I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 80: Undiscerning

The Jiushan Ancestor waved his hand, and four dazzling golden beams shot out from the mountaintop's symbols, converging on Zheng Fa.

Unbidden, Zheng Fa sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes half-closed. In his mind’s eye, he saw mountains and rivers flowing, the sun and moon rising and setting, and the passage of time eroding all things.

When he returned to his senses, the snowy mountaintop and the Jiushan Ancestor had vanished.

In their place were the four golden symbols, stretching from the heavens to the earth and filling the entire space before him.

One glance was enough to make Zheng Fa dizzy.

He now understood why even the Jiushan Ancestor had failed to fully comprehend the True Form Talisman of Mountains and Rivers—it was leagues beyond any talisman diagram he had ever seen.

The symbols drawn in the Seventh Young Master’s study or by Senior Sister Zhang were mere isolated entities.

But the True Form Talisman was like a grand assembly of talisman diagrams—each interconnected, dancing harmoniously as if part of a jubilant bonfire celebration.

From afar, they seemed like four symbols. But up close, Zheng Fa realized they were composites of countless diagrams. He couldn’t even identify the base diagrams that made up the four symbols, as many weren’t derived from foundational talismans.

It felt like one of those jokes he’d read before:

“I just learned basic addition, and now the final exam is on calculus?”

This is beyond the syllabus!

If the cultivators of the Xuanyi Realm found themselves before such a challenge, they would likely feel even more lost than he did.

The issue boiled down to two key problems:

Why were these isolated diagrams able to combine so seamlessly, forming what seemed like a single, cohesive entity? This was beyond Zheng Fa’s current understanding of talismans.

How could one even begin to analyze these unfamiliar diagrams?

Unlike him, most cultivators in the Xuanyi Realm lacked systematic methods. Their approach was akin to ancient herbalists: try it and see what happens. Draw the diagram, observe the effects, and then categorize it. Only later would they try to distill it into a simpler foundational form.

Without a standard classification system—like topology in his world—there was no way to study combinations like these.

Zheng Fa’s hope rested on his borrowed insights. White Nascent Soul, it’s your time to shine!

He focused on the incomprehensible talisman diagrams above, trying to apply the patterns from Old Bai’s notebook.

---

Meanwhile, below the mountain...

On the broad plaza within the clouds, those who had fallen from the walkways gathered, including the Seventh Young Master, who was stewing in frustration.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that he could have climbed higher, if not for his fear of heights.

As he wallowed, a shadow loomed over him. Looking up, he saw Zhou Qianyuan, his expression dark and menacing.

Clearly, he wasn’t here to make friends.

The Seventh Young Master felt a pang of guilt—perhaps he had been a bit too overbearing earlier, inadvertently affecting Zhou Qianyuan’s performance.

Coupled with Zhou Qianyuan’s purple-ranked talent, the Seventh Young Master’s nerves were fraying.

“What do you want?” he asked coldly, determined not to lose face.

“What you said earlier—that he taught you talismans. Was that true?” Zhou Qianyuan’s focus caught the Seventh Young Master off guard.

“...Partially!” The Seventh Young Master puffed out his chest. “Most of it is my natural talent!”

Zhou Qianyuan’s skeptical gaze lingered on him, trying to determine if he was lying.

Before the tension could escalate, a golden light suddenly pierced the sky from the Ninth Peak.

Everyone turned to look, and at the center of the beam, a figure sat cross-legged amidst a flurry of talisman diagrams too intricate for the eye to follow.

“Zheng Fa!” the Seventh Young Master exclaimed.

Zhou Qianyuan stared at the talismans surrounding Zheng Fa, his frown deepening as he attempted to decipher them.

The other onlookers murmured in confusion, unable to make sense of what they were seeing.

Gradually, some of the talisman diagrams around Zheng Fa began to shift. They elongated, twisted, and transformed into far simpler shapes.

“Foundational talismans?” Zhou Qianyuan muttered, realization dawning. “He’s analyzing them! These foundational talismans—ones I’ve never seen before—he’s finding a way to decipher the diagrams!”

The Seventh Young Master, snapping out of his daze, glanced around and noticed that most of the crowd looked similarly baffled by the foundational talismans.

“You said you learned from Zheng Fa. What did he require of you?” Zhou Qianyuan asked suddenly, his tone serious.

“Require?”

“Does he teach anyone? Or does he demand something—spirit stones, talent, character?” Zhou Qianyuan clarified.

The Seventh Young Master’s alarm bells rang. He’s trying to poach my teacher!

Panic set in. Why was a prodigy like Zhou Qianyuan so quick to seek a master after a single setback?

Can’t you remain arrogant for a bit longer?

Clearing his throat, the Seventh Young Master replied,

“His requirements are sky-high! Take me, for instance—I spent a fortune in spirit stones just to get in the door, and that’s nothing!”

“First, he values talent above all. My incredible aptitude barely earned me an entry!”

“But most importantly, he values character! He expects his disciples to be pure-hearted and virtuous, ready to serve him with unwavering loyalty—pouring tea, sweeping floors, even enduring endless scolding. Someone of your caliber wouldn’t endure such indignities!”

Zhou Qianyuan considered this for a moment before nodding slowly.

“If he accepted you, then he must not be very selective.”

“...”

---

Back on the Ninth Mountain...

Zheng Fa felt a pang of disappointment. Old Bai’s method doesn’t quite cut it here.

He could only decipher less than a tenth of the diagrams. While the technique was effective for foundational talismans, it fell short when faced with this overwhelmingly advanced composite.

Even Senior Sister Zhang’s admiration for the technique as a pathway to the essence of talismans now seemed overly generous. In truth, it was merely a practical exam hack—a shortcut rather than a fundamental breakthrough.

As the foundational talismans danced around him, Zheng Fa shook his head and began to rise.

“You’ve surpassed even him!” the Jiushan Ancestor suddenly appeared, beaming with approval.

“Your talent in talismans is unparalleled!”

“Hmm?”

“That old man spent his entire life analyzing talismans, and yet he only managed to extract as many foundational talismans as you just did!”

“...” Zheng Fa blinked. White Nascent Soul is this impressive?

His awe for the original Jiushan Ancestor waned significantly.

“With your talent, you may choose two treasures from his legacy,” the Jiushan Ancestor declared.

Respectfully, I take it back! Zheng Fa thought, silently renewing his reverence for the ancestor.

The Jiushan Ancestor pointed to the four golden symbols. As they shimmered, two crimson doors appeared on the mountainside below.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!