“Wow, so fast!”
On the Yuejin River, an old turtle was swimming upstream, carrying more than a dozen people on its back, including Lu Zheng and his group.
Even Lu Zheng, let alone ordinary folks like Du Yueyao, had never experienced anything like this. He stood at the front of the turtle’s shell, admiring the scenery on both banks while chatting with the turtle.
“Fellow Turtle, how does the Yuejin River God know Qingyan?”
“Dr. Liu has been saving lives this past month. Her self-created ‘Minor Star Anise Four Spirits Malaria-Clearing Decoction’ has saved countless people, and her fame has spread across several states. Though the River God resides in his water mansion, he has heard of her,” the old turtle said. “Calculating the time, he knew Dr. Liu was about to finish traversing northern Ling. To reach eastern Sichuan, you’d either take the mountains or the water, so he’s been keeping an eye out. Seeing you all lingering by the shore, matching the description of Lady Qing’s group, he sent me to give you a ride.”
Lu Zheng nodded, understanding.
Over the past month, he had met many cultivators, from nameless wanderers to members of great sects, and even demons and officially enshrined incense gods of the Great Jing dynasty.
Most couldn’t discern Liu Qingyan’s true nature, though some could.
But…
No one said anything, nor did they point it out. Most were extremely polite and respectful toward her.
Lu Zheng had initially found this odd. In a world of immortals and heroes, where everyone had cultivation, treating malaria shouldn’t be a big deal, right?
Later, he realized his naivety.
First, the flood was a natural disaster. Great powers wouldn’t intervene to stop it at its root, turning themselves into nursemaids for ordinary people.
Second, the common folk were the foundation of the Great Jing dynasty. When disaster struck, the court and some ordinary cultivators would step in to provide relief and protect the region.
These seemed contradictory but weren’t, depending on perspective.
Lu Zheng didn’t dwell on it, focusing only on the present.
Ordinary cultivators had limited power. Healing people with their cultivation consumed true qi, and compared to a physician’s targeted medicine, their efforts were half as effective for twice the work, wasting energy and hindering their own cultivation.
More importantly, their help was temporary. What happened when they left and people fell ill again? With so many sick, could a few scattered cultivators keep up?
Thus, a top physician with a top formula had a far greater impact than cultivators in such situations.
Add to that the golden light of merit surrounding her…
That’s why everyone who saw Liu Qingyan genuinely admired and respected her.
Her fame spread to the cultivator community, catching the attention of the Yuejin River God, who sent an escort.
“Eastern Sichuan is mountainous, far more complex than northern Ling. Many demons and monsters haven’t gone quiet, instead stirring trouble in the chaos. Fellow Lu, please be cautious,” the turtle warned.
Lu Zheng nodded, “Thank you, Fellow Turtle. I understand.”
As he spoke, the rain upstream grew heavier, stirring up waves of mist, forming a veil of clouds that obscured vision.
“A cultivator is manipulating the clouds and water!” the old turtle exclaimed.
Speak of the devil, and he appears, Lu Zheng thought, exasperated.
But seeing the weather only spanned a few miles, he wasn’t afraid.
“No matter, Fellow Turtle, keep going!”
Lu Zheng shouted, his true qi surging as he activated the Cloud-Walking Method, evaporating the mist before them.
Then, they saw a figure in the water ahead, casting spells.
“By the supreme decree, clouds disperse, rain ceases, now!”
Lu Zheng’s clear shout rang out as he unleashed the Cloud-Walking Method, vying with the figure for control of the nearby mist and clouds.
The figure sought to gather clouds and increase the rain, swelling the Yuejin River to flood again.
Lu Zheng aimed to scatter the clouds and stop the rain.
“A disciple of Baiyun Temple?”
A cold shout came, followed by transparent sword qi slicing through the air.
The sword qi swept through the rain, absorbing droplets, forming a water sword that stabbed toward Lu Zheng’s chest.
Lu Zheng patted his gourd, and a cloud-patterned Seven-Star Sword leaped out.
Holding the sword in his right hand, he swung, sending a burst of white cloud sword qi to meet the water sword’s tip.
The water sword shattered, rain scattering, but Lu Zheng’s cloud qi shielded them, leaving his group untouched.
The next moment, towering waves rose on the Yuejin River, crashing toward Lu Zheng and the others.
But the turtle beneath them was no pushover. Without moving or opening its mouth, it parted the waves, letting them pass harmlessly on either side.
“Huh, the River God’s old turtle? Why are you in eastern Sichuan?”
“It’s someone from Panshui Cave!” the turtle said gravely. “Fellow Lu, be careful, this one excels in water techniques!”
“I’ll face him. Please protect my friends, Fellow Turtle.”
With that, Lu Zheng leaped off the turtle’s back, stepping forward to charge at the figure.
“Here I come! Face my sword!”
The figure sneered, waving both hands, turning countless water droplets into swords that pierced toward Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng held the Seven-Star Sword upside down, forming hand seals. Clouds of qi shielded him as he plunged into the rain of swords.
The opponent’s water techniques were refined, so Lu Zheng countered with his most familiar cloud methods.
He knew many skills, flying swords, mental secrets, binding curses, but for direct combat, his strongest were martial arts and Baiyun Temple’s qi-refining methods.
His foundation lay in the “Innate Cloud Transformation Qi Scripture” and the “Taiqing Mysterious Qi Cloud-Walking Scripture.”
A cloud-gathering咒 protected him, wisps of white clouds, both ethereal and solid, endless and flowing.
They seemed unable to conceal Lu Zheng’s form, but any attack entering the cloud’s range was worn down to nothing.
“Hmph!”
The opponent snorted, changing hand seals. Two water tornadoes surged from behind, twisting toward Lu Zheng.
“You’re just a water player. Stick to water and stop playing with swords. Let me show you real swordsmanship!”
Lu Zheng’s expression was calm, his body unflinching, facing the tornadoes head-on.
The Seven-Star Sword thrust, weaving several sword flowers, then lightly tapped the tornadoes. White cloud sword qi pierced through, finding their weak points.
“Break!”
Lu Zheng shouted, and the tornadoes shattered. His cloud qi swirled, suppressing the water.
In the next moment, Lu Zheng stepped twice through the rain, closing in on his opponent.
“Face my sword!”
The Seven-Star Sword stabbed, white clouds flowing, ready to envelop the figure.
The next moment, the opponent dove into the water, turning into a water arrow and fleeing, leaving only a voice in Lu Zheng’s ear.
“Impressive! Fine cloud techniques, fine swordsmanship! I concede this time. We’ll meet again!”
