I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times-Chapter 368Book 2: : Host-Devouring Lecture Hall, Two Anomalies
Vol 2 Chapter 368: Host-Devouring Lecture Hall, Two Anomalies
Shi Nandang stood within the formation, his hands continuously weaving incantations, eyes fixed on the Trapping Immortal Sword, his gaze full of worry.
The Trapping Immortal Sword had been unruly and defiant lately. Even seven Nascent Souls struggled to control it, so now that Li Hao was in charge, he naturally felt anxious.
After all, although Li Hao had decent talent, he was only a Nascent Soul. If his strength proved insufficient and the great formation faltered, Shi Nandang could not bear the consequences.
The Trapping Immortal Sword continued to struggle, seemingly three times more fiercely than before. This tightened a knot in Shi Nandang’s heart, and his gaze involuntarily shifted toward Li Hao.
He saw Li Hao also watching the sword, his eyes filled with curiosity, amusement, and eager anticipation.
He was puzzled but then saw Li Hao’s expression suddenly calm, his face serious, as if concentrating on operating the great formation and refining the Immortal Sword.
The Trapping Immortal Sword appeared somewhat exhausted and fell into a brief calm.
Shi Nandang felt a slight joy in his heart, pushed aside Li Hao’s gaze, and fingers dancing, incantations swirling, attempting to press the Trapping Immortal Sword back into the volcanic crater.
What he did not know was that the key to subduing the Trapping Immortal Sword was no longer within the formation but in Zheng Fa’s sea of consciousness.
...
“How is it?”
Looking at the Trapping Immortal Sword’s spirit within his sea of consciousness, Zheng Fa’s eyes smiled, but his tone was relaxed.
Seeking secret methods from the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor was naturally a precaution.
Feigning divine tricks was effective but risky—schemes and plots could never make up for the gap in strength.
He was only a Nascent Soul, while the Trapping Immortal Sword was at the True Immortal level. The cultivation disparity was immense.
Zheng Fa had to be cautious.
“I... you said to keep one of us?” The sword spirit asked in a childish voice, “Any one is fine?”
“Whichever secret technique offered is more useful and whichever is more obedient, I will keep.” Zheng Fa paused, looked at the sword spirit, then added, “Since you are the original sword spirit, you have the strongest control over the Trapping Immortal Sword, so naturally, I favor you.”
A faint flicker of emotion passed over the youthful face of the sword spirit, but it pressed its lips tightly and suddenly changed its gaze.
“You know our origins?”
The old man’s voice suddenly sounded.
“Of course,” Zheng Fa looked at the sword spirit, his gaze somewhat wistful, “The Tianhe Sect’s generations of prodigies, the previous sword masters of the Trapping Immortal Sword...”
“You! Really! Know!”
The old man spoke slowly, each word filled with blood and tears, yet also with hatred.
His hatred was not directed at Zheng Fa but at the founder of the Trapping Immortal Sword’s lineage.
A woman’s voice sounded, filled with sorrow and despair: “Back then, when we held the Trapping Immortal Sword, we arrogantly believed the founder took pity on us and that we had great immortal fate... Unexpectedly, unexpectedly...”
℞𝙖ΝòʙΕs̩
“Founder, you deceived us so cruelly!”
Zheng Fa sighed inwardly.
This was also why Sect Leader Yan of Tianhe Sect was so determined to rebel: without the awakening from the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor, if he and these sword spirit personalities continued cultivating, they likely would share the same fate.
The Tianhe Sect lacked a fundamental great law.
In other words, the four founders of the Tianhe Sect could not, like other Dao Fruit cultivators, control or even absorb the cultivation results of their disciples.
They themselves were unable to act autonomously and could not break free from the bindings of the Four Slaying Immortal Swords—
Zheng Fa had guessed this:
If the Tianhe Venerable were still alive, they probably would not be in such an awkward situation. After all, the Four Slaying Immortal Swords were crafted by the Tianhe Venerable, and the Tianhe Law was created by him. He would not let his disciples be left with no path forward.
But these disciples rebelled.
Therefore, the Tianhe Law was essentially an incomplete path.
After the Taishang Dao’s Yang Spirit stage comes Corpse Liberation.
The Tianhe Sect stopped abruptly at Unity.
In short, the academic leader was gone, and research was forcibly interrupted.
This caused the four founder lineages, though wielding the Four Slaying Immortal Swords, to neither transcend nor cultivate further.
Their strength was formidable, but the road ahead was blocked.
However, these four, accepted by the Tianhe Venerable, were no ordinary cultivators.
They found another path that progressed slowly but was very effective: finding hosts to offer sacrifices to the Trapping Immortal Sword, ultimately absorbing its cultivation and insight along with it... 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
As one of the Five Great Sects, the Tianhe Sect attracted the world’s cultivation talents.
