I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Vol 2 Chapter 94 – Divine Ability

Zheng Fa felt as if an invisible force was yanking his soul upward.

His divine consciousness shot through the roof of Five Dragons Palace, rising into the night sky.

For a fleeting moment, he glimpsed Martial Uncle Pang and the other cultivators, all staring toward the heavens in astonishment.

Then—

He saw Thunder Pool Market sprawled beneath him, its many disciples and merchants frozen mid-step, gazing upward at the celestial anomaly.

They couldn’t see him.

And yet—

He kept rising.

The entire market became no more than a child’s pile of building blocks.

Even the vast Thunder Pool, a force of nature itself, had shrunk into a mere inkblot on the land.

Then—

Even that inkblot vanished.

He pierced through the clouds, soaring past the floating sun and moon, his ascent unrelenting.

Finally, he halted.

There was nothing around him.

No land, no sky—only endless emptiness.

And above him…

An invisible barrier.

His divine soul could not ascend any further.

The Heavenly Shackles…?

Zheng Fa gazed upward.

And what he saw left him stunned.

Above him, a colossal talisman diagram spun slowly.

It was so large, Zheng Fa suspected it might be bigger than the entire Thunder Pool.

But what truly unsettled him—

Its structure resembled the Five-Element Sub-Talismans.

Zheng Fa felt a jolt of realization.

This was the force pulling him upward.

Had this been what Senior Sister Zhang sensed during her Nascent Soul breakthrough?

Was this the heavenly counterpart to the Five-Element Sub-Talismans?

Extending his hand—

Zheng Fa reached toward the massive talisman diagram.

And yet—

His fingers passed straight through it.

It’s not real?

He frowned, waving his hand through the formation.

To his shock—

The moment his hand moved, the talisman diagram rippled—as if responding to him.

In fact—

It formed a handprint-shaped gap where he had touched it.

…A projection?

Zheng Fa’s breath hitched.

This talisman diagram isn’t actually here—it’s just a shadow cast from somewhere else…

His gaze lifted beyond the heavens.

Yet all he saw was vast emptiness.

The true source of the talisman diagram…

Was somewhere beyond even this reality.

And then—

The talisman suddenly contracted, collapsing into a blinding sphere of light.

Before Zheng Fa could react—

It shot straight at him.

The impact sent him spiraling downward, his consciousness reeling.

In the next instant—

He was back inside his body.

And—

The glowing sphere of talismanic energy had lodged itself within his Möbius Talisman Foundation.

Inside Zheng Fa’s room.

"You’re saying… you suddenly acquired a divine ability?"

Senior Sister Zhang examined him closely, her usual cold expression betraying a hint of pride and concern.

"Yes…"

Zheng Fa didn’t bother hiding it.

"This divine ability seems to have been a gift from that talisman diagram.

"It’s called the Inverse Five-Element Divine Light."

Senior Sister Zhang’s brows lifted slightly.

"What’s its power?"

"I don’t fully understand it yet.

"But… it seems to let me briefly control other people’s magical treasures."

As he spoke, Zheng Fa’s expression became a bit strange.

This power…

It felt oddly familiar to something he’d read about in the modern world.

Senior Sister Zhang thought for a moment.

"Briefly? How brief?"

"Why don’t we test it?"

She and Senior Sister Yuan exchanged a glance before both nodded.

Each of them retrieved their Life-Bound Treasures.

Senior Sister Yuan’s treasure was unsurprising—

A feather fan crafted from her own plucked feathers.

But Senior Sister Zhang’s treasure caught Zheng Fa off guard.

She held a writing brush.

"This is my Life-Bound Treasure, the Feixian Brush," she explained.

"I forged it after achieving Golden Core.

"The shaft is made from a Vermilion Bird’s beak.

"The bristles are White Tiger fur.

"The ink reservoir is carved from a Kirin’s horn.

"And the handle is tipped with Black Tortoise shell."

Zheng Fa’s jaw ached just hearing that.

Too sour.

Even Senior Sister Yuan’s feather fan shrank back slightly, as if feeling inferior.

"Senior Sister… The Four Divine Beasts have been extinct for tens of thousands of years.

"Where did you even get these materials…?"

Senior Sister Zhang’s expression remained calm.

"I never fight a battle that doesn’t yield profit."

But you sure fight a lot of battles…

Understood.

