I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times-Chapter 348Book 2: : Three Methods Complete, Roasting the Ancestor

Book 2: Chapter 348: Three Methods Complete, Roasting the Ancestor

Vol 2 Chapter 348: Three Methods Complete, Roasting the Ancestor

"How did he obtain it?" The three stared at each other blankly before the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor finally broke the silence with a dry question, then shook his head. "Never mind, this is probably his secret."

Sect Master Yan of Tianhe was far more excited, pressing Xie Qingxue for confirmation: "Is it truly the Vermilion Heaven Jade Manual?"

Xie Qingxue's gaze shifted between them, her confusion unresolved as she answered: "Zheng Fa said it contains everything from Qi Refining to Corpse Liberation."

"Good!" Sect Master Yan abruptly stood up, pacing the hall with quiet laughter. "Good! I'll trade with him!"

Seeing his excitement, Xie Qingxue frowned and bluntly asked: "Demon Ancestor... why are you here?"

Sect Master Yan hesitated, glancing at the Demon Ancestor with something akin to resentment—you showed up uninvited, so you explain!

Xie Qingxue pressed further: "Master, what exactly are you planning?"

Her expression turned icy as the tip of her Qingping Sword remained pointed at the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor. "If others learn the Demon Ancestor is in Tianhe Sect, how will the other four sects react? Have you considered that, Master?"

Seeing the faint unease on his disciple's face, Sect Master Yan frowned before suddenly asking: "What do you know?"

"I know nothing."

Xie Qingxue, noting her master's calm indifference to her questioning, gritted her teeth. "Zheng Fa told me our Tianhe Sect faces imminent destruction!"

"Destruction?" To her surprise, Sect Master Yan didn't react with shock or anger but laughed instead. "That's what he said?"

His reaction told Xie Qingxue everything—this was likely true, and her master might even be involved.

She stared at him, utterly bewildered.

Sect Master Yan chuckled softly, seemingly unwilling to explain further. He extended his right hand, green light swirling in his palm before coalescing into a jade slip.

"This is the Trapping Immortal Sword Canon. Deliver it to Zheng Fa at Jiushan Sect."

"I won't go!"

Xie Qingxue, determined to uncover the truth, stood rooted to the floor, stubbornly meeting her master's gaze.

"Master, even if I leave today, I'll return if Tianhe faces danger!"

"..."

"Between Elder Han, myself, and junior brother—who among us would stand by and watch Tianhe fall?"

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor suddenly burst into loud, jarring laughter.

Both Xie Qingxue and Sect Master Yan turned to him, baffled.

"You... *cough*... your judgment far surpasses that Tianhe fool's," the Demon Ancestor managed between coughs, pointing at Sect Master Yan. "*Cough*... by miles!"

Sect Master Yan's gaze toward Xie Qingxue softened slightly.

"Master?"

"You'll understand in time."

Xie Qingxue bit her lip, realizing her master wouldn't reveal everything now.

"If you choose to return then, I won't stop you."

Facing his composed expression, Xie Qingxue took a deep breath before glaring coldly at the Demon Ancestor. "Master, has the Demon Ancestor bewitched you?"

ℝάΝO͍ᛒÈŝ

Instead of anger, the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor laughed even harder, as if hearing the most amusing joke.

"Bewitched?" Sect Master Yan also chuckled inexplicably, shaking his head as he glanced at the Demon Ancestor. "No, he woke me up."

"..."

Xie Qingxue frowned, recalling the Six Sects Alliance meeting—glimpsing understanding but unable to grasp the full picture.

"Go."

Left speechless, she heard Sect Master Yan add: "I don't care why Zheng Fa wants the Trapping Immortal Sword Canon, but... deliver this message clearly."

"Hm?"

"Don't practice it."

"Don't practice it?"

Sect Master Yan seemed done explaining, simply saying: "Take good care of your junior brother."

"...I will."

Realizing no further answers would come, Xie Qingxue transformed into a sword beam and shot toward Tianhe Sect's borders, her mind swirling with questions.

Sect Master Yan watched her vanish into the horizon.

"Tianhe's destruction?" The still-chuckling Demon Ancestor remarked, "Your disciple can't possibly understand... *cough*... you're the true culprit."

Sect Master Yan's eyes darkened as he silently regarded the Vermilion Heaven Jade Manual Xie Qingxue had left behind.

The Demon Ancestor didn't expect an answer, his gaze wandering over the mountains and palaces beyond the hall.

"To obtain the Vermilion Heaven Jade Manual... Zheng Fa's capabilities..." Sect Master Yan suddenly looked up. "Is he truly unrelated to the Ancestor?"

"..."

"Other than being the Ancestor's reincarnation, who else could—"

"He's dead."

The Demon Ancestor's icy interruption made Sect Master Yan study his profile.

"..."

The Demon Ancestor's attention remained fixed on Tianhe Sect's scenery.

Following his gaze, Sect Master Yan had an epiphany:

"Was Tianhe's landscape like this during the Ancestor's time?"

The Demon Ancestor glanced at him, his smile fading as he pointed at the hall.

"Back then, there was no Sect Master Hall—just a broken shack."

