I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 78: The Ancestor

Madam Zhao and the Eldest Young Lady exchanged a knowing glance, their expressions mirroring the same thought: It must be that rascal’s mouth!

While everyone had seen the Seventh Young Master speaking to Zhou Qianyuan, none had heard their exchange.

Sun Daoyu, unfamiliar with the Seventh Young Master’s antics, assumed his junior brother had merely lost composure after being overtaken by Zheng Fa and the Seventh Young Master.

But Madam Zhao and the Eldest Young Lady knew better. With Zhou Qianyuan’s talent and the favor of a Nascent Soul cultivator, he was bound to become a significant figure in the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

And now, their fool of a relative had managed to offend him before even entering the Alliance.

Oblivious, Sun Daoyu praised the Seventh Young Master.

“I hadn’t realized your household’s young master was so talented. I must have underestimated him earlier.”

His polite tone toward Madam Zhao and the Eldest Young Lady lightened, but instead of joy, their faces were stiff with worry.

“What surprises me the most is your insight, Senior Sister. That Zheng Fa is in a league of his own.”

On the screen, Zheng Fa’s speed was indeed astonishing. He moved with such precision and focus that he left everyone else far behind, his steps steady and unrelenting as he ascended the transparent walkways.

For the other participants, merely looking up at him was enough to shatter their confidence.

Even Zhou Qianyuan grew increasingly anxious, constantly muttering to himself to move faster. But despite his best efforts, the gap between him and Zheng Fa widened.

Though Zhou Qianyuan knew he should focus on his own climb, he couldn’t resist glancing up at Zheng Fa’s retreating figure. The distraction proved costly—on the last few steps of the sixth mountain, he hesitated for just a moment too long. The transparent walkway vanished beneath him, and he plummeted.

Watching this, Sun Daoyu clapped his palm in exasperation.

“My junior brother easily has the talent for the seventh or even the eighth mountain... but his mind was too unsettled today!”

Even Senior Sister Zhang nodded slightly in agreement. Zhou Qianyuan’s fall wasn’t due to a lack of talent but to his fragile mindset.

“You forgot something,” Senior Sister Zhang remarked suddenly.

Startled, Sun Daoyu retrieved a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to her.

“This is the technique for the Void-Seeking Spirit Eyes.”

“You were prepared this whole time?” Senior Sister Zhang raised an eyebrow.

“Not me—my master,” Sun Daoyu replied with reverence. “He said that if you needed anything, this technique would certainly enhance your Yuan Fu Golden Core.” ɌâƝоＢĘS

“Uncle Pang thought he might lose?” Senior Sister Zhang asked.

“My master loves wagers, but he’s never lost one before,” Sun Daoyu said, shaking his head.

“?”

“Before I came here, he told me: If I win, my junior brother gains the Talisman Foundation Establishment technique. But if I lose, giving you this Void-Seeking Spirit Eyes technique will benefit your path. Even though his philosophy differs from yours, wouldn’t another Nascent Soul cultivator in Jiushan Sect be a cause for celebration?”

Senior Sister Zhang appeared momentarily moved but remained skeptical.

“Furthermore, my junior brother is arrogant and overly coddled. If today teaches him that there’s always someone better, it might be more valuable than a Foundation Establishment technique,” Sun Daoyu added.

Senior Sister Zhang sighed softly.

“Uncle Pang’s intentions are admirable.”

“My master also said that once you’ve mastered the Void-Seeking Spirit Eyes, you might come to agree with his infinite Yuan Fu philosophy,” Sun Daoyu said suddenly.

Senior Sister Zhang’s eyes widened slightly, her gaze shifting to the jade slip with newfound interest.

“So his wager wasn’t on the technique, but on me?”

“Compared to earning your agreement with his philosophy, what’s one Foundation Establishment technique?” Sun Daoyu said, gesturing to Zheng Fa on the screen.

“To my master, neither Zheng Fa nor my junior brother truly matters. How could they compare to you?”

On the ninth mountain, Zheng Fa’s pace quickened, leaving the others hopelessly behind.

The difficulty of the test rose exponentially with every two mountains. By the seventh mountain, corresponding talisman diagrams appeared only once every thirty flashes.

And after thirty flashes, the walkways vanished altogether.

This left participants with a single opportunity to act—a single mistake meant failure.

By now, Zheng Fa had left nearly everyone behind. Only a handful of participants managed to pass the sixth mountain, and even fewer reached the seventh.

The Seventh Young Master was among those who fell at the seventh mountain.

With no one ahead or behind him, Zheng Fa felt entirely alone. His focus was singular—on the walkways and the growing clarity of the white summit ahead.

At last, as he neared the end of the eighth mountain, he saw a lone figure standing on the ninth mountain.

“Senior Sister Zhang?”

Startled, Zheng Fa nearly stepped onto the wrong diagram. Catching himself just in time, he steadied his footing.

The silhouette was unmistakable—tall, slender, and elegant. It could only be Senior Sister Zhang.

But why was she here?

As he stepped onto the final walkway of the eighth mountain, the figure turned.

Though the face was indeed hers, the mischievous and sly smile it wore was completely out of character.

“He surpassed me,” Senior Sister Zhang said suddenly, gripping the jade slip.

“Hmm?” Sun Daoyu asked, puzzled.

On the screen, Zheng Fa stepped onto the ninth mountain.

“He reached the ninth mountain? The second person in a millennium!” Sun Daoyu exclaimed, his tone warm with newfound camaraderie, as though he and Zheng Fa were old friends. Yet, he still added, “Even so, with dual spiritual roots and no Dao Body, he can’t surpass you, Senior Sister.”

“Do you know who resides on the ninth mountain?” Senior Sister Zhang asked.

“Who?”

“The Jiushan Ancestor.”

“The Ancestor? But he passed away long ago!”

“A fragment of his soul lingers, having regained some intelligence. Do you know how I obtained the Talisman Foundation Establishment technique?”

“You mean...”

“Yes,” Senior Sister Zhang replied. “Uncle Pang underestimated me. The Void-Seeking Spirit Eyes won’t sway my path.”

“Then what do you want?” Sun Daoyu asked.

Her gaze sharpened, fixed intently on Zheng Fa on the screen.

“My ambition is greater than a single technique. I seek a like-minded companion. I failed the Ancestor’s test once.”

“And the Foundation Establishment technique?”

“It was a consolation prize,” she said with a faint smile, her eyes filled with expectation as she watched Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa eyed the smirking figure before him, his expression turning strange.

“Who are you?”

“I am the Jiushan Ancestor!” The figure puffed out its chest proudly. “The walkway you just traversed? My design! Oh, and the last disciple to come here contributed some excellent suggestions. I rewarded her with a little gift!”

The smile on its face was shamelessly smug.

So, it’s you! The real culprit! Zheng Fa thought.

Outwardly, he maintained a polite demeanor, mirroring the slyness he’d learned from Senior Sister Zhang.

“Ancestor, I believe this test is too easy,” Zheng Fa said with an innocent smile.

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