I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times-Chapter 272Book 2: : All Things Bow to Me, the Ancestor Reborn!
Vol 2 Chapter 272 – All Things Bow to Me, the Ancestor Reborn!
The Demon Ancestor came fast.
Qingyun Dasheng had flown toward Mount Tongming first. Being a Soul Formation cultivator skilled in escape techniques, he crossed tens of thousands of miles in the blink of an eye, and Mount Tongming already loomed at the edge of the sky. He swept his divine sense behind him and felt the air calm and smooth. The pressure from the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor seemed to be receding, which brought a measure of relief to his heart.
But he soon realized—he was celebrating too soon!
The Black Moon reappeared!
Its eerie moonlight was boundless, shining over the vast land for thousands of miles in an instant.
Heaven and earth changed!
As the moonlight touched him, Qingyun Dasheng felt burning heat all over, illusions blooming around him, and he plunged straight down toward the earth.
“Out!”
Sensing disaster, he spat out a Cloud Jade Pendant, which transformed into a stream of cyan clouds under the moonlight, catching him mid-fall. He didn’t dare look back—he just grit his teeth and flew toward Mount Tongming.
“You’re quite the skylark. Not bad—where did you harvest this Nine Heavens Cloud Qi?”
The moment his life-bound spiritual treasure appeared, it caught the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor’s interest. Qingyun Dasheng suddenly felt the spiritual treasure grow heavy—then a man in black robes landed on his cloud.
The next instant, he felt his most cherished treasure abruptly slip from his control.
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor!
This black-robed man wore ancient garb. His face was impossible to look at directly—no one knew what he looked like.
But that blink-of-an-eye method of snatching away a life-bound spiritual treasure left no room for doubt.
Even a coward cherishes his treasure. Though Qingyun Dasheng was frightened, anger still welled up in his heart, and a flash of fury flickered in his eyes.
But just as the thought of resistance arose, a splitting pain tore through his soul.
“Ah!”
He could no longer maintain human form—his body twisted midair and transformed into a hundred-zhang-tall skylark, flapping its wings in panic.
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor didn’t even glance at him.
“Holy Ancestor… Holy Ancestor!”
The skylark cried out miserably. After a while, it slumped onto the cloud, trembling all over, no longer harboring a single rebellious thought.
The Netherworld Immortal and Chen Ting stared at the scene, filled with shock and dread. The Demon Ancestor had barely lifted a finger, and yet in a casual gesture, he not only seized a Soul Formation-level spiritual treasure but utterly broke this wavering demon cultivator.
The skylark that Qingyun Dasheng had become touched its large head gently to the Demon Ancestor’s boot, groveling in submission.
His heart was filled with despair. Only now did he truly understand what Zhenren Mingde had meant by the iron law of cultivation—a cultivator cannot betray their own orthodoxy.
That so-called secret technique they had practiced had seemed harmless—but the moment a rebellious thought stirred in him, it was as if his soul split into two, tearing itself apart.
Or rather—
After cultivating that technique, it was as if an inviolable god had taken root within his soul!
One rebellious thought... meant death!
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor gave him a glance—without saying a word, Qingyun Dasheng spread his wings and shot toward Mount Tongming.
In the blink of an eye, he had gone from a cowardly demon to a fearless Holy Sect vanguard!
This change chilled the Netherworld Immortal to the core.
He knew he wasn’t like Qingyun Dasheng. The skylark had once betrayed the Demon Ancestor, while he had always been favored and had made great contributions in the summoning—surely he wouldn’t be used as cannon fodder.
Still… a hidden traitor was still a traitor!
…
Zheng Fa in the Jiushan Realm knew nothing about Qingyun Dasheng’s reluctant return.
He and Senior Sister Zhang left Mount Tongming’s great hall and returned directly to the Jiushan Realm, heading together to the Medicine Garden.
Senior Sister Zhang waved her hand, and the Tranquility Bamboo fluttered its leaves and landed on her fingertip.
Zheng Fa glanced at the Sun and Moon Bell. According to Zhenren Tongming, the so-called Dao Fruit—did this Sun and Moon Bell count as one?
