I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Vol 2 Chapter 156: Everyone’s Efforts

Sitting in the cultivation chamber, Zheng Fa looked at the jade slip in his hand.

He had always known that while he wasn't exactly stupid, compared to the elites of the Xuanyi Realm, he couldn't really say he was above them either.

Today, Martial Aunt Huang had confirmed his suspicions—

Among the previous generation of three Nascent Soul cultivators from the Jiushan Sect, they had respectively comprehended the Formation Talisman, Linked Talismans, and Fleeting Radiance techniques. To some extent, none of them were simple.

Zheng Fa originally thought his master was the strongest, while Martial Aunt Huang seemed like the weakest.

He had thought that was only natural—after all, she was the youngest of the three Nascent Souls.

Zheng Fa had seen Martial Uncle Pang use the Linked Talisman technique before. That method likely played with sequencing—something like a chained mode, one talisman following another, greatly amplifying the spell's power in the end.

As for the Formation Talisman, Zheng Fa felt it was even more advanced. That thing resembled a kind of parallel instruction set—in other words, multiple talismans running independently but producing effects that complemented one another to complete a larger task.

Martial Aunt Huang was truly someone unafraid of death, treating her own life like it was nothing—Zheng Fa was certain that discovering this method had been a near-death experience combined with sheer luck.

It made Zheng Fa once again deeply cautious—never underestimate any high-level cultivator in the Xuanyi Realm.

Yet even those three hadn’t managed to reach Soul Formation, which showed just how difficult that path was.

It also made him less confident in Senior Sister Zhang's efforts to awaken the Ancestor.

On the other hand, it made Zheng Fa realize—Soul Formation might be even more difficult than he had imagined. What’s more, the Jiushan Sect now had to face not one but two Soul Formation cultivators.

...

Compared to the Linked Talismans and Formation Talisman techniques, this Fleeting Radiance method had even more valuable insights.

This thing was practically forced Soul Formation.

Zheng Fa was currently immersed in studying the Fleeting Radiance technique, hoping to give Senior Sister Zhang some assistance.

From outside came Xiao Yuying’s voice: “I’m here.”

He stood up and walked out the door, seeing Xiao Yuying standing in the courtyard, looking at him with conflicted and helpless eyes.

It was clear she hadn’t come willingly...

Zheng Fa had said those things to her three days ago. For a Nascent Soul like Xiao Yuying, three days was a bit slow—it showed she had been hesitant.

“Fairy Xiao...”

Zheng Fa cupped his hands.

“This Jiushan Sect base of yours sure is empty,” Xiao Yuying said with a slight pout, her tone laced with complaint.

Zheng Fa smiled, understanding her meaning.

Everyone from Jiushan Sect had left, and yet he had tricked her into coming—it really did sound like he wanted her to take the fall.

Seeing him smile only made Xiao Yuying angrier. She huffed, “I just thought what you said was kind of interesting. As for whether I’m really getting involved... I haven’t decided yet!”

Hearing her complaints, Zheng Fa simply smiled casually.

Given that Jiushan Sect was facing a major calamity, it was normal that she didn’t want to come—still, he didn’t feel like he was setting her up.

“Fairy Xiao, if you didn’t want to come, I didn’t force you.”

Zheng Fa’s words left Xiao Yuying speechless. She couldn’t say anything back—only felt like Zheng Fa had seen right through her thoughts—so annoying!

“Junior Brother Zheng! That stuff of yours is amazing. I woke up and I’m already mid-Stage Golden Core!” came Senior Sister Yuan’s cheerful voice from outside. “What’s going on? Why is everyone gone? Where’s Senior Sister Zhang?”

Senior Sister Yuan spoke as she barged in.

As soon as she entered, she saw Xiao Yuying and Zheng Fa standing together, Xiao Yuying’s face showing a mix of shyness and irritation, yet helpless before Zheng Fa.

She froze for a moment, then said blankly, “Junior Brother Zheng, don’t tell me... you two pissed off Senior Sister Zhang so badly she left?”

...

“Why didn’t Senior Sister wait for me?”

Senior Sister Yuan’s eyes were red as she sniffled.

Next to her, Xiao Yuying looked somewhat respectful: “I’d always heard that Zhang Wuyi never retreats once she takes a step forward. After seeing her these past few times, I thought she’d lost her edge to softness and comfort...”

Hmm?

Who are you calling ‘soft and comfortable’?

“I’m going back to find Senior Sister Zhang!”

“Senior Sister Yuan! Senior Sister Zhang went back to awaken the Jiushan Ancestor. What would you do there?” Zheng Fa said.

“...”

“Then what can I do...” Senior Sister Yuan trailed off, but Zheng Fa understood her meaning.

Seeing her master, Martial Uncle Pang, and Senior Sister Zhang trapped in danger—how could her heart not be anxious...

Not to mention, those three were the backbone of Jiushan Sect. If they died, the future of the sect would be grim.

“Senior Sister Yuan, I want you to stay and help me!”

Looking at her unwilling expression, Zheng Fa spoke solemnly.

