Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World

When Zheng Fa spoke, an immediate silence fell within the cave residence.

The other four fellow disciples, at this moment, looked at Zheng Fa differently, their expressions all conveying the same sentiment:

Oh, what a man of strong brows and big eyes, where did you learn the art of tea?

Zheng Fa's opportunistic second senior brother gritted his teeth, squeezing out a sentence from between them: "I also do not wish to go to Haori Mountain!"

But he couldn't quite manage his expression, especially compared to Zheng Fa who seemed genuinely sincere, making his own words appear less heartfelt.

The Ninth Elder remained indifferent, not even sparing a glance at this second disciple, instead casting an extra gaze upon Zheng Fa, seemingly assessing his sincerity before speaking again:

"Since Li Hao truly doesn't wish to go, let the second senior brother go."

This use of the word "truly" inevitably caused Zheng Fa's fellow disciples to feel puzzled, further provoking a trace of embarrassment and annoyance from the second senior brother.

However, Zheng Fa paid little attention to them. His current strength, even on Divine Fire Mountain, would only warrant caution because of the things shrouded in fog at the mountain's summit.

Facing everyone, including the gaze of the Nascent Soul Ninth Elder, he merely gave a slight smile, appearing calm as ever.

Though his divine soul, physical body, and even his cultivation technique had transformed to resemble Li Hao completely, his original personality and the confidence his strength brought made him appear more composed than before.

If not for wanting to uncover what lay within that fog, he would not have come to this cave residence.

Several fellow disciples felt this fourth junior brother possessed an air of grace, quite different from their previous impression of him.

But since they weren't well acquainted with this fourth junior brother, and remembering their master's mention of Li Hao's improved cultivation, they found this change somewhat understandable.

The Ninth Elder glanced at the disciple again, found no flaws, and refrained from saying much, as if recalling his master's duties, he asked the crowd: "Have you encountered any difficulties in your recent cultivation?"

"In our cultivation..." Zheng Fa's little junior sister spoke, "Master, those outsider Golden Cores are too overbearing..."

"We want to strive in our cultivation, but the spirit stones and pills are all taken by them. How can we manage?"

As soon as she said this, the other disciples nodded in agreement.

Zheng Fa pondered, realizing Chongxuan Sect's internal affairs were indeed not peaceful:

Suddenly, seven Divinity Transformation Elders descended, causing the original Chongxuan Sect cultivators to suffer greatly.

For instance, the Communication Cave, originally controlled by the Sect Leader's Golden Core lineage, was now seized by the Divinity Transformation Elders and operated with extreme greed.

The original Chongxuan Sect disciples harbored significant resentment.

Conflicts brewed between two factions, yet before the seven Divinity Transformation Elders, no one dared to act recklessly.

The little junior sister typically kept complaints to herself, but couldn't help expressing them before the Ninth Elder, her master.

Before the Ninth Elder could speak, the little junior sister continued: "Moreover... why must the sect oppose Alliance Leader Zheng?"

With these words, the Ninth Elder's face turned cold, and she sharply commanded: "Be silent."

"..."

The Nascent Soul's aura flashed briefly across her face, forcing Zheng Fa's little junior sister into silence.

Zheng Fa felt aggrieved.

The question was very reasonable!

What are you meddling in the matters of the Dao Fruit lord for, you bunch of kids?

What has Haori Mountain done to buy your lives?

It truly can!

"The matter of cultivation resources is not for you to worry about..." the Ninth Elder explained, "Haori Mountain has sent orders, each month moving forward, our sect will be allocated spirit stones and pills..."

"In the future, each of you..."

"If you achieve Nascent Soul, there will be even more..."

The Ninth Elder's words left the five disciples with their mouths agape, even including Zheng Fa, with expressions of genuine surprise — there was much more than anticipated.

The resources Haori Mountain allocated to Chongxuan Sect exceeded the monthly income of Jiushan Sect by a considerable margin...

Reflecting on it, Zheng Fa understood. Despite the Hundred Immortals Alliance currently consisting of six sects, when it came to actual territory and population, it was far inferior to Haori Mountain.

What's more, Haori Mountain had recently consolidated the territory's Immortal Sects, boasting substantial wealth.

Not to say allocating such resources to Chongxuan Sect served any particular purpose, but for them, these resources were truly not much.

"So, are those Divinity Transformation Elders' disciples here consuming Haori Mountain's resources?"

It seems the little junior sister is no fool either, and Zheng Fa grasped the situation — Chongxuan Sect as a Nascent Soul sect was, at core, of little value to the Divinity Transformation Elders.

Evidently, Chongxuan Sect had now become a covert battleground between the Hundred Immortals Alliance and Haori Mountain, with the potential for major incidents if not careful.

They brought their disciples to Chongxuan Sect for...

Subsidy fraud?

The Ninth Elder shook his head, saying: "Their power is great, but the cultivation resources for you henceforth will only increase, not decrease, compared to before."

"Moreover, in the future if you advance to Nascent Soul, there are not only resources but Haori Mountain's true Divinity Transformation Skill inheritance."

With these words, the resentful look on the little junior sister's face dissipated considerably.

Zheng Fa understood as well, Haori Mountain was offering too much!

"Then what if Alliance Leader Zheng comes? He did kill the Great Freedom Demon Emperor..."

The Ninth Elder looked upward, as if gazing at the summit of Divine Fire Mountain:

"This matter is beyond our decision. But there's no need for you to worry too much... Haori Mountain is spending so many spirit stones; they certainly wouldn't send us to our deaths lightly."

The sentiment was tinged with helplessness, and Zheng Fa perceived clearly... Although Haori Mountain paid generously, it also displayed dominion, as seemingly evident from the Ninth Elder's own subtle discontent.

Just then, the second senior brother scheduled to go to Haori Mountain spoke up:

"The establishment of Zheng Fa's guild is essentially to seize secret techniques of each sect!"

"Not just within Chongxuan Sect, but among many disgruntled cultivators within the Hundred Immortals Alliance. Previously, they held back due to Zheng Fa's might, but now with Haori Mountain backing... one could say followers are gathering like clouds."