[{"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-161":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},2263887,4418,"Chapter 161","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-161",161,"\u003Cp>Standing at the window, a clear, deep blue sky came into Zheng Fa’s view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking down, he saw an endless expanse of white cloud sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cloud sea rushed beneath his feet like storm-tossed waves, charging forward without pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the clouds moving fast—it was him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa had never known that the palace where Master Pang routinely summoned disciples was actually one of his magic treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa left his room and headed toward the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Master Huang had brought news of the Heavenly Stele,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the nature of Taiyang County had changed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>aside from Zhang Shijie’s disappearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matter of the Heavenly Stele was even more significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavenly opportunity, for Jiushan Sect, was also a heavenly challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, the Sect Master and the other had planned to send Sun Daoyu ahead with some disciples to Lei Chi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now Master Pang had no choice but to go himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He brought many disciples:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>some were sent as originally planned to search for Zhang Shijie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>some were sent to try to comprehend the Heavenly Stele.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last group, based on Zheng Fa’s suggestion, were prepared to find a site near Lei Chi to establish a new marketplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang sat in the main hall, discussing something with Sun Daoyu and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zheng Fa arrive, he waved him over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think of my Five Dragon Heavenly Palace?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang pointed outside the hall door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa turned his head and, from this angle, clearly saw that the sprawling palace complex floated atop golden cloud sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the front of the cloud sea were five golden dragons, soaring through mist and clouds, pulling the entire palace forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon closer inspection, he realized these five dragons were not physical beings, yet they looked utterly lifelike—their long whiskers fluttered in the wind, their golden scales shimmered brilliantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, Zheng Fa could clearly sense—these five dragons were not mere ornaments for show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time they turned their heads toward him, the golden light in their eyes sent a shiver through his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master’s magic treasure has opened my eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang’s lips twitched, as if he wanted to smile but held back, merely waving his hand: “My Five Dragon Heavenly Palace was forged after I reached Nascent Soul—I killed five demonic snakes on the verge of becoming jiao, refined their essences, and had someone craft them into this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Master’s divine might.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A demonic snake nearing jiao status would not have low cultivation; according to Zheng Fa’s knowledge, the weaker ones had already formed demonic cores, the stronger ones rivaled Nascent Soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Master Pang, newly arrived at Nascent Soul, to achieve such a feat truly made Zheng Fa look at him anew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Without this ability, could my brother have recalled Master Huang and sent me to Taiyang County?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of Master Huang, Master Pang no longer hid his pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zheng Fa found it reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang departed, and the Sect Master immediately recalled Master Huang—according to his words, Jiushan Sect must always maintain two Nascent Soul cultivators on standby unless absolutely desperate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because Master Pang’s strength surpassed the others, making his master feel more at ease?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, how far can this Five Dragon Heavenly Palace fly in a day?” Zheng Fa asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About eight thousand li per day.” Seeing Zheng Fa’s expression, as if fearing he underestimated the treasure, Master Pang added: “It could go faster, but the Demon Cult is hiding in the shadows—we must be cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought for a moment: “So we’ll reach Taiyang County in a little over three days?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xuanwei Realm was vastly larger than the modern world; though Taiyang County fell under Jiushan Sect’s jurisdiction, it lay thirty thousand li away from Jiushan Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was already on the frontier of Jiushan Sect’s influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hence, Jiushan Sect had long entrusted this territory to Changchun Sect—because unless one was a Nascent Soul True Person like Master Pang, any other Jiushan disciple would spend over a month just making the round trip, far too inconvenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three days is impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re taking a detour.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Detour?” Zheng Fa thought: “Then five days?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At least half a month.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>… You’re not even using a map—why take such a long route?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zheng Fa’s confused expression, Master Pang seemed slightly embarrassed: “The Demon Cult lurks in the shadows—there may be traps. If we went straight, we’d walk right into an ambush.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...So how exactly are we detouring?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang pulled out a rough map and drew a winding, serpentine route for Zheng Fa—had Master Pang not explained, Zheng Fa would’ve thought he was drawing talismans on the map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This route passes through many sects of the Hundred Immortal Alliance—should trouble arise, we can easily seek aid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang explained his reasoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, if the Demon Cult has hidden agents, they’d never expect me to choose this path!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not just the Demon Cult wouldn’t expect it...” Zheng Fa sighed, staring at the map: “No normal person would.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa now understood why his master had recalled Master Huang to Jiushan Sect and sent Master Pang to Taiyang County—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang was simply an extremely cautious man!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Cough, I suspect many fellow cultivators will join us on this journey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang, sensing he’d sounded exaggerated, added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fellow cultivators?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Heavenly Stele is too significant—how could any sect of the Hundred Immortal Alliance not be tempted? I chose this route precisely to connect with them first, especially regarding the marketplace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made perfect sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, along the way, many followed—yet due to the overwhelming aura of the Five Dragon Heavenly Palace, none among them were Nascent Soul; they merely paid respects to Master Pang, then trailed behind on their own magic treasures, clearly seeking safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wanted security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until the eighth day, when they were still about halfway to Taiyang County, Zheng Fa suddenly noticed Master Pang’s expression turning grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang spoke to them, leading everyone to the hall’s entrance, then gestured—five golden dragons halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa stood beside him, gazing outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An oval black shadow appeared beneath the cloud sea; gradually, it pierced through the clouds, and Zheng Fa realized it was a giant xuan turtle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle’s body was enormous—Zheng Fa estimated that the entire palace complex he stood on would occupy only half its back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle’s back had no buildings, yet it was densely packed with people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which True Person of Yuling Sect is present?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang bowed toward the opposite side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa froze—Yuling Sect was also a sect of the Hundred Immortal Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had a Nascent Soul cultivator stationed within, ranking among the top nine sects of the alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, Yuling Sect was famed for raising spiritual beasts—Li Nuo had been swindled out of many spirit stones by them before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am Ling Chengfeng. Is this Master Pang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man at the front replied; he was powerfully built, his beard and hair faintly tinged yellow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Great Xuan Turtle True Person Ling! I’ve long heard of your renown—unfortunately, we’ve never met until now. To encounter you today is truly a blessing of three lifetimes!” Master Pang’s tone was warm, his expression utterly sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man blinked, seemingly unaccustomed to such fervent praise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang gave a subtle glance to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Zheng Fa could understand, Master Pang’s disciples all shouted in unison:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We pay our respects to the Great Xuan Turtle True Person! May your cultivation advance swiftly, and your life endure as long as heaven and earth!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa stood aside, feeling utterly out of place—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, did you all rehearse this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t include me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This display made the True Person’s face actually soften with a hint of a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and his disciples returned the greetings to Master Pang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They even arranged to meet later for a banquet in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the giant turtle slowly drifted away, Zheng Fa asked Master Pang: “Is he very powerful?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Powerful?” Master Pang frowned, shaking his head: “He’s Nascent Soul, but all his power comes from that turtle—his foundation is unstable. Not truly powerful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then... why is he so famous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s not famous at all. The Spirit Controlling Sect still revolves around its Sect Master, and he has no notable achievements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, Master Uncle…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t understand… In the cultivation world, isn’t it all about relationships and social graces?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t hit someone who’s smiling, do you?” Master Pang urged patiently. “Today I’m flattering him; tomorrow he won’t dare make trouble for my Nine Mountains Sect, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa now understood why his own Master had sent Master Pang to oversee the Lei Chi matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Master Uncle is the Nine Mountains Sect’s socialite!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, the Elder Xuan Gui, True Person Ling, arrived with several disciples for the banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang also hosted with his own few direct disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Master Pang kept offering flattery, the banquet atmosphere grew increasingly warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Ling drank a bit too much and seemed drunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard your Nine Mountains Sect’s Zhang Wuyi is trapped in Lei Chi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang paused his wine cup, but his face showed no change—only a slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I also heard she constantly opposes you within the sect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s untrue,” Master Pang set down his cup and said. “Zhang Shixie merely has differing views from mine—how can you say she opposes me at every turn?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Ling raised his cup, pointed at him, and wore an expression of seeing through but pretending not to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I always knew Zhang Wuyi’s temperament would lead to trouble,” he added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what if she’s talented? She’s offended so many peers—even dared to bully my direct disciples…” He fell silent, but True Person Ling kept talking: “Now that she’s in trouble, it’s fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, you’ve had too much to drink.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang’s smile slowly faded; his fingers gently gripped the wine cup, as if restraining himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too much?” True Person Ling shook his head, unwilling to let it go. “Zhang Wuyi’s downfall is a regret for me—after a hundred years, my Spirit Controlling Sect will send disciples to avenge this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed to a boy behind him. “My disciple has cultivated only nine months since the Immortal Talent Gathering, yet he’s already at Qi Refining Seventh Layer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that as fast as Zhang Wuyi’s so-called fastest Foundation Establishment? Besides, I’ve heard Zhang Wuyi’s Golden Core is flawed,” True Person Ling chuckled. “When my disciple catches up to her, I wonder what face she’ll have left as a so-called genius.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a surge of spiritual energy came from the side hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Someone’s advancing to Qi Refining Eighth Layer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Ling, being a Nascent Soul, instantly realized it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang picked up his cup, took a sip, and said suddenly: “This disciple was also brought in through the Immortal Talent Gathering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was Zhang Shixie herself who personally guided him in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Person Ling’s smile slowly vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your disciple may have to catch up to him first.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1862,"2026-06-19T19:16:02.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d05d4100061a1561551b5a68ff91f489ee70f47e8b90ecf8e0df7827665cb599","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-162","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-160",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]