Book 2: Chapter 219: Is This a Golden Core? Another Descent of Divine Power!

I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Vol 2 Chapter 219: Is This a Golden Core? Another Descent of Divine Power!

Zheng Fa had heard a saying—it went something like: to be glorious before others, one must suffer in private.

This time, he truly understood it.

He’d been in seclusion for Core Formation for half a year... no, counting the time in the modern world, it was actually a full year.

It really couldn’t be called easy.

Not to boast, but his spiritual energy reserves were more than sufficient, he was well-versed in Core Formation techniques, and his divine soul far surpassed the average Golden Core cultivator—he should have had an easier time than most.

But when it came to actually forming the core, Zheng Fa immediately realized things were not going well:

The Fusang Tree needed far too much Taichu Gang Qi, and his aperture points simply couldn’t handle it!

To put it unscientifically—his craving was huge, but his stomach couldn’t take it...

In desperation, Zheng Fa remembered the aperture-tempering techniques from the True Method of Tianhe.

This past year, he had practically split himself in two—condensing the core on one hand, and tempering his apertures on the other. It sounded simple, but it was actually exhausting:

The Golden Core reaction was too intense, so he had to temper the apertures.

But tempering the apertures required a higher cultivation level, so after reaching a certain threshold, he’d go back to core formation to raise the quality of his spiritual power.

Put simply, it was the classic water-too-much-add-flour, flour-too-much-add-water cycle...

At first, he was clumsy and disorganized, but later, he found a method:

In the Jiushan Realm, he focused on core formation.

But when back in the modern world—because of the lack of spiritual energy and Taichu Gang Qi—his progress slowed, giving him time to temper the apertures.

Back and forth like this, it took him a whole year before he finally formed a brilliantly golden, perfectly round top-grade Golden Core!

The moment the core was formed, in his dantian, the Fusang Tree’s bright red fruit suddenly shrank, devouring all the Taichu Gang Qi in Zheng Fa’s body, then exploded—birthing a blazing sun.

Zheng Fa had a flash of insight, quickly casting a sequence of hand seals. The sun moved through his Three Gates and Nine Apertures, absorbing the Nine Yin Thunder Fiend he had prepared into his body, then burst out from his crown and rose into the sky.

With the Golden Core formed, the first transformation came in his divine sense—when he reached late-stage Foundation Establishment, his divine sense already exceeded a hundred li, enough to rival average Golden Core cultivators. Now, with full Core Formation, it surged again—covering a full five hundred li radius.

Zheng Fa felt slightly unsatisfied. After all, his past leaps had been tenfold increases—but he also understood the reason: the divine sense of Golden Core cultivators topped out at around a thousand li. His current strength had already surpassed mid-stage Golden Core levels.

For divine sense to break through to the next tier, normal people might need to shatter their core and form a Nascent Soul—for him, maybe by late Golden Core stage, it’d be possible.

Though the range hadn’t jumped dramatically, Zheng Fa could clearly sense another major improvement:

The precision of his divine sense.

He could even detect the new particles forming inside his own Golden Core.

He couldn’t clearly see them, but there was a vague sensation of something new being born... weird, but wondrous.

And then came a shift in mindset:

He opened his eyes and looked around—the world seemed different. There was more detachment, less reliance. He could even feel that something in his very humanity had changed.

He slowly closed his eyes and opened them again. His smile was hard to read—was it wistful, or enlightened? “Complete and self-sufficient... so this is what it means.”

Completion meant—wanting nothing.

Zheng Fa didn’t know much biology, but he understood that a large part of human personality is governed by biological nature—things like hormones, neural pathways...

Past cultivation had already altered his body, but from the Golden Core stage onward, it was a transformation on another level:

At the level of survival, he no longer needed to obtain energy or matter from the outside world. This wasn’t just philosophical—it fundamentally altered his biological instincts.

This was the so-called transcending the mundane and ascending to immortality—a true, essential metamorphosis. It exceeded all of Zheng Fa’s previous imagination, making him feel both ancient and joyful.

A line of poetry surfaced in his mind:

“I have a shining pearl, long trapped by worldly dust. Now the dust is gone and the light shines forth, illuminating countless mountains and rivers!”

So this... was Golden Core.

…

"A Golden Core... is like this?"

On Ten Thousand Immortals Island, Martial Uncle Pang stared dumbly at the "sun" above his head, his face blank.

Old Yuan hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Then what the h**l did I form..." Martial Uncle Pang muttered. "A bird egg?"

Senior Sister Yuan quietly lowered her head. Martial Uncle Pang had it better—after all, his core was the Dragon-Tiger Primal Core, known for its abundant spiritual power, and he had already reached Nascent Soul stage. He wasn’t even in the same lane as Zheng Fa anymore.

But... she was still a Golden Core cultivator!

