I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times-Chapter 501Book 2: : Identity Exposed, Merit Bestowed

Vol 2 Chapter 501: Identity Exposed, Merit Bestowed

Zheng Fa stood in the void, his entire body enveloped by tangible merit that felt like solid substance.

He felt conflicted—the tactile sensations from his skin told him he was surrounded by a warm, oceanic expanse, yet his sea of consciousness remained crystal clear, cool and transparent, his thoughts racing rapidly as countless ideas surfaced in his mind:

The Three Talents...

Human creation...

Dao Fruit...

The differences between Primordial Chaos cultivation techniques and Xuanwei techniques...

One question after another, one answer after another, they took turns emerging, turning his mind into complete chaos.

Nüwa's voice resonated within his sea of consciousness: "What we call ritual ceremonies actually connect the Three Talents. Previously, humanity's position was missing, so even beings like us found it difficult to comprehend."

Exactly.

With Nüwa and others' great supernatural powers, even if they hadn't witnessed how mortals become immortals, they shouldn't have been completely baffled.

According to Nüwa's explanation now, their previous confusion actually stemmed from lacking understanding of one crucial thing—humans!

This was like being unable to solve a problem without necessary conditions. Without humanity, Nüwa and others naturally struggled to understand ritual ceremonies' functions.

Only after humanity emerged and Nüwa achieved sainthood, gaining deeper understanding of the heavenly dao, did she immediately comprehend the essence of later cultivation methods.

"Ritual ceremonies emerged because of humanity, with the most crucial aspect being from internal to external."

Nüwa spoke another somewhat ambiguous sentence before falling silent, seemingly wanting Zheng Fa to comprehend on his own.

Zheng Fa felt as if spring thunder had erupted in his heart, jolting him awake from hazy slumber, finally understanding what Dao Fruit truly meant.

Since beginning cultivation, practitioners had been taking from heaven and earth, absorbing spiritual energy and spirit materials from external sources inward.

This was like a plant absorbing nutrients during growth.

But now, Zheng Fa needed to blossom and bear fruit!

For the cultivator themselves, what they now pursued was "oneness"!

Dharmakaya, Yang Spirit, artifacts—these three merging into one, achieving a Dao Fruit that contained all his cultivation experiences.

But to the external world, this Dao Fruit was like a seed!

He needed to harmonize with heaven, earth, and humanity, spreading his cultivation methods, his beliefs, and his expectations outward, letting heaven and earth bear witness, gaining everyone's recognition.

Zheng Fa opened his sea of consciousness, released his Yang Spirit, unveiled his Creation Jade—concealing nothing, allowing all beings between heaven and earth to see his entirety, inside and out.

Merit flowed like water into his limbs and bones, making his entire body glow golden.

"He's not Shi Nandang!"

The moment Zheng Fa revealed everything to all beings between heaven and earth, the Heavenly and Earthly Fiend Transformations naturally couldn't be maintained.

In Creation Daoist's eyes, Shi Nandang's form seemed to have its disguise washed away by the sea of merit's waters.

What appeared before them was an unfamiliar, youthful face.

Another question emerged in Creation Daoist's mind—who was he?

"Zheng Fa!"

Gu God and Golden-Winged Great Peng shouted simultaneously, their tones filled with identical hatred.

Gu God remembered her Qian Kun Tripod.

Golden-Winged Great Peng still couldn't forget his Yin-Yang Dual Energy Bottle.

The two exchanged glances, suddenly feeling a strange connection.

"He's Zheng Fa?" Creation Daoist said in surprise, "How did he get in?"

White Bone Demon Ancestor gently shook his head: "That transformation technique of his... probably wasn't learned from me."

By now, they all understood—from the very beginning, the person who appeared in Nine Luminaries Heaven was Zheng Fa!

Bailian stared at Zheng Fa's somewhat unfamiliar face, seemingly trying to burn it into his memory permanently. After a long while, he finally said: "So now this person proving the Dao to become a Scattered Immortal, most likely to obtain the Hongmeng Purple Qi... is Zheng Fa?"