Cultivators able to successfully transform their souls and wield the Four Swords were among the most gifted in Xuanyi Realm across generations.
Leveraging their wisdom and cultivation, over hundreds of thousands of years, the four founder lineages were nearing the end of this strange path to transcendence.
Naturally, the Trapping Immortal Sword was sealed with the divine consciousness of all past sword masters, making the sword spirit appear like it had multiple personalities.
The old man continued, “Are you willing to let us souls disperse into nothingness?”
“Don’t you still find it hard to part?”
“...”
The sword spirit fell silent, clearly unable to speak.
As the original sword spirit, it naturally did not want to become insane.
Even the hosts later refined inside it were all immensely proud, mostly sword cultivators with stubborn personalities.
Being trapped together was truly suffocating.
Zheng Fa’s words struck their hearts.
After a long silence, the old man sighed softly, “Very well, to gain release is not a bad thing. I will comply with your wishes!”
With that, the Trapping Immortal Sword spirit touched a small hand, and a stream of light containing secret techniques flowed into Zheng Fa’s sea of consciousness.
As if agreed upon, several sword spirit personalities resigned themselves, each presenting a secret technique.
...
Zheng Fa closed his eyes, reading each secret technique as if intoxicated.
“... Which one will you choose?”
“This 'Tongming Sword Art'...” Zheng Fa hesitated, seemingly tempted.
The old man urged, “How about it? This is the most profound sword control technique in the Tianhe Sect!”
“Not powerful enough!”
“... What?”
“You incorporated the Blood-Transforming Divine Sword’s idea, planting a blood curse in my body, but against those skilled in demonic arts, it can be immediately broken and even used to counterattack you. If you could add some soul control methods, it would be better.”
“...”
“Good concept, but needs improvement!”
After speaking, Zheng Fa looked at the sword spirit with a hint of regret in his eyes.
The Trapping Immortal Sword spirit’s expression shifted rapidly, seemingly switching personalities, yet none could speak, only staring blankly at Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa, however, seemed intrigued. He said to the sword spirit:
“Speaking of which, this host-devouring treasure does have some decent secret techniques.”
From the sword spirit came the woman’s voice: “Decent secret techniques?”
“Yes, like yours—the 'Secret Treasure Refining Art' you gave has a good concept: hiding divine consciousness within my sea of consciousness so that one day the guest replaces the host.”
“But you missed something. Your divine consciousness is too obvious;it’s easy for me to detect. The Demonic Era had a supreme secret technique called 'Wayheart Demonic Seeding Art' that you should refer to...”
“If you integrate that technique, many will fall for it.”
“...”
“‘Wayheart Demonic Seeding Art’? Isn’t that one of the highest secrets of the demonic arts? Our Tianhe Sect doesn’t have that inheritance. How do you know?”
Zheng Fa smiled but remained silent.
Of course, it was taught by the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor.
But the sword spirit’s expression grew increasingly horrified as it looked at Zheng Fa.
“Who... who exactly are you, old monster?”
Zheng Fa did not answer and continued in a tone like grading homework:
“And you, the original sword spirit, your 'Purple Mansion Sword Nurturing Art' is not very good—too obvious. Anyone who reads it knows you plan to stab me through the Purple Mansion.”
“Fail.”
“...”
The sword spirit blinked, tears appearing, unclear whether from grievance or fright.
Zheng Fa evaluated all the submitted secret techniques, his tone full of regret:
“No wonder the Trapping Immortal Sword’s founder trapped you in such a predicament...”
“...”
“Still need to learn!”
The sword spirit was deeply struck and couldn’t help but collapse into Zheng Fa’s sea of consciousness, crying:
“I told you I can’t do it!”
“Cultivators... cultivators are terrifying!”
Zheng Fa shook his head slightly.
Although he knew little about the Trapping Immortal Sword, the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor and Tianhe Sect Master were different.
One was a friend of the Tianhe Venerable and had witnessed the Trapping Immortal Sword’s forging firsthand.
The other was the Tianhe Sect Master who, after the Tianhe Venerable’s fall, knew the sect’s secret history best.
Zheng Fa’s understanding of the Trapping Immortal Sword was thorough, ancient to present, inside and out.
These people were nourishment for the Tianhe Sect’s founders and were suppressed even more severely in Haori Mountain.
How could their insight compare to Zheng Fa’s?
Now, Zheng Fa’s critique only deepened their despair.
“You... you...”
The old man’s voice trembled but could say no more.
Zheng Fa’s mastery of these secret techniques was so deep that he innovated and cross-referenced other materials, which was terrifying.
