[{"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-194":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},2263920,4418,"Chapter 194: Land Grant","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-194",194,"\u003Cp>Zheng Fa had already leaned toward visiting the Heavenly Stele.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s far too hard for the Jiushan Sect to flee—people can leave, but spiritual veins are hard to find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly severed from a spiritual vein, the Jiushan Sect wouldn’t last long before annihilation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, if the Great Freedom Demon Cult had no Lei Chi restriction, they might not even have had a chance to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang suddenly said: “Actually, there’s little danger to life within the Heavenly Stele.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This startled Zheng Fa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not that there’s no danger—entering the Heavenly Stele carries risks—but once inside, we have little to fight over.” Yan Wushuang’s words left Zheng Fa and Zhang Shijie surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked at Yan Wushuang and noticed that not only he, but also Chu Tianque beside him, wore expressions of full agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably this wasn’t truly secret—Yan Wushuang had already spoken of his role as steward of the Heavenly Stele, so explaining this was straightforward:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The rules within the Heavenly Stele are strict, and combat is rare.” Yan Wushuang told Zheng Fa: “Of course, that doesn’t mean there are no difficulties—in fact, the Heavenly Stele…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Zheng Fa noticed all three men wore bitter smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It has cost us immense effort.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa felt deep confusion upon hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yan Wushuang and the other two seemed unwilling to elaborate further; before leaving, Yan Wushuang said: “Brother Zheng, if you enter the Heavenly Stele, we’ll be rivals. This talk isn’t full of secrets, but I was entrusted by Han Lao—or I wouldn’t have told you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Han Lao, the Setting Sun Sword Immortal? His request?” Zheng Fa blinked, expression blank: “Brother Yan, do you know why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ” Unexpectedly, Yan Wushuang looked even more confused: “Maybe… check your family genealogy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa watched the three depart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Zhang Shijie and the other; both wore identical confusion, clearly unsure what the Setting Sun Sword Immortal intended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Zhang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, Zheng Fa finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go.” Unexpectedly, before he could finish, Zhang Shijie said directly: “I’ll wait outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa cast a deep glance at Zhang Shijie, then slowly walked toward the Heavenly Stele.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead lay unavoidable thunderstorms; every step sent several bolts of lightning flashing over his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power of this thunder was three times stronger than that within Lei Chi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With every step forward, he felt the energy within the lightning grow stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, Zheng Fa could endure it with his physical body alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, he had no choice but to activate the Divine Thunder Subduing True Art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunder cultivation arts abound, each with unique benefits—some excel at summoning heavenly lightning to kill enemies, others use thunder to refine the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Divine Thunder Subduing True Art, as the Jiushan Sect’s true transmission, centers solely on controlling thunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This art allows one to command lightning—its four stages are Thunder Field Cultivation, Thunder Seed Nurturing, Thunder Bloom, and Thunder Fruit Harvesting, corresponding to Foundation Establishment early, mid, late, and Core Formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As cultivation advances, practitioners of this art gain ever greater control over lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other sects, this art wouldn’t be highly valued—basically, it merely enhances a cultivator’s affinity with thunder, offering little offensive power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiushan Sect excels in talisman arts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Thunder Subduing True Art, when paired with thunder talismans, yields more than double the effect, even granting Jiushan Sect its former great renown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even his master’s thunder talisman array was absurd—ordinary cultivators couldn’t form arrays with thunder talismans; heavenly lightning was too violent to control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the Divine Thunder Subduing True Art’s control, a thunder talisman array might instantly kill its arranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Zheng Fa hadn’t yet reached Thunder Field Cultivation, he had barely entered the Divine Thunder Subduing True Art; now, as he activated it, his spiritual power subtly connected with the surrounding thunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavenly lightning surging toward him diminished by a third, making things far easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang and the other two stood amid the thunder, watching Zheng Fa’s figure; Yan Wushuang frowned, as if puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Yan, what are you thinking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m wondering… why did Han Lao take such notice of Zheng Fa?” Yan Wushuang explained, his gaze toward Zheng Fa curious: “I’ve mentioned Han Lao’s nature before—he, well, doesn’t even look at you two.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two’s faces darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As true disciples of the Xuanwei Five Sects, they rarely faced outright disregard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Setting Sun Sword Immortal did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Setting Sun Sword Immortal’s temperament was known throughout the Xuanwei Five Sects; previously, both had comforted themselves:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This old man disdains countless others—what are we to him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, Han Lao’s attitude toward Zheng Fa went beyond mere favoritism—he was actively courting him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both thought about it, and curiosity, mixed with a touch of rivalry, stirred within them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Zheng Fa walk through the thunder, though emotionally conflicted, Chu Tianque nodded sincerely: “Zheng Fa’s thunder-refining body and art are both impressive—he bears resemblance to Sister Xue… In a sect like Jiushan, calling him a prodigy isn’t excessive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Xue smiled faintly and nodded lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Yan Wushuang understood—though praising Zheng Fa, their tone carried subtle condescension, as if evaluating him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to admit, his own thoughts were much the same:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa’s current performance didn’t surprise him; in past dealings, he hadn’t entirely dismissed the idea of lowering his stance to befriend him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Han Lao…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Xue, how much land do you think he’ll claim upon entering the Heavenly Stele?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianque suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Xue paused thoughtfully, then replied slowly: “I observe he has reached Foundation Establishment at this age—faster than Zhang Wuyi. He likely possesses a single-element root and Dao Body. But his cultivation is still low; we all began with five hundred li—perhaps he’ll get fifty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think so too…” Chu Tianque nodded, then cursed: “This divine title system is bizarre… Why must thunder arts govern land grants? I still don’t understand!