No wonder Senior Sister Zhang was feared in the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

Then, the test began.

Zheng Fa activated the Inverse Five-Element Divine Light, directing it toward both treasures.

The results—

For Senior Sister Yuan’s treasure (Golden Core level):

Zheng Fa could fully control it for an incense stick’s time.

For Senior Sister Zhang’s treasure (Nascent Soul level):

The effect lasted for… one breath.

And even then—

The energy strain was so immense, he could barely hold onto it.

He couldn’t wield her brush—

At best, he could only interrupt her control over it.

The room fell silent.

"…"

Zheng Fa exhaled.

Senior Sister Yuan rubbed her chin.

"So… If you use this ability against someone weaker than you, you can just steal their weapon?"

"Yes."

"And against someone stronger, you can’t use their weapon… but you can still mess with them?"

"…Yes."

Senior Sister Yuan grinned.

"That’s really annoying!"

Zheng Fa: "…"

Senior Sister Zhang, meanwhile, looked deeply contemplative.

"…A divine ability that can control other people’s treasures."

After a moment, she added—

"You do realize how terrifying this power is, right?"

Zheng Fa blinked.

"Think about it."

Senior Sister Zhang’s gaze sharpened.

"The higher the cultivation realm—

"The more dependent people become on their Life-Bound Treasures."

Zheng Fa’s heart skipped a beat.

It was true.

At the Golden Core and Nascent Soul levels, treasures weren’t just weapons—

They were extensions of one’s cultivation.

For Soul Formation cultivators, their Life-Bound Treasures were often their greatest strength.

And yet—

His divine ability had the power to suppress them, even if only for a moment.

Against someone his own level, that moment might be lethal.

Senior Sister Zhang’s voice was calm—

But her eyes gleamed coldly.

"Junior Brother Zheng…"

"Your ability—"

"It’s not just annoying."

"It’s the kind of ability that makes entire sects want to kill you."

After finishing the tests, Senior Sister Zhang stared at Zheng Fa with an odd expression.

“Senior Sister?”

“I finally understand…”

She sighed, a mixture of realization and frustration in her voice.

“What do you understand?”

“I finally understand how people must have felt about me all these years.”

“…”

“They must have been thinking ‘The heavens are unfair’—

"And that’s why they all wanted to beat me up.”

“Uh… Senior Sister.”

Zheng Fa coughed, hesitating.

“Could it be… that people wanted to beat you up not just because of your talent… but also because of your personality?”

“…”

Silence.

Senior Sister Zhang’s expression didn’t change.

But for a brief moment, Zheng Fa felt a subtle killing intent fill the air.

Meanwhile, in another part of Five Dragons Palace—

"THE HEAVENS ARE UNFAIR!"

A mournful wail echoed through the halls.

Martial Uncle Pang had finally gotten rid of the other Nascent Soul cultivators, only to rush toward Zheng Fa’s room—

Where he immediately began slamming his thigh in frustration.

"Martial Uncle Pang…"

Zheng Fa was speechless.

What was with all these cultivators and their fragile egos?

"That bastard Yuan!"

Martial Uncle Pang cursed, his expression filled with deep betrayal.

"I saw you first! I picked you first!"

"…Excuse me?"

"You little brat!"

Martial Uncle Pang pointed at him.

"You’re following the same path as Tianhe Venerable! You created your own cultivation method! You developed an innate divine ability!"

His voice grew increasingly tragic.

"This means I will forever be in irreconcilable opposition with that Yuan bastard!"

"…Martial Uncle, haven’t you already accepted my master?"

"HOW COULD I HAVE KNOWN YOU WERE THE NEXT TIANHE VENERABLE?!"

Martial Uncle Pang looked even more distressed.

"If I had known, I would have betrayed Jiushan Sect immediately! Even if I had to rebel, I wouldn’t have accepted this fate!"

Hold on—

Didn’t you just a few days ago say you’d rather die for Jiushan Sect?

Why was your loyalty so fragile?

Zheng Fa suddenly felt—

He had only just helped resolve the grudge between Martial Uncle Pang and Master Yuan…

And now, Martial Uncle Pang had a new sworn enemy—his own sect’s Grandmaster.

Did all of Jiushan Sect’s elders have to pick their mortal enemies from within their own ranks?

"But speaking of Tianhe Venerable…"

Senior Sister Zhang suddenly said, shifting the topic.

