I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times-Chapter 361Book 2: : Compassion for Life, Inner Sect Interview
Vol 2 Chapter 361: Compassion for Life, Inner Sect Interview
Despite the turmoil among the people below, the scenery atop Divine Fire Mountain remained unchanged.
When Zheng Fa ascended the mountain, Shi Nandang didn't inquire about the sect's situation at all, merely pointing to a pale-faced Nascent Soul cultivator beside him without even speaking.
Zheng Fa leaped into the formation, replacing that Nascent Soul cultivator to jointly control the Heaven and Earth Divine Fiend Array.
He glanced around at everyone present - their faces haggard, their spirits listless.
Elder Jiu, the Zhongxuan Sect Leader, and two Nascent Soul cultivators were meditating outside the formation. Seeing Zheng Fa arrive, Elder Jiu collapsed to the ground, opening his eyes with difficulty to force a faint smile.
The smile vanished instantly, clearly requiring great effort.
No wonder they didn't care about Zhongxuan Sect's affairs.
Don't ask - when you're stuck on an assembly line, you achieve mental clarity and forget worldly attachments.
Of course, the main reason was their confidence - they held power of life and death over Zhongxuan Sect disciples, viewing them as mere ants, naturally indifferent.
To Shi Nandang, most Zhongxuan disciples were just tools:
Engraving spirit stones, harassing the Hundred Immortals Alliance, then queuing up to become nourishment for the Heaven and Earth Divine Fiend Array.
As for other matters, he might care even less than Zheng Fa.
Since no one had energy to speak with him, Zheng Fa remained silent, gazing into the mountain's belly along the crater rim.
Shi Nandang and the others working overtime had clearly achieved some results.
The spiritual energy within the underground fires had grown denser than before.
Fierce flames roared, burning so intensely the air itself seemed to scream, as if Divine Fire Mountain was howling in rage.
The Trapping Immortal Sword within the mountain seemed to sense the danger, struggling even more violently. Zheng Fa felt operating the formation this time was thirty percent more strenuous than before.
The exhaustion of these Nascent Soul cultivators was likely due to suppressing the sword's resistance.
Regarding the Trapping Immortal Sword, Zheng Fa actually had two approaches:
The first was naturally to cure its schizophrenia like he did with Jiushan Ancestor.
But there were two major problems:
First, Zheng Fa's cultivation wasn't sufficient. The Trapping Immortal Sword was after all a True Immortal treasure, far surpassing his current power - not something he could refine at will.
ŕἈƝＯ𝐁Ёȿ
Even with the Heaven and Earth Divine Fiend Array, he had little confidence.
The second problem was actually more troublesome:
He lacked means to control the Trapping Immortal Sword.
Unlike Fusang Wood or the Ten-Thousand-Beast Banner and Qingping Sword, the Trapping Immortal Sword not only had complete spiritual awareness but formidable power.
If he cured it only for the sword to turn against him, the loss would be tremendous.
Thus this approach carried significant risks.
The second approach was simpler:
Imitate Haori Mountain's method - erase the sword's sentience completely to gain control.
Thanks to Haori Mountain's efforts, this method was already well-developed.
Essentially, it involved using Haori Mountain's fundamental techniques to reforge the Trapping Immortal Sword, with exquisite design ensuring minimal loss of power while achieving obedience.
By following Haori Mountain's lead and utilizing the Nine Chapters Calculation Array, Zheng Fa felt confident about stealing their work.
Yet as he looked at the Trapping Immortal Sword, his brow furrowed slightly.
In that case, the sword wouldn't be the problem.
The problem would be Haori Mountain.
Even if Haori Mountain were fools, losing the Trapping Immortal Sword would alert them.
Then Jiushan Sect would face the frenzied retaliation of two True Immortals and one Loose Immortal - three Dao Fruit experts.
And by then, the Trapping Immortal Sword's power would inevitably be diminished. Though Zheng Fa didn't fully understand, judging from Qingping Sword's situation, without Xie Qingxue as sword spirit, Qingping Sword could never exhibit such might.
Facing three Dao Fruit experts with a potentially degraded Trapping Immortal Sword - how much help it could provide remained questionable.
Simply put, having a sword spirit drastically affected the Trapping Immortal Sword's value.
Between these two choices, doing nothing was the worst option.
Once the Heaven and Earth Divine Fiend Array completed and Haori Mountain refined the sword, Zheng Fa would be utterly helpless.
