Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World

"Although the Ancestor Master was somewhat famous before forming the Golden Core, he was already over a hundred years old upon forming it. However, after reaching the Golden Core stage, his cultivation advanced rapidly, earning the title of invincible. He formed his Nascent Soul in eighty years, transitioned to Divinity Transformation in three hundred years, and achieved Dao Fruit before four thousand years old, younger than many Nascent Souls."

"This shocked the entire Xuanwei."

Xie Qingxue listened, unable to suppress the stirring in her heart.

"Zheng Fa is also an unparalleled genius." Sect Leader Yan then said, "In the minds of us Five Sects, what he has accomplished now can be called the second Ancestor Master. Therefore... they won't give Zheng Fa that much time, perhaps a thousand years? Maybe just a few hundred years..."

Xie Qingxue felt a tightness in her heart.

Then, she heard Sect Leader Yan's somewhat wistful tone: "Moreover, even the Ancestor Master ultimately could not contend against the destiny of human hearts."

Xie Qingxue looked up at Sect Leader Yan, her eyes full of confusion, hesitantly asking, "Master..."

Sect Leader Yan was not a man of many words.

But today, he said more than usual.

A conjecture stirred in her heart, causing both panic and confusion.

"Who says the Five Sects must have Haori Mountain?"

"..."

Indeed!

Master had suspected her connection with Zheng Fa, but for some reason, he not only tolerated it but also revealed some top-secret information to her between the lines.

Sect Leader Yan seemed amused by the complex and hesitant expression on Xie Qingxue's face and actually laughed out loud:

"Compared to Zheng Fa, our Tianhe Sect is now more wary of Haori Mountain."

"... I understand, Master."

The meaning of the Master was simple, the other four sects, or at least the Tianhe Sect, are not currently targeting Zheng Fa.

They are instead preventing potential competitors in the future.

It even seems now that the Master leans slightly towards the relatively weaker Hundred Immortals Alliance.

Geographically, the Hundred Immortals Alliance is surrounded by Haori Mountain and is some distance from other sects, so there are currently few conflicts of interest.

By contrast, Haori Mountain borders the Tianhe Sect.

Xie Qingxue lowered her gaze, still somewhat puzzled. Since returning from the alliance meeting, her Master had seemed to change oddly...

Is the reason he disclosed to her now real?

Or is it complete?

Xie Qingxue only felt she could not see clearly.

But Sect Leader Yan had already closed his eyes, as if cultivating.

Xie Qingxue knew she could no longer ask.

She saluted her Master, who was no longer paying her attention, and stepped outside. After walking some distance, she slowly turned her head back, gazing at the cold and lonely Sect Leader's Hall.

She couldn't guess what her Master was thinking, but she could confirm one thing about the Hundred Immortals Alliance and Chongxuan Sect was true.

Because of the Six Sect Alliance Treaty, Haori Mountain would not directly attack the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

However, using the potential strength accumulated by the Five Sects, they have many ways to disrupt the Hundred Immortals Alliance, causing Zheng Fa to be overwhelmed and eventually turning the shallow-rooted Hundred Immortals Alliance into a burden for Zheng Fa.

Even when Zheng Fa cannot openly confront Haori Mountain, the Hundred Immortals Alliance's strength is far from enough to handle such insidious methods.

Xie Qingxue had an additional worry.

Having collaborated with Zheng Fa to kill the Great Freedom Demon Emperor, she naturally understood the realities of Zheng Fa and the Jiushan Sect better than others.

In others' eyes, Zheng Fa possesses Dao Fruit combat strength, able to kill an old Demon Ancestor.

But Xie Qingxue knew too well.

At present, Zheng Fa doesn't have the strength to contend with a true Dao Fruit.

In other words, Zheng Fa is not only constrained by the treaty but indeed lacks the power to confront Haori Mountain.

When chaos arises in the Hundred Immortals Alliance, and Zheng Fa's cultivation is implicated, the situation he faces after the treaty expires will be even more difficult than the Master described.

Previously in the Jiushan Realm, Zheng Fa often joked with her about crossing the river by feeling the stones left by Tianhe Venerable, having predecessors to guide the way made things smoother.

But the problem is...

There were not only Zheng Fa who had predecessors as cautionary examples.

How could she not worry when Haori Mountain approaches Zheng Fa with the mindset of facing another Tianhe Venerable?

You know, even the Ancestor Master with such strong cultivation...

...

Worried all the way, Xie Qingxue walked into the courtyard where she usually cultivated, finding Yan Wushuang pacing back and forth in the lounge.

The lounge contained tables and chairs, but Yan Wushuang seemed too agitated to sit still.

Seeing his senior sister enter, Yan Wushuang was about to speak but was interrupted by Xie Qingxue:

"Wait a moment, I need to send a message to Zheng Fa."

Since she feared her Master, she hadn't taken the Comprehensive Records when visiting Sect Leader Yan, and now with such urgent news, she naturally wanted to notify Zheng Fa immediately.

"Send a message? Oh right, you should congratulate Zheng Fa."

Xie Qingxue was contemplating how to phrase the message when she heard this and paused, looking at Yan Wushuang in confusion: "Congratulate him? Congratulate him for what?"

"Congratulate him for perfecting the 'Jiushan Golden Core Alchemy'!" Yan Wushuang nearly jumped in excitement, "And also for preparing to form his Nascent Soul!"

"..."

Xie Qingxue appeared not to understand, remaining silent for a long time, then repeated, "Forming a Nascent Soul?"

"Yes, haven't you seen his message?" Yan Wushuang said cheerfully, "He told me that cultivating the 'Jiushan Golden Core Alchemy' greatly benefits one's practice, his cultivation speed has increased over five times."

"Once he passes the 'Jiushan Golden Core Alchemy' to me..."

Yan Wushuang's expression was filled with anticipation. If he mastered the 'Jiushan Golden Core Alchemy,' wouldn't he also be able to form a Nascent Soul quickly?

Who else could be the first genius of the Tianhe Sect if not him?

However, Xie Qingxue didn't pay attention to her foolish junior brother who was daydreaming.

She didn't hurry to send the message; instead, she immersed her Divine Sense into the Comprehensive Records, finding that Zheng Fa had indeed also sent her a message.