I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times-Chapter 351Book 2: : Ancestor’s Burden, Artificial Intelligence
Vol 2 Chapter 351: Ancestor's Burden, Artificial Intelligence
At Nascent Soul cultivation, Zheng Fa found it somewhat strenuous to maintain control of the grand formation for extended periods.
Shi Nandang proved considerate, seemingly noticing Zheng Fa's spiritual energy nearing depletion. He turned to the Zhongxuan Sect leader and issued an unquestionable command:
"Li Hao should rest first. You take over."
Zheng Fa didn't force himself, landing beside Shi Nandang to watch the Zhongxuan leader clumsily operate the Heaven and Earth Divine Fiend Array in his stead.
"How is it?"
"This disciple's cultivation is insufficient, making a fool of myself before the Venerable."
"Hah." Shi Nandang shook his head as if Zheng Fa's words were absurdly funny. "This is the Trapping Immortal Sword we're talking about."
Zheng Fa turned to see Shi Nandang grinning: "Don't say you're merely at Nascent Soul—even we'd be helpless against such a treasure without the array's assistance."
That much was true.
A mentally unstable Trapping Immortal Sword wasn't the issue—but a True Immortal-grade lunatic? Nobody could handle that.
Realizing this, Zheng Fa had an idea and asked Shi Nandang: "Once refined, could the Venerable wield this sword?"
Shi Nandang gave him a complicated look: "You overestimate me far too much."
Understood.
Expecting a Nascent Soul cultivator to command the Trapping Immortal Sword was pure fantasy.
This posed a problem.
Zheng Fa had entertained thoughts of stealing the sword, but at his current strength, even if successful, he couldn't control it. The deranged artifact might suddenly go berserk and slaughter everyone in Jiushan Realm.
He'd have no one to blame but himself.
He'd anticipated difficulties beforehand.
If the Trapping Immortal Sword were easily subdued, Haori Mountain wouldn't have spent hundreds of thousands of years failing to tame it.
Zheng Fa's original hope was to use the "Trapping Immortal Sword Canon" to establish resonance with the sword. Even without full control, he'd settle for rudimentary usage.
Failing that, peaceful coexistence would suffice:
Whether he could master the sword mattered little—what mattered was Haori Mountain's inability to control it.
But now, the sword's instability made handling it like cradling a live bomb...
As Zheng Fa pondered countermeasures, Shi Nandang nodded to him:
"Withdraw for now. The Zhongxuan Sect affairs are yours to manage." Glancing at the three Zhongxuan Nascent Souls, he added after consideration: "Report here every two months henceforth." ʀâΝỌＢЁs
Zheng Fa cupped his hands respectfully before retreating from the mountaintop.
Watching his figure vanish into the mist, Shi Nandang seemed struck by a thought and asked the Ninth Elder with a smile: "As his master, care to guess what he'll do upon assuming control of Zhongxuan Sect?"
The Ninth Elder thought: Since when am I his master?
This Alliance Head Zheng's thoughts often defied convention—how could she possibly predict his actions?
The Eighth Elder nearby chimed in: "Newly elevated, with authority yet unestablished—naturally he'll consolidate power, reform the sect to facilitate future operations."
Shi Nandang nodded slightly without comment.
The Eighth Elder pressed: "What does the Venerable think?"
"That... wouldn't be bad."
Not bad?
The Ninth Elder understood—Shi Nandang didn't consider this the optimal approach.
Following Shi Nandang's gaze downhill, seemingly observing Zheng Fa's retreat, she realized: 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
This Venerable Shi still meant to test Zheng Fa.
Only, who knew what Alliance Head Zheng would actually do?
......
"He's been holed up in the Scripture Cave for a month?" The Eighth Elder gaped in disbelief. "Ignoring all visitors—people can't even find him?"
Even Shi Nandang looked surprised.
His gaze pierced toward the Scripture Cave as if seeing a figure buried in study.
After watching silently for several incense sticks' worth of time, he suddenly laughed, visibly pleased.
"Venerable?"
The two elders were baffled by his abrupt mirth.
"Li Hao possesses remarkable Dao Heart steadfastness," Shi Nandang evaluated. "Most cultivators, newly empowered, if not swollen with pride, would at least burn with ambition to prove themselves."
"Yet Li Hao shows no thirst for authority whatsoever—his Dao Heart's purity surpasses even mine."
The Ninth Elder thought: Given Alliance Head Zheng's status?
It's less that you're surpassed, more that such things are beneath his notice...
An idea struck her: "Does the Venerable know which texts he's studying in the cave?"
"Hmm... Mostly artifact-forging methods. The first was your sect leader's lineage treasure—the 'Xuantian Artifact Codex.'"
Shi Nandang's admiration grew more pronounced:
"From this, Li Hao seems quite determined in the Artifact Dao."
The Xuantian Artifact Codex?
The Ninth Elder immediately recalled Zheng Fa's previous interest in learning it—a secret technique even she couldn't access.
Who'd have thought the Alliance Head remembered, seizing power to study it first chance he got?
Watching the approving Shi Nandang, the Ninth Elder lowered her head, shaking it internally:
Whether Zheng Fa was determined in artifact forging, she couldn't say.
But regarding stealing techniques? Alliance Head Zheng was nothing if not persistent.
......
When Zheng Fa returned to Jiushan Realm, his Creation Jade Slab brimmed with Zhongxuan Sect's texts.
A month sufficed for him to thoroughly loot their forging methods.
Few in Zhongxuan Sect earned his respect.
In his mind, they remained enemies.
But knowledge bore no guilt—especially enemy knowledge.
Back in Jiushan Realm, Han Lao stared dumbfounded at the trove of secrets, his expression defeatist.
Zheng Fa could practically read despair in the old man's face:
No matter how diligently he embezzled resources, he couldn't compete with Zhongxuan's naturally gifted members' occasional flashes of genius.
Madam Xuanhua buried herself in the jade slips, utterly enchanted.
Though merely a Nascent Soul sect, Zhongxuan's forging methods shared origins with Haori Mountain—Xuanyi Realm's premier forging power—retaining unique refinements after millennia of independent development.
Invaluable references for Madam Xuanhua and the Artificer Pavilion alike.
"Xuanhua." Zheng Fa spoke once she surfaced from the texts. "How fares the Artificer Guild's textbook compilation?"
"Nearly complete. Senior Zhang is reviewing it now. These Zhongxuan secrets necessitate some revisions."
Zheng Fa nodded. "Then I'll check on Senior Sister Zhang first."
After a pause, he added gravely: "Xuanhua, Jiushan Sect's Artifact Dao future rests with you."
Understanding his meaning, Madam Xuanhua nodded solemnly without words.
Flying to Great Learning Island, Zheng Fa found Senior Sister Zhang operating the Nine Chapters Calculation Array with Xie Qingxue assisting.
Their intermittent discussions never ceased since the array's activation, consuming spirit stones rapidly.
Yet Zheng Fa knew the benefits outweighed costs tenfold in production and trade savings alone.
"Senior Sister! Fairy Xie!"
Senior Sister Zhang stowed her Feixian Brush, approaching Zheng Fa.
"Well?"
Before she could speak, Xie Qingxue urgently asked—clearly concerned about the Trapping Immortal Sword, her sect's treasure she surely fretted over daily.
Zheng Fa countered: "Fairy Xie, among your sect's four lineage ancestors, were any female?"
Xie Qingxue blinked. "One."
"The Trapping Immortal lineage's founder?"
"No, the Trapping Immortal lineage's founder was Tianhe Ancestor's fourth disciple—male presumably."
"Then the Trapping Immortal Sword Spirit likely isn't him."
"Sword Spirit?"
Xie Qingxue froze, her confusion intensifying.
Zheng Fa explained the deranged sword spirit's condition thoroughly.
Xie Qingxue paled. "The sword spirit... went mad?"
Senior Sister Zhang frowned. "This complicates matters."
She knew Zheng Fa's dilemma:
Stealing the uncontrollable sword risked catastrophe.
Leaving it for Haori Mountain's eventual success was unacceptable.
Even sabotaging the Heaven and Earth Divine Fiend Array seemed perilous—who knew what the freed sword might do?
"Your thoughts, Junior Brother?"
"Treat its illness."
The only viable solution.
"You mean... like with Jiushan Ancestor?"
Zheng Fa nodded.
"Ideally, replace its spirit with a cooperative one."
"Failing that, follow Haori Mountain's approach—erase its will."
His logic was simple: either cure the sword into obedience, or euthanize it.
Don't ask if it's alive—just whether it's cured.
Xie Qingxue remained visibly distressed over her sect's treasure. Meeting Zheng Fa's gaze, she rolled her eyes:
"The Ancestor gifted it to Haori Mountain—what can I say?"
True—if the fourth disciple didn't care, her concern meant little.
Senior Sister Zhang pressed: "How to treat it?"
"Via the Heaven and Earth Divine Fiend Array." After much deliberation, Zheng Fa found no alternatives. "Without it, the sword's beyond my reach."
Reconstructing Jiushan Ancestor succeeded because he was cooperative and merely Nascent Soul-level.
Against the Trapping Immortal Sword's rank and temperament, Zheng Fa lacked confidence—but trusted Haori Mountain's expertise.
"Secretly modify the array to make Haori Mountain refine the sword for us?" Senior Sister Zhang nodded, then asked, "What of the Hundred Immortals Alliance's spirit veins?"
Instead of answering, Zheng Fa flicked a Message Talisman into the void.
The two women exchanged glances, wondering whom he'd summoned—until Jiushan Ancestor's robust figure came bounding across the rainbow bridge.
"You needed me?"
"Ancestor, you mentioned redirecting spirit veins?"
The Ancestor proudly affirmed.
"Could you link Zhongxuan's earth-fire veins to Haori Mountain's spirit veins?"
"Possible, but I'd need their vein mappings." After consideration, he agreed, then puzzled: "Why?"
