[{"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-227":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},2263953,4418,"Chapter 227: Not Worth Dying For","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-227",227,"\u003Cp>“I can tell at a glance you’re not human!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old white-haired man pointed at Zheng Fa, glaring at the cellular image on the computer screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa opened his mouth to protest, but didn’t know how.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the screen, the skin cells of four people were lined up in a row.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin and the other two were no different from ordinary humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Zheng Fa—his cells contained a completely different cellular structure!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you zoom in further?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa asked Teacher Tian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had grown something inside himself—he wanted to see what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Tian shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old white-haired man frowned at the screen, no longer joking: “Why didn’t any of us change, only you? And why does it resemble the structure in the pea seedling’s cells?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His initial hypothesis had been that, as a transmigrator, this might be a difference between beings from two worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as the old man said—the pea seedling also had something similar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pea seedling was a modern variety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This nearly ruled out that hypothesis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another possibility was Zheng Fa’s cultivation level: the others were still in Qi Refining, while he had reached Foundation Establishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this change occurred only after Foundation Establishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the pea seedling had only faint spiritual energy, no sentience, no cultivation at all—and yet it had already developed this structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea that this was tied to cultivation also seemed untenable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zheng Fa, have you had any recent changes in your cultivation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Changes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa didn’t understand what Tang Lingwumin meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin dashed out of the lab and returned with a tablet, pointing at the rune patterns on it: “You know, to study the Three-Child Rune, I’ve been using the Spirit Eye Technique to collect rune patterns from the spiritual energy in the nursing home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These past two days, I’ve found hundreds of new rune patterns in the nursing home’s spiritual energy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“New?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. We originally collected thousands of Divine Name Sub-runes—but these hundreds of new patterns contain Divine Name Sub-runes not in my database.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa looked at the tablet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, all hundreds of these new rune patterns contained the same, unfamiliar Divine Name Sub-rune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hundreds of new patterns is already a lot!” Tang Lingwumin added. “We couldn’t have missed them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Newly appeared?” The old white-haired man leaned over, studied it for a long while, then said, “I’ve never seen these before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa understood Tang Lingwumin’s implication: “You think the appearance of the pea seedling might be connected to these hundreds of new spiritual runes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Lingwumin nodded slightly: “But I’m not certain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa’s spiritual sense sank into his dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The biggest change in him recently had been this Fusang tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Qingyang Dao Body truly relates to Dongwanggong, it might indeed be linked to spiritual plants—after all, he had another title: Mu Gong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression turned slightly odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could this thing have some strange quirks?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, he’d cursed “Qingyang Dao Body,” and the Fusang tree appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, if he cursed “useless Fusang tree,” could he make spiritual plants grow?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa thought for a moment, silently cursing inwardly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn tree, why can’t you make me achieve Soul Transformation in one day and ascend to heaven in three?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fusang tree trembled three times—Zheng Fa was certain it was cursing him, and cursing him badly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanwei Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most disciples of Jiushan Sect now lived near Lei Chi—so if anything happened, they could all rush straight into the thunder pool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa’s courtyard was among them, right next to Zhang Shijie’s, with Huang Yu’s nearby as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the Five Dragon Heavenly Palace, Zhang Shijie refused to let Zheng Fa live too far from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the Lei Chi marketplace’s arrays were primitive and couldn’t guarantee safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days had been quiet; the capture of the square-faced youth hadn’t alarmed the demon clans, and with Zhang Shijie and Huang Yu both as Nascent Soul elders, no one dared trouble them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa entered Zhang Shijie’s courtyard holding several books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yu was there too; the two women sat at separate low tables, chatting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie held a cup of clear tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yu held a tall blue porcelain bottle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rich aroma of alcohol pouring from its mouth struck Zheng Fa’s nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa glanced at Huang Yu again—he remembered her as always cold-faced, expressionless, her gaze as if he were invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t even recall having seen her smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before Zhang Shijie, Huang Yu was a different person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa hesitated slightly—he hadn’t expected Huang Yu to be here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yu slouched on the low table, wine stains on her lips, eyes soft, gaze flowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t seem to notice Zheng Fa’s entrance, sipping her wine as if he weren’t there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie’s eyes lit up, staring at the books in Zheng Fa’s hands: “What’s that you’ve got?