"Tianhe Sect has always sought to recreate his legacy.

"But if you think about it—

"Tianhe Venerable likely received his divine ability when he perfected the Life-Bound Treasure cultivation method."

"That would explain why he was able to dominate Xuanyi Realm."

She continued calmly—

"And that also explains… why Tianhe Sect has never been able to produce another Tianhe Venerable."

Zheng Fa froze.

That…

Made perfect sense.

"This matter must not be leaked."

Martial Uncle Pang’s expression turned serious.

"Senior Sister Zhang, from now on, tell people you only gained this enlightenment after forming your Nascent Soul.

"I will personally warn anyone else who might suspect the truth.

"If necessary…"

His eyes gleamed coldly.

"I will use certain measures."

Senior Sister Zhang nodded.

She turned to Zheng Fa.

"Tianhe Venerable only fully developed the Life-Bound Treasure cultivation method when he was already at Nascent Soul."

"You’re only Foundation Establishment.

"It’s best to keep a low profile for now."

Zheng Fa cupped his hands.

"I appreciate Martial Uncle and Senior Sister’s protection."

He understood their concerns.

His talent was too overwhelming.

But his cultivation was too low.

A combination that invited disaster.

"Heh. Who would have thought?"

Martial Uncle Pang smirked.

"Jiushan Sect might actually produce another Tianhe Venerable."

His gaze swept the room.

Then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, he patted Zheng Fa’s bed.

"In the future, I’ll put a plaque here."

"It will say—

‘The Place Where Zheng Venerable Achieved Enlightenment.’"

Zheng Fa: "…???"

"The Ancestor! The Ancestor has returned!"

Yan Wushuang turned to see—

Han Zhenren trembling uncontrollably by the Thunder Pool’s edge.

The short old man shook violently, as if he might topple into the pool at any moment.

"Han Lao, what’s wrong?!"

Yan Wushuang quickly moved to support him.

But—

The moment he spoke—

Han Zhenren snapped his mouth shut, his face turning extremely cautious.

"Han Lao…?"

"Don’t ask."

Han Zhenren’s tone was unusually cold.

"You—**an outsider—**are not meant to know."

Yan Wushuang: "…Aren’t you from Tianhe Sect?"

"…"

Han Zhenren gritted his teeth.

"That’s right."

Then—

His expression twisted with regret.

"As expected… I made the wrong choice in life."

"…"

Yan Wushuang rubbed his temples.

"Han Lao, are you having an identity crisis right now?"

The old man suddenly brightened.

"You!"

"You partnered with Zheng Fa on the talisman inscription business, right?"

"Yeah. Han Lao, weren’t you uninterested in talisman inscriptions?"

"Who said that?!"

Han Zhenren looked offended.

"If I wasn’t interested, would I have intervened?!"

"That’s…"

"Never mind!"

Han Zhenren cut him off.

"You need to negotiate properly with Jiushan Sect about this business."

"…I already planned to do that?"

Yan Wushuang was thoroughly confused.

But Han Zhenren’s enthusiasm felt… off.

"Then what are you waiting for?!"

"…Oh. Right."

Scratching his head, Yan Wushuang turned toward Jiushan Sect.

Despite Han Zhenren’s usual eccentricities, he had protected him many times in the past.

Yan Wushuang had long since developed a habit of trusting him.

He was about to leave—

When Han Zhenren suddenly stopped him.

"You’re just going like that?"

Yan Wushuang looked down at himself.

"I don’t see anything wrong?"

"Are you going empty-handed?"

"…"

Yan Wushuang paused.

He always went places empty-handed.

"What does that say about Tianhe Sect’s etiquette?"

"…Han Lao, let’s be honest. Tianhe Sect has no etiquette."

"That’s why we’re looked down on!"

Han Zhenren scowled.

Then—

To Yan Wushuang’s shock—

The old man took out a storage pouch and shoved it into his hands.

"Buy some spiritual materials. Prepare a formal greeting letter.

"Show some respect."

Yan Wushuang stood there, dumbfounded.

"…Han Lao, are you feeling okay?"

"You don’t understand, brat."

Han Zhenren muttered.

"This talisman inscription business…"

"It’s going to be big."

Yan Wushuang tilted his head.

"You really think so?"

Han Zhenren let out a long sigh.

"Your vision is terrible."

"But your luck is absurdly good."