I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Vol 2 Chapter 111: The Sub-Talisman Diagram

Xiao Yuying stared deeply at Zheng Fa for several seconds before falling into silence.

“…How many Zheng Fas are there in the Heavenly Monument Realm?”

She suddenly asked.

Zheng Fa blinked, instantly guessing her thought process.

This Fairy Lingye must have noticed his Foundation Establishment cultivation level and was struggling to accept it…

“…Forget it.”

Realizing her momentary lapse, Xiao Yuying quickly regained her composure and spoke again.

“Zheng Fa… Zheng Fa… I think I’ve heard of you before. Are you under Zhang Wuyi?”

For some reason, Zheng Fa felt that his reputation in the Xuanyi Realm was starting to get a little weird.

“I am a disciple of the Jiushan Sect.”

Xiao Yuying nodded, looking at him a few more times, as if trying to memorize his name and face.

She didn’t engage with anyone else, merely turning into a streak of radiant light and flying out of Thunder Pool.

Watching her leave effortlessly, Zheng Fa couldn’t help but feel a little surprised—

Whatever technique or treasure she was using, it allowed her to move through the Thunder Pool without the slightest hindrance, her flight as smooth as ever.

As she disappeared, Yan Wushuang finally stepped closer to Zheng Fa and sighed softly.

“You saw her arrogance, right, Junior Brother Zheng?”

Zheng Fa nodded.

Xiao Yuying was only polite because he was ranked above her.

But throughout their brief conversation, her eyes had been utterly indifferent.

She hadn’t even spared Yan Wushuang or the others a single glance.

Turning back to the crowd, Zheng Fa noticed their expressions weren’t great either.

Most of them already held grievances against Xiao Yuying—her attitude had only made it worse.

“If Zheng Daoist weren’t here, who knows how arrogant she’d be!”

Someone muttered bitterly.

“Exactly!” Another voice chimed in.

“Since Daoist Zheng is here, why don’t we go to the market and have a drink?!”

“Great idea! Great idea!”

Zheng Fa looked at the excited crowd—

Last time he saw them, they weren’t nearly this united.

So this was the fastest way to make friends—by sharing a common enemy.

Since he had beaten Xiao Yuying in the rankings, he was now the hero of the moment, surrounded by an enthusiastic group heading for the market.

…

Five Dragons Palace

Martial Uncle Pang stood at the entrance, gazing at the sky.

A flying shuttle descended slowly, piloted by Sect Master Yuan.

When it landed, several disciples stepped out—among them was Zhou Qianyuan.

“Master!”

Zhou Qianyuan, along with a few other disciples, stepped forward respectfully and greeted Martial Uncle Pang.

“Well done. For the next period, you will take over guard duties at Thunder Pool.”

Martial Uncle Pang nodded and added, “Though the Thunder Pool market lacks the spiritual energy of Jiushan Sect, the monthly stipend is higher. You won’t be mistreated.”

Zhou Qianyuan and the others exchanged glances before nodding in unison.

As they left, Sect Master Yuan finally walked over.

“No complaints from the disciples about coming here?”

The Thunder Pool market’s spiritual veins were weak, barely enough to sustain its formations.

Thus, Zheng Fa had proposed a rotation system between Thunder Pool and Jiushan Sect disciples, ensuring fairness.

“Complaints? They were fighting over the chance to come!”

Sect Master Yuan snorted.

“Everyone in Jiushan Sect knows that the Thunder Pool market is overflowing with spirit stones.”

“So even you, who never leaves the sect, have come in person?”

Sect Master Yuan narrowed his eyes, suddenly staring at Martial Uncle Pang for a long moment before saying—

“Did I offend you somehow?”

“…No.”

“Wait—your tone just now… sounds familiar…”

“…”

“…I remember now. When I became Sect Master, you spoke to me exactly like this.”

“…Absolutely not!”

Martial Uncle Pang’s expression stiffened, and he quickly changed the subject.

“Weren’t you supposed to stay behind in Jiushan Sect and let Martial Aunt Huang escort the disciples? Why did you come personally?”

“It’s because of that Heavenly Monument Realm!”

Excitement flashed across Sect Master Yuan’s face.

“If my disciple’s plan works, it could bring eternal prosperity to Jiushan Sect! How could I not come?”

Martial Uncle Pang suddenly understood.

The sect’s spiritual veins were important—

But the opportunity to control the Heavenly Monument Realm was even more tempting.

Even a Nascent Soul cultivator who had stayed within the sect for centuries had been unable to resist.

“So you came to…”

“I heard the Heavenly Monument Realm highly favors lightning techniques.”

Sect Master Yuan continued, “Other than me, who else in the sect is an expert in this path?”

“My disciple is only at Foundation Establishment, still lacking experience.

I came to personally guide him, so he’ll have a better chance inside.”

Martial Uncle Pang stared for a moment, actually impressed by his senior brother’s dedication.

“This doesn’t seem like you…”

“Hmph. As if you’re the only one who cares about Jiushan Sect.”

Sect Master Yuan sneered.

“I’m even planning to enter the Heavenly Monument Realm myself!

How could I let my disciple go in alone?”

“…Senior Brother?”

Martial Uncle Pang was stunned.

For the first time, he called him "Senior Brother" with genuine respect, all previous complaints forgotten.

After all, Nascent Soul cultivators faced risks in Thunder Pool—

And he knew just how lazy and cautious Sect Master Yuan usually was.

“I may have stayed in Jiushan Sect for ages, but this time—”

Sect Master Yuan’s expression turned determined.

“I am determined to claim the Heavenly Monument!”

Seeing his resolve, Martial Uncle Pang finally smiled in relief.

“With you here, Senior Brother, I won’t need to worry about Xiao Yuying…”

“Who?”

“Xiao Yuying—Fairy Lingye Xiao Yuying.”

Martial Uncle Pang assumed Sect Master Yuan was unfamiliar with her and added,

“She’s in Thunder Pool now. From the way she acts, she already considers the Heavenly Monument her own.

And as you said, Zheng Fa is only a newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator—he’s still a beginner in lightning techniques.

I was genuinely concerned about who would claim the Heavenly Monument…”

As Sect Master Yuan listened, he slowly started walking toward the flying shuttle.

“…Senior Brother, what are you doing?”

“I’m going back to prepare to move.”

“…Move?”

“If Xiao Yuying takes the Heavenly Monument,

do you really think we can just sit here and wait for the Great Freedom Demonic Sect to come knocking on our door?”

“…”

Martial Uncle Pang stared at him.

Where was that confident determination from a moment ago?

“You don’t get it… You don’t cultivate lightning.”

Sect Master Yuan let out a long sigh.

“You see Fairy Xiao, and you just think she has good fortune.”

“But only we Nascent Soul lightning cultivators understand—

She has the potential to reach the Soul Formation stage at minimum.”

Martial Uncle Pang froze.

“…Let me put it this way.”

Sect Master Yuan continued,

“The insights we Nascent Soul lightning cultivators struggle for centuries to obtain…

She was probably born with them.”

“…”

Hearing this, Martial Uncle Pang’s heart sank.

He thought for a long time before finally speaking.

“Then… what about Zheng Fa?”

“…Well, at least he’ll get some nice spiritual materials out of it.”

Sect Master Yuan’s words had been rather tactful.

“Then, Senior Brother, you’d best not leave just yet. You should at least guide Junior Nephew Zheng a bit more.”

Martial Uncle Pang grabbed Sect Master Yuan, preventing him from escaping.

“But most importantly—you need to mentally prepare Junior Nephew Zheng.”

Just as he spoke, a large group of cultivators approached from the Thunder Pool direction, heading straight toward the market.

And at their center—who else but Zheng Fa?

The crowd varied in cultivation level, ranging from Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment to Golden Core cultivators.

Yet regardless of their strength, they all surrounded Zheng Fa, treating him as the focal point.

The group escorted Zheng Fa into a restaurant, chattering excitedly.

“My disciple… is he really this well-liked?”

Sect Master Yuan turned to Martial Uncle Pang, puzzled.

“No.”

Martial Uncle Pang frowned, equally confused.