And no, she didn’t lay eggs!

Senior Sister Zhang gently patted her head and sighed in relief—thank goodness she broke through early!

Otherwise, she’d have a major inferiority complex!

Sure, you couldn’t judge a Golden Core by size alone, but with everyone here being Nascent Soul, they could all see it clearly—Zheng Fa’s core wasn’t just big. It contained an endless surge of gangsha energy, the spiritual power condensed within, and the faintly emanating pressure from the core...

Size was only surface level. In truth, it was too big because of over-condensation and excessive gangsha, even to the point of overflow!

Zheng Fa’s Golden Core—immense, pure, and no cheap showpiece.

Martial Uncle Pang mumbled under his breath, but he couldn’t hide the joy spreading across his face.

Two outsiders were also present—Xiao Yuying and Madam Xuanhua.

Xiao Yuying narrowed her eyes, looking up, silent.

Madam Xuanhua quietly edged closer to Senior Sister Zhang’s group, subtly aligning herself with Jiushan Sect like it was the most natural thing in the world.

…

What they didn’t know was—among the mortals of Jiushan Realm, the scene was even more stunning.

In Half-Mountain City, Little Qing had grown into a girl with thick black hair and pale skin. Besides her work as a temple attendant, she also served as a “teaching assistant”—Zheng Fa had been assigning Jiushan Sect disciples to descend into the mortal world and teach.

Little Qing’s job was to act as a bridge—on one side, helping the kids study, and on the other, reporting their progress to visiting Jiushan disciples.

In short, she was like a homeroom teacher, or a counselor.

Due to the gap between immortal and mortal realms in Jiushan, communication was tough. Jiushan disciples had their own cultivation duties—kind of like professors at a university, but only teaching the basics.

After trials, they found having a two-way communicator in charge of day-to-day affairs worked best.

Zheng Fa planned to train a first batch of proper teachers before launching reforms.

Naturally, news of his core formation hadn’t reached the mortal world.

Little Qing was tutoring a four-year-old boy in literacy when, all of a sudden, the light outside the temple grew abnormally bright. She couldn’t help stepping out to look—and saw, high in the sky, that familiar golden bell had reappeared.

But the most dazzling thing—was the sun beside the golden bell.

Sure, the Jiushan Realm had a sun... but it always seemed far away, like it belonged to another world.

But this sun—this one felt close, like it was right above their heads.

Across Half-Mountain City, across all the mortal world of Jiushan Realm, people came out of their homes, looking up, faces lifted, bathed in golden sunlight.

At the foot of Half-Mountain City, in the valley fields, flowers bloomed, birds chirped, fish splashed in the river, and people smiled along the banks.

"Sis Qing, I know how to write this sentence now..." the little boy blinked and suddenly said.

"Hmm?"

"This sun looks like... like the fish soup I drank last night. And also, also like my mom..."

Little Qing was momentarily stunned—she really didn’t get it and asked, "How is it like that?"

"Just as warm!"

"..." She opened her mouth, then gently patted the boy’s head and nodded. "That line’s good—better than what I came up with."

…

But this phenomenon of Core Formation wasn’t only seen by those in Jiushan Realm.

A thousand li from Jiushan Realm’s location, Zhenren Tongming stood beside two others.

One was a middle-aged man, the other a young man.

The middle-aged man had a face full of stubble, disheveled and rough-looking, his appearance utterly unremarkable.

The youth had the face of a jade crown, tall and upright, full of heroic spirit.

Both were looking in Jiushan’s direction, seemingly in the midst of discussion.

"Zhenren Chengkong, that Jiushan Sect... clearly doesn’t wish to stir up trouble. If we force them, wouldn’t that backfire?"

Zhenren Tongming advised, a bitter expression on his face.

He didn’t look at the youth, but instead at the middle-aged man—clearly, this rustic-looking man was actually the last-generation Dao Heir of the Supreme Dao, now tasked with a heavy responsibility: Zhenren Chengkong! Sent to oppose the Great Freedom Demonic Sect.

When Zhenren Tongming first saw them, he was stunned—these two had their master-servant roles flipped, hadn’t they?

But Zhenren Chengkong had made his name ten thousand years ago, and now his cultivation was unfathomably deep, not to mention backed by the Supreme Dao...

Even though Zhenren Tongming was at Soul Formation, he still treated him with full respect. If he didn’t truly wish to avoid provoking Jiushan Sect, he wouldn’t have tried to dissuade him.

"Jiushan Sect..." Zhenren Chengkong chuckled. "It’s part of the Hundred Immortals Alliance. It can’t just come and go as it pleases."

"..."

Zhenren Tongming had nothing to say—wasn’t it just that Jiushan Sect had two Soul Formation combatants now?

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so reluctant either.

