[{"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-163":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},2263889,4418,"Chapter 163: Results","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-163",163,"\u003Cp>The new marketplace was quickly built.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the third day after arriving at Lei Chi, Zheng Fa and Master Pang selected the location for the new marketplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a small hill, once the sect seat of the Changchun Sect, now ownerless land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for choosing this place was simple—it still had some residual spiritual veins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Great Freedom Demon Sect had destroyed the Changchun Sect’s spiritual vein, this branch seemed overlooked due to its sparse spiritual energy and thus survived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This spiritual vein might barely suffice for cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But setting up a few illusion arrays to keep ordinary people from accidentally stumbling into the marketplace was more than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the location was chosen, the construction work was straightforward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later, a new marketplace rose from the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new marketplace was fan-shaped, with a new theater at its center—this was primarily due to strong demands from the Jiu Shan Sect disciples working outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inner three rings were shops, mostly rented out to sects of the Bai Xian Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond that outer ring were stalls for disciples and free cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the marketplace opened, many sects and disciples came to inquire about rental fees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within just three days, all the shops in the inner three rings were sold out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stalls were also nearly gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many spirit stones can the Lei Chi marketplace earn in a month?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang asked curiously, watching Zheng Fa organize the ledgers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lei Chi Marketplace” was the name of this marketplace—or rather, its natural nickname.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just from rent alone, it earns three thousand spirit stones a month,” Zheng Fa thought for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“More than our Jiu Shan Sect marketplace?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang knew well the income of the Jiu Shan Sect marketplace—barely over a thousand spirit stones a month, including rent and taxes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It could earn even more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa looked at the endless flashes of light outside the marketplace and spoke with quiet confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang glanced up too, softly clicking his tongue: “If I could just lie here earning spirit stones, I wouldn’t even want to enter Lei Chi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re going into Lei Chi too? For the Heavenly Stele?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa couldn’t help but be surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What look is that? Who here isn’t after the Heavenly Stele? Can’t I have some ambition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean, Lei Chi severely restrains high-level cultivators. It’s disadvantageous for you to enter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is a bit.” Master Pang sighed helplessly: “But it’s the Heavenly Stele.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think these people don’t know Lei Chi is dangerous?” Master Pang pointed to the streaks of light in the sky: “Don’t they know even seeing the Heavenly Stele doesn’t guarantee any gain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cultivators are the most cautious yet most reckless group of people,” Master Pang said simply, then, as if remembering something, grew serious: “Don’t underestimate higher-level cultivators just because of Lei Chi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you say that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even though they can’t use their true cultivation level inside Lei Chi, there are still magic treasures, puppets, and other methods—enough to kill you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa was startled—this was something he hadn’t considered before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry, using such methods inside Lei Chi is usually difficult. Just don’t provoke your opponents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“... I’ve always been kind to others!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can say that, you’ve truly inherited my teachings!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Pang nodded, looking quite satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More and more people came to the marketplace, among them one figure who stood out greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was evening; Zheng Fa and Senior Brother Yang and others were patrolling the marketplace, checking for improvements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a sword’s cry echoed from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group looked up—a long rainbow of sword qi split the heavens and landed directly at the marketplace entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the swordlight faded, a young cultivator in his twenties appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What surprised Zheng Fa was the man’s unusual attire—star-crowned, crane-cloaked, unlike current trends in the Xuanwei Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Senior Brother Yang spoke first: “Isn’t that a Tianhe Sect disciple?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tianhe Sect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa was slightly surprised—Tianhe Sect was a name he knew well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tianhe Elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five Great Sects of Xuanwei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those eight characters alone described Tianhe Sect’s influence on the Xuanwei Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, only they wear that outfit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Legend says it’s the favorite attire of the Tianhe Elder, so Tianhe Sect disciples love to wear it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understood. Professional cosplayer!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And they’re quite tyrannical—prohibit outsiders from dressing like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>... Professional monopolistic cosplayers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tianhe Sect disciple seemed proud of his sect’s stature; he ignored the murmurs around him, clearly accustomed to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked slowly into the marketplace, ignoring the cheap stalls, heading straight for the shops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was generous and decisive—soon he bought many elixirs and magic treasures, then turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From arrival to departure, he spent no more than an incense stick’s time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, he was a man of impatience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he acted this way, the more reverent others looked at him—after all, a great sect disciple, spending so freely, with obvious arrogance and haste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sounded utterly unapproachable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he walked out of the marketplace, he passed right by Zheng Fa and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his back, Senior Brother Yang turned to Zheng Fa: “Zheng Brother, do you think he’s here for the Heavenly Stele too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps hearing the words “Heavenly Stele,” he slightly turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Probably. Aside from the Heavenly Stele, I can’t think of anything else that would attract someone like him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But... doesn’t Tianhe Sect have its own Heavenly Stele to contemplate?” a young new disciple frowned: “Why travel so far? Is it because he can’t understand... ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa saw the man pause, then walk away slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother Yang gently released his hand from the disciple’s mouth and exchanged a glance with Zheng Fa—the disciple had spotted the blind spot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this Tianhe Sect disciple’s temper wasn’t so tyrannical...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Five Dragon Heavenly Palace, Zheng Fa swallowed a Ning Yuan Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reaching Qi Refining eighth layer, he could condense his eighth Yuan Symbol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already chosen—it would be the Great Dream Symbol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a yang water-type spiritual symbol, simple in function—inducing dreams, even allowing limited control over another’s dreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But its restrictions were severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally, Foundation Establishment cultivators struggled to control the dreams of Qi Refining cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zheng Fa intended to use this symbol to test the nature of ordinary people—it was perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Dream Symbol was soon condensed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa picked up the Xuan Lei Stone and began cultivating the Five Thunder Body Scripture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him lay the half jade pendant; its silver glow flickered, as if accompanying him, or waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Modern day, a nursing home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa handed a book to Old White and the other man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the cover were three characters: “Spirit Eye Technique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old White glanced at the cover, raising an eyebrow: “Is this... a technique?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a technique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Techniques were not popular in the Xuanwei Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People preferred spiritual symbols, magic treasures, arrays, and other methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, people always liked to take shortcuts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, to make use of external tools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that techniques weren’t wondrous—just that, aside from a few unique ones, ordinary techniques consumed too much spiritual energy for too little power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With spiritual symbols or magic treasures, cultivators could harness greater heavenly forces with less spiritual power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that didn’t mean the Xuanwei Realm had no techniques—in fact, every sect preserved their technique lineages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one hand, spells are the root of many things—for instance, many spirit talismans are closely tied to spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, it is to cope with the decline of spiritual energy and the extinction of spirit materials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, you’ll most likely end up blasting each other with spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current dilemma of the retirement home lies in the fact that it’s inherently a scene of declining spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Zheng Fa only flipped through the Scripture Hall and dug out a few spells for the two old men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirit Eye Spell—essentially the spell version of the Spirit Eye Talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first time Zheng Fa saw the glyph patterns in the void was when Zhang Shijie stuck a Spirit Eye Talisman on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hoped the two old men would learn this first, so they could observe glyph patterns and perhaps make new discoveries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spirit Eye Spell…” the old man touched the book, his eyes gleaming with eagerness: “Once mastered, how many layers can it see…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Layers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean… can it see through multiple layers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin silently covered her upper body and stepped back a few paces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, I haven’t even practiced this yet! Why are you guarding against me? Guard against Zheng Fa—he’s definitely practiced!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Tang Lingwumin thought it made sense and stepped even farther away from Zheng Fa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I haven’t practiced it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin sighed in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Spirit Eye Spell only lets you see spiritual energy,” Zheng Fa explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t it see through things?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man snorted, clearly unimpressed, his enthusiasm fading: “Then what’s the point? You cultivators are nice people, but weirdly obsessed with privacy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin, however, was quite pleased—and a little embarrassed—stepping a few paces closer to Zheng Fa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She remembered her own “Void-Sight Spirit Eye” and the secret techniques Master Pang had passed down to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa suddenly felt his cheeks flush…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man could only sulk as he and Tang Lingwumin practiced and studied the Spirit Eye Spell together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Zheng Fa’s phone on the distant table rang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his eyes, slowly closed the “Mount Ling Scripture,” and the two beside him—Tang Lingwumin and the old man—had to halt their cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa picked up the phone and looked at the incoming call notification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Chen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa raised an eyebrow, wondering why he was calling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher Chen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Zheng Fa, did you check your scores yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa suddenly remembered—it was the day the Gaokao results were released.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d nearly forgotten himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No?” Old Chen’s tone first showed surprise, then surged with excitement: “You don’t need to check—I know!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa waited for Old Chen to tell him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Qing Shui Middle School, Old Chen stood in his office, phone in hand, excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t alone in the office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two school administrators and two officials from the education department were there too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You scored… the city’s…” The word “Top Graduate” stuck in his throat, unspoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For years, regulations forbade promoting rankings, let alone announcing the Top Graduate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whispering it privately was fine, but with leaders present, Old Chen felt he had to show some discretion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the phone, Zheng Fa heard Old Chen stammer for a long time before saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You got a rank I can’t even bring myself to say!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1796,"2026-06-19T19:16:02.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a1deb41924fcb764ab8ab8c30fe771ac3820b3f91b6a018142c3d1bad03ff012","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-164","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-162",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]