[{"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-128":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},2263854,4418,"Chapter 128: Shameful!","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-128",128,"\u003Cp>Zheng Fa looked at Zhou Gan, his gaze containing an unspoken hope—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Zhang Shijie had discussed these matters openly in front of Zhou Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One reason was his changed status:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was now the Sect Master’s disciple, with Zhang Shijie’s support, and in his heart, he no longer saw peers like Zhou Gan as rivals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even hoped this mutual exchange could cultivate future allies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Master Pang had deliberately placed Zhou Gan beside him—this junior brother could now be counted as his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stronger Zhou Gan became, the more influence he would wield within Master Pang’s lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would also aid Zheng Fa’s future efforts to bring Master Pang’s faction under his control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the main reason was—Master Pang already had the “Foundation Establishment Method for Talisman Dao.” Would you really think you could hide anything from him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What they were discussing now was already fully laid out in the “Foundation Establishment Method for Talisman Dao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Master Pang’s Nascent Soul-level insight, how could he fail to see its secrets?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his direct disciple, Zhou Gan would inevitably learn it eventually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was another point, unspoken yet mutually expected by Zheng Fa and Zhang Shijie—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wanted to pry open Zhou Gan’s mouth and extract all the knowledge hidden in Master Pang’s mind!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since acquiring the “Void-Sight Spirit Eye,” Zheng Fa immediately realized a problem:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After cultivating the “Void-Sight Spirit Eye,” he could now see the faint, elusive lines of talisman patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Zheng Fa’s view, this technique might help him and Zhang Shijie further refine the “Foundation Establishment Method for Talisman Dao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But frankly, the “Void-Sight Spirit Eye” offered them little benefit right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was likely because their understanding of the “Void-Sight Spirit Eye” was still shallow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Master Pang was different!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a Nascent Soul!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mastery of the “Void-Sight Spirit Eye” was incomparably higher than theirs!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who said a microscope must be held by the user himself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many years had Master Pang been using it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So for Zhou Gan—the most favored disciple of Master Pang—Zheng Fa and Zhang Shijie held high expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unfortunately—under their gaze, Zhou Gan stammered, his eyes vacant, his mind utterly blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa sighed inwardly; Junior Brother Zhou had entered too late and his cultivation base was still too weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang probably hadn’t yet taught him the deeper knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his gaze to Yuan Shijie, who was smirking beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Yuan, you’ve listened for several days—do you have any insights?” he asked sincerely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan’s vacant expression slowly shifted to Yuan Shijie’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Eighth Peak, Master Pang’s eyes shimmered with silver light as he gazed down the mountain, shaking his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his demeanor, Sun Dao Yu couldn’t help but ask curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Gan has suffered these past few days…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang’s tone carried both pity and a hidden delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Suffered?” Sun Dao Yu blinked: “Has Zheng Shi-di treated him poorly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver light in Master Pang’s eyes faded, his face tinged with disappointment:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When Zhou Gan first came under Zheng Fa’s care, though he looked dejected, there was a faint hope in his eyes—he may have even been glad to escape your other senior brothers and sisters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But after two days, the light in Zhou Gan’s room burned day and night; I saw him unable to sleep through entire nights.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These past few days, his suffering grew worse—every time he walked toward Zheng Fa’s residence, his face wore tension and fear…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Sun Dao Yu’s face darkened with concern: “What has Zheng Fa done to Junior Brother Zhou?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang shook his head, anger flashing in his eyes: “They often go to Zhang Shijie’s courtyard. Every time Zhou Gan leaves, he looks like his soul has been stolen—surely he’s been subjected to inhuman torment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why did you call me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring Zhou Gan here!” Master Pang declared authoritatively: “He needs to know who truly cares for him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Dao Yu hurried off and soon returned with Zhou Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at his disciple again, Master Pang felt a pang of sorrow—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to his earlier dejection, Zhou Gan now looked downright unkempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hair and face were unattended, tangled and wild, with stubble darkening his cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Daoist robe appeared unwashed for days, dust-covered and grimy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most distressing was his expression—vacant, distant, as if his spirit wandered beyond the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he saw his master, the disciple took a long moment before slowly bowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang’s heart burned with silent fury:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had sent Zhou Gan to Zheng Fa out of goodwill!