Let’s be real—even he coveted Jiushan Realm...

But he just didn’t dare move—Ancestor of the Blood River’s flying sword was still in Jiushan Realm!

Who would’ve thought that as soon as Zhenren Chengkong arrived, he wouldn’t even deal with the Great Freedom Demonic Sect first—he had his eyes on Jiushan Sect instead.

Seeing his unease, Zhenren Chengkong smiled and said, "I’m not forcing them... but I can’t just leave them be, either."

"Hmm?" Zhenren Tongming started to get it. "You’re afraid Jiushan Realm will profit as a bystander?"

Zhenren Chengkong nodded. "I came from the Supreme Dao and visited thirty-five Immortal Sects along the way, all with one rule—either send cultivators to aid the fight, or stay far from this region."

Zhenren Tongming thought to himself—so this was about stopping others from sitting on the sidelines.

But honestly, this envoy was quite domineering—if you don’t send people, you’ve got to move?

You know, most sects are built atop spiritual veins.

Moving is basically like extermination.

"The Great Freedom Demonic Sect is incredibly strong... if a real war breaks out, there’s no saying who’ll win. Since Jiushan Realm has Soul Formation strength, we can’t pretend not to see it."

With Soul Formation-level power, Jiushan Realm could easily swoop in at the last moment—it really was a threat that couldn’t be ignored.

"So, if Jiushan Sect refuses to help, you won’t allow them to remain?"

"..." Zhenren Chengkong shook his head and smiled. "I want them to return to the Hundred Immortals Alliance."

"Huh?"

"What huh?" Zhenren Chengkong shot him a glance. "You’ve got one Soul Formation in the Alliance—Jiushan has two..."

Right. To the Supreme Dao, the Hundred Immortals Alliance was just a subordinate faction, and the stronger it was, the better—especially when facing the Great Freedom Demonic Sect.

Compared to how he treated other sects, this time, Zhenren Chengkong seemed to value Jiushan Sect even more.

To be honest, Zhenren Tongming had been tempted too:

Right now, Jiushan Sect was arguably stronger than the Alliance.

A single Soul Formation-level cultivator was equivalent to the combined strength of all the scattered sects in the Alliance.

Not to mention they had the stable Jiushan Realm.

If Jiushan Sect really rejoined, the Alliance’s days would vastly improve.

But...

Zhenren Tongming’s expression turned hesitant.

Zhenren Chengkong seemed to understand what he was thinking and said, "You’re worried Jiushan Sect will take your spot as Alliance Leader?"

Zhenren Tongming nodded silently.

Truth be told, when Jiushan Realm withdrew from the Alliance, he’d felt somewhat relieved.

"No need to worry. Zheng Fa and Zhang Wuyi—one, they’re not truly Soul Formation; and two, you’ve still got the Supreme Dao behind you, don’t you?"

"..."

Zhenren Tongming’s eyes lit up.

"You’ve inherited our Supreme Dao tradition and are already at Soul Formation. With our backing, what are you afraid of?"

Zhenren Chengkong smiled as he spoke, and Zhenren Tongming nodded repeatedly, understanding the logic—

First, Zheng Fa and Zhang Wuyi didn’t have strong enough Soul Formation-level combat power—their strength had limits.

More importantly, it was about the Supreme Dao’s stance:

Zhenren Chengkong wanted the Hundred Immortals Alliance to grow stronger, to be a better support.

But he also didn’t want the Alliance to slip out of the Supreme Dao’s control...

Otherwise, wouldn’t that be handing the Alliance over to Jiushan Sect?

"Once Jiushan Sect returns, of course you’ll remain the leader... As for Zheng Fa and Zhang Wuyi, they’re talented—I’d say, after this is all over, we bring them back to the Supreme Dao for proper training. It won’t be a loss for them."

As expected!

Zhenren Tongming even felt a bit envious—he’d only ever been a marginal offshoot of the Supreme Dao and never received proper training.

Clearly, Zhenren Chengkong valued Zheng Fa and Zhang Wuyi more than he valued him...

"But what if Jiushan Sect refuses? What if Zheng Fa..."

Zhenren Tongming trailed off, thinking this plan of Chengkong’s was a little too idealistic.

"Jiushan Realm..." Zhenren Chengkong smiled faintly, then added, "isn’t truly safe either—it’s just a matter of whether it’s worth it."

"..."

His words were vague, but Zhenren Tongming understood. For something like Jiushan Realm, the Supreme Dao had likely long known about it—perhaps they even had countermeasures.

From the sound of it, dealing with Jiushan Realm would be costly—even Zhenren Chengkong had to weigh whether it was worth it.

Zhenren Tongming sighed inwardly—so this was the previous Dao Heir of the Supreme Dao, one of the Five Great Sects of Xuanyi.

