Lu Zheng had no time to rest during the day, as he was studying medicine and herb identification with Liu Qingyan at Benevolent Heart Hall.
For the next few days, Lu Zheng studied medicine with Liu Qingyan by day, practiced his blade techniques at night, and occasionally spent time with Lin Wan, living a fulfilling life.
Within days, he had improved his *Tiger’s Roar Blade* technique, and with the physical enhancements consuming his energy, the light of fortune in his mind’s jade seal dwindled to nine strands.
During this time, Lu Zheng also ordered a batch of ancient books online from the modern world.
Yes, ancient texts.
*The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic: Basic Questions*
*The Spiritual Pivot*
*Treatise on Cold Damage*
*Essentials from the Golden Cabinet*
*Thousand Golden Prescriptions*
*Discourse on Pulses*
*Classic of Acupuncture*
*Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One’s Sleeve*, and more.
He studied them himself, then removed parts that might reveal specific dynastic or geographic details to protect his secret. He compiled the rest into traditional Chinese documents and had an online bookstore produce them as thread-bound ancient-style books.
A few days later, Lu Zheng took a day off from Liu Qingyan and headed to White Cloud Temple.
…
“Greetings, Master!”
“Yuan Zheng.”
Master Mingzhang nodded with a smile, leading Lu Zheng to a quiet chamber, “Follow me.”
In the chamber, they sat, and Master Mingzhang asked, “How’s your cultivation? You haven’t come up the mountain lately. The *Qi Refining Scripture* aside, have you faced no obstacles with the *Five Talisman Method* or *Transport Technique*?”
Lu Zheng didn’t answer directly, instead pulling a wooden box from his bundle, “A gift for Master and the others.”
Master Mingzhang chuckled, shaking his head, but accepted it, “Don’t give anything too valuable. Once you’re in the sect, we’re family.”
Lu Zheng nodded, “Of course, but when I come across something good, I naturally want to share it with Master and my fellow disciples.”
Master Mingzhang opened the box, revealing ten exquisite wolf-hair brushes arranged neatly.
“Fine brushes!”
His eyes lit up as he picked one up.
Crafted with sandalwood and buffalo horn for the handle and decoration, using carefully selected weasel tail hair for the tip, and refined through over two thousand years of increasingly sophisticated techniques…
Master Mingzhang, a seasoned expert, immediately recognized the value of these Huzhou brushes.
“Not made from demon beast hair, yet they reach the pinnacle of mortal craftsmanship. Truly fine brushes!”
“No, each hair is meticulously chosen and intricately processed. Most spiritual brushes can’t compare!”
Examining another brush closely, Master Mingzhang’s expression was a mix of shock and delight.
Lu Zheng thought to himself that he’d bought the most expensive wolf-hair brush set, a rare output even from the Shanlian Huzhou Brush Factory, truly the best of the best.
“Excellent brushes! You’ve put thought into this!” Master Mingzhang set down the brush, clearly pleased.
“As long as Master can use them.”
“Use them? With these, talisman drawing feels smoother by a fraction.”
Lu Zheng smacked his lips, thinking the saleswoman hadn’t lied, her brushes were indeed exceptional.
“You kept some for yourself, right?”
“Yes, Master, don’t worry.”
“Good, good!” Master Mingzhang smiled, setting the brushes aside, “Now, show me your progress.”
He grasped Lu Zheng’s wrist, channeling true qi to probe his meridians and dantian.
“Your true qi is already this refined?” Master Mingzhang blinked, wondering if Lu Zheng was truly born for cultivation.
“Well done, you’ve been diligent,” he said, suppressing his surprise to keep Lu Zheng humble, and asked calmly, “How’s your progress with the *Transport Technique* and *Five Talisman Method*?”
Lu Zheng smiled slightly, forming a hand seal with his right fingers. Five paper talismans flew from his sleeