Xu Xiuzhu and Zhan Feng were not weak, yet the two of them together actually provided Lu Zheng with more than two hundred strands of luck light.
Zhan Feng was stronger, but strangely it was Xu Xiuzhu who supplied more luck light. Clearly, a person’s fortune is not entirely determined by strength.
“Tsk tsk, how terrifying. What difference is there between this technique and a vampire?”
Lu Zheng rode on horseback, swaying gently as he walked, while flipping through the booklet in his hand.
《Blood Transformation and Yang Refining Method》.
It absorbed a warrior’s blood essence, transformed it into extreme yang blood essence, refined the blood into the body, and converted it into true qi. The advantages were fast cultivation speed, intense true qi, and relatively high combat power. The disadvantages were difficulty in purification, damage to the meridians, harm to one’s foundation, and long-term side effects.
Zhan Feng had given Xu Xiuzhu a technique from the Flower Interval Colourful Cloud Sect that harvested yin to nourish yang, which could greatly alleviate the various side effects of the Blood Transformation and Yang Refining Method, achieving complementary benefits.
Of course, both were actually unorthodox methods. The so-called complementary advantages were merely robbing Peter to pay Paul. On the surface the flaws were patched, but in reality the hidden dangers were only postponed.
The deeper one cultivated, the greater the hidden dangers became. Relying on these methods one might dominate for a time, but hoping to achieve longevity with them was wishful thinking.
“What a pity!” Lu Zheng took out the second manual, 《Secret Record of Flower Harvesting》, and shook his head with a sigh. “It is only the most ordinary technique. It prevents me from glimpsing the true transmitted splendour of the Flower Interval Colourful Cloud Sect!”
Shen Ying’s face turned red. “What is there to look at in this thing!”
This manual had also been found on Xu Xiuzhu. It should have been a gift from Zhan Feng. Lu Zheng had invited Shen Ying to read it together. Out of momentary curiosity, Shen Ying had not resisted Lu Zheng’s temptation and eventually flipped through it with him.
However, before reaching halfway, she flung the book back to Lu Zheng and refused to look any further.
“The Flower Interval Colourful Cloud Sect has been passed down for over a thousand years, so it naturally has its extraordinary aspects,” Lu Zheng said with a smile.
Shen Ying shook her head. “It has not been a thousand years. This sect was founded at the end of the previous dynasty by a renegade Taoist who combined several unorthodox methods, claiming he would surpass the Dual Cultivation Sect. In the end he took the wrong path.”
Lu Zheng stared wide-eyed. “You even know this?”
Shen Ying snickered. “This is not particularly secret information. If you read more books instead of spending all day listening to storytellers, you could easily learn a lot of common knowledge.”
Lu Zheng rubbed his fingers together. “Are you saying your bottom is itching again?”
Shen Ying rolled her eyes flirtatiously. “Is Lu-lang thinking of trying out this 《Secret Record of Flower Harvesting》?”
Lu Zheng tapped the book against his hand. “If I took this book and returned it to the Flower Interval Colourful Cloud Sect, do you think they would exchange a true transmitted technique for it?”
Shen Ying was speechless. “Are you not afraid they would simply keep you there?”
Lu Zheng stroked his chin. “The strength of the Flower Interval Colourful Cloud Sect does not seem particularly impressive, does it?”
Shen Ying jumped in fright. “You are not planning to wipe them out, are you? They are still a great sect with several hundred years of inheritance. They have a foothold in the southern borders. They are not that easy to deal with.”
Lu Zheng nodded. Because this 《Secret Record of Flower Harvesting》 had too many flaws, he had somewhat underestimated the Flower Interval Colourful Cloud Sect.
That was improper. Their cloud techniques still had unique strengths. He must not get conceited.
…
The two passed through Yanzhou, entered Yuzhou, then travelled the mountain roads of the northern Zhiyang Circuit, and finally arrived within the territory of Guanglin Circuit.
“We are now in Cuan Prefecture. Feiyu Mountain and Dengyun Mountain are both in Jingzhou territory of Guanglin Circuit, further west,” Shen Ying said.