"..."

"Tianhe, I, and..." He paused before continuing, "...would sit here daily, chatting, arguing—no, discussing the Dao."

"Discussions turned to fights, which Tianhe always regretted afterward. That mountain..." Sect Master Yan followed his gesture toward the sect's scripture pavilion, "...used to have a missing chunk. I repaired it—can't tell, right?"

"..."

"Tianhe was terrible at repairs." The Demon Ancestor scoffed, pointing downhill. "There used to be another mountain there."

Sect Master Yan contemplated the flat farmland below.

"Right, he botched the repairs so badly he got embarrassed and flattened it with one sword strike."

Finally understanding what held the Demon Ancestor's attention, Sect Master Yan heard him conclude:

"You have your ambitions... I just believe this place is unworthy of them."

---

"You're saying my master is being controlled?"

Xie Qingxue, freshly returned to Jiushan Realm, was stunned by Zheng Fa's revelation.

Zheng Fa's expression turned grave—this concerned Tianhe Sect's deepest secret.

"How did you learn this?"

"After receiving the Trapping Immortal Sword Canon, we ran several simulations with the Nine Chapters Calculation Array." Zheng Fa gestured to Senior Sister Zhang beside him. "Initially, we sought a method to control the Trapping Immortal Sword, but instead..."

"We discovered every practitioner of this manual becomes... a cultivation vessel."

Xie Qingxue paled, murmuring unconsciously: "No wonder Master warned you not to practice it."

Noting her distress, Zheng Fa reassured her: "Since Sect Master Yan realized the truth, he's likely broken free."

Frowning, Xie Qingxue examined the jade slip containing the manual before exclaiming: "This resembles the Qingping Sword's methods!"

"Then why..."

Zheng Fa, having anticipated this, exchanged glances with Senior Sister Zhang. "Because the Shouzhong Ancestor of the Qingping lineage truly perished."

Xie Qingxue shuddered, instantly comprehending: "The four lineage ancestors never died!"

Zheng Fa nodded:

"When I practiced the Jiushan Golden Core Method, you felt my influence..."

"Similarly, the Qingping Sword controls you."

"Yet my cultivation and technique mastery pale compared to your four ancestors."

"Imagine the consequences of practicing the Trapping Immortal Sword Canon."

Xie Qingxue abandoned her last shred of hope: "So every wielder of the Four Slaying Immortal Swords suffered this fate?"

"With their cultivation at Dao Fruit level, resistance would be impossible."

As Xie Qingxue fell silent, Zheng Fa reflected:

He'd long known Tianhe Sect lacked foundational techniques, differing from demonic and other orthodox sects.

Only after studying the Trapping Immortal Sword Canon did he fully grasp Tianhe's secrets.

"Yang Spirit Method, Demonic Method, Tianhe Method..." He shared their analysis of the three Divine Transformation techniques. "The Yang Spirit Method is likely the origin."

"Origin?"

"Yes. It's the primordial method—even divine techniques share its framework."

"The Tianhe Method is barely an era old, while the Demonic Method constructs neural systems."

Hence Zheng Fa immediately recognized the Nine Luminaries Yang Spirit as simplest—human physiology inherently requires neural networks.

"The Trapping Immortal Sword Canon contains similar concepts."

He'd deduced the purpose—whether neural systems or spiritual networks, they facilitate consciousness formation.

"The difference lies in the Yang Spirit Method using spiritual energy... or natural laws as its foundation. The Nine Luminaries Yang Spirit employs fire-attribute energy. This explains 'Divine Transformation'—mastering a law transforms humans into deities."

"Divine Transformation may share origins with divine techniques."

As a Tianhe Divine Transformation cultivator, Xie Qingxue nodded thoughtfully: "The orthodox sects' Divine Transformation experts follow this pattern."

"We're familiar with the Demonic Method—it forges powerful fleshly bodies, more complex than the Yang Spirit Method but with unique strengths."

"And the Tianhe Method?"

"It's likely incomplete." Zheng Fa hesitated. "This method's foundation is magical treasures—essentially merging cultivator and treasure."

"The process must preserve both the treasure's power and the cultivator's consciousness."

"But if the treasure has its own consciousness, like your four ancestors..."

Xie Qingxue's expression darkened further.

After exchanging glances with Senior Sister Zhang, Zheng Fa added: "She theorizes your ancestors sought to perfect the Tianhe Method through this approach."

"Generations of selecting ideal hosts to refine the Four Slaying Immortal Swords strengthened them progressively."

"Similar to my Qingping Sword, except it lacks consciousness and doesn't influence me. But the four swords..." Realization dawned on Xie Qingxue. "No wonder Master said the Nine Nether Ancestor woke him."

After a pause, Zheng Fa ventured: "Is Sect Master Yan... seeking freedom?"

Only this explained the sect master's eccentric choices.

Noticing Xie Qingxue's lingering worry, Zheng Fa reassured her:

"Judging by his arrangements for Yan Wushuang alone, he's no fool... especially with the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor involved."

Xie Qingxue blinked—her anxiety indeed lessened. The Demon Ancestor ranked among Xuanyi Realm's most formidable figures across eras.