“Help you?”

“Yes! I have to accumulate more Heavenly Merit Points until I gain control of the Heavenly Monument. That’s the only way I might have a chance to assist Senior Sister Zhang and the others.”

Zheng Fa understood clearly. His own cultivation was so weak—this was the only way he could contribute.

Senior Sister Yuan sniffled again and nodded gently.

Xiao Yuying, watching this scene, suddenly spoke: “What did you want me to help you with earlier?”

“Hmm?”

“I agree.”

Zheng Fa looked at Xiao Yuying in surprise, only to see her turn her head and say, “Let’s be clear—I’m not going to risk my life for your Jiushan Sect. If a Soul Formation cultivator really shows up, I’ve got my own way to escape.”

Seeing her clearly conflicted expression, Zheng Fa cupped his hands and gave her a respectful bow.

...

Outside the Heavenly Monument Realm, there were still two people staying with Zheng Fa.

Only now, one of them had changed from Senior Sister Zhang to Martial Aunt Huang.

Just as Zheng Fa said, gaining control of the Heavenly Monument was now the best way to help Senior Sister Zhang.

Now that she was gone, one less person could earn Heavenly Merit, so Zheng Fa had to rely on Martial Aunt Huang.

She didn’t hesitate and agreed immediately.

After all, she had a cold temperament and wasn’t very familiar with Zheng Fa or Senior Sister Yuan. As they walked through the Thunder Pool, the atmosphere was awkward and the journey silent.

Halfway through, Martial Aunt Huang suddenly took out several letters, handed them to Zheng Fa, and asked somewhat uncomfortably, “Can you look over these letters and see if the wording could be improved?”

Zheng Fa was momentarily stunned. He took the letters and glanced through them, realizing they were all Martial Aunt Huang’s requests for aid sent to other sects.

Some were addressed to other sects within the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

Some were for Immortal Sects outside the alliance.

There were even some written to people from the Five Great Sects of the Xuanyi Realm.

The tone in the letters was gentle, even bordering on humble—completely unlike Martial Aunt Huang’s usual manner. In Zheng Fa’s view, she was a proud person who paid no mind to anyone but Senior Sister Zhang. You could say she held all beneath her in contempt.

He had also never heard of Martial Aunt Huang having any friends outside the sect.

“This is…”

“I traveled a bit in my early years, met a few people here and there…” Martial Aunt Huang pursed her lips and said, “I’m not very good at making friends, not like your Martial Uncle Pang, who’s good with everyone.”

“Some of these people, we barely met once.”

Zheng Fa looked through the letters again.

Suddenly, he understood what Martial Aunt Huang meant.

“Martial Aunt…”

He couldn’t help but speak.

“Don’t use that tone.” Martial Aunt Huang smiled and said, “My disciple’s about to die, and I, her master, can’t help in any other way—don’t tell me I can’t even beg for help?”

“……”

“Saving face doesn’t matter anymore. I just regret not having the kind of connections your Martial Uncle Pang has… I don’t even know if these people still remember me.”

Zheng Fa shook his head. He didn’t think Martial Uncle Pang would fare much better in this situation… he still remembered everything from last time.

Once inside the Heavenly Monument Realm, the three of them didn’t stop to rest. Aside from using Spirit Wood Thunder a few times to stimulate spiritual plants in Half-Mountain City, Zheng Fa was running around his Invested Territory nonstop.

Senior Sister Yuan and Martial Aunt Huang were even busier. After a month of effort, they earned another twenty thousand Heavenly Merit Points.

“Based on the points needed for the last Seal upgrade, the next one should cost a hundred thousand Heavenly Merit. I’ve already earned around eighty thousand,” Zheng Fa calculated and said to the two, “I just don’t know how many more upgrades are needed to control the Heavenly Monument…”

Neither Senior Sister Yuan nor Martial Aunt Huang spoke, but both had exhaustion written all over their faces.

“Senior Sister, you two should go rest.”

He couldn’t help but suggest.

“Junior Brother Zheng… we’re both at a higher cultivation level than you. Have you even looked at yourself lately?”

Senior Sister Yuan suddenly said.

Zheng Fa was silent. Inside the Heavenly Monument Realm, in order to use a few more Thunder Techniques, he had almost completely drained his spiritual energy—the mental exhaustion was beyond imagining.

Xiao Yuying was startled by the three of them:

“You guys…”

“Sorry to have embarrassed ourselves in front of you, Fairy Xiao…”

Xiao Yuying nodded, her gaze showing a hint of understanding. Then she asked Zheng Fa, “You said I should wait here. What exactly for?”

“This is the part where I need your help, Fairy Xiao.”

Zheng Fa was already extremely fatigued, so he didn’t waste time. He pointed at the Golden Seal in front of them, and a soft breeze lifted the four of them toward the Medicine Garden.

The Medicine Garden looked just the same as before.

But Xiao Yuying seemed dazzled. She stared at the golden bell buzzing in the sky, at the rotating sun, moon, and stars around it, her eyes filled with yearning.