But in his heart, he couldn’t help feeling pleased. If Jiushan Realm could be subdued, it would bring countless benefits and no drawbacks...

He was still lost in his daydreams when suddenly, a beam of light came from the direction of Jiushan Realm.

The sun was behind them—but Zhenren Tongming felt as if another sun had appeared before his eyes!

This sun was even brighter, even more dazzling—or rather... closer!

"What is that?"

Zhenren Tongming was stunned and murmured.

Even the young man beside Zhenren Chengkong looked completely puzzled.

Only Zhenren Chengkong’s eyelid twitched—then, from the center of his brow, a vertical eye suddenly opened. The golden light swirling in its iris was completely emotionless. It emitted a beam of golden light, shooting into the distance.

After a long while, the vertical eye on Zhenren Chengkong’s forehead finally disappeared. His expression was strange, and his tone carried a rare note of surprise: “A Golden Core?”

“This... is a Golden Core?”

Zhenren Tongming felt like he no longer recognized what the term “Golden Core” even meant and asked in disbelief.

“Probably... yes.”

Just moments ago, Zhenren Chengkong had sounded utterly confident, but now he hesitated—something rare for him, as if even he wasn’t entirely sure.

“Core Formation... with that direction, and that level of power, it must be that Zheng Fa,” Zhenren Tongming frowned and said.

Hearing this, Zhenren Chengkong stared at the newly appeared sun for a long time before speaking again: “How about... in the future, the Hundred Immortals Alliance—you and Zheng Fa manage it together?”

“...”

Zhenren Tongming’s eyes widened as he looked at him.

Zhenren Chengkong’s stubbled old face flushed slightly, and he said in a quieter voice, “Zheng Fa is no ordinary man... if he joins the Supreme Dao one day, he’ll definitely be an asset... Let’s not mistreat him.”

Zhenren Tongming stood with his mouth open, at a complete loss for words.

As the three of them stood in awkward silence, another vision appeared in the sky.

That blazing sun suddenly began to rise, piercing through the heavens.

Up in the sky, clouds gathered into layer upon layer of cloud seas.

All three looked up and saw, above those clouds, palaces of jade and crystal faintly appeared, with divine beings, maidservants, heavenly soldiers, and celestial steeds roaming about—it looked like the very dwelling of the Celestial Emperor.

Layer after layer of cloud seas, palace after palace, pressed down from above. Even Zhenren Chengkong couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of awe.

This vision lasted a full incense stick’s time before it gradually dissipated.

The three of them stood in silence for a long time, until the young man finally spoke: “Innate Divine Power?”

Zhenren Chengkong didn’t answer—he simply turned his head and looked at Zhenren Tongming.

“...” Zhenren Tongming cautiously, tentatively offered, “How about... let him be the Alliance Leader?”

“Mm, not like it’d be an injustice to my junior brother!”

Zhenren Tongming silently gazed up at the sky, feeling like all the thoughts he’d had earlier were just a fleeting dream. He truly didn’t know anymore—who was the real “insider” of the Supreme Dao?

…

In Jiushan Realm, Zheng Fa’s expression was a little odd—

He had somewhat anticipated this whole Innate Divine Power thing, just hadn’t expected it to happen again so soon.

Honestly, he still hadn’t figured out how this ability came about, but that Reversed Five Elements Divine Light had been insanely useful.

And this time... he looked at the shadow of a Golden Crow within his Golden Core and silently chanted.

A flash of rainbow light—and he was already on Ten Thousand Immortals Island, beside Senior Sister Zhang.

Senior Sister Zhang froze, clearly still processing what had just happened.

Martial Uncle Pang and the others nearby were all staring at him intently.

“Innate Divine Power: Rainbow Shift Technique,”

Zheng Fa smiled and explained to them.

He couldn’t help but feel like these divine powers were mocking him—

Reversed Five Elements Divine Light, for snatching treasures.

Rainbow Shift Technique, for stealing and fleeing.

In modern terms, this was exactly like being in a biker gang...

“How fast is it?”

After hearing his explanation, Martial Uncle Pang’s eyes lit up, asking eagerly.

“The fastest.”

Zheng Fa’s expression grew even more peculiar.

“The fastest?” Martial Uncle Pang didn’t quite get that answer, and Zheng Fa couldn’t explain it clearly either.

The Rainbow Shift Technique, like the Reversed Five Elements Divine Light, carried a kind of law-like power.

In the modern world, any object with mass cannot exceed the speed of light—in fact, light speed is a fixed constant.

But the Xuanyi Realm is different—variables like spiritual energy greatly interfere with electromagnetic waves, and can even alter the speed of light...

The broken part of the Rainbow Shift Technique is that—it doesn’t align with a constant like light speed.

It aligns with—the maximum possible speed under the current conditions.