[{"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-53":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},2263779,4418,"Chapter 53: Sewn Tightly","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-53",53,"\u003Cp>Some words sound like rejection, but are actually agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Zheng Fa smile, the Lady shook her head: “Don’t smile yet. Though I don’t know why that Nascent Soul True Person didn’t simply take you in, I can’t fathom the ways of such great figures—but even if you truly summoned him, this spot would never go to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten years ago, I gave one spot to my natal family, another to my own daughter—and even then, those Zhao family members nearly revolted.” A deep sneer appeared on the Lady’s face for reasons unknown: “This time, with two spots, one is for my foolish son, the other must be used to appease them—never for a mere bookboy like you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa nodded, feeling no disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised the request only to dispel the Lady’s suspicions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his calm expression, the Lady suddenly said: “That foolish boy’s sister returned this time as an inner sect disciple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The eldest miss?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to the Green Wood Sect’s rules, inner sect disciples may select two attendants from the mortal world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa began to understand the Lady’s meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But this isn’t freely given.” The Lady pointed to the two books on the table: “I don’t care how you do it, or whether you even have a way—my foolish son must ascend the Dengxianmen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he enters, even if you did nothing, I’ll still give you an attendant’s position.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he fails, either beg your mysterious Nascent Soul True Person to take you away, or serve the Zhao family well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I care only for my own son. Do you understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the Seventh Young Master’s words, he had full confidence in ascending the Dengxianmen—the Lady had just granted him an attendant’s spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady suddenly spoke: “I actually considered killing you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady smiled: “You don’t believe me? Do you know what cultivation level our Zhao ancestors achieved?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nascent Soul.” The Lady lifted her teacup, sipping slowly: “Don’t fear—he passed away peacefully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though my ancestor is gone, he left behind a formation and a magic treasure. Guess where that treasure is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa looked up, scanning the seemingly ordinary little tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re very clever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady’s praise grew more evident; her teacup tilted slowly, tea dripping gently from its rim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the room before Zheng Fa transformed utterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carved beams and painted rafters above became swirling stars; the cushion beneath him turned into cold, damp rock, sending a chill through his kneeling legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The low table before him vanished, replaced by a bottomless cliff—Zheng Fa sat at its edge, cold wind tugging at his robes, nearly blinding him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady’s figure was gone; only the tea pouring from the cup remained, like a celestial river cascading into a gorge, becoming a roaring waterfall, its mist and thunder crashing against his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the biting wind came the Lady’s cold voice: “My ancestor left this treasure to protect our clan. Though my cultivation is low, I could hold off a Nascent Soul True Person long enough for the great formation to activate and for the Green Wood Sect to send aid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m genuinely curious—would that Nascent Soul True Person fight the Green Wood Sect for a mortal who hasn’t even reached Qi Refining?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Zheng Fa understand why the Lady had ruled the Zhao family for twenty years without opposition—she was a cultivator!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhao family claimed they had immortal blood in every generation, yet Zheng Fa had never seen a single true cultivator—until now, he realized it was her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In another blink, the scene before him returned to its original state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warm, dry cushion, the steaming tea, the Lady smiling lazily at him—as if the previous moments had been nothing but a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know when I decided not to kill you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The one sentence I never believed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa immediately knew which line she meant—I regard the Young Master as a friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of disgust crossed the Lady’s face, as if the words were hard to utter: “This morning, a fool came running over, crying his eyes out, telling me the exact same thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The curtain in the corner stirred slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither Zheng Fa nor the Lady acted as if they had noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That fool—when he should be clever, he’s clueless; but when he shouldn’t be, he sees clearly…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa silently gazed at the tea before him; its steam rose warmly, as if about to flow into his heart through his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last time, I sent his sister away from him—he didn’t speak to me for ten years.” The Lady shook her head, weary: “As his mother, I don’t want my son to hate and avoid me for the rest of his life. Do you understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa nodded: “Parents always lose to their children.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never believe what people say—I only watch what they do.” The Lady fixed her gaze on Zheng Fa’s face: “Especially not men’s words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But for the sake of that fool, I’m willing to believe you once—don’t let me down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa rose, bowed deeply, and repeated: “I regard the Young Master as a friend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope you mean it. Go now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Zheng Fa slowly descend the stairs, the Seventh Young Master emerged from the curtain, puzzled: “Mother, you really planned to use the family treasure to kill him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady rolled her eyes: “I was just scaring him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scaring?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Help me up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With my level of cultivation, even moving this treasure slightly would cost me half my life. To stand against a Nascent Soul? Do you think I’d live long enough for him to even raise a hand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning back on the couch, pale-faced, the Lady suddenly spoke: “Fan’er?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?” The Seventh Young Master stared blankly at his mother, seeing her watching him intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know why I met him and gave him this attendant spot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those two books?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes and no. Two months from now, you’ll ascend the Dengxianmen.” The Lady stroked her child’s head, revealing rare softness and reluctance: “The Immortal Gate isn’t paradise. He’s talented—I hope you’ll have an ally someday. If he ever helps you even once, I’ll allow him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Given your nature, I never wanted to send you to the Immortal Gate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seventh Young Master lowered his head in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zheng Fa is right—parents always lose to their children.” The Lady didn’t anger; she gazed tenderly, greedily at her son: “The Immortal Gate is far away. Soon, I won’t be able to protect you anymore. All I can do is this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the little tower, Chief Wu waited for him; the two walked side by side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did the Lady want to kill him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa neither believed nor disbelieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady had brought the Seventh Young Master to the tower—she had indeed prepared for the worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Lady said, what was a lowly bookboy like him, someone who hadn’t even reached Qi Refining, worth to the Zhao family in provoking a Nascent Soul?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This threat was likely meant only to remind him of the Seventh Young Master’s friendship—to show him the favor granted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Zheng Fa gave a faint, self-deprecating smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would have thought that having no value could be an advantage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zheng Fa, when I first saw you, I never imagined you’d reach this point.” Seeing his smile, Chief Wu spoke with envy: “The Young Master values you, the Lady treats you differently—in twenty years, I’ve never seen any man enter the curtain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Young Master treats me very well, and the Lady is kind too.” Zheng Fa nodded slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t resent the Lady’s aloofness or her suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I simply dislike a world where survival demands endless scheming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Chief Wu’s face—the man’s expression held a hint of familiarity; from their first meeting, he had wanted to befriend Zheng Fa, and now his demeanor carried even more flattery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed to the distant courtyard wall and asked Chief Wu: “Chief Wu, once you ascend the Dengxianmen, can you leap over this Zhao family wall?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ascend the Dengxianmen? The wall?” Chief Wu blinked, staring at Zheng Fa strangely, as if he were foolish: “Once you ascend the Dengxianmen, you become immortal. Not just the wall—even towering mountains become flat ground. You can go anywhere, fearless, free—true great freedom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Ascend the Dengxianmen—fearless, free—true great freedom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Modern day, classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Chen stared at Zheng Fa’s face: “Zheng Fa, didn’t sleep well again? Watching videos again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa smiled and shook his head: “No. Had a nightmare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A nightmare? What did you dream?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I dreamed of a… not-so-pleasant world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Chen tilted his head, frowning thoughtfully: “I think no world is worse than the one where we have a monthly exam tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1473,"2026-06-19T19:16:02.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b51f1a0405161de8d2bd662670ef270d7fcd80d70ac416c7b869479bd61456fa","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-54","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-52",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]