Except, it lacked the growth potential of the Tranquility Bamboo. It was slightly weaker, even damaged. It might hold its own against ordinary Soul Formation cultivators, but to fight the Demon Ancestor? That was wishful thinking.
The one thing in the Jiushan Realm that might stand against the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor—was another Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root!
Zheng Fa looked toward a peculiar mulberry tree in the garden.
This was cultivated from a fusion between his own spirit organelle and the Haori Mulberry’s cellular essence.
Compared to the previous Haori Mulberry, this one brimmed with richer spiritual energy. Its leaves were redder, and its branches radiated a warm, powerful aura.
But—still—it didn’t quite qualify as a true Heaven and Earth Root.
Zhenren Qian noticed Zheng Fa’s gaze and came over, worry in his eyes. “I suspect the problem lies in this Haori Mulberry’s relationship to the Fusang Tree. While it’s related, the gap is immense… still, the fusion was a success.”
Zheng Fa nodded slightly. That aligned with their previous observations.
To put it simply, they were trying to make this thing regress to its ancestral state—selecting and nurturing the best cells generation by generation.
“Is the incense power still enough to sustain it?”
To induce ancestral regression in a short period, they needed to accelerate its growth, powered entirely by the Sun and Moon Bell and mortal incense offerings.
“It was fine at the start. But now, as the plant approaches Fusang characteristics, the spiritual energy and incense power needed have grown exponentially.” Zhenren Qian sighed. “The Sun and Moon Bell is no longer enough.”
It was clear he was also anxious.
Zheng Fa had expected this. Heaven and Earth Roots were unimaginably rare. The Fusang Tree was among the finest. Even an impure Haori Mulberry was treated as a treasure by Haori Mountain.
They had already anticipated the Jiushan Realm and Sun and Moon Bell might not suffice.
That’s why Zheng Fa had been working to accelerate mortal development within Jiushan—but even so, things were evolving far faster than expected.
He had just been wondering why he hadn’t seen Senior Sister Yuan in a while when he unexpectedly ran into her.
She had transformed into her Qingluan form, curled up like a feathery mountain near the Spirit Mulberry, fast asleep.
Not just her—atop the tree, the little Golden Crow that always fluttered about was perched lazily, preening its feathers.
“These two?”
“They’ve been coming often lately,” Zhenren Qian replied.
Zheng Fa thought of how both birds had once drooled over him, and now, seeing them so relaxed near the Spirit Mulberry, he felt more confident.
He looked at the snoozing Senior Sister Yuan, then at his and Senior Sister Zhang’s tense expressions, walked over, and gave her round form a nudge.
She squinted lazily at him, a blissful smile on her face as she shifted her wings.
Zheng Fa leaned against her.
This bird—pretty comfy as a sofa.
…
Qingyun Dasheng’s blood and soul had actually become the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor’s tonic.
As for dealing such a devastating blow to Mount Tongming—it was simply putting every last bit to use, a convenient way to probe the mountain’s strengths and weaknesses.
Return to the Blood Sea…
The Netherworld Immortal glanced at that black moon. Though he’d had his suspicions, only now did he truly understand what the Blood Sea was.
“Born as slaves, dead as flesh and blood—all things serve me.”
He recalled a line from the Great Freedom Secret Canon, and at this moment, he once again affirmed the nature of the Demon Ancestor.
He looked toward his former master, Zhenren Mingde of the Taishang Dao. But really, how different was Taishang Dao?
Zhenren Mingde, however, had no time to spare for this wayward disciple.
He stared at the Demon Ancestor, his tone barely masking his wariness:
“Great Freedom Demon Ancestor…”
“You know my name, and yet you don’t kneel?”
The Demon Ancestor’s voice was calm as still water, but the arrogance in his words was overwhelming—spoken not as boast, but as truth.
And yet no one present found the words overly arrogant.
After Qingyun Dasheng had proven the Iron Law of Cultivation—that one could not defy their own orthodoxy—they now deeply understood another:
Only a Dao Fruit can counter a Dao Fruit!