“Junior Nephew Zheng barely socialized before this. He spent most of his time in seclusion at Five Dragons Palace.”

“Then what’s going on?”

Martial Uncle Pang couldn’t make sense of it either.

So, he called over a disciple and sent them to the restaurant to investigate.

A short while later, the disciple rushed back, looking delighted.

“Master! Sect Master! They’re celebrating!”

“Celebrating?”

Martial Uncle Pang and Sect Master Yuan exchanged glances, now even more confused.

“What are they celebrating?”

“They said that Junior Brother Zheng is now ranked first on the Heavenly Monument.”

“…”

“And someone secretly told me—he just barely outranked Fairy Lingye.”

“…”

“…Hey, Yuan.”

Martial Uncle Pang fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice.

“Maybe you should go back after all.”

“…Didn’t I just say I was here to guide my disciple?”

Surprisingly, Sect Master Yuan no longer wanted to leave.

“What are you even going to teach him?”

Martial Uncle Pang scoffed.

“You’re the guy who wanted to run at the mere mention of Fairy Lingye.”

“…”

Sect Master Yuan stared at him for a long moment.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up with realization.

“This expression…”

“This is exactly how you looked at me when I became Sect Master all those years ago!”

“Of course!”

Martial Uncle Pang huffed.

“You’ve already got the Sect Master’s seat. Now you’ve got yourself a star disciple too.

You think I’m not allowed to be a little jealous?!”

His gaze drifted toward the restaurant, where Zheng Fa was surrounded by eager cultivators, freely exchanging laughter and camaraderie.

“This Junior Nephew Zheng… He’s just like me!”

…

When Zheng Fa returned to Five Dragons Palace, his master was already waiting for him in the main hall.

He hurried forward and bowed.

“Master! You’re here?”

“Of course!”

Sect Master Yuan smiled at him, looking exceptionally pleased.

“I heard you even surpassed Fairy Lingye—quite the display! Just like me in my younger days!”

Zheng Fa turned toward Martial Uncle Pang, just in time to catch him subtly scoffing under his breath.

“What about Jiushan Sect?”

Zheng Fa remembered how stubborn his master had been—refusing to leave the sect, afraid someone would steal the territory.

“At present, the Heavenly Monument Realm is our top priority!”

Sect Master Yuan declared grandly, conveniently forgetting that he had been about to move house not long ago.

“To control the Heavenly Monument is no easy feat, but if we succeed, we will never have to fear the Great Freedom Demonic Sect again!”

Just as they mentioned the Great Freedom Demonic Sect—

“Junior Brother!”

A voice rang out.

It was Senior Sister Zhang, entering with Senior Sister Yuan beside her.

And Senior Sister Yuan?

She was carrying a coffin.

Next to them stood Lin Bufan, following silently.

Zheng Fa raised an eyebrow.

“…A coffin?”

Even Sect Master Yuan looked a bit confused.

Senior Sister Zhang hadn’t noticed the Sect Master’s presence at first.

Upon seeing him, she looked momentarily surprised before quickly regaining her composure.

“You said you discovered secrets about the Great Freedom Demonic Sect?”

Sect Master Yuan waved his hand, signaling her to continue.

“What secrets?”

“This… all started from Junior Brother Zheng’s Sub-Talisman Diagram Theory.”

Senior Sister Zhang glanced at Zheng Fa before launching into a detailed explanation of his Three-Sub-Talisman Theory.

After she finished, she didn’t wait for Sect Master Yuan or Martial Uncle Pang to process it—

Instead, she turned directly to Zheng Fa.

“Junior Brother, you told Senior Sister Yuan to melt down this bronze coffin.”

“She tried every possible method, but it refused to melt.”

“Then, two talisman diagrams suddenly appeared on its surface.”

“…Talisman diagrams?”

Senior Sister Yuan didn’t understand topology, but Senior Sister Zhang did.

And as soon as she saw them—

She immediately recognized them.

“These two talisman diagrams…”

“…are exactly the same as the ones that keep appearing in Lin Bufan’s blood.”

Zheng Fa blinked.

…

What?

Was this—

The Great Freedom Demonic Sect’s logo or something?!