Everyone remained silent, all finding this utterly absurd.

Which of them hadn't prepared extensively for Nine Luminaries Heaven? Yet now this outsider Zheng Fa had taken the lead!

They heard Bailian's words squeezed through clenched teeth, like icy cold wind:

"This person who pushed Haori Mountain to the brink?"

"This person who stole Gu God's Qian Kun Tripod, who stole Great Peng's Dual Energy Bottle?"

"This person who repeatedly ruined our master's grand plans?"

He turned to look at the silent Creation Daoist and others: "Should we just stand by and watch?"

Creation Daoist asked: "What would you have us do?"

"Stop him from achieving the Dao!" Bailian said decisively, "Forget about the Hongmeng Purple Qi for now. This person's strength far exceeds others at his level. If he becomes a Scattered Immortal, his power would be no small matter!"

This was sound reasoning, but the problem was...

"How do we stop him?"

Bailian turned again, staring at Gu God: "This depends on you, Fellow Daoist Gu God!"

Gu God was momentarily stunned, then understood: "Puppet-Thread Insect, Skin-Painting Moth? You knew all along?"

Not just Bailian—even Creation Daoist's expression remained calm.

Gu God looked around, then at Zheng Fa, finally snorting after a long while: "I exhausted all my efforts, yet I was performing like a fool for you all?"

"However much we schemed against each other before, those were minor matters," Bailian said softly, "If the Hongmeng Purple Qi had been taken by Shi Nandang, it wouldn't have affected our master or us. But if Zheng Fa takes it... we absolutely cannot explain this!"

Gu God looked quite displeased: "If I'm the only one taking action, will you just stand and watch?"

Creation Daoist said: "This isn't a good place for magical duels. Your methods are most suitable here."

Gu God snorted: "Before, I might have believed you were helpless, but now do you still think me a fool?"

Creation Daoist remained silent for a moment before saying gloomily: "But Nüwa is right beside him."

Even Bailian looked pained.

It wasn't that he lacked other methods to interfere with Zheng Fa proving the Dao, but there was one crucial point—those six great powers were still present!

Given how those six had treated Zheng Fa earlier, if they rashly made a move, who knew what terrifying consequences they might face!

Gu God understood clearly now, her tone even more furious: "You're afraid, but do you think I'm not?"

"Fellow Daoist Gu God need not act immediately. Only during the most difficult part of his tribulation, covert interference would be enough to ruin his Dao path," Bailian explained in detail, "We've all achieved Scattered Immortal status, so we naturally understand its difficulties."

Creation Daoist nodded: "The Scattered Immortal tribulation has three calamities—heaven, earth, and human. If any single calamity goes wrong, this person will perish with his Dao extinguished."

Gu God still hesitated.

Others could tell she feared retaliation from Nüwa and others if she interfered with Zheng Fa's tribulation.

Bailian explained: "From my master, I've learned about Fellow Daoist Gu God's supernatural powers. I believe since you entered Nine Luminaries Heaven, you've left resurrection methods outside. Even if something happens here in Nine Luminaries Heaven, Fellow Daoist won't truly perish with Dao extinguished."

Gu God still sneered, unwilling to agree.

"This humble monk guarantees that if you succeed, Leiyin Temple will help you restore your cultivation, even advance further," Bailian persuaded further, "Moreover, we're not without assistance here either."

Everyone was startled, looking toward Zhunti and the other, while Gu God's expression showed some movement.

Seeing her still hesitating, Bailian raised his voice slightly: "Could it be that Gu God will just watch as he achieves Scattered Immortal status?"

"Will you not seek revenge for the stolen tripod?"

"Have you forgotten the hatred for your slain children, Fellow Daoist?"

Gu God looked up toward Zheng Fa, gritting her teeth: "You need not provoke me."