After careful consideration, the ideal choice remained curing the Trapping Immortal Sword, preserving its True Immortal treasure power while gaining control -
Thus Jiushan Realm would gain a True Immortal combatant. Combined with Fusang Wood, Tranquility Bamboo, Qingping Sword and the Ten-Thousand-Beast Banner, they'd surpass even the Great Freedom Demonic Sect of old.
Annihilating Haori Mountain might be difficult, but self-preservation was quite achievable.
Curing the Trapping Immortal Sword required perfecting refinement techniques, cooperation from the sword spirit, and ensuring it wouldn't turn against him - no small challenges. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Ultimately, as a Nascent Soul cultivator seeking loyalty from a True Immortal treasure was rather mismatched.
......
Standing in the void, Zheng Fa sensed the Trapping Immortal Sword spirit's agitation. Seeing no abnormalities in his sea of consciousness, he felt slightly relieved:
Given the sword spirit's current desperation, if it could invade his consciousness, it would have done so already.
Its absence indicated it could only communicate with cultivators practicing the Trapping Immortal Sword Canon!
At least he needn't worry about the spirit leaking secrets.
......
Mist atop the mountain quietly concealed Zheng Fa's energy fluctuations as he circulated spiritual power according to the Trapping Immortal Sword Canon.
In an instant, a childish weeping voice sounded in his consciousness:
"Save me! It hurts!"
The Trapping Immortal Sword spirit burst into Zheng Fa's sea of consciousness - still in a black dress with twin buns, her round face scrunched up, eyes brimming with tears.
Clearly, she was suffering even more than during their last meeting.
Indeed, the sword spirit could only sense those practicing the Trapping Immortal Sword Canon.
As Zheng Fa pondered silently, the spirit's expression suddenly turned cold and stern, her gaze aged and turbid, voice hoarse and elderly:
"You're not from Haori Mountain! You've come to steal the sword! With your meager strength, provoking Haori Mountain is suicide!"
Then a woman's voice:
"If you help me escape this array, I'll help you deal with Haori Mountain and save your life! Otherwise, once free, I'll kill you first!"
"If Haori Mountain refines me, I'll still kill you! You cannot escape!"
"Only by saving me can you live!"
Finished speaking, the girl's childish face showed certainty with a hint of cruelty.
"Do as I say, break the array, free me! I'll give you a chance to live! Otherwise, you'll die without a burial place!"
As she finished, the little girl, old man, and two or three other voices repeated like a broken record:
"Free me!"
"Or you'll die without a burial place!"
"Die without a burial place!"
Their mindless repetition grated on Zheng Fa's nerves. He interrupted:
"Anyway, you'll die first."
"......"
The sword spirit's voices abruptly stopped. As she opened her mouth to retort, Zheng Fa added: "Moreover, even if Haori Mountain wants to kill me, let me ask you - who am I?"
This question rendered even these lunatics speechless.
They naturally understood Zheng Fa's implication:
Though trapped for millennia unable to communicate, the Trapping Immortal Sword had always sensed its circumstances.
They knew exactly how much Haori Mountain valued them.
And that this Heaven and Earth Divine Fiend Array represented Haori Mountain's grand plan prepared over millennia:
Yet this man before them was clearly Haori Mountain's enemy - not only infiltrating the array but now controlling it, even wielding pure Haori Mountain techniques.
With such concealment abilities, could Haori Mountain truly find him?
The sword spirit pursed her lips, her earlier bluster fading by eighty percent.
Seeing Zheng Fa's confident expression, her voice grew smaller:
"If you free me, I can also oppose Haori Mountain! We share a common enemy! Surely you don't want them refining me either!"
"Who said Haori Mountain wants to refine you?"
"?"
"Who said Haori Mountain is my enemy?"
"......"
"Clearly, Haori Mountain is helping me refine you!"
"Help you?"
A faint smile played on Zheng Fa's lips, his eyes mocking.
The sword spirit tried to speak but suddenly felt the array transform - actually nourishing her!
Her pained expression vanished instantly, eyes dazed, lips curling unconsciously into a smile.
Yet the next moment, soul-scorching agony returned. The contrast made the pain even more unbearable.
"It hurts!"
The sword spirit groaned, seeing Zheng Fa's smile remain while the Nascent Soul cultivators showed no reaction, seemingly oblivious to the array's changes, still diligently operating it!
Working their hardest!
Are you truly allied with Haori Mountain?
