Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World

"Spirit Stones are the foundation of the array?" In the great hall of the Heavenly Palace Island of the Jiushan Realm, Zhang's expression was one of sudden realization mixed with doubt.

Not just her, even Xie Qingxue had a bewildered and confused look on her face.

There were not many people in the hall, only Zhang and Xie Qingxue.

The bounty from Haori Mountain had indeed affected the Jiushan Sect, and Junior Master Huang, along with Xiao Yuying and others, were outside protecting the Jiushan disciples, guarding against sneak attacks from the Nascent Soul loose cultivators of Haori Mountain.

"Fairy Xie, are you unaware of this matter?"

Seeing the expression on Xie Qingxue's face, Zheng Fa couldn't help but be surprised.

Xie Qingxue showed a hint of bitterness in her eyes: "I've never heard of it."

Zheng Fa nodded slightly, contemplating for a while before making up his mind, and said to Xie Qingxue, "It seems that the inheritance of the Tianhe Sect is likely restricted."

Even though the connection between the arrays and Spirit Stones was a secret, for a sect like the Five Sects, it shouldn't be this way.

Xie Qingxue, being the Tianhe Sect's first True Inheritor, knowing nothing about this is quite strange.

That Shi Nandang is just a True Inheritor at Haori Mountain's Divinity Transformation stage, not comparable in strength to Xie Qingxue, who wields the Qingping Sword.

Yet he knows the "Heaven and Earth Divine Evil Formation" inside out.

Even Zheng Fa, a Golden Core cultivator, could get some inheritance, indicating the array's threshold wasn't beyond Xie Qingxue's ability to learn.

Zheng Fa's heart stirred, and he asked further, "How does the Tianhe Sect fare in artifact refining and alchemy?"

"Alchemy can't compare to the Supreme Dao, and artifact refining falls short of Haori Mountain a bit." Xie Qingxue was puzzled by Zheng Fa's question but answered anyway.

"So... it's not considered bad among the Five Sects?"

Xie Qingxue nodded confidently, "I dare not speak for alchemy, but in artifact refining, apart from Haori Mountain, the Tianhe Sect dares to say it's not weaker than any other sect."

Hearing this, Zheng Fa was even more convinced of his thoughts, and said, "Fairy Xie, do you remember, I told you, if you ever face life-threatening danger, to send me a Communication?"

Xie Qingxue nodded silently.

That was after Xie Qingxue assisted Zheng Fa in killing the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor, and when she left, Zheng Fa made her this promise.

"I couldn't say much back then, but perhaps now you've guessed some things..."

Zheng Fa kept it hidden at the time to protect Mu Qingyan.

On the other hand, it was also because it was hard to convince others—after all, the Tianhe Sect is one of the Five Sects, claiming it might be gone would be hard for Xie Qingxue to believe.

Now the actions of Sect Leader Yan from Tianhe Sect were too obvious, Xie Qingxue and Elder Han were also busy running for the Hundred Immortals Alliance, and he felt it was time to speak frankly.

"The Tianhe Sect might face a disaster leading to its destruction."

Xie Qingxue's face turned pale, yet her eyes showed no surprise.

Zheng Fa continued, "Previously, I was only sixty percent sure of this, but from Sect Leader Yan's actions, I'm eighty to ninety percent sure."

Xie Qingxue did not refute, instead, her voice was a bit bitter:

"Eighty to ninety percent may be an understatement."

At this, she fixed her eyes on Zheng Fa, with a somewhat determined look, "Zheng Fa, today I shall be bold, could you make a different promise?"

Zheng Fa looked at Xie Qingxue, and could somewhat guess.

"My junior brother, I'll entrust him to your care in the future."

Xie Qingxue's words did not surprise Zheng Fa, he only asked:

"Fairy Xie, you..."

"Besides my Master and junior brother, I have no close relatives in the sect..." Xie Qingxue chuckled softly, "But after all, I wield the Qingping Sword, if someone can destroy my Tianhe Sect, they surely won't spare me."

"If I stay in the Jiushan Sect, it might bring disaster to the Jiushan Sect."

"My junior brother's cultivation is low, but he might have a sliver of hope."

Zhang looked at Xie Qingxue, and in her gaze, there was some inevitable sympathy.

"Is Fairy Xie worried that I might not be able to protect you?"

"You are, after all, the Sect Leader of the Jiushan Sect."

"..."

Zheng Fa was left speechless.

Xie Qingxue's words were sensible, even though Zheng Fa wanted to help her, making an enemy for the Jiushan Sect, especially such a formidable one, was unwise.

An enemy capable of destroying the Tianhe Sect would be a force difficult for the Jiushan Realm to withstand.

"Moreover..." Xie Qingxue sat, her posture as proud as a sword, with an indelible arrogance, "I do not wish to hide."

Seeing Zheng Fa was about to speak, Xie Qingxue waved her hand and said, "No need to persuade me further."

"..."

"For us Sword Cultivators, it'd be better to break than bend, life and death are long since beyond consideration, not important!"

"..."

Zheng Fa paused for a moment, a look of respect flashing across his face, he nodded and praised, "I underestimated you, Fairy Xie, and indeed, my idea might not save the Tianhe Sect."

"?"

Zheng Fa bowed to her and said:

"Farewell, Fairy Xie! I will take good care of Mr. Yan for you..."

"Wait!" Xie Qingxue quickly waved her hand, "Did you say save my Tianhe Sect?"

"To a Sword Cultivator, that's not important!"

Xie Qingxue was silent for a moment, then tossed her Qingping Sword to Zheng Fa, saying, "Anyway, this broken sword only listens to you and not me."

Zheng Fa and Zhang looked wordlessly at the Qingping Sword humming, embedded in the floor, its blade filled with countless question marks.

Xie Qingxue patted her now empty waist, with a look of innocence:

"Who's the Sword Cultivator here?"

"..."

Zheng Fa twitched his mouth, but honestly said, "My idea, indeed, lacks much assurance."

Xie Qingxue urged:

"Come on, just say it!"

"Earlier, I asked about the Tianhe Sect's array inheritance because of a suspicion..."

"What suspicion?"

"The Tianhe Sect's array isn't too weak, it's too strong!"

Xie Qingxue and Zhang's expressions were shocked at these words, they spoke in unison, "Just like the 'Nine Reincarnation Golden Core Method'?"

"Exactly. Otherwise, it's hard to explain why the Tianhe Sect doesn't even know the connection between Spirit Stones and the array..."

Xie Qingxue was puzzled, "But our Tianhe Sect has no other specialties besides swordsmanship."

"What about Alchemy Dao and Artifact Dao then?"

"..."

"I have a theory that the Tianhe Sect was on the losing side in the previous era. But because of the agreement between your Five Veins Ancestors and the Four Sects, along with the formidable power of the Four Immortal Slaying Swords, they reached a mutual compromise."