[{"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-95":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},2263821,4418,"Chapter 95: Brawl","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-95",95,"\u003Cp>Zheng Fa had never imagined that his first class at Jiushan Sect would be learning how to fight in a mob brawl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This situation baffled Zheng Fa—it completely exceeded his expectations for the intensity of the rivalry between Jiushan Sect’s two branches, and he couldn’t understand why the sect’s leadership would allow such a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had heard there was tension between the two branches, but he never thought it would come to violence on first meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Brother Zhuang stepping outside for a moment could get into a fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qi, however, looked perfectly at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood at the front of the hall, face flushed with excitement, swinging his right arm through the air as he shouted to the others in the room: “We are of the same branch—can we stand by and watch Brother Zhuang fight alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then come on, younger brothers—follow me to lend support!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he charged toward the battlefield where Brother Zhuang was fighting, full of martial spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half the room followed him, especially several senior disciples, who moved with practiced ease, pulling talismans from their sleeves as they ran, their faces lit with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of disciples from the opposite side had also arrived; their expressions could only be described as—this is why I came to class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa didn’t move. He observed from inside the room, mainly assessing the intensity of the fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If things truly escalated to serious injury, he’d have to go to Zhang Shijie and call for reinforcements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after watching for a while, Zheng Fa was certain: this was a fierce yet disciplined sparring match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to describe it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The special effects were excellent; the damage was minimal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noise was loud; the power was weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two senior brothers fought with every technique at their disposal—yet stopped short of real harm, ensuring both spectacle and safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa now understood: this mob brawl was likely a tradition in the Talisman Pavilion—almost bordering on friendly competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, none of them used lethal talismans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who didn’t rush out were all new disciples, unprepared for this sudden chaos, utterly bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, they weren’t foolish—they knew their meager cultivation levels would only hinder the fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa thought for a moment, pulled out a talisman paper, and picked up his brush to draw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew a Water Prison talisman, and his internal spiritual power was completely drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he had only this tiny amount of spiritual power, and he’d already used most of it practicing the Golden Armor talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tucked the Water Prison talisman into his sleeve and sat down to meditate on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others noticed his action, exchanged glances, and each pulled out talisman paper, beginning to hastily draw—no, forge—their weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When his magic power had recovered about one-tenth, Zheng Fa stepped out of the room and headed toward the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the Talisman Pavilion, streams of light crisscrossed the air from flying talismans; below, figures darted back and forth in fierce motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon closer look, he saw Brother Zhuang being beaten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He really was being beaten—Zheng Fa had seen clearly earlier: in terms of talisman technique, Brother Zhuang wasn’t inferior to the other senior brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Brother Zhuang had one major disadvantage—he had too many incompetent allies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the new disciples who had rushed out with Han Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa had noticed earlier: on this Talisman Day, around twenty new disciples had come to Brother Zhuang’s side—nearly half of all new disciples in Jiushan Sect this year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense—Zhang Shijie’s reputation naturally drew a large crowd of new disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, more people would be an advantage—but not now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people, whipped into a frenzy by Han Qi’s two sentences, charged forward in a mob.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when they reached the front did they realize: they were nothing but targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t aid Brother Zhuang at all—they became his burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opposing side, though fewer in number, had far fewer new disciples and two more senior disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This imbalance made their disadvantage even clearer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa saw Brother Zhuang, protected by a Golden Armor talisman, standing in front of a dazed new disciple and taking a withering vine talisman for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not content with shielding him, he also cast a Golden Armor talisman on another new disciple who stood frozen in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was both attacker and defender—clearly overwhelmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zheng Fa shouted: “Those without talismans—fall back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new disciples, who had been flailing like headless flies, finally snapped out of their confusion and began retreating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, other new disciples who had finished drawing their talismans inside the room rushed out; though their talismans were freshly drawn, few in number and weak in power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, they were fresh reinforcements and quickly stabilized Brother Zhuang’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa didn’t rush forward. He crouched behind the crowd—and then saw a familiar, shifty figure crouching ahead of him, bobbing his head forward to peek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Didn’t you charge forward just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at Han Qi, utterly confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You shouted so loudly and charged so fiercely—I thought you were going to lead from the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now you’re crouching here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough…” Han Qi straightened up, his face slightly flushed: “You’re new—you don’t understand. This is strategy! Clearly we’re at a disadvantage—I’m waiting for an opening, waiting for them to expose a weakness, then I’ll strike with a surprise maneuver to decide the battle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?” Zheng Fa eyed him skeptically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course!” Han Qi lifted his chin. “Wait—how come you’re here too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Waiting for an opening, waiting for them to expose a weakness, then striking with a surprise maneuver!