Black moonlight cast its eerie glow over the collapsed peaks.
Both Zhenren Mingde and Zhenren Chengkong felt it instantly—the very laws of heaven and earth were shifting.
The black moon was devouring the world’s spiritual energy!
In an instant, the rules of the world changed.
Their internal spiritual power seemed sealed, shriveling up in their cores. Their secret arts, spiritual treasures, talismans, and magical tools—none of them responded!
Or rather, anything outside the Five Sects’ core techniques had lost effectiveness under the moon’s light.
Now, they finally understood what “unable to resist” truly meant.
The Demon Ancestor hadn’t moved—not one spell, not one strike—only a sentence. But everyone knew… they were lambs to the slaughter.
The only thing still resisting was the Qingping Sword!
The sword flew from Xie Qingxue’s waist, pointing toward the Demon Ancestor, shielding the Soul Formation cultivators behind her.
“Qingping Sword…”
The Demon Ancestor’s voice finally carried some emotion—he seemed to recognize it, like greeting an old acquaintance.
“If you were still in the hands of Tianhe, I’d leave this instant.”
Resolve flashed in Xie Qingxue’s eyes. Behind her, a galaxy manifested—its stars flowing like tides into the Qingping Sword.
The sword shone brighter than the black moon, its snowy brilliance eclipsing even the night.
“A fine technique,” praised the Demon Ancestor. “If you were threefold stronger, I might truly be helpless against this reborn body.”
“If you offer up the method, I’ll take only the sword and spare your life.”
Xie Qingxue said nothing.
The Demon Ancestor shook his head and spoke no more. The black moon above his head rose again—he’d lost patience.
Xie Qingxue turned slightly, casting a glance at Yan Wushuang. Earlier, when Qingyun Dasheng self-detonated, she had barely managed to shield her junior brother. But now…
In the void, a portal flashed.
Yan Wushuang was pulled into it.
The Sun and Moon Bell!
Zheng Fa appeared above Xie Qingxue, holding the bell aloft.
“Those who are unable to fight—enter the Jiushan Realm!”
From Qingyun Dasheng’s explosion to the Demon Ancestor’s arrival, everything had unfolded too fast. Even Zheng Fa had only now grasped the situation.
But there was no time to hesitate!
The Demon Ancestor’s power was unfathomable—if they waited for him to cripple Xie Qingxue, the cost would be too great.
Zheng Fa settled the Jiushan disciples and immediately saved Yan Wushuang.
Zhenren Chengkong blinked, looking up at the Sun and Moon Bell. He couldn’t help but recall how Zheng Fa once promised to save his life again.
Zheng Fa… truly a righteous man.
But alas, a cave world had its limits.
“A cave treasure?” the Demon Ancestor asked lazily. “Zheng Fa of Jiushan?”
…The h**ll, why are you so hung up on me?
Behind the Demon Ancestor, the black moon shot out a ray of mysterious light, striking the Sun and Moon Bell.
The Jiushan Realm suddenly gained a black moon of its own!
From that moon emerged a figure—who else could it be but the Demon Ancestor?
“Besides you…” He glanced over the trembling Blood River Patriarch and Jiao Wuji—disinterested—until his eyes fell on Zheng Fa:
“There’s also Zhang Wuyi…”
Zheng Fa instinctively turned to Senior Sister Zhang.
The Demon Ancestor’s gaze followed—toward her hand.
In it, the Tranquility Bamboo blazed with light.
A golden bamboo shadow shot up into the Jiushan sky, slashing at the black moon.
Inside the Jiushan Realm, Tranquility Bamboo held the advantage. In just three breaths, it struck down the black moon and banished it.
Outside the realm, the Demon Ancestor grunted. The black moon behind him dimmed slightly.
“Tranquility Bamboo…”
His tone betrayed rare agitation.
Zhenren Chengkong and the others turned back—Zhang Wuyi stood calmly at the portal, still inside the Jiushan Realm, bamboo in hand, gaze sharp and cold.
A single woman guarding the gate, unshakable by ten thousand foes.
