“Yuansheng Sect?” Lu Zheng’s eyes narrowed.
If Duan Changzai hadn’t mentioned it, he’d almost forgotten about this sect.
The Yuansheng Sect was a southern border faction that first appeared in Lu Zheng’s awareness long ago. However, it was located further southwest, far from places like Peach Mother Sacred Mountain and Dingfeng Mountain. So, despite his several trips to the southern border, he’d never encountered or heard of them.
The Yuansheng Sect primarily practised ancient witchcraft. Within the sect, there were individuals called Yuansheng Saintesses who could perform a technique called the “Saintess Descent Method,” allowing them to possess the body of a woman with accumulated merit to live another life.
Of course, this couldn’t be done frequently to achieve immortality.
Throughout history, the most successful saintess managed it three times, but her soul perished during the fourth attempt.
Even so, living two or three additional lives was remarkable. Combined with their already advanced cultivation, they could typically live three to four hundred years. Even with losses in subsequent lives, they could reach a lifespan of a thousand years, surpassing some great demons and higher-level cultivators.
What was there to be dissatisfied with?
Lu Zheng frowned and asked, “Is another Yuansheng Sect saintess nearing death and seeking to possess someone? How many saintesses does this sect even have? If they keep accumulating like this, wouldn’t they already be the top sect in the southern border?”
Duan Changzai waved his hand with a smile. “Not at all, how could that be? This time, it’s reportedly still that same saintess. The Yuansheng Sect has never had many saintesses, never more than ten at most.”
“Still not dead?” Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, then added, “That few?”
Duan Changzai chuckled. “If the Yuansheng Sect’s saintesses only sought a vessel when they were near death, they’d have died out long ago. There aren’t many who can cultivate the saintess witchcraft to begin with, and they need to continue cultivating after possession.
As for the low numbers, that’s because the requirements for cultivating this witchcraft, in terms of aptitude and innate talent, differ from ordinary cultivation techniques. It’s ancient witchcraft, after all, and I don’t know the specifics.
The Yuansheng Sect is a strange one. They require a woman of merit for possession, but each possession causes backlash due to the target’s merit, leading to losses in soul and power. I don’t know what’s going on, perhaps their inherited techniques are incomplete?”
“I see,” Lu Zheng nodded, understanding.
“Last time the Yuansheng Sect came, we caught and killed some of them, but others escaped back. Later, they appeared in several southern regions. Since they’re back, it seems they didn’t find a suitable target last time and had to send people deep into the central plains again.”
Duan Changzai looked at Lu Zheng. “Miss Liu’s reputation as the Green Medicine Goddess echoes through the southern regions. Unless the Yuansheng Sect’s sorcerers are deaf, they’d have heard of her. They might come sniffing around. The ones coming this time likely have some skill, so, Brother Lu, please stay vigilant.”
Lu Zheng nodded, clasping his hands in thanks. “Understood, thank you for the heads-up, Brother Duan!”
Duan Changzai waved it off. “No trouble, just a quick mention. It’s only right.”
He added with a smile, “But with your current cultivation, Brother Lu, if you stay cautious, if those Yuansheng Sect sorcerers show up again, they might just be handing you another merit.”
Lu Zheng laughed, escorting Duan Changzai to the gate, where they parted with a clasp of hands.
Shen Ying, who had been by Lu Zheng’s side, watched Duan Changzai leave and said softly, “For now, I’ll stay with Qingyan.”
Lu Zheng nodded, his eyes flashing. “And Yueyao too. The merit Yueyao has accumulated isn’t less than Qingyan’s now.”
Du Yueyao had lived in Tonglin County for over a year, only returning to Yizhou for family visits once a month. She’d practically made Tonglin her home, and Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan treated her like a younger sister.
Though Du Yueyao’s aptitude wasn’t exceptional, they couldn’t afford to be careless.
Shen Ying nodded. “I’ll send three Peach Blossom Celestial Maidens to protect her invisibly. If anything happens, they’ll make a big commotion.”
Lu Zheng nodded. “Let’s go to Renxin Hall and have lunch together.”
…
Renxin Hall.
With few patients, Liu Qingyan and Du Yueyao were attending to one, while Old Man Liu was shooed aside to sip tea and read, with nothing to do.
“Lu Lang! Sister!”
“Big Brother Lu! Sister Shen!”
“Not too busy today?” Lu Zheng saw only one patient in the clinic, with Liu Qingyan treating them and Du Yueyao learning by her side.
“Not really. We had a few this morning, prescribed medicine, and they went home,” Du Yueyao said, hurrying to greet them and offering tea and water.
“Perfect, let’s have lunch together,” Lu Zheng said. Just then, Liu Qingquan and Liu San entered with a lunch box.
“What’s that? Lunch together?” Liu Qingquan’s eyes lit up. “Brother-in-law, are you cooking yourself?”
Though Lu Zheng’s cooking skills rivalled a state banquet chef, he understood rarity adds value, so he usually only provided vegetables and spices, rarely cooking himself.
Hearing he might cook, Liu Qingquan was practically drooling.
“Of course… not!” Lu Zheng laughed, tapping Liu Qingquan’s head. “We’re going to Mingyue Tower. Their lotus leaf roasted chicken is good. Coming?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Liu Qingquan nodded eagerly.
The lunch they brought was left for the clinic staff to finish. Old Man Liu, too lazy to go out, stayed to chat with Liu San, while Lu Zheng took the four women to Mingyue Tower.
…
Mingyue Tower, private room.
As the dishes arrived, everyone ate, and Lu Zheng shared the news about the Yuansheng Sect, focusing on Liu Qingyan and Du Yueyao.
Du Yueyao then learned they’d once faced an attack by Yuansheng Sect sorcerers.
And now, she was caught up in a cultivation world incident.
This was just too thrilling!
Du Yueyao’s eyes sparkled with excitement and fear. “No worries, Big Brother Lu and Sister Liu are way stronger now, and with Sister Shen here, are we scared of some southern border sorcerer?”
Her sparkling gaze turned to Lu Zheng. “Right?”
“Right… my foot!”
Lu Zheng rolled his eyes. “The Yuansheng Sect is a major faction. Don’t underestimate them. Plus, they know disguise and aura-concealing techniques. One slip, and they could whisk you away in an instant.”
Du Yueyao: (⊙o⊙)
Now genuinely scared, she instinctively clung to Liu Qingyan’s arm.
“Don’t be afraid, Yueyao. For now, why don’t you stay at the Liu household?” Liu Qingyan suggested after a moment.
Du Yueyao’s eyes lit up, nodding eagerly. “Yes, yes!”
She couldn’t wait!
“Uh…”
Lu Zheng blinked, thought it over, and didn’t object.
After all, he wasn’t always around. Even with Shen Ying, it’d be easier to protect Du Yueyao and Liu Qingyan together.
“Alright!” Lu Zheng nodded.
But this was a temporary fix. The real solution was to find and eliminate the Yuansheng Sect members.
Unfortunately, the sect had too many experts, and unlike Peach Mother Sacred Mountain, their weaknesses weren’t obvious. Even a preemptive nuclear strike might not work, as their top experts could escape in an instant.
Well, whether true experts feared nukes was another question entirely.
