After peeling away the statue’s outer layer of paint, a dark gold coating was revealed, inscribed with tiny, densely packed characters in a brighter, shimmering gold.
*The Nine Heavens Golden Palace True Transformation Method*!
“Good heavens!” Lu Zheng grimaced. “Are all the cultivation techniques in this world named so grandly?”
“Young master, the dumplings are ready. Come eat while they’re hot!” Uncle Li called from the side door.
“Alright!” Lu Zheng replied. Once Uncle Li left, he crossed into the modern world, placed the statue on his bedroom nightstand, and returned.
…
After lunch, Lu Zheng went to the modern world, first taking photos, then typing the text into his computer for safekeeping before studying the cultivation manual.
As he suspected, it was indeed a soul-cultivation technique. Practising it would strengthen one’s soul, enabling various mental secret arts and, ultimately, condensing the soul into a tangible form, allowing it to roam the heavens and achieve immortality.
“There’s one problem,” Lu Zheng said after reading it through, his expression heavy. “It’s too concise, and there are many parts I don’t understand. What now?”
…
When in doubt, visit White Cloud Temple.
“Good grief, how did you get your hands on this?” Master Mingzhang said, astonished. “This is a secret technique of the Jinhua Sect. I’ve only heard of it.”
“My knowledge of the Dao is limited, and there are many parts I can’t grasp. Please guide me, Master,” Lu Zheng said with a smile, then asked pointedly, “Also, is there any risk in practising this technique?”
“No risks at all,” Master Mingzhang said. “In fact, if you return this statue to the Jinhua Sect, they’ll likely gift you a technique or magical tool as thanks.”
“Hm?” Lu Zheng was taken aback. Such a good deal?
Master Mingzhang nodded. “It’s standard practice among sects. With centuries or millennia of history, techniques get lost. If someone returns a lost technique, sects not only allow you to study it but also offer a gift in return.
But you must not share their secret techniques. It begins and ends with you. If you want to pass something on, you can choose a transmissible technique from their gift.”
“Like the *Noon and Midnight Breathing Method*?” Lu Zheng asked.
Master Mingzhang chuckled. “If it were our temple’s *Cloud-Walking Method* that was lost, the gift wouldn’t be so light.”
“This technique is on par with our *Cloud-Walking Method*?” Lu Zheng’s eyes gleamed. It was indeed a powerful technique.
“More or less,” Master Mingzhang said, then asked, “Are you really going to practise it?”
Lu Zheng looked confused. “Is that not allowed?”
“Of course it is,” Master Mingzhang nodded. “But cultivation values quality over quantity. You should focus on the *White Cloud Constant Refining Qi Scripture*. As your cultivation deepens, the temple will pass down the *Innate Cloud Transformation True Scripture*, which pairs powerfully with the *Cloud-Walking Method*. Practise this *Transformation Method* as a secondary technique, but don’t let it distract you from your core foundation.”
Lu Zheng bowed, sincerely accepting the advice. “I heed Master’s teachings!”
“The Jinhua Sect is in Huizhou, Yinan Province. When you feel like travelling, you can return the statue,” Master Mingzhang said, nodding approvingly.
After some casual talk, Master Mingzhang clarified the parts Lu Zheng didn’t understand and sent him down the mountain.
…
“No wonder it held nearly fifty strands of Light of Fortune. It’s such a powerful technique. If that man’s talent wasn’t so poor, limiting his potential, it might have held even more,” Lu Zheng thought happily as he returned to Tonglin County. Just as he reached Renxin Hall to pick up Liu Qingyan from work, a man in grey rushed into the clinic, shouting excitedly, “Cousin!”
Lu Zheng: ???
Liu Qingyan looked up, her face lighting up at the sight of Lu Zheng. “Lu Lang!”
Then she saw the man in grey, her expression shifting to a mix of worry and joy as she stood to greet him. “Cousin!”
Cousin?
Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, eyeing the handsome man in grey, sensing a faint demonic aura. So, this man was also a fox?
“Lu Lang?”
The man in grey noticed Liu Qingyan’s heartfelt smile and turned to look at Lu Zheng behind him, his expression complex and shifting.
Liu Qingyan gave Lu Zheng an apologetic glance, then turned to the man. “Cousin, how did you find this place?”
At that moment, Old Man Liu finished with a patient and approached. “Erlang.”
“Uncle!” The man in grey greeted Old Man Liu, then scanned the room, glancing at Lu Zheng with a frown. “You’ve got some nerve, openly running a clinic like this?”
Old Man Liu frowned. “What, he chased you from Yaozhou to Yizhou?”
The man in grey looked troubled, glancing at Lu Zheng again. “Let’s talk at home.”
Old Man Liu’s face darkened, but he nodded. “Qingyan, take Erlang home and let your mother know. I’ll be back soon.”
Liu Qingyan nodded, then said to Lu Zheng and the man in grey, “Cousin, Lu Lang, let’s head back.”
“Sure,” Lu Zheng nodded, smiling and clasping his hands toward the man. “Lu Zheng of Tonglin County, pleased to meet you, Cousin.”
Liu Qingyan’s heart fluttered, her face flushing as she smiled softly.
The man in grey blinked, returning a stiff clasp. “A pleasure, I’m Huangfu Xu. Greetings, Young Master Lu.”
With introductions made, Liu Qingyan led the way, the two men following in silence, sizing each other up.
At the Liu family gate in Tongyi Lane, Liu Qingyan knocked and entered first. As Lu Zheng stepped forward, Huangfu Xu blocked him.
“Young Master Lu, my cousin’s family has private matters to discuss. It’s not convenient for you to join. Please stay here,” Huangfu Xu said, winking at his cousin.
“Lu Lang, come in,” Liu Qingyan ignored him, checking that no one was outside. “Lu Lang knows I’m a fox.”
Huangfu Xu: (꒪⌓꒪)
Lu Zheng smiled at Huangfu Xu, gently lifting his arm aside, and followed Liu Qingyan inside.
“Big Brother Lu! Sister!” A figure dashed from the backyard—Liu Qingquan—leaping onto Liu Qingyan, then noticing Huangfu Xu. “Eh? Cousin Xu?”
“Erlang!”
“Erlang!”
Liu San and Liu Wu, two old servants, greeted Huangfu Xu warmly.
“Erlang’s here?” Madam Liu emerged from the backyard, surprised and delighted to see Huangfu Xu.
“Auntie, I’m here,” Huangfu Xu hurriedly bowed.