Seeing her expression, Bailian smiled lightly and said no more, also turning his gaze to the sky.

In the sky, Zheng Fa's Dao-proving ritual ceremony had finally begun.

Now he understood that what was called a ritual ceremony was actually a type of Dao heart oath.

"Heaven and earth bear witness, all saints observe together."

"I, Zheng Fa, am a descendant of humanity, inheriting the legacy of ancient saints, gathering the wisdom of all beings, forging the Creation Jade, creating the Yellow Court Scripture."

"Today, my cultivation reaches completion, I prove the Dao Fruit!"

Smoke and clouds from the Qian Kun Tripod surged like dragons straight toward the heavens.

Nüwa and the other five, whose majesty overwhelmed the Primordial Chaos, stood silently to the side, seemingly content to play supporting roles, yielding the attention of all beings between heaven and earth to Zheng Fa.

The newly born thousand humans still knelt on the ground, but they couldn't help raising their heads to look at this unfamiliar yet familiar fellow human.

The sea of merit in the sky raged with turbulent waves, as if muffled thunder could be heard.

"My Dao consists of three aspects: first humanity, second multitude, third renewal."

"Humanity means the prosperity of the human way!"

"Renewal means present surpasses ancient!"

By today, in Zheng Fa's understanding, Nine Luminaries Heaven's significance actually had only one purpose:

To help later generations understand humanity's meaning.

Cultivation was essentially a process of individual empowerment, but humanity's immortal path wasn't like this—compared to the myriad races of Primordial Chaos, humanity's advantages were their wisdom and their ability to cooperate and communicate with each other.

The so-called test from Nüwa, the word "request" mentioned earlier, essentially meant she wanted him to remember this matter.

He looked toward Nüwa and saw her smiling slightly at him, seemingly somewhat pleased.

Even many previously incomprehensible things now had explanations:

For example, why were ancient and modern cultivation methods so different?

The biggest reason was still humanity.

When Hongjun lectured on the Dao, humanity hadn't been born yet. Those techniques were fundamentally unsuited for human cultivation.

Even in Tongtian's words, they had never seen practitioners before the Scattered Immortal stage.

Therefore, later techniques were actually improved for humanity.

First, they supplemented some lower-level cultivation methods.

Second, they incorporated some essential principles from Hongjun's Dao lectures into humanity's cultivation methods.

Simply put, based on the cultivation methods Hongjun transmitted, a set of cultivation methods suitable for humanity grew forth.

Even now, when Zheng Fa looked back at those Primordial Chaos legends, especially the so-called establishment of teachings by Taishang and others, he always felt what they did was actually this:

Improved cultivation methods, making them suitable for humanity.

Only this way could cultivation methods use humanity as a vessel to grow and multiply.

This was also why they could obtain merit like Nüwa.

After speaking these three sentences, Zheng Fa felt his spirit become connected with heaven and earth, especially those newly born humans.

Although these people hadn't even learned language yet, they seemed to understand Zheng Fa's words, dancing joyfully, extremely happy.

Looking at these humans, he spoke softly:

"My Dao has two great vows!"

"First vow: May humanity inherit the legacy, integrating all methods."

"Second vow: May humanity cut through thorns, open new heavens."

These naive, confused newborn humans seemed to truly understand his words, slowly standing up, feet planted on the earth, heads raised high, chests out, looking up at him.

Simultaneously, outside Kunlun Mountain, from all directions, from the highest heavens to the deepest underworld, continuous sounds of sorrowful wailing and crying arose.

There were dragon roars, phoenix cries, countless divine beasts crying out, weeping mournfully, as if seeing doomsday.

The Witches and Demons who had previously fought for dominance over heaven and earth now wept with extreme misery and unwillingness.

For the myriad races of Primordial Chaos, humanity's birth wasn't good news, especially when Zheng Fa proclaimed humanity's Dao to heaven and earth. In the unseen realms, they truly understood their situation.

Not every race was willing to play supporting roles to heaven and earth.