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa laid the books out before Zhang Shijie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Coding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From Logic Gates to Computational Theory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Principles of Neural Networks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These books were what Zheng Fa had asked Tang Lingwumin for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie’s research into the Shanhe True Form Rune’s composite patterns wasn’t going well—her biggest problem was understanding how circuit changes could produce intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa understood this field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Shijie was already a mature Nascent Soul—why couldn’t she just learn to evolve into a computer herself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie flipped through a few pages, her eyelids flickered, she stole a glance at Huang Yu, then said to Zheng Fa: “I’ll come find you after I’ve read them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa nodded, bowed to Huang Yu, and took his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yu didn’t look up. Only after Zheng Fa had walked far away did she turn her head to Zhang Shijie and say: “So, you won’t let me see?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie looked embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t foolish—when she’d seen topology, she’d only been suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing these books, she now understood: Zheng Fa’s knowledge came from somewhere else—certainly not something a Nascent Soul True Person could possess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m your master—do you have to hide this from me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie shook her head: “Master, if it were anything else, I wouldn’t hide it. But this might concern Zheng’s secret.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“... Everyone has secrets,” Huang Yu said, shaking her head. “He doesn’t hide it from you—your feelings aren’t wasted on a dog.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie smiled faintly, gently stroking the book covers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…” Huang Yu sighed. “He’s only Foundation Establishment. If something happens to him later… think about the kind of life I’ve lived these past years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t want you to be like me… There’s a saying in the mortal world: deep love shortens life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple… gladly accepts it,” Zhang Shijie said, lowering her eyes to the books before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“... How did I end up with a disciple even more stubborn than me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I have one more request.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t say it—I’ll protect your Zheng brother! If he dies, I’ll be the only one left in Jiushan Sect!” Huang Yu gritted her teeth. “What sin did I commit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the Heavenly Stele.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yan brother?” Zheng Fa stared at Yan Wushuang, barely recognizing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mainly because Yan Wushuang had changed his attire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He no longer wore his crane-feather cloak, but a simple white Daoist robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The greater change was in his expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes no longer held their former frivolity; instead, they radiated calmness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang glanced at Chu Tianque and Xue Zhenchuan behind him, then pulled Zheng Fa a few steps away, tossing out several soundproofing spiritual talismans—as if he had something private to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zheng, I’ve thought it through.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa was baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I intend to inherit our Ancestor’s legacy, cleanse the world, and restore order!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a moment…” Zheng Fa raised his hand to stop him, then said after a pause: “The Heaven River Sect betrayed Heaven River Venerable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your father, the Heaven River Sect Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you want to kill your father?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… not necessarily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really mean to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang, seeing Zheng Fa’s question, sighed bitterly: “I only want to reform the Heaven River Sect. If my father were willing to join me, that would be best…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zheng, you don’t understand. I’ve grown up hearing only the Ancestor’s name, always proud to be his descendant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang’s voice was filled with exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then Han Lao told me our Heaven River Sect are traitors…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s why you didn’t come to the Heavenly Stele last time…” Zheng Fa recalled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t hide it from you, Brother Zheng—I once considered ending my life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa felt a pang of sympathy. This was the flaw of the Heaven River Sect’s education system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every Heaven River Sect disciple found it hard not to take pride in Heaven River Venerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But once they learned the truth—it was a complete collapse of their worldview.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Han Lao has always advised me, and now I’ve thought it through!” Yan Wushuang’s tone brightened: “My ancestors erred—I will correct it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Ancestor’s legacy has been forgotten—I will inherit it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will reform the Heaven River Sect, rediscover new methods, and carve a new path for the Xuanwei Realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa nodded repeatedly, praising: “Brother Yan, your words have stirred my blood—I wish I could…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa fell silent, his face calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve decided—we can’t make a big show of this at first. But I have a small organization, and some allied Daoists. We’ll work subtly: seeking the Ancestor’s legacy, and finding like-minded allies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa thought it over—this man meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To turn his weirdo fan club into a suicide squad?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zheng, you’re the first person I came to!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang looked at Zheng Fa with sincere earnestness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have one question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many of your teachers are—no, how many Soul Transformation cultivators?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“None.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many Nascent Soul cultivators?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“None either…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa paused, then asked: “How many people do you have now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that you’re here, we’ve got two!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goodbye!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, although Zheng Fa and Yan Wushuang’s plans differed in detail, their goals weren’t entirely incompatible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least they were on the same side!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yan Wushuang…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Heaven River Sect came after them,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Yan Wushuang, they might say: “The Sect Master’s son can still be saved—take him back and educate him properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zheng Fa? That would be—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Evil cultist! Not worth sparing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1752,"2026-06-19T19:16:07.172Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c1530fcd7803ead78cd924140392bf4344fb5819a237dae2cf8f92c4b55ae00d","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-228","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-226",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]