Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 97 - 3 Selection_2

Chapter 97: Chapter 3 Selection_2

Zheng Fa thought about it, and it seemed there might really be a possibility. In the process of talisman making, it is the attraction between talismanic diagrams, and if, as Zhang explains, the talismanic diagram itself is the trajectory of Spiritual Energy flow.

Then, the "Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method" is almost like turning on an automatic cultivation cheat.

Of course, what’s more important is that it seems Zhang has become a Golden Core by relying on the "Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method."

Zhang seemed to know what he was thinking and took out a jade tube, saying, "This is the ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method’ that I’ve perfected."

Zheng Fa promptly asked, "Does Senior Sister have any instructions?"

Zhang smiled lightly, tossed the jade tube she held, and Zheng Fa subconsciously caught it.

"?"

"Cultivating this is the price you need to pay."

"Ah?"

"The ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method’ is still incomplete," said Zhang as she looked at Zheng Fa.

"What does Senior Sister mean?" Zheng Fa vaguely realized something.

"I built my foundation through the ’Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method,’ and only after achieving Core Formation did I discover a flaw in my Golden Core. My cultivation stagnated for ten years, and only by comprehending the talismanic Dao could I make up for it," Zhang said straightforwardly. "Do you understand now why I value you?"

Zheng Fa understood.

By practicing this technique, he might fall into the same predicament as Zhang.

"If you do not wish to cultivate this technique, you can leave now." Zhang said softly, her expression neither sad nor happy, as she looked at him.

Zheng Fa pinched the jade tube in his hand, did not hesitate even for a breath, and said to Zhang, "Your junior brother is willing to learn."

...

Zheng Fa had no choice.

Having been in the Jiushan Sect for so long, he had seen clearly—

As a talismanic Dao genius, he might be valuable, but also could be worth nothing.

The Talisman Masters of Jiushan Sect are somewhat like craftsmen.

The Affairs Hall would purchase talismans completed by the disciples to sell.

If the Talisman Masters do not wish to trade in the Affairs Hall, they could also conduct transactions in workshops—well, Jiushan Sect would take a cut.

To Jiushan Sect, Zheng Fa, the talismanic Dao genius, is of course valuable as his talent in talisman painting can bring revenue to the Sect.

But to the other disciples, Zheng Fa not only competes with them for spiritual materials but might also vie for their market—what they could gain from Zheng Fa is far less than the competitive threat he poses.

This led to Zheng Fa’s somewhat awkward position within Jiushan Sect—

Take Zhou Qianyuan, for example; although his talismanic Dao talent is not as good as Zheng Fa’s, he was taken in by Master Pang early on, thanks to his Single Spirit Root and Taoist Body. The confidence he had to slap that Senior Li’s face in front of so many people showed his backing.

Yet, Zheng Fa remained unheeded, with only Zhang subtly supporting him.

After all, cultivation geniuses and talismanic Dao geniuses are different.

Cultivation geniuses can enter the Sect without considering talismanic Dao.

The upper echelons of Jiushan Sect value cultivation geniuses because they are the future pillars of the Sect, the ballast stones in times of chaos in the Cultivation world.

Valuing talismanic Dao geniuses is only because they can bring profits to the Sect.

People like Zhang who valued his talismanic Dao talent were too few—excluding the help Zhang had previously provided, her support, obviously, could not be discarded.

Moreover, the "Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method" was the technique most suited to his talismanic Dao proficiency.

Hearing him say this, a depressed Yuan took out a piece of dark black ore and handed it to Zhang: "I lost!"

"?"

"I’ve always said, he’s a clever one."

Zhang took the stone and turned to hand it to Zheng Fa; "Xuanlei Stone."

...

Zheng Fa held the Xuanlei Stone.

Han Qi had told him the price of this stone before, at least twenty Spirit Stones, and it was priceless.

Looking at Zhang, he felt the joy of winning over a wealthy patron.

"Come and sit down." Zhang gestured for Zheng Fa to come closer and sit in the small pavilion.

Yuan, the senior sister standing by, had lost a Xuanlei Stone, but her gaze at Zheng Fa became much friendlier.

Zheng Fa knew that he was probably only now truly being accepted by Zhang and her small group.