More terrifying was his sincere critique and suggestions for improvement—instantly making their petty tricks seem like childish playthings meant to amuse others.
Their hearts filled only with fear, unable to muster any further schemes.
“I know you don’t want to perish utterly.” Zheng Fa suddenly said.
The sword spirit was stunned, looking at Zheng Fa in confusion.
“Cultivators seek longevity;that is understandable.” Zheng Fa’s tone was sincere, “But as I said, trapped inside the sword with no release—would that not be worse than death?”
“... Which of us wants to live like this? But to die like this, how can we accept it?” The old man suddenly shouted, “This unwillingness—how could you understand?”
“In this Trapping Immortal Sword, days without light or sky!”
“On Haori Mountain, years of suppression!”
“Every day burning in flames!”
“How could you understand?”
Zheng Fa nodded thoughtfully and then said, “So... you want revenge on the founder of the Trapping Immortal Sword lineage?”
“...”
The sword spirit sitting on the ground suddenly raised its head to Zheng Fa.
“Revenge?”
“If he wants transcendence, then let him never transcend.”
“Can you do that?”
“With the Trapping Immortal Sword, I can at least help.”
Zheng Fa’s words grew more sincere. Although both he and Sect Leader Yan wanted the other to take the brunt, their fates were linked—win or lose together. Holding the Trapping Immortal Sword and gaining strength was undoubtedly good for Sect Leader Yan’s plans.
The sword spirit’s expression shifted constantly, conflicted.
Then Zheng Fa said, “Believe it or not, I have given you a choice.”
Determination gradually appeared in the sword spirit’s eyes.
Zheng Fa was not surprised.
This group of sword spirit personalities had no choice—the trap was set, and they could not betray him. At worst, it was certain death.
Now there was a chance to strike back at the founder lineage;how could they not be tempted?
Sect Leader Yan had not yet been refined into a sword spirit, yet the rebellious spirit burned fiercely.
This group had truly suffered a great loss.
...
Zheng Fa took over for about ten days before being replaced.
He was only a Nascent Soul;his strength was insufficient for long-term operation of the great formation, so he rotated after thirteen or fourteen days.
The Trapping Immortal Sword calmed down, and Shi Nandang and the other six Nascent Souls regained some strength, then released Zheng Fa down the mountain.
A few days later, Shi Nandang looked at the Trapping Immortal Sword deep within the mountain, his eyes filled with confusion:
“Why is the Trapping Immortal Sword so obedient today?”
Beside him, the thin Nascent Soul also nodded slightly: “A few days ago, it was only less unruly. These days... it’s even a bit proactive. Maybe it’s tired?”
Shi Nandang frowned, unable to find an answer.
But for such a supreme treasure, it was natural that a single Nascent Soul could not fully understand it.
Looking at the obedient sword in the flames, he was truly puzzled:
A few days ago, it was like a divine beast Kunpeng, flapping its wings, desperate to escape.
Now, why did it look like a tame little chicken?
Perhaps noticing his gaze, the Trapping Immortal Sword moved, burrowing deeper into the mountain, quietly turning over with the formation’s shifts.
It seemed not only to want to be cooked but was even obediently covering itself with the pot lid.
...
What Shi Nandang did not know was that the Trapping Immortal Sword was not the only one who enjoyed being burned.
“Junior Sister! It’s my turn!”
Senior Sister Yuan, full of expectation, strode into Zheng Fa’s courtyard and tossed him a storage pouch.
“What’s this?”
“Your reward from Senior Sister!”
Zheng Fa weighed the pouch but did not open it, only smiling:
“Senior Sister is anxious?”
“Of course!” Senior Sister Yuan nodded fiercely, muttering, “That Little Golden Crow is almost at mid-Golden Core stage! If I don’t get burned soon, it might catch up to me!”
Zheng Fa chuckled inwardly:
The Great Sun True Fire had the effect of accelerating bloodline evolution, which was extremely tempting for Senior Sister Yuan and the Little Golden Crow.
Naturally, Zheng Fa was happy to help them—
Firstly, to strengthen Jiushan Sect’s power.
Secondly, it was also research on demon beasts, aiding his final mastery of the Heavenly and Earthly Fiend Transformations.
After burning these two, he planned to help Uncle Huang, Uncle Pang, and other Nascent Souls refine the Heavenly and Earthly Fiend Transformations, a huge project.
Zheng Fa’s cultivation now mainly relied on absorbing the founders’ power.
Most trivial tasks were delegated to the calculation spirit, giving him free time.
The Little Golden Crow was the first to be burned—
His cultivation was lowest, making the process simplest.
This golden crow naturally synergized well with the Great Sun True Fire, yielding good effects.
A few days ago, it not only successfully formed its core but seemed to have awakened some Demon Emperor bloodline, rapidly advancing to mid-Golden Core!