Even fewer were willing to become so-called ancient sages, becoming nutrients for another race's development.

Outside the mountains, blood rain fell profusely, the sky became a vast expanse of white. In a daze, an era concluded amidst the interplay of red and white.

Creation Daoist watched this scene, remaining silent for who knew how long before saying with a hoarse voice: "When you proved your Dao, did you have this kind of spectacle? Did the myriad races weep together?"

Everyone remained silent. Clearly, none of them had witnessed such spectacle.

"What does he want to do? Become humanity's Dao Ancestor? How is that possible!" Golden-Winged Great Peng said coldly: "I've never seen such brazen Dao Fruit vows!"

His expression was uglier than others', since he wasn't human, making him particularly sensitive to Zheng Fa's ideas.

"Wait, this kind of Dao Fruit concept... how can it gain recognition from all beings between heaven and earth?" Bailian frowned, "This kind of Dao Fruit concerning all humanity requires an audience numbering in the billions!"

"This kind of Dao Fruit requires recognition from humans throughout all heavens and worlds!"

These words made everyone pause momentarily before realizing—the audience was extremely important for ritual ceremonies. Without audience recognition, achieving Dao Fruit was absolutely impossible!

He looked toward Nüwa and saw her smiling slightly at him, seemingly somewhat gratified.

Dao Fruits with extremely ambitious scopes like Zheng Fa's had even higher requirements.

White Bone Demon Ancestor shook his head: "He absolutely cannot succeed! He doesn't even need Gu God's intervention."

The others nodded in agreement.

They had all proven Dao Fruits and understood this well.

"Without sufficient audience to carry the Dao Fruit and communicate with heaven and earth, the larger the Dao Fruit, the emptier it becomes!" Hundred Bones Demon Ancestor sneered, "This person probably had too smooth sailing before, lost his mind!"

Just then, those thousand humans actually began unconsciously softly repeating Zheng Fa's earlier Dao Fruit vows.

At first, their tones were quite awkward, their voices uneven.

Therefore, later techniques were actually improved for humanity.

Heaven, earth, and humanity seemed to resonate faintly with these chants.

The Qian Kun Tripod's smoke enveloped him, making him appear ethereal like an immortal, seemingly connected with all things.

"The ritual ceremony succeeded?" Gu God widened her eyes, hating, "Is this because of the Qian Kun Tripod?"

Creation Daoist's face changed dramatically as he suddenly looked at those newborn humans: "Maybe because of the Qian Kun Tripod, but most importantly, because of these humans!"

Improved cultivation methods, making them suitable for humanity.

"In later times, humanity has already greatly flourished. Achieving Dao Fruit naturally requires a large audience," Creation Daoist said with unbelievable tone, "But here and now, these people are all of humanity."

"......"

"If they recognize it, Zheng Fa's Dao Fruit is achieved."

After hearing Creation Daoist's conjecture, everyone found Zheng Fa and Nüwa increasingly glaring when looking at them.

Zheng Fa's overly ambitious vows had indeed succeeded, even triggering the Scattered Immortal tribulation before concluding:

The Scattered Immortal tribulation, or rather, Zheng Fa's tribulation was the same as later—later came wind, fire, and thunder tribulations, but before Scattered Immortal, it became heaven, earth, and human tribulations.

According to classics like the Vermilion Heaven Jade Manual that directly pointed to Dao Fruit, among the three tribulations, the heaven tribulation tested Dao heart, the earth tribulation tested immortal body, and the human tribulation decided life and death.

"First vow: May humanity inherit the legacy, integrating all methods."

"The more ambitious the Dao Fruit vows, the stronger the tribulation, and the greater the test of the practitioner's heart nature and cultivation methods." He stared at Gu God, saying word by word: "This is your opportunity!"

Gu God's expression was also quite grave.

These naive, bewildered newborn humans seemed to truly understand his words, slowly standing up, feet planted on the earth, heads raised high, chests out, looking up at him.