"How do you view the Jiushan Sect?" After some casual conversation, Zhang suddenly asked.

Zheng Fa was startled and couldn’t help but remember Zhuang, who had asked him the same question.

"What’s the matter? Is it so hard to answer?" Seeing his strange expression, Zhang asked.

"I was thinking of Zhuang," Zheng Fa relayed what Zhuang had said to him to Zhang.

"...Him." Zhang laughed: "He’s always like that."

"...Does he really hate geniuses?"

"...He’s a genius himself. He doesn’t hate you; he simply wants to annihilate all Immortal Sects."

"!"

Yuan, the senior sister at the side, also chimed in: "If you ask me, the most relentless person in the Jiushan Sect is Zhuang."

"Zhuang actually has great talent. He was already over thirty when he was discovered by my Master, which was past the prime time for cultivation, but my Master valued his talent and directly accepted him into the Immortal Sect," explained Zhang, "using a spot that comes only once every fifty years."

"...But Zhuang... doesn’t seem that strong."

"He’s extremely lazy in his cultivation. If it weren’t for my Master and me pushing him, he would probably not even have reached the Foundation Establishment Stage by now," Zhang said with a hint of helplessness: "This person... is even unwilling to cultivate, let alone use any spiritual materials."

Zhang added: "Actually, we also dare not let him cultivate too much..."

...Indeed, a madman of the cultivation world.

"Do you know what he thinks?"

"I don’t."

Zheng Fa felt extremely shocked at the moment.

"He says that Spiritual Energy is the poison of this world, and Immortal Sects are the great thieves of humanity. When Spiritual Energy is abundant, barely one in ten thousand can cultivate it. When Spiritual Energy fades, countless lives have to be sacrificed in despair for the Immortal Sects..." Zhang raised her eyes and continued, "He says that without Immoral Sects, the common folk would be able to escape these great calamities over and over."

...That makes sense!

When there’s Spiritual Energy, most people can’t cultivate or enjoy its benefits, and when it’s gone, most people have to die with it.

Apart from being a bit suicidal, there’s nothing wrong with this idea.

...

At Zheng Fa’s home, he was seated cross-legged on a cushion, with the Spiritual Power inside his body circulating according to the "Five Thunders Dharma Body," and weak flashes of electricity lit up within the Xuanlei Stone in his hand—causing Zheng Fa’s body to twitch.

After a long time, he opened his eyes and looked at the Xuanlei Stone in his hand.

The black color on the stone seemed to have lightened slightly.

A single Xuanlei Stone was far from enough for the cultivation of the "Five Thunders Dharma Body."

But for Zheng Fa, this Xuanlei Stone had an advantage—it let him know how much voltage to use.

The "Five Thunders Dharma Body" method appeared brutal, starting with electrocuting oneself, then using Spiritual Power and medicinal materials to nourish the physical body, enhancing the body in the process.

But in fact, this technique is very precise. The Five Thunders Dharma Body is divided into five layers—Skin Tempering, Refining Flesh, Bone Strengthening, Blood Replacement, and finally Guiding Heavenly Thunder Refining Body.

For each layer, one must use Spiritual Power to communicate with the Xuanlei Stone, drawing in Heavenly Thunder Power of varying strengths—this likely contains countless experiences of predecessors being electrocuted to death and back.

For Zheng Fa, there’s a major issue with this technique; modern electrical currents are not controlled by Spiritual Power.

He must figure out approximately what voltage is required for each level.

Too low and it’s ineffective, too high and there’s no future.

Of course, a single Xuanlei Stone is not enough to enable him to achieve the "Five Thunders Dharma Body," but it’s sufficient for familiarizing himself with the sensation of being electrocuted at each level.

...

In the modern world, Zheng Fa looked at the power socket in his room, hesitating.

Starting directly with a voltage of 220V seemed a bit suicidal.

He thought about it and took out a power bank from his room.

He cut one end of the charging cable, exposing the copper wires inside, and plugged the other end into the output port of the power bank labeled with a rated voltage of 5V, then he gently held the exposed copper wires between two fingers.

Hmm, it’s a bit tingly, but not powerful enough!