This made Senior Sister Yuan anxious.
“Letting Junior Brother surpass me is one thing! But not the Little Golden Crow!”
Senior Sister Yuan gritted her teeth, a rare fighting spirit on her face.
“Are the news and interviews arranged?”
“Done! A few new disciples are in charge, and results are good!”
Senior Sister Yuan nodded vigorously.
She was placed later because Zheng Fa did not trust her method and wanted to test the waters with the Little Golden Crow first.
Also, this sister’s bloodline evolution would likely require her to sleep deeply.
But now she was Jiushan’s top broadcaster with heavy responsibilities, so the process was delayed by half a year as she trained new disciples to replace her as host.
Zheng Fa also aimed to cultivate news talent: as the Tongjian grew popular, Jiushan Entertainment’s programs became insufficient, naturally needing fresh blood.
Seeing Senior Sister Yuan had arranged everything, Zheng Fa nodded gently. The Great Sun True Fire condensed in the air, forming a furnace cauldron.
Flames flowed inside like water. Senior Sister Yuan shrank her head, seemingly scared but gritted her teeth, transforming into the Azure Luan form and leapt into the cauldron.
“It’s so itchy!”
“Itching is normal.” Zheng Fa said seriously, “Bloodline evolution is your
demon body reorganization. From the Little Golden Crow, you might even gain some inheritance!”
“Calm your mind, circulate spiritual energy!”
The Azure Luan seemed to know this was no time to be stubborn, nodded slightly, and began to sense the changes in her body.
Zheng Fa controlled the Great Sun True Fire carefully, fully enveloping Senior Sister Yuan.
After more than half a month, Zheng Fa’s complexion turned pale.
Inducing bloodline evolution was an extremely delicate task;even Zheng Fa’s divine consciousness was greatly drained.
“Junior Brother... I... I’m going to sleep.”
“Hm?”
Zheng Fa’s heart leapt with joy. He said to Senior Sister Yuan, “That’s a good thing!”
“Junior Brother, you... wait for me to wake.”
Zheng Fa was stunned, looking at Senior Sister Yuan.
He heard her speak intermittently:
“The old man is also in seclusion, and so are you, Senior Sister... I bought snacks but couldn’t find anyone to share them with, so I came to you.” Senior Sister Yuan sounded drowsy, extremely tired.
“If I sleep, you... you’ll have no one to play with.”
“Wait for me to wake...”
“If you... if you’re bored and have no one to talk to, the storage pouch I gave you has the snacks I bought... eat slowly. When it’s finished, I’ll be awake.”
Zheng Fa was silent, watching Senior Sister Yuan’s head slowly lower as she struggled unwillingly and fell into deep sleep, then suddenly chuckled.
He moved his fingers slightly, and the Xuanjian Mirror flew out, enveloping Senior Sister Yuan.
Zheng Fa did not move her elsewhere but sat beside her, slowly cultivating.
The peach trees in the courtyard bloomed five times and bore fruit five times.
Thunder rumbled in the sky.
“Junior Brother! I formed my core!”
Senior Sister Yuan’s chirping voice sounded.
“Senior Sister, this is what I left for you.”
“What?”
“Dried peach.”
“Delicious!”
The peach trees bloomed three more times and bore fruit three more times;Senior Sister Yuan had grown tired of fresh peaches, dried peach, and peach pits in rotation.
“Junior Brother, when will Senior Sister wake?”
“I don’t know.”
“Junior Brother, can you burn me again?”
“...”
“If I sleep again, maybe when I open my eyes, I’ll see Senior Sister!” Senior Sister Yuan imagined excitedly, “No, no, maybe after sleeping again, I’ll advance to Transformation before Senior Sister!”
“...”
Zheng Fa gave Senior Sister Yuan a look full of disbelief. If he could burn his way to Transformation, why wouldn’t he do it himself?
Senior Sister Yuan seemed to realize she was dreaming too beautifully and gazed at Senior Sister Zhang’s seclusion courtyard, murmuring, “Junior Brother, I miss Senior Sister so much...”
“...”
Like Zheng Fa, Senior Sister Yuan’s closest connections in the sect were Senior Sister Zhang and the old man, both now in seclusion... naturally, this little bird was lonely.
“Senior Sister’s courtyard is stirring!”
Zheng Fa suddenly stood up, looking toward Senior Sister Zhang’s courtyard, then turned abruptly, gazing in another direction.
“Old man!”
Senior Sister Yuan also sensed something was wrong, turned to that place, and shouted loudly.
Zheng Fa did not expect that within a single day, two places—Senior Sister Zhang’s and the old man’s—seemed to have breakthrough phenomena!