“Enter!”
Who now doubted the safety of Jiushan?
Zhenren Chengkong and the others retreated into the realm. The Demon Ancestor did not stop them—he wasn’t even looking.
To him, mere Soul Formation cultivators were nothing.
Only the Qingping Sword and Tranquility Bamboo were worth his attention.
Inside the Jiushan Realm, Zhenren Chengkong felt like he was dreaming.
He looked at Zhang Wuyi’s back, then at Zheng Fa, his eyes full of confusion.
Even Zhenren Mingde was dazed—staring at the intact Tranquility Bamboo in a stupor.
“Where did you get that bamboo?”
Only after a long silence did Zhenren Chengkong ask.
“You gave it to us…”
Zhenren Mingde spun around, glaring at him—clearly convinced another disciple had gone rogue.
“I…”
Zhenren Chengkong looked wronged. “A full Tranquility Bamboo? Even Taishang Dao doesn’t have one! Where would I get it?”
“That one you lent me—Jiushan tried raising it, and it worked.”
Zheng Fa’s face was the picture of sincerity, completely unaware that what he said sounded utterly ridiculous.
Zhenren Chengkong looked at Zhang Wuyi… then at the Sun and Moon Bell… then at the kindly Blood River Patriarch and Jiao Wuji…
He gave Zheng Fa a kindly smile that said only one thing:
Whatever you say is fine.
…
Outside the realm, the Demon Ancestor was wavering.
He looked at the Qingping Sword, then at Tranquility Bamboo—caught between them.
The Netherworld Immortal tried to guess his mood.
The Demon Ancestor had only just returned—not fully recovered. Worse, he’d just taken a loss to the bamboo.
Weaker than even Qingyun Dasheng before death, he now faced both bamboo and sword—some fear was only natural.
Otherwise, if the Demon Ancestor died again, both he and Chen Ting would surely be done for—who would summon him next time?
But retreating now would mean disgrace—not to mention, the Demon Ancestor clearly coveted both treasures.
He probably wanted to seize them before other immortals could arrive.
His eyes lingered on the Qingping Sword—of the two, that one clearly posed the greater threat.
Xie Qingxue’s teeth clenched slowly.
Her cultivation hadn’t improved;her bond with the sword hadn’t deepened.
If she wanted to fight the Demon Ancestor… she’d have to bet her life.
She glanced at the Jiushan Realm, then at Yan Wushuang. Seeing he was safe, she let go of all distractions. Her face cleared of doubt, and she pointed at the Qingping Sword.
She slowly rose, sword and soul merging into one, her aura soaring to the heavens.
Inside the Jiushan Realm, Yan Wushuang understood the look in her eyes.
He lowered his head and pulled out a Tongjian.
Zheng Fa’s Creation Jade Slip quivered.
This was no ordinary message—it was a secret-coded missive from an important figure.
Only such urgent messages triggered a reaction in the jade slip.
He sank into his soul and found the message—it was from Yan Wushuang.
Oddly simple:
“Try activating the Jiushan Golden Core Method…”
What did that mean?
Though puzzled, Zheng Fa trusted Yan Wushuang.
His core began circulating through his nine apertures.
Outside the Jiushan Realm, the Qingping Sword trembled—suddenly pointing to the heavens.
The sky shuddered.
Heavenly wrath, stars shifting!
The galaxy emerged again. The Big Dipper aimed at the Demon Ancestor—even the Netherworld Immortal felt a chill down his spine.
The Demon Ancestor moved fast.
The black moon swallowed him—he vanished from Mount Tongming.
He ran!
…
The change was too abrupt.
Even Zhenren Mingde thought Xie Qingxue had risked everything and scared off the Demon Ancestor.
But…
Xie Qingxue frowned. She couldn’t even explain.
She wanted to say—
“Someone just used my Qingping Sword… spent my spiritual power… triggered a heavenly phenomenon… and scared the Demon Ancestor off.”
This wasn’t about whether people believed her.
It was just—
In all of heaven and earth, who else could do that…
if not the Ancestor himself?