"You... are you really at Nascent Soul stage?"
The sword spirit's small mouth gaped, eyes wide, even forgetting her pain.
She felt only absurdity and deep-seated dread:
That Haori Mountain's millennia-spanning Heaven and Earth Divine Fiend Array, prepared by that Lu True Immortal, so highly valued...
Had become this man's stepping stone?
Utterly inconceivable.
No mere Nascent Soul could achieve this.
Indeed, given his concealment abilities, this Nascent Soul cultivation must be fake!
The more the sword spirit thought, the more this seemed correct, the more inscrutable Zheng Fa appeared.
Unable to discern Zheng Fa's "true cultivation," the sword spirit grew nervous and fearful: "This unworthy sword begs forgiveness for failing to recognize which senior stands before me."
Zheng Fa merely nodded without answering.
This made the sword spirit view him as even more profound and mysterious, her eyes increasingly wary yet resigned, no longer demanding he break the array -
When the array belongs to this mysterious expert, how could...
"I originally intended to erase your sentience directly."
The sword spirit's small face tensed, eyes filled with malice, the sword struggling violently.
Clearly she now viewed Zheng Fa, not Haori Mountain, as her greatest threat!
"But sentience is hard-won. Tianhe Venerable's treasure-forging was no easy feat. I too have compassion and value life."
Hearing this, the sword spirit paused, seeming to realize something.
"Senior?"
"I can spare the sword spirit."
"Thank..."
"Wait, I haven't finished."
"......"
"But only one can remain."
The sword spirit's expression froze instantly, cycling through countless emotions per second, each seeming to realize something, eyes hesitant.
"Which one?"
The old man's voice finally couldn't resist asking.
Zheng Fa simply smiled: "As for which one remains, that depends on you."
Watching the sword spirit alternate between conflict and wariness, Zheng Fa chuckled inwardly:
Forcing control over a True Immortal treasure was naturally difficult.
But who said force was necessary?
This relied entirely on willingness!
At his cultivation level, he lacked means to control the Trapping Immortal Sword.
But surely the sword spirit had methods to pledge loyalty?
With only one spirit, this might count as coercion.
But with multiple... when competition grew fierce enough, even signing indentured servitude would feel glorious!
The sword spirit remained conflicted. To Zheng Fa, they were likely considering... what terms other personalities might offer.
He wasn't in a hurry:
The Heaven and Earth Divine Fiend Array needed more time anyway.
Moreover, the less urgent he appeared, the more desperate - and competitive - the sword spirit would become.
......
After two months atop Divine Fire Mountain, Zheng Fa descended under the envious gazes of Nascent Soul cultivators, returning to Jiushan Realm.
The Tongjian business thrived, Jiushan Realm's Nascent Souls busier than ever, especially with the newly established academy creating countless loose ends.
After inner sect exams came interviews and mentor assignments - even more work.
Uncle Pang found Zheng Fa, looking harried: "When will interviews start? We're waiting on you!"
This was unavoidable - Zheng Fa was even busier.
But interview timing was uniform.
Without Zheng Fa's return, many matters couldn't proceed.
"Many applicants?"
"What do you think?" Uncle Pang produced a list, handing it to Zheng Fa with a strange tone, "You're the sect leader! Among qualified examinees, at least one-third chose you!"
The list held about a hundred names.
"Zhou Qianyuan?"
Zheng Fa immediately spotted a familiar name. He glanced at Uncle Pang in surprise: "Isn't this your..."
"He asked me, and I agreed."
Zheng Fa studied Uncle Pang as the elder shook his head: "He's followed you and Disciple Zhang for so long, practically your student already. Moreover..."
"Ambitious disciples seeking advancement - how could I stand in their way?"
Uncle Pang's expression was complex - perhaps genuinely magnanimous, or perhaps self-consoling.
Zhou Qianyuan clearly held special meaning for him.
Though Uncle Pang tended to be fickle, he'd always valued Zhou Qianyuan.
This must truly pain him.
After consideration, Zheng Fa said: "Junior Zhou does have talent. His golden-water talisman techniques have become prominent in our sect."
"But Uncle, you know how busy I am - with little time in sect, even less for mentoring. I won't take many disciples."
Establishing inner and true disciple systems aimed solely at nurturing talent. Disciples held little necessity for Zheng Fa himself.
His time was limited, energy scarce: Given the Heaven and Earth Divine Fiend Array's situation, he'd likely shuttle to Zhongxuan Sect frequently over the next decade.
