What? Not possible?
Fan Boyu was utterly baffled.
Blinking, Fan Boyu frowned, saying gravely, “Young Master Lu, what do you mean by ‘not possible’?
Clearly, Miss Du’s talents are not suited for ordinary techniques. If she doesn’t join our Yuansheng Cult, won’t she just live a mediocre life, wasting her potential?
You’re not just picking a fight with me, you’re squandering Miss Du’s talents!”
“Mr. Fan, you misunderstand,” Lu Zheng said, clasping his hands, “I’m not unwilling to let Yueyao join the Yuansheng Cult to learn its techniques.”
“Then what do you mean?” Fan Boyu asked, frowning, “Worried that our Yuansheng Cult isn’t an orthodox sect? That it’s a deviant path, harmful to oneself?
Rest assured, our Yuansheng Cult is an ancient, legitimate lineage. Our founder received the *Goddess Prayer Method* from a divine maiden of the upper realms, no less than the Buddhist or Taoist schools.”
Goddess?
Lu Zheng’s expression remained unchanged, but he was surprised inwardly. Well, that’s a renowned divine maiden, so the Yuansheng Cult isn’t some makeshift sect.
“Mr. Fan, you misunderstand again,” Lu Zheng smiled, “The Yuansheng Cult is renowned, how could I look down on it? It’s just that…”
Fan Boyu looked at Lu Zheng, waiting silently without speaking. After all, while he valued Du Yueyao’s talents, he wasn’t begging her to become his disciple.
“It’s just that your sect has too many internal divisions, with the New Sect constantly eyeing women of merit to use as vessels,” Lu Zheng said calmly, “What if Yueyao goes with you to the southern borderlands and gets taken by the New Sect to be a vessel for that Saintess Xueyi?”
“Impossible!” Fan Boyu declared firmly, “If Miss Du joins our Original Sect’s lineage, there’s no way the New Sect could take her. That would be a provocation to us.”
Lu Zheng waved his hand, “No, don’t say it’s impossible. With the temptation of living another life through perfect possession and continued cultivation, nothing’s impossible. Besides, the New Sect’s power far surpasses your Original Sect’s, doesn’t it?”
Before Fan Boyu could respond, Lu Zheng pressed on, “Forget about claims of ‘impossible.’ Let me ask you, if the New Sect did take Yueyao to be a vessel, would your Original Sect break ties and go to war with them?”
Fan Boyu faltered, his face darkening, but he remained silent.
Lu Zheng said coolly, “The reason you haven’t had such incidents before is probably because your Original Sect’s recruitment never coincided with the New Sect’s need for a Saintess to possess.”
These words left Du Yueyao trembling with fear, clinging to Liu Qingyan.
Liu Qingyan patted her arm, comforting softly, “Don’t worry, we won’t let you go to the southern borderlands alone.”
Fan Boyu said gravely, “We would protect her fully. The New Sect wouldn’t dare openly snatch her.”
“I know, but Yueyao is my sister. Do you think I’d let her take a risk that could cost her life?” Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, “She’s still young, and we, her older siblings, aren’t weak. Who knows, her opportunity might come someday.”
Fan Boyu scoffed, “What opportunity could compare to becoming a Yuansheng Cult Saintess?”
“No need to risk her life for it,” Lu Zheng teased, “Not to mention, the Yuansheng Cult strayed from the divine maiden’s teachings. Later generations turned a fine merit-based technique into a possession method, a crooked shortcut, and even got listed by the Great Jing’s Anomaly Suppression Bureau.”
Fan Boyu argued, “That’s the New Sect!”
Lu Zheng shrugged, “But they’re still part of the Yuansheng Cult.”
Fan Boyu, “…”
Damn it, one side’s about winners and losers, the other’s about wayward descendants. So frustrating!
Even more frustrating, he couldn’t even beat them or take Du Yueyao away!
Fan Boyu took a deep breath, saying helplessly, “So, no room for discussion?”
Lu Zheng shook his head, “No, there is room.”
Fan Boyu: ?_??
He nearly threw out his back from Lu Zheng’s sudden shift.
How is there room now?
Lu Zheng said calmly, “The condition is, Yueyao won’t go to the southern borderlands.”
“What?” Fan Boyu stared, “Our sect has never trained a Saintess outside, and she needs to be by the Saintess’s side to cultivate at the fastest speed.”
“Then set a precedent this time,” Lu Zheng nodded, “Everything has a first time. If you can innovate the core of your techniques, why not this?”
Fan Boyu, “…”
“I know, though the Original Sect is weaker, you still have masters and aren’t desperate enough to beg Yueyao to join.
But we can’t let her risk her life in the southern borderlands. If the Yuansheng Cult fails, there are other possibilities, but if her life is gone, that’s truly nothing left.
Besides, keeping Yueyao outside avoids the New Sect’s scrutiny and attacks, and she might even serve as a surprise asset at a critical moment.
Think about it, if you take dozens of disciples in the Central Plains, maybe in a century, you’ll have dozens of Saintesses. Then, dominating the Yuansheng Cult, couldn’t you crush the New Sect like dry twigs?”
Lu Zheng’s tempting words made Fan Boyu’s cheeks twitch.
Do you think just anyone can become a Saintess? If Du Yueyao weren’t suited for our *Goddess Prayer Method*, would I be here arguing with you?
But…
Lu Zheng’s words had some merit. If not for the better cultivation environment in the sect, training her in the Central Plains might indeed be more suitable.
Still…
“That way, her chances and speed of reaching full mastery would be much lower…”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, “You think we’re useless? Even if our paths differ, we can still guide her.”
Fan Boyu glared instantly, “The *Goddess Prayer Method* is our sect’s secret lineage technique.”
Lu Zheng glared back, “I practice the Taiqing lineage!”
Pointing at Shen Ying, “She practices the inheritance of Upper Realm Taiyuan True Monarch.”
Then at Liu Qingyan, “She practices the inheritance of Upper Realm Red Pine.”
Finally, looking at Fan Boyu with disdain, “You think we’d covet your restrictive *Goddess Prayer Method*?”
Fan Boyu, “…”
My goodness!
You’re so great, so lofty, looking down on our defeated lineage!
Then don’t let Du Yueyao learn it!
Fan Boyu sighed, unable to let go of Du Yueyao.
What could he do?
Taking a deep breath, Fan Boyu forced a smile, “Young Master Lu’s words aren’t without reason.”
Nodding, he looked at Du Yueyao with a warm smile, “I’ll stay in Tonglin County for six months to guide you into the sect. After that, I’ll return yearly for a time to mentor your cultivation. Of course, you can consult these others for any issues in the meantime.”
Lu Zheng smiled, exchanging a glance with Liu Qingyan, nodding slightly.
Looking at Du Yueyao, Lu Zheng nodded, “Since that’s settled, Yueyao, you can take him as your master.”
Du Yueyao smiled, then bowed deeply to Fan Boyu.
“Du Yueyao pays respects to Master!”
“Buzz!”
A light of fortune was secured!
