[{"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-205":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},2263931,4418,"Chapter 205: They Are All Good People!","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-205",205,"\u003Cp>When Zheng Fa was about to leave the Heaven Stele Realm, Banshan City had already changed somewhat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the Thunder Sect’s core members had turned to ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city might not have been one where lost items were returned or doors left unlocked at night, but those who dared to do evil were surely trembling in fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest, as judged by the Divine Register, were mostly not guilty of capital crimes—such people, though Zheng Fa would still punish them with heavenly thunder, the power varied greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strong ones still left victims severely wounded; the weak ones were merely thunderous noise with no real force:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mostly just to remind them that heaven watches above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa did nothing extra; every day he harvested heavenly merit at fixed locations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the incense offerings at the temple grew day by day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qing occasionally used surplus offerings to aid the elderly and weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, there were no elderly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most people in Banshan City had short lifespans; once past thirty-five, one could be called an elder, and forty could be called advanced age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone like Xiao Qing could barely be called a youth—Banshan City’s poverty was bone-deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, the townsfolk came in groups, carrying baskets filled with dried mushrooms, smoked fish and shrimp, bolts of coarse cloth, and some delicate ornaments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In modern times, let alone among the common folk of the Xuanwei Realm, these items were worthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was Banshan City…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These townsfolk seemed to know the Thunder God Lord no longer liked being disturbed; they placed a dozen baskets, bowed several times to the statue, and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thunder God Lord, do you know who these things in the baskets belong to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this period of chatting, Xiao Qing had come to understand Zheng Fa wasn’t a harsh nature, and now spoke more freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa usually didn’t care about Banshan City’s affairs, but the thoughts of these people inside the temple, he couldn’t avoid hearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These things were, of course, the property of the Thunder Sect’s leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only he could have scavenged such “vast wealth” from Banshan City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thunder God Lord, you really know everything!” Xiao Qing nodded, looking admiringly, then added: “Now that the Thunder Sect is gone, we found these good things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t I tell you to tell them they needn’t offer anything? Let them divide these among themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people were so poor, yet daily brought their own rations to the temple—he didn’t approve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t even eat them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told them…” Xiao Qing protested: “They refused!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa truly couldn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say…” the young temple attendant thought a moment: “They didn’t expect the Thunder God Lord to be so good… they fear you might disappear again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good?” Zheng Fa found it hard to comprehend: “What did I do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely because you did nothing—that’s what’s good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Qing widened his eyes, speaking as if it were obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa pondered the logic of Xiao Qing and the people of Banshan City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Thunder Sect’s leader seized their rivers; he didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Thunder Sect’s leader collected taxes; he didn’t take any.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Thunder Sect’s leader led cannibalism; Zheng Fa despised it deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Thunder God Lord didn’t even accept offerings, and let the temple attendant distribute things for others to eat…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that light, the Thunder Sect’s leader had lowered the people’s expectations of deities—this man, besides being inhuman, had actually done a little good?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Think of the nearly three hundred heavenly merit points on the Divine Register.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His contribution was substantial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll give you a few names; go distribute these things to them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa thought a moment, then inwardly shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He named several people whose bodies had recently glowed faintly with golden light—these individuals had likely done many good deeds, and Zheng Fa remembered them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past few days, Zheng Fa had been pondering the Divine Register’s principle of punishing evil and rewarding good, which granted heavenly merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Punishing evil was simple: use thunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rewarding good was harder; distributing these offerings was a test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright!” Xiao Qing’s eyes sparkled as he nodded quickly in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zheng Fa stepped out of the Heaven Stele Realm, he felt the relief of returning home after work—the Heaven Stele Realm was too boring; this past month, he’d felt more like he was in seclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had now accumulated nearly three hundred heavenly merit points, and those in Banshan City worthy of heavenly thunder punishment were nearly gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining heavenly merit, Zheng Fa planned to explore other gathering points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banshan City was the most populous in his domain; other places were scattered, even lacking temples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two visits had confirmed for him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temple was still vital—he could only restore his spiritual power within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elsewhere, Zheng Fa could only travel as a spiritual essence; unless he used heavenly thunder from the Divine Register, he couldn’t sense his physical body at all, let alone restore spiritual power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even hearing the thoughts of Banshan City’s people or discerning their good or evil seemed to require the statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This seemed another manifestation of the world’s unique rules—or perhaps remnants of its former divine path civilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other gathering points likely lacked a great evil like the Thunder Sect’s leader, but their total evil was greater; gathering five hundred heavenly merit points for a Yang Thunder Spider’s core was easy—what now limited Zheng Fa’s efficiency was still his Foundation Establishment realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he stepped out of the Heaven