zheng Fa and him in the back courtyard; behind her stood Yuan Shijie. Both saw Zhou Gan Yuan but showed no surprise, only a slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four sat in a small pavilion by the lake, speaking in turns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, Zhou Gan Yuan realized something was off—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was this “Five Elements Talisman”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was this “Primordial Talisman Foundation”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did it mean that talismans divided into yin and yang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were these things meant for someone like him—a rival—to hear?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, as they spoke, Zhang Shijie and Zheng Fa finally seemed to notice he was still there, turning to look at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan Yuan pressed his lips together, stood up, and prepared to take his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Shidi, what are your thoughts on this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa suddenly said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan Yuan blinked, suddenly realizing—he hadn’t encountered the factionalism and exclusion he’d imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he’d been silently crushed by these two geniuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Yuan Shijie gave him a look of pity.\u003C\u002Fp>",2165,"2026-06-19T19:16:02.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","120fd114495fc613226df21cea8052a5be19cac7714b3f4b8280c04473022776","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-128","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-126",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]