[{"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-129":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},2263855,4418,"Chapter 129: Trial Screening","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-129",129,"\u003Cp>When Han Qi uttered “Brother Zheng,” the tall, thin man beside him tensed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just him—even several other senior brothers who had been listening to their chatter grew strangely reverent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lately, a rumor had been quietly circulating throughout the marketplace:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa, Brother Zheng, had become the Sect Master’s disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This rumor first emerged from Pang True Person’s lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, few in the marketplace believed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of good people could come from Pang True Person’s line?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Always spreading false rumors!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet neither Sister Zhang nor Zheng Fa had appeared to deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang’s disciples themselves described it in vivid detail—most importantly, they claimed their own master had been humiliated, trying and failing to take Zheng Fa as a disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That raised the credibility significantly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rumor grew louder, nearly becoming an unspoken truth among everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, Han Qi and his two companions now found themselves in a delicate position—throughout the entire marketplace, only they three were truly Zheng Fa’s people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others had once followed Zheng Fa’s orders, but that was only because Sister Zhang had entrusted him with important tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the surrounding senior brothers’ glances—partly envious, partly distant—Han Qi couldn’t find words to describe his own feelings:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could have imagined that just recently, he’d been thinking about when the marketplace would become Zheng’s?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could have thought that now, the Nine Mountains Sect was almost becoming Zheng’s?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just wanted to make some money by following Brother Zheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did I end up as a future Sect Master’s confidant?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the senior brothers subtly watching them, Han Qi pursed his lips and led his two followers out of the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother, why do I feel these senior brothers aren’t as warm as before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall, thin man asked softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because Brother Zheng has become the Sect Master’s disciple,” Han Qi replied quietly. “But Sister Zhang… she was long considered the undisputed heir to the Nine Mountains Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Will Zheng Fa and Sister Zhang split?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Hard to say, but this is the Sect Master’s position—brothers turning against each other is common,” Han Qi sighed softly. “These senior brothers are probably just watching the situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Then they’ve figured it out already.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Figured out what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall, thin man pointed toward the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa was walking toward the new theater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his left was Sister Zhang, the prodigy of the Hundred Immortals Alliance, smiling as she chatted with Zheng Fa, one sentence after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his right was Zhou Gan, Pang True Person’s famed favorite disciple, watching them intently, as if afraid to miss a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t the situation obvious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid a mix of open and covert observation, Zheng Fa entered the new theater with Sister Zhang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So your idea is, for this trial screening, we don’t charge any spirit stones, but we collect feedback from the Nine Mountains Sect disciples?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Zhang said as they walked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s our first play,” Zheng Fa explained. “Their acceptance might still be low—better to make it free.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Zhang nodded, offering no objection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the new theater, the Sect Master stood pacing, inspecting the space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to be evaluating how well the Lushang Tian Di technique would perform here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master,” Zheng Fa hurried to bow. He hadn’t expected the old man to bother coming out himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this trial screening of “Saving Little Cultivator Pang Qian” meant a great deal to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sect Master nodded at the three and asked, “What were you discussing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zheng suggests that for this first trial screening—since it’s for our own Nine Mountains Sect disciples—we don’t charge spirit stones. We should also collect their post-viewing impressions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Collect impressions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mainly to see what criticisms the disciples have.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… yes, we should remember those ignorant disciples,” the Sect Master nodded, as if he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, are you planning to jot this down in a little notebook?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...We’re using those opinions to revise our play,” Zheng Fa explained after a pause. “It’s a new art form, meant for the masses—we must observe audience reactions and adjust gradually.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the modern world, this was hard to do—a film’s production cost was already enormous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To revise meant additional funding, actor scheduling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made it even harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the Xuanwei Realm, you could change it however you wanted!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This old man before him could, with a single thought, not just alter faces, but even reshape heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa valued these disciples’ opinions for the same reason—he was from two different worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the modern world, even two nations had different popular cultures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least for the first few plays, Zheng Fa wanted to gauge this world’s audience’s aesthetic and acceptance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next evening, the first trial screening of “Saving Little Cultivator Pang Qian” began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Zheng Fa’s disappointment, the theater was sparsely filled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With over ten thousand seats, fewer than a thousand people sat scattered throughout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many disciples heard it wasn’t mandatory, so they’d rather return home to cultivate,” Sister Yuan, beside him, seemed to read his expression and whispered softly. “Most Nine Mountains Sect disciples don’t enjoy entertainment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many disciples from poor families in the Nine Mountains Sect were like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They spent their days struggling for survival, only finding time to cultivate at night—even if that single night’s practice offered little benefit to their cultivation base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it’s like sitting in a classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You know reading and solving problems won’t help much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when you see your desk mate studying during breaks—you still pick up a book and pretend to study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might cheat your brain, but it comforts your conscience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Zhou Gan hesitated, then spoke up: “Also, our master forbade our lineage’s senior brothers from coming to watch this...