Stele, he encountered Yan Wushuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, he encountered Yan Wushuang and many other cultivators who had entered the Heaven Stele Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seemed to be waiting for someone, gathered around the stele without leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Zheng Fa emerged, all eyes turned sharply toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned back—no one was behind him. He looked again at the crowd—their gazes were still fixed squarely on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa felt a chill run down his spine…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Yan…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zheng! You’re finally out!” Yan Wushuang walked over: “We’ve all been waiting for you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Waiting for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa froze, puzzled why they waited for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come see!” Yan Wushuang pulled him into the crowd, to the base of the stele—where the name “Zheng Fa” stood prominently at the very top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, Zheng Fa disliked this ranking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Thunder Spiritual Energy Equation was a dimensional crush against these cultivators in the Heaven Stele Realm—he naturally accumulated heavenly merit fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he disliked was that this ranking made him too conspicuous—no benefit, only enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Five-Color Divine Light had already nearly scared Master Pang to death; he should have stayed low-key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this ranking was unique to the Heaven Stele…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced warily at those present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, they were all his competitors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What surprised him was that some in the crowd did show caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But many others looked at him with pure kindness!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even kindness filled with encouragement and admiration…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they saw him looking their way, many smiled warmly, their expressions enthusiastic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some even stepped forward to introduce themselves:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Cheng Tianxin, from the Profound Heaven Sect… Brother Zheng, a pleasure!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Yun Yang, from the Righteous Qi Sect…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, many cultivators present introduced themselves, clearly eager to befriend Zheng Fa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa responded mechanically, bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait—how had the Xuanwei Realm’s culture suddenly improved so much? These people showed zero envy or jealousy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not being jealous was one thing—but why so friendly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if sensing Zheng Fa’s confusion, Yan Wushuang chuckled, glanced around as if fearing someone might appear, then whispered: “Brother Zheng, look who’s second.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa looked up—Xiao Yuying’s name sat directly beneath his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was slightly surprised—he’d expected to rank first thanks to the Heavenly Thunder Spiritual Energy Equation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xiao Yuying…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her talent was truly extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remember, she’d only just entered the Heaven Stele Realm, a full month after him—had they compared only first-month heavenly merit, he’d have been behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on the other hand……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are these people being warm to me because of him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zheng, you don’t know this—Miss Xiao is like this…” Yan Wushuang began recounting his experiences from thirty years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa was beginning to understand the nature of this Miss Xiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Yan Wushuang say this, others also began speaking up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten years ago… an ancient cave mansion appeared…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My senior brother also encountered her…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My master! He was once confronted by this woman, and ultimately failed to overcome his inner demons…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he listened, Zheng Fa suddenly realized… this Xiao Yuying was almost as great a person as the leader of the Thunder Sect!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the atmosphere of the Xuanwei Realm, with me now ranked first, I wouldn’t be hated—but I certainly wouldn’t be liked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who wouldn’t want to control the Heavenly Stele?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with Xiao Yuying around, it’s different…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She has made so many enemies that she’s gained a fan club of her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their meaning is simple: we’re not supporting you, but whoever can beat Xiao Yuying, we back!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this way, Zheng Fa unexpectedly found himself developing a certain fondness for this Miss Xiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While everyone was still discussing, another figure suddenly emerged from the Heavenly Stele—it was Miss Lingye, Xiao Yuying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she appeared, everyone fell silent; the earlier bustle instantly died down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked at her awkwardly, with reverence and a hint of anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One person was an exception—Zheng Fa now found her increasingly agreeable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yuying seemed long accustomed to such glances, even showing a touch of disdain; yet Zheng Fa’s kind gaze appeared unusually obvious, causing her to glance at him a second time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t even bother to examine the rankings on the stele closely—she walked outward while glancing only at the very top of the list…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One look, and her steps halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, she turned back and walked toward the Heavenly Stele.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others silently parted to let her approach, watching as she studied the rankings for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes held no shortage of amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, she frowned, as if trying to recall something, but couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, she suddenly looked up, scanning the crowd—her gaze passed over the others and settled on Zheng Fa, as if remembering the rare kindness in his eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Esteemed fellow cultivator, I’d like to ask you something,” Xiao Yuying said, her tone still polite: “Who exactly is this Zheng Fa?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she spoke the name “Zheng Fa,” her tone clearly carried interest and a touch of resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I am Zheng Fa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1767,"2026-06-19T19:16:07.172Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d285320d41b3b82ed7d5393ebbbc479ac0760dcb2b4b990e2366b1b4de7df41f","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-206","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-204",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]