She eyed the jade slip with disgust: "Not only is this technique incomplete, it's... who'd have thought the Tianhe Method would be more sinister than demonic techniques?"

"The Five Great Sects, Tianhe Sword Dao, us disciples..."

"Were jokes from the beginning."

"Fairy Xie." Zheng Fa pointed to the door where Senior Sister Zhang's curious face peeked in. "This technique may be worthless to others, but for Jiushan Sect..."

We've got an idiot ancestor!

---

"I'm supposed to practice the Trapping Immortal Sword Canon?"

The Jiushan Ancestor clutched the jade slip, bewildered.

"Not the canon itself, but using its principles to perfect your Divine Transformation path."

"My Divine Transformation path?"

"To be precise, it resembles Fairy Xie's situation."

"Mine?" Xie Qingxue pointed at herself, equally confused.

"You may not know this, but the Ancestor isn't his original self—just a remnant consciousness... His true form qualifies as a magical treasure."

Understanding dawned on Xie Qingxue:

"Similar indeed... his body parallels the Shouzhong Ancestor."

Zheng Fa smiled.

The Tianhe Method essentially turns people into artifact spirits—

Unsuitable for most cultivators,

But perfect for the Jiushan Ancestor:

Having failed his Divine Transformation attempt, only this remnant consciousness survived.

He should be an artifact spirit yet lacks proper authority—unable to cultivate independently, even mentally impaired due to incomplete consciousness...

"Using the Tianhe Method to fully merge the Ancestor with the Mountain River Seal will resolve his current predicament."

The Jiushan Ancestor's face lit up, clutching the manual excitedly:

"I can achieve Divine Transformation?"

"As a spirit vein incarnate, your spiritual energy surpasses ordinary Divine Transformation experts." Zheng Fa nodded. "Resolving your consciousness issues with the right technique makes Divine Transformation imminent."

"The technique?" Xie Qingxue asked. "The Trapping Immortal Sword Canon?"

Zheng Fa shook his head:

"It's incompatible. Senior Sister Zhang previously created a method to control the Mountain River Seal."

"As a Nascent Soul cultivator, she rivaled Divine Transformation experts using it—proof of its potential."

The Jiushan Ancestor nodded vigorously: "Right! Wuyi derived it from the Mountain River True Form's runes—perfectly suits me."

Xie Qingxue understood.

"You'll use that as the foundation?"

Zheng Fa smiled at her: "Back then, limited by knowledge and cultivation, her technique was rudimentary."

"Now with three Dao Fruit techniques—especially the Trapping Immortal Sword Canon—and the Nine Chapters Array's simulations... it's incomparable."

As Xie Qingxue nodded, Zheng Fa added: "We waited for your return precisely for this."

She froze before realizing—

While Zheng Fa and Zhang Wuyi could research and simulate, she might be Xuanyi Realm's only current expert capable of guiding the Ancestor's Divine Transformation.

"Fairy Xie, regardless of the four ancestors' schemes, your techniques—even the Trapping Immortal Sword Canon—hold value... Tianhe Sect is no joke."

Xie Qingxue stared at Zheng Fa before slowly nodding.

---

On Great Learning Island.

Senior Sister Zhang sat cross-legged within the Nine Chapters Calculation Array.

Xie Qingxue stood nearby, recounting her Divine Transformation experiences to Zheng Fa and the Jiushan Ancestor.

The Ancestor listened nervously, hanging onto every word.

Zheng Fa paid equal attention—

His role in the Ancestor's Divine Transformation centered around... the Great Sun True Fire. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The Tianhe Method's hallmark is treasure-centric cultivation.

For the Jiushan Ancestor, his "treasure" was his true form—the spirit vein, or Mountain River True Form rune.

The problem? The rune contained not just his current consciousness but remnants of the original Jiushan Ancestor.

Metaphorically speaking—it's like reinstalling an operating system without fully erasing the old one, leaving behind system parameters and registry settings...

No wonder he's impaired.

Zheng Fa's task was performing a "system cleanse" using Senior Sister Zhang's new method, then installing a fresh "system."

Senior Sister Zhang suddenly opened her eyes within the array, nodding at Zheng Fa.

"Wait!" The panicked Ancestor cried. "Are you certain?"

"Ancestor, we've discussed this," Zheng Fa patiently explained. "Senior Sister Zhang will monitor the process with the Nine Chapters Array, and Fairy Xie is overseeing everything."

"I... just worry you'll fry my brain."

Zheng Fa studied him before deadpanning: "Death is possible, but further brain damage? Ancestor, that'd require effort given your current state."

"..."

As the Ancestor kept muttering, Zheng Fa sighed—this same ancestor had pestered him daily about the procedure, yet now acted like a frightened child.

Channeling the Great Sun True Fire, golden flames engulfed the Jiushan Ancestor.

"Eh? Wait... AHHH!"

The Ancestor's initial surprise turned to agonized screams, drawing stares from island disciples.

Senior Sister Yuan, strolling with the Golden Crow, rushed over upon seeing the spectacle.

Gazing up at the flaming Ancestor... she swallowed hard.