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet Zheng Fa had reduced his disciple to this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Gan, these past days have been hard on you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He softened his tone, speaking to his beloved pupil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhou Gan seemed to recall something; his vacant expression turned to anguish, his eyes reddening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Master Pang snapped: “From today on, you no longer need to follow Zheng Fa!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Master Pang and Sun Dao Yu’s shock, Zhou Gan froze, his face twisted in hesitation, then whispered: “I want to go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang frowned at his disciple: “...You want to go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Zhou Gan hesitated, then added quietly: “Not every day—just occasionally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, could you please ask Senior Brother Zheng to stop those pre-class quizzes?” Zhou Gan pleaded desperately: “I really can’t keep up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Master Pang realized he’d misunderstood: “Tell me—what exactly have they done to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Zhou Gan’s account, Master Pang stared at him, his pity long gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked slowly: “You mean they discuss Talisman Dao openly, and don’t mind you listening?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes…” Zhou Gan muttered: “But after they finish, they like to quiz me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And before each discussion, they test whether you understood the previous session?” Master Pang’s expression remained neutral, his voice calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. He and Sister Zhang call it ‘mutual teaching and learning.’ Senior Brother Zheng says it’s a method from some ancient sage named Fei…” Zhou Gan’s voice was like a mourning cuckoo, heartbreaking to hear: “Master, these past days, I’ve spent every night reviewing their discussions—I haven’t slept!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up at his master, pleading again: “Master, please ask Senior Brother Zheng to stop these quizzes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang stared at his disciple in silence for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he asked: “So they talk fluently, and you just stand there, gaping?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan suddenly felt uneasy, his voice dropping: “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can’t match them—that’s fine. But when you go home to study, you still can’t learn?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan’s head sank lower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then you deserve to lose sleep! The Nine Mountains Sect has only three Nascent Souls! Three!” Master Pang roared: “Huang has Zhang Shijie, Zheng Fa is now the Sect Master’s disciple, and you’re my disciple!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of the three, you’re the worst! Is it because you can’t speak? No—it’s because I can’t speak!” Master Pang’s anger surged: “When I meet Huang, she’ll laugh me to death! And you dare complain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master… you never taught me anything!” Zhou Gan whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Zheng Fa! Zheng Fa hadn’t even taken a master yet!” Master Pang grew angrier: “Do you think I don’t know the Sect Master? If he could teach, why has every disciple he ever took died?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That Huang woman! Pfft—what does she know about teaching? Zhang Shijie is entirely self-taught!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So in the end, my disciple is the most pitiful?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… I’m not the worst,” Zhou Gan weakly countered: “There’s also Yuan Shijie—she’s listened longer, and she’s no better than me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“THAT BIRD!” Master Pang’s lips trembled: “You compare yourself to a bird—and you’re proud of it?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang took several deep breaths, calming his tone: “Alright, it’s not entirely your fault.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan’s face softened with gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s my fault!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I failed to teach you properly, to push you!” Master Pang gritted his teeth: “From now on, when you return from Zhang Shijie’s, come straight to me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master… you mean…” Zhou Gan’s face grew pale with dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If my disciple is weak, I’ll give you private tutoring!” Master Pang snarled: “I won’t let my face be lost like this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time they reached the Eighth Peak, Zhou Gan’s expression was still dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came to ask Master to lighten my burden…” he complained to Sun Daoyu beside him, “why does it feel heavier now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How about I swap with you, brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Daoyu glanced sideways at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let the younger brother bear the hardship!” Zhou Gan declared with righteous solemnity, walking off at a rapid pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pah!” Sun Daoyu stared at his back, then toward Zheng Fa’s courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression bore a certain look—longing to marry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the marketplace, Han Qi and the other two stood among the crowd, watching a group of senior brothers constructing a novel structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several Foundation Establishment senior brothers tossed out several Strength Talismans, summoning several rock giants several zhang tall, who carried massive stone blocks from distant mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the end of just one night, the new structure gradually took shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The building was cylindrical overall, with no dome overhead, and a large open space in the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surrounding it were rows of seats, tiered from high to low, capable of seating roughly ten thousand people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was now the largest structure in the Nine Mountains Sect—considering that even including family members in the marketplace, the entire sect numbered only a few thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Built this big? Will it ever be full?” whispered the tall, thin man beside Han Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up!” Han Qi snapped. “This is what Brother Zheng is building!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1603,"2026-06-19T19:16:02.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8cdc66fcbedec609f0bb736b343af4d8310948315c9cfeaf2fcc9ab75316f773","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-129","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-127",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]