“Fairy Xiao?”

Zheng Fa was a bit puzzled.

“A Celestial Grotto Spirit Treasure…” Xiao Yuying murmured.

“Hmm?”

“I’ve long known there should be such a treasure in the Heavenly Monument Realm…” Xiao Yuying withdrew her gaze and looked at Zheng Fa. “I heard my master say that controlling a Celestial Grotto Spirit Treasure allows one to escape the decline of spiritual energy—but I’ve never encountered such a treasure myself.”

Zheng Fa froze, turning to look at the golden bell—was this thing really that valuable?

“Why else do you think I came to the Heavenly Monument?”

“If this Thunder Pool didn’t have such a treasure supporting it, how could it hold off the Great Freedom Demonic Sect?”

Seeing his confused expression, Xiao Yuying explained.

But Zheng Fa didn’t feel too pleased—

The more valuable this thing was, the harder it seemed to truly control the Heavenly Monument Realm.

As if understanding his thoughts, Xiao Yuying also withdrew her gaze, looked at Zheng Fa, and asked, “So what do you want me to do?”

Zheng Fa put aside his worries—thinking more wouldn’t help. Better to just act.

“During the sun and moon’s cycle, there are twenty-four nodes. Some of them might have special changes.”

“Special changes?”

Zheng Fa wasn’t sure how sensitive Xiao Yuying’s electromagnetic sense was. He thought for a moment, then struck with a Spirit Wood Thunder.

“This is…”

“Fairy, can you sense anything from this Thunder Technique?”

Xiao Yuying furrowed her brow, as if realizing what Zheng Fa meant. She suddenly stretched out her right hand.

That fair hand slowly turned pale blue. Under her skin, the meridians carried a faint purple hue, with flickers of electricity sparking within.

“Try again?”

Zheng Fa struck another Spirit Wood Thunder.

In the meridians of Xiao Yuying’s right hand, a corresponding faint current appeared.

Zheng Fa’s face lit up, but he didn’t say much. Instead, he switched to another frequency of Spirit Wood Thunder.

Another faint current arose.

Zheng Fa asked, “Fairy Xiao, can you sense the difference between these two Thunder Techniques?”

His tone held a hint of nervousness.

This was directly tied to the accuracy of Xiao Yuying as an electromagnetic lab.

Even in modern measurement, distinguishing these two Spirit Wood Thunders required extremely precise instruments.

“Yes,” Xiao Yuying nodded. “Though subtle, the difference in intensity between the two is very clear…”

Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa turned to look at Martial Aunt Huang and Senior Sister Yuan beside him.

Their faces practically said it all—utter confusion. Or in other words: What difference?

A Primordial Magnetic Dao Body… definitely cheating!

“Fairy Xiao, all you need to do is stand among those spiritual plants and see if there’s any corresponding reaction to these Spirit Wood Thunders.”

Zheng Fa’s idea was simple.

To verify whether the Spirit Wood Thunder was accurate, he just had to match the twenty-four changes in the Medicine Garden to the eight variants of Spirit Wood Thunder he had developed.

Only in the Heavenly Monument Realm could this verification be done—and only with Xiao Yuying’s help…

No one else had the ability.

...

Half an hour later, Xiao Yuying confirmed to Zheng Fa: “Of those eight Spirit Wood Thunders, I can detect a corresponding change in six of them within the Medicine Garden. But the other two seem to have none.”

Zheng Fa nodded silently.

This wasn’t unexpected—seven of those eight Spirit Wood Thunders had been generated by computer simulations, and errors weren’t surprising.

That was precisely why Zheng Fa had to ask Xiao Yuying for help.

...

“Two of the Spirit Wood Thunders are off?”

In the nursing home, upon hearing Zheng Fa say that, Tang Lingwu thought for a moment and said, “The main issue is we can only compare. If the data has even a small error, it could throw off our results.”

Tang Mu Dao, standing nearby, also nodded and said, “The raw data might not be accurate. There’s just too much electromagnetic radiation every day—and the fluctuations we’re looking for are too subtle.”

“From an information theory perspective, the noise is too high.”

Zheng Fa also understood that being able to identify six kinds of Spirit Wood Thunder at this point was already incredibly lucky, but…

“There’s something I’d like to ask of all of you…”

He fell silent for a moment, then spoke to the people in the nursing home. Seeing him like this, the others also took on serious expressions.

“This month, I must… find the corresponding electromagnetic waves for the remaining eighteen Spirit Wood Thunders… no, to be safe, it’s best to select multiple candidate waves for each Thunder.”

That was something he had just thought of.

There was no harm in having too many special electromagnetic waves—with Xiao Yuying’s help, he had a way to eliminate the false ones.

What he feared was having too few—what if there wasn’t even a proper one to choose from?

“This matter is extremely important to me.”

After Zheng Fa finished speaking, Old Man Bai and the others exchanged glances but didn’t say anything.

Then they heard Old Man Bai say, “If this is really that important, I have an idea…”

“Hmm?”

“We… should show the outside world a bit of our value.”