“It is getting late. Let us find an inn in the town ahead and stay for the night,” Lu Zheng said.
The borders of Zhiyang Circuit, Guanglin Circuit, and Lingbei Circuit were all mountainous regions. Although not as treacherous as the various peaks in Chuandong Circuit, they were still difficult to traverse. Huangfeng and Taxue, who had just emerged from the mountains, were exhausted and kept snorting loudly.
Lu Zheng reached out to pat the horses, took some beans from his gourd, fed a few mouthfuls to each of Huangfeng and Taxue, then pulled the reins. The two horses immediately trotted westward.
After running for half a day, covering more than ten li, the mountain path grew narrower and the surrounding trees taller.
Lu Zheng pulled the reins. “Did we take the wrong road?”
Shen Ying looked up at the sky, then down at the path ahead. “The direction is correct. There were indeed several forks earlier. Perhaps we missed the official road and ended up on a small path?”
“How embarrassing…”
Lu Zheng touched his nose. “Shall we turn back?”
Shen Ying smiled. “Let us keep going. The direction is right anyway. At worst we will just take a slightly longer route.”
Lu Zheng nodded. “Alright!”
The worst that could happen was taking the wrong path, then carrying the horses, riding the clouds, leaping over a few mountain peaks, and coming back. How big a deal was that?
The two continued forward. The sun sank in the west, sunlight faded, and with tall mountains and dense forest, the sky quickly darkened.
At the same time, the mountain path beneath their feet widened slightly, as if someone had deliberately maintained it. Then Lu Zheng and Shen Ying heard noises ahead, along with voices of people speaking.
The two exchanged a glance. The people opposite had clearly heard the hoofbeats too. Their conversation paused, then a voice called out, “We are the Three Saints Celestial Masters of Golden Light. Who are you on the other side? State your names!”
The Three Saints Celestial Masters of Golden Light?
Lu Zheng and Shen Ying looked at each other in dismay. It sounded very impressive!
Lu Zheng shouted back, “My wife and I are travelling the jianghu. We appear to have taken the wrong road and missed our lodging. We did not mean to come here.”
A voice from the other side replied, “Good heavens, in these high mountains and dense forests, you took the wrong road and still did not die?”
Another voice added, “Come over. Count yourselves lucky. You have just met us coming to subdue demons and vanquish devils!”
Lu Zheng and Shen Ying exchanged another glance, urged their horses forward, and soon rounded the grove, emerging onto the wider road ahead.
Then a manor built against the mountain and backed by forest appeared before them.
The manor had black tiles and white walls, blue bricks and red lanterns. No fallen leaves lay on the tiles, the floor tiles were so clean one could see one’s reflection. It looked neat and elegant, tranquil and pleasant.
However, the main gate was tightly shut, surrounded by gnarled and bizarre trees. With the sun setting and shadows swaying, the place gained a somewhat sinister and rather eerie atmosphere.
Opposite the manor, on the mountain path, three middle-aged men dressed somewhere between Taoist and Buddhist were approaching from the other direction, all covered in assorted hanging objects.
“Oh? What a fine-looking couple!”
“They have swords hanging from their saddles. They appear to be martial artists. No wonder they dare travel mountain roads alone with a lady.”
“They have plenty of courage. There are spirits and monsters in these mountains that are skilled in spells. Mere martial arts may not be enough to protect them completely.”
The three celestial masters walked up and looked at Lu Zheng and Shen Ying.
Lu Zheng and Shen Ying dismounted, and everyone exchanged names and courtesies.
The chief celestial master: Supreme Heaven Celestial Master.
The second celestial master: Earth-Suppressing Celestial Master.
The third celestial master: Form-Manifesting Celestial Master.
The Supreme Heaven Celestial Master carried a frame on his back covered with cloth; no one knew what it concealed.
The Earth-Suppressing Celestial Master had four swords of different styles inserted across his back.
The Form-Manifesting Celestial Master carried a large sack that jingled and clanged as he walked, apparently filled with many bottles and jars.