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, not just him—Yan Wushuang and the other two wore grim expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang half-comforted, half-complained: “Even our Tianhe Sect, with tens of thousands of years of history, hasn’t unraveled the Heavenly Stele’s mysteries—its rules are too strange, too elusive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa didn’t hear their conversation; he slowly reached the Heavenly Stele, and only then noticed it was incomplete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a majestic square jade pillar, but its top appeared severed, revealing a sharp, upward-pointing tip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he approached, the stele glowed faintly, as if sensing his presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he was about half a zhang away, the pillar emitted a brilliant rainbow light that enveloped him; when he opened his eyes again, the scene before him had changed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground beneath his feet was made of glowing white jade, its veins pulsing with spiritual energy—material rare even in Xuanwei Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead, a grand palace blocked half the sky; its base floated in midair, connected only by three broad staircases, with no other support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many people ascended the stairs toward the palace; Yan Wushuang and the other two were among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa was about to fly toward the palace when his spiritual power stirred—he realized something strange: his spiritual power still flowed, but he couldn’t cast any spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within his Yuanfu Dao Base, most talismans lay dormant, motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only one still active was the Thunder Bind Talisman he had condensed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa pulled out talismans from his storage pouch and found that, aside from thunder talismans, all others were dull, devoid of spiritual energy—completely inert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He now understood why everyone walked so orderly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rules…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remembering the two words Yan Wushuang had emphasized, Zheng Fa’s mind stirred:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others saw only strangeness in these rules—but Zheng Fa sensed familiarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his theories about spiritual energy and talismans held, the rules here might be:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spiritual energy could affect only electromagnetic forces, nothing else?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thought ignited his interest in the Heavenly Stele world:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like a natural experimental field, controlling variables!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he couldn’t fly, Zheng Fa soon reached the palace entrance on foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace had three halls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The central hall’s doors were tightly shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The left and right halls were open, but all previous visitors had entered only the left hall—none went to the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa hesitated when he encountered Yan Wushuang and the other two exiting the left hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zheng, you must enter the right hall first to claim your land grant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Land grant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang seemed to enjoy teasing; he merely gestured for Zheng Fa to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two behind him exchanged glances, clearly intrigued, and studied Zheng Fa closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang was highly conspicuous among this group; as he moved, five or six other cultivators approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa was puzzled but followed Yan Wushuang’s gesture to the entrance of the right annex hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We visit these three halls every time we enter the Heavenly Stele world,” Yan Wushuang explained with a smile as Zheng Fa neared: “The left annex we call the Hundred Treasures Hall; the right annex, the Land Grant Hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Land Grant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa asked, suddenly alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll find out once you enter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang gently pushed Zheng Fa forward; Zheng Fa took two steps with the force, standing at the entrance of the right side hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he looked up, he saw numerous divine statues standing within the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He counted them—there were twelve in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These statues were tall and imposing, each like a pillar holding up the sky, but upon closer inspection, Zheng Fa noticed that every statue’s face was utterly blank, giving them an eerie quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa stepped lightly into the hall, and as soon as he entered, he felt the twelve eyeless statues seemed to be “watching” him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His steps grew even lighter as he slowly approached the statues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could even steady himself, twelve beams of golden light suddenly shot from the faces of the twelve statues, interweaving over his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt as if he had been scanned from head to toe, inside and out, every part laid bare by the golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More startling still, the golden light entered his spiritual sea and headed straight for the Yin-Yang fish jade pendant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pendant stirred awake, trembling slightly and emitting faint glimmers—so weak they were nearly invisible—but the golden light swiftly retreated, as if embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twelve beams of golden light withdrew from Zheng Fa’s body and converged before him into a glowing orb, from which several solemn voices suddenly spoke in unison, reciting a passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Heavenly Court is defiled; the Immortal Sovereign has lost his throne.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The cosmic order is in chaos, yin and yang are out of balance, and all beings suffer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have received the Thunder Dao inheritance, blessed with great fortune and surpassing merit. I now grant you a divine rank: to command thunder, restore celestial order, govern clouds and rain, and nurture the myriad people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By imperial decree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa stood there dazed, still not comprehending the words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orb before him gradually solidified and shrank, revealing the shape of a scroll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the door, Yan Wushuang and the other two watched this scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s fifty li of fief, it should be a bamboo scroll?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianque said. The Xuandao sect’s Xue Zhenchuan shook his head, seemingly unaware: “Both of us received bronze scrolls, as we were granted five hundred li fiefs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the onlookers behind them spoke up: “It’s a bamboo scroll—I got one myself. You two are disciples of the Xuánwēi Five Sects; you entered the Heavenly Stele and immediately received five hundred li fiefs, so of course you wouldn’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone carried no small amount of flattery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we’re no match for Brother Yan,” Chu Tianque said. “I wonder how the Divine Enthronement Hall determines this—Brother Yan received a silver scroll, commanding five thousand li of fief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang smiled with quiet pride but waved his hand: “It’s all fortune. Besides, this is only the initial grant—you’ll all expand your fiefs later by accumulating heavenly merit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not true,” Xue Zhenchuan sneered, shaking his head. “The larger your initial fief, the faster you accumulate heavenly merit. Otherwise, how could Brother Yan stay at the top of the Heavenly Merit List?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone nodded at this, looking at Yan Wushuang with clear envy on their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-silver scroll!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone who had been watching Zheng Fa suddenly shouted. Everyone turned sharply—and saw that the enfeoffment scroll before Zheng Fa was made of silver; its glow left them all in stunned silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So… this is why Han Lao values him so much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Yan Wushuang was stunned, murmuring to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>",2101,"2026-06-19T19:16:02.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3f33bbcffe78bc26c2fe5b4460835e30c2a16cae5d7378d9b365e458153f764b","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-195","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-193",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]