Though he didn't understand, the women did.
"Junior Brother, you considered this when targeting Zhongxuan?"
Zheng Fa smiled. "The idea occurred to me."
The Trapping Immortal Sword's might demanded staggering spiritual energy for refinement—prompting Haori Mountain to drain the Hundred Immortals Alliance's veins dry, simultaneously weakening them while powering the array.
"Studying the array revealed Haori Mountain's intimate knowledge of the Alliance's spirit vein network—the array's design leverages this exquisitely."
Originally under Haori Mountain's dominion, the Alliance's secrets might be better known to them than Zheng Fa.
"Without the Ancestor, I'd still attempt array modifications—but risk exposure. If discovered, subduing Shi Nandang's group would be the only recourse... except he likely carries the True Immortal Sacred Ancestor's contingencies."
While minor adjustments might escape Shi Nandang's notice, altering nodal positions would instantly alert him.
Moreover, the Sacred Ancestor surely didn't entrust the sword to a mere Nascent Soul without safeguards.
"But with the Ancestor, we need only subtle array tweaks—having him adjust the veins at critical moments."
After lengthy consideration, Senior Sister Zhang told Jiushan Ancestor:
"Further calculations are needed for vein and array modifications. But this may be our best approach."
The Ancestor looked lost, probably misunderstanding.
Zheng Fa couldn't explain:
He essentially wanted the Ancestor to... steal electricity from Haori Mountain.
After further discussion, the two departed. Watching them vanish across the bridge, Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang shared uneasy looks.
"Twenty years..."
Senior Sister Zhang's smile faded into a frown.
"Haori Mountain gives us only twenty years."
Zheng Fa's expression darkened further.
Xie Qingxue and the Ancestor didn't grasp the Alliance's gravest threat.
Perhaps the array could be handled via the Ancestor.
But Haori Mountain's menace loomed ever closer.
Should their spirit veins dry up from array overuse while losing the sword...
Their retaliation would be predictable.
"Haori Mountain invests significant attention in us—they learned instantly when the Ancestor reached Nascent Soul."
Shi Nandang originally planned forty years for sword refinement—halved likely by Haori Mountain's orders.
Their urgency probably stemmed from the Alliance's rapid growth.
"Senior Sister, regardless of whether we secure the sword, Haori Mountain will notice anomalies in twenty years. Their methods will grow more ruthless."
When Zheng Fa's gaze lingered, she asked: "Why stare at me?"
"Senior Sister, I need you to reach Nascent Soul swiftly."
"I'd love to..." She paused, comprehending. "You mean abandoning the calculation array?"
"Yes—it consumes you completely."
Currently, only she and Zheng Fa could operate the complex Nine Chapters Array.
With Zheng Fa frequently at Zhongxuan Sect, the burden fell entirely on her—stunting her cultivation progress despite the array's benefits.
"..."
She turned to the array, then back to Zheng Fa: "Without it, how will Jiushan Realm develop?"
"Compared to you, Jiushan Realm... is unimportant."
She stared silently, understanding his priorities.
She knew how Zheng Fa valued the array and craved rapid development—yet chose to halt operations for her advancement.
"Actually, you wouldn't abandon it entirely." Noting her hesitation, Zheng Fa added: "Didn't you finalize the textbooks?"
"The Array Dao Academy materials are ready?"
"Only drafts. Few in Jiushan understand Array Dao, but they're serviceable."
"That suffices. Select talented disciples to train in array operation—within a year or two, you'll have competent successors."
Basic array operation was simpler to teach than mastery.
Even for the innovative Nine Chapters Array, a year sufficed.
"Then I'll prepare for Nascent Soul in a year or two."
"..."
Meeting Zheng Fa's gaze, she stated:
"Between Jiushan Realm and me... you needn't choose."
Meaning: have both.
Frankly, Zheng Fa preferred her early advancement.
But recognizing her resolve, he knew some decisions were immutable.
He sighed internally—having anticipated this.
Only one solution remained...
......
Modern Era, Retirement Home
Zheng Fa entered Tang Lingwu's room, eyes hopeful:
"How fares the Nine Chapters Array's AI algorithm research?"
Little Lingwu—
Senior Sister Zhang's advancement depends on you!
Training disciples took time, but enhancing the array's automation—even granting it sentience—could liberate her.
"Progress, but the talismanic diagrams' logic resembles assembly language yet differs fundamentally... persistent minor issues."
Tang Lingwu sighed.
Peering over her shoulder at forum posts, Zheng Fa asked: "I've two references that might help."
He handed her two texts.
Flipping through, she murmured the titles: "'Vermilion Heaven Jade Manual'... 'Trapping Immortal Sword Canon'? Cultivation manuals? How do these relate?"
"They contain methodologies for constructing intelligent entities via talismanic diagrams."
Watching her eyes widen, Zheng Fa smirked inwardly:
Artificial intelligence? Xuanyi Realm had that too.
Combining both worlds' intellects, he'd damned well create an AI to emancipate Senior Sister Zhang.