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said this, Zhou Gan looked puzzled, adding: “Actually, many of my senior brothers wanted to come—but... our master’s expression was truly terrible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was 100% the Sect Master’s fault!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Zhang’s expression was also strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She, too, seemed to have guessed why Pang Shu had done this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Zheng, do you know why my master is so angry?” Seeing their expressions, Zhou Gan pressed further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zhou, knowing too much won’t help you,” Zheng Fa replied after a pause. “Would you like to go back now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Gan nodded, regretfully saying: “I have to go—my master specifically warned me to report to him tonight for instruction, no excuses. I was hoping to sneak in and watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Zhou Gan’s retreating back, a puzzled voice suddenly came from Zheng Fa’s side: “Why did he leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa said nothing, just stared at the Sect Master beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you staring at me?” the Sect Master frowned. “Did I scare him off?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the screening time arrived, the Sect Master swept his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa saw ten spirit talismans fly out from the Sect Master’s sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the vast theater transformed into another world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of talisman explosions, cultivators screaming, and cries of agony filled the audience’s ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many viewers who had never seen such a play became disoriented; some even pulled out talismans, ready to throw them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of this is illusion. Don’t panic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Zhang’s cold, clear voice echoed through the entire theater—she carried great authority within the sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The startled disciples calmed down and returned to their seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa himself was immersed in the plot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had watched this play three times already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the Sect Master’s original version.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, his own revised version based on memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, he went to the modern world and watched the original film again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back here, he combined the Sect Master’s ideas and revised it once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comparing the two versions, he admitted the original film’s storytelling might be more mature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he still thought the Sect Master’s version was better—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sect Master’s Lushang Tian Di technique wasn’t just like a holographic projection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the illusion, Zheng Fa could perceive the characters and environment through both sound and sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could smell the stench of blood on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers could feel the thick, sticky blood dripping from his companions’ bodies—especially after grasping the concept of perspective, the Sect Master seemed to have unlocked everything, deliberately crafting this immersive illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sense of being truly present was far beyond what modern film technology could achieve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Add to that the two times he had watched the original film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa had already seen this story five times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he remained immersed in this screening until the very end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The illusion gradually faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The theater fell utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa looked up at the audience; they sat in their seats, still lost in the performance, eyes vacant, expressions hollow and sorrowful, some with damp eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa gave Zhang Shijie a glance; she spoke up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The play has ended. Please exit the theater.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you have suggestions or feedback, please take a questionnaire at the entrance and write your thoughts on it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After glancing at the Sect Master, she added: “Anonymous! And voluntary!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her voice, the disciples promptly stood and filed out in small groups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Zheng Fa’s surprise, nearly every disciple took a questionnaire upon leaving and picked up a pen to write their thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long line had formed at the questionnaire table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene surpassed Zheng Fa’s expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So many opinions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shijie blinked, confused. “I thought it was pretty good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time all the audience had left, the stack of feedback forms on the table had overflowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie waved her hand; the written sheets flew toward them, arranging themselves neatly before the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shijie, the most impatient, snatched up one sheet, glanced at it, then grabbed another beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression froze; she began rummaging through the papers, rapidly scanning their contents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she looked up, she found the others watching her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to read them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They all have the same complaint—too short!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1659,"2026-06-19T19:16:02.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e38963f16815dbe83ae0494eea75ad28d49f50899e02cf55f533403d26035ba7","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-130","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-128",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]