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa wasn’t mocking Han Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had only one talisman—he had to wait for the perfect moment to throw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Brother Zhuang had regained a slight edge—but still remained on the defensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa realized: Brother Zhuang had run out of talismans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Golden Armor talismans—the defensive ones—he’d used several to protect the new disciples, and now he was nearly out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without defense, Brother Zhuang was hamstrung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the other senior brother gradually seized control of the match, growing increasingly composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene drove home to Zheng Fa a universal truth: no money, no confidence—true in any world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As their talisman reserves dwindled, Zheng Fa saw Brother Zhuang showing signs of defeat—the other senior brother hurled a Water Prison talisman, and Brother Zhuang had no talisman left to block it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, Brother Zhuang was engulfed by a massive column of water—thick and viscous, wrapping around him, immobilizing him as he struggled and lost strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other senior brother smiled, slowly loosening his grip on his talismans; the Golden Armor protecting him faded too—after all, a Golden Armor talisman was expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down at the collapsed Brother Zhuang with a hint of pride and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, how does the Water Prison talisman feel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A similar column of water answered him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the water vanished, he lay on the ground, staring around in shock: “Which senior brother used a sneak attack?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing no response, he gritted his teeth at Brother Zhuang: “Zhuang—you’re bullying me with numbers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother Zhuang looked bewildered: “I… I didn’t…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You pretend to be a gentleman, yet resort to such underhanded tricks! Pah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The senior brother, furious, kept berating him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I really didn’t!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who cast that divine-grade Water Prison talisman just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, aren’t you going to answer?” Han Qi, beside Zheng Fa, looked oddly at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He didn’t call me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He called ‘senior brother.’ I’m a younger brother—don’t mess up the hierarchy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Brother Zhuang lying on the ground, unable to respond to the accusations, bewildered, confused, and now doubting himself…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qi pursed his lips and said dryly: “Brother, I admit… on the boat, I was a bit too bold…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you all doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A streak of light flashed across the sky outside the Talisman Pavilion, and a middle-aged Daoist in black robes landed before Zheng Fa and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several other senior disciples arrived, panting from running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re done! It’s the Discipline Hall’s Elder!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qi muttered quietly beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Discipline Hall?” Zheng Fa blinked: “Does Jiushan Sect forbid private fights?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d all fought so skillfully—was this illegal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not exactly,” Han Qi explained. “As long as no one’s injured, it doesn’t violate the rules. But the head of the Discipline Hall is True Person Pang, so we always get the short end of the stick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Got it—they called in backup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what about us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Zhang’s teacher, True Person Huang, oversees the General Affairs Pavilion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa recalled the middle-aged man who had been extremely courteous to him in the General Affairs Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did he understand the reason—it was truly one of their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged Daoist landed and first checked whether any of the disciples on either side were injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was: a disciple from Zheng Fa’s side had been too excited, rushed forward too hard, and twisted his ankle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But due to the veteran disciples’ extensive brawling experience and the new disciples’ weak talisman cultivation, the overall outcome of this brawl was still perfect—it could almost be called a draw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who can tell me why you two started fighting?” The middle-aged Daoist did not let the matter slide; he frowned and said, “These new disciples have just entered the sect—they need proper guidance. As senior brothers, how can you set such an example?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother Zhuang remained silent, head bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the senior brother across from him spoke up: “I didn’t say anything—just asked about a junior brother’s condition—and was scolded by this Senior Brother Zhuang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then you two started fighting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I said a couple more words, and Senior Brother Zhuang attacked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Report, Master Shu,” Senior Brother Zhuang could not hold back and said, “Senior Brother Li behaved improperly, his words implying slander against Sister Zhang and that junior brother’s purity…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s still no reason to strike!” The Discipline Hall master directly cut him off, asking, “Which junior brother are you defending so fiercely?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother Zhuang clenched his lips and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Senior Brother Li spoke up as if filing a complaint: “It’s that junior brother, Zheng Fa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That Zheng Fa?” The Discipline Hall master’s face showed a flicker of realization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa froze, glancing at Senior Brother Zhuang—he never expected this man had acted because of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the Discipline Hall master had clearly identified who Zheng Fa was, and his gaze toward him turned distinctly unfriendly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa could not judge how much of this stemmed from the rivalry between the two branches, how much from the brawl itself,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and how much from rumors of his talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the master, frowning, was about to speak to Zheng Fa, a familiar voice rang out: “I’d like to hear what this junior brother said about me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa turned to look behind him—Sister Zhang’s graceful figure stood right behind him, perfectly blocking the master’s mouth before he could scold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, his expression looked like he was holding his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>",1848,"2026-06-19T19:16:02.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","dac1625ff9d5d9a6bcf4c133b89c0d1c75d0780e2de9b6eba49d9bb2748c7d15","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-96","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-94",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]