After the meal, He Feixiang left with the two respectful Japanese magicians.
“Take a look,” Lin Wan nudged Lu Zheng’s arm.
Lu Zheng pursed his lips and pulled a note from his pocket.
Yoko Matsuno had slipped it into his pocket during their farewell, hoping to hide it from Lu Zheng but not from Lin Wan.
However, she was unaware of Lin Wan’s profession and current strength. As a rising magician, Yoko was years away from outsmarting Lin Wan.
Lu Zheng handed the note to Lin Wan, who gently unfolded it to reveal a hotel address and room number written clearly.
“Tch tch…”
Lin Wan delicately tore the note into pieces and tossed them into the bin.
“Home!”
…
Though Scarlett wasn’t tall, Disney had clearly considered the needs of taller women, which was great.
…
“What’s this?” After exercising, Lin Wan sniffed the liquid in the cup. “Why does it smell a bit fragrant?”
Lu Zheng nodded. “It’s a medicinal wine I blended. Strengthens the body, enhances beauty, and protects the skin. Drink a cup daily, and your martial arts training will progress faster.”
“Really?”
“Really!”
“The alcohol content isn’t high either.”
“Of course. Alright, let’s practice some moves.”
…
As night faded, a streak of dawn appeared on the horizon, orange rays illuminating the world.
Lu Zheng performed the *Mountain-Bearing Eighteen Forms* in the backyard, then slowly concluded, exhaling gently. A stream of white breath shot three feet forward, lingering for a long time.
“I’ve mastered the *Water-Repelling Technique*, but the *Cloud-Walking Method* is too difficult. Whether it’s summoning clouds and rain or riding the clouds, my current cultivation can’t manage it. I can only use techniques like Cloud-Gathering Art, True Cloud Incantation, Cloud-Mist Barrier-Breaking Art, Pure Cloud Spell, and Flying Cloud Evil-Breaking Art. Their power isn’t great, and others like White Cloud Great Hand Seal, Cloud-Light Transformation, Cloud-Water Ballad, and Flowing Cloud Body-Breaking Curse are still beyond me.”
Lu Zheng shook his head. “So be it. I’ll stick with this for now. Once I’ve used up the Light of Fortune in the Jade Seal, I’ll see if I can progress further.”
…
Over a month had passed since he learned the *Cloud-Walking Method*. It was now mid-April, spring in full bloom with flowers everywhere.
During this time, with no disturbances, Lu Zheng could focus on his cultivation. The over one hundred strands of Light of Fortune gained from defeating the Southern Border sorcerer and on the way back from Yizhou Prefecture, plus what he had left, allowed him to splurge on the *Cloud-Walking Method* and his own cultivation. He now had fewer than sixty strands remaining.
But the results were remarkable: his cultivation had surged forward.
Lu Zheng was confident that, facing the Southern Border sorcerer again, even if their cultivation surpassed his, his varied techniques would leave them utterly helpless.
This showed that the standard method of comparing cultivation levels in this world was inaccurate.
“Comparing cultivation is just the most basic measure. Like in *The Legend of the Shushan Swordsman*, relying on a secret technique or a treasure to fight above one’s level is the norm,” Lu Zheng could only sigh helplessly. This world was unfair.
Fortunately, he had the Jade Seal.
“Light of Fortune, consume!”
*Hum!*
…
After another round of cultivation, Lu Zheng returned home and opened a drawer to take out the bracelet he’d seized from the Southern Border sorcerer for its routine nurturing.
The bracelet’s original curse seal had been erased, replaced with runes of the Golden Light Incantation. Daily nurturing with true qi had made it quite effective.
As he pulled out the bracelet, a wooden plaque came with it.
“Hm?”
Lu Zheng blinked, opened the drawer further, and revealed a brass ruyi sceptre and a wooden deity statue deeper inside.
These were spoils from defeating the middle-aged man in the Taoist robe.
He’d studied them briefly upon returning but found nothing special. With the *Water-Repelling Technique* and *Cloud-Walking Method* to practice, he’d set them aside.
Now, having made progress with those, he had time to examine these items again.
Lu Zheng slipped the Golden Light bracelet onto his wrist, nurturing it with true qi, and took out the three items.
“Uncle Li, brew me a pot of tea!”
“Right away!”
Moments later, Uncle Li brought in a small stove, then a tray with teacups, melon seeds, and a few pastries, placing it on the stone table. Finally, he brought a small copper kettle, poured tea into the cups, and placed it on the stove.
“Young master, the water’s hot, and the tea’s brewed. I’ll keep it warm for you,” Uncle Li said. “What would you like for lunch? I’ll have the wife prepare it.”
Lu Zheng thought for a moment. “Dumplings. Radish and meat filling.”
“Right away!”
After Uncle Li left, Lu Zheng sipped his tea and picked up the wooden plaque.
This was the least likely to be a treasure, as it faintly emitted spiritual energy and bore a rune resembling an exorcism charm. It was probably a magical tool nurtured by the middle-aged Taoist.
Lu Zheng held the plaque, probing it with true qi, carefully exploring every detail. Then, aiming it in one direction, he gave a gentle wave.
A beam of golden light shot out, hitting the wall, and… nothing happened.
“Its power is about the same as an exorcism charm, but it’s better suited for dealing with demons and carries a soul-shocking force,” Lu Zheng recalled his duel with the middle-aged Taoist. “His techniques likely focused on the soul.”
This plaque might have been useful if he’d obtained it before facing the Southern Border sorcerer, or the Night King, or those century-old ghosts. Now, it was of little use.
“Still, better than nothing. I’ll keep it for show. It might save some true qi in a fight.”
Lu Zheng set the plaque aside and picked up the brass ruyi sceptre.
He hadn’t lied in He Feixiang’s livestream. Copper did conduct true qi well. Master Mingzhang had a copper-handled whisk as a magical tool, engraved with flowing clouds and white cranes, looking quite impressive.
Of course, that whisk, besides its runes, contained rare and aged materials and had been nurtured by Master Mingzhang for years to display its power.
This brass ruyi sceptre, however? After examining it all morning, Lu Zheng found it no different from ordinary brass items. Given its polished patina, was it just a decorative trinket?
Lu Zheng was speechless…
“Last but not least,” Lu Zheng picked up the wooden deity statue, probing it with true qi.
…
“Young master, lunch is ready. Shall I set it up in the front hall?” Uncle Li entered through the side door, seeing Lu Zheng still seated at the stone bench, and asked softly.
Lu Zheng nodded. “Yes, set it up.”
He ran true qi through the wooden statue again, still finding nothing.
Staring at the statue, Lu Zheng blinked, frowned, and a thought struck him. “One last possibility…”
With true qi on his thumb, he gently rubbed, peeling away a layer of the statue’s surface paint.
The next moment, a glint of golden light caught his eye!