Coupled with Hundred Immortals Alliance affairs, little time remained for disciples.
Thus he could only select truly gifted individuals who might require minimal supervision.
Frankly, Zhou Qianyuan didn't meet this standard.
"Uncle, please inform Junior Zhou - or rather all these disciples - that this inner sect selection may yield only one disciple. Choosing me as mentor might mean missing this inner sect opportunity."
"One?" Uncle Pang froze momentarily, then gave the list a strange look, focusing on one name:
Zheng Shan.
Clearly he assumed this disciple was pre-selected.
"Little sister is the first eliminated."
Uncle Pang started, then heard Zheng Fa continue: "I know my own temperament - too soft on her. If she wants to learn something, I'll naturally teach her. But taking her as a formal disciple would hinder her development and serve no purpose."
After hearing this, Uncle Pang slowly nodded.
His eyes gleamed as he looked at Zheng Shan's name.
He knew this girl well - not only a single spiritual root but raised under Zheng Fa's guidance since childhood. Even when apart, Zheng Fa wrote to educate her.
Practically Zheng Fa's first disciple!
Zhou Qianyuan?
Who was Zhou Qianyuan again?
......
Three days later, outside a University Island classroom.
Over forty disciples gathered silently by the door, covertly sizing each other up.
Mu Qingyan's face was tense as she secretly observed others.
All present were competing for the sect leader's single disciple slot.
After hearing the sect leader might accept only one inner disciple this time, half the applicants withdrew.
Those daring to apply as Zheng Fa's disciples were exceptionally talented.
Choosing other mentors would guarantee inner sect entry.
But with only one slot, risks soared - failure meant waiting five more years.
Coupled with formidable competition, many chose other mentors instead.
Meaning those remaining were elites:
Among forty-plus interviewees, thirty-eight or thirty-nine were at Golden Core stage!
Though Mu Qingyan felt her cultivation progressed rapidly - now mid-Golden Core - here she wasn't even top in cultivation.
Despite being a reincarnator, she had to admit some sect disciples cultivated nearly as fast:
Making her doubt her dreams' reliability!
Nervous, Mu Qingyan stopped assessing powerful competitors, looking further away instead.
There stood a lone male disciple - clearly an applicant yet seemingly afraid to approach others.
No one spoke to him either, only shooting occasional strange glances.
Mu Qingyan also found this odd, for a simple reason:
His cultivation was merely Qi Refining fifth layer!
Not just the lowest among these forty.
But among all Jiushan University, he belonged to the weakest tier.
His presence here seemed utterly incongruous.
Appearing ashamed, he shrank in a corner, chin tucked, back pressed against the wall as if wishing to merge with the stone.
Watching him, Mu Qingyan felt inexplicable kinship: This disciple's age and cultivation matched her "memories" better!
She walked over:
"Junior brother?"
"Ah? Ah! Senior sister calls me?"
The male disciple lifted his head nervously.
"Junior brother, are you also here for the interview?"
His reply was barely audible: "...Yes."
Despite his soft voice, other applicants clearly heard, the area falling silent instantly.
Beads of sweat formed on the disciple's forehead.
Mu Qingyan grew even more curious: "Forgive my bluntness, but with your cultivation, how did you pass the inner sect exam?"
The young man pressed his lips together, head bowing further, silent.
"I don't mean anything by it, just... I heard the minimum was Foundation Establishment?" Mu Qingyan voiced her confusion, then smiled, "For you to be here at your level suggests extraordinary strengths."
The disciple slowly raised his head. Seeing no malice in Mu Qingyan's eyes, he whispered: "I... scored perfect on talisman exams."
"...Perfect? Even the bonus questions?"
"Mm."
Understanding dawned on Mu Qingyan:
The inner sect exam included both standard and bonus questions.
Normally, passing each subject required minimum scores.
But exceptional performance on bonus questions could compensate for failures elsewhere.
This Qi Refining fifth layer disciple naturally failed cultivation standards, but perfect talisman exam scores with bonus questions earned him eligibility.
This realization brought respect - talisman exams were notoriously difficult, bonus questions even more so. According to Fairy Xiao, not all mentors could solve them.
Yet she also felt pity for him:
Choosing another mentor might give him a chance, but with the sect leader... competition was too fierce. His cultivation made success nearly impossible.
Thus she asked: "Junior brother, what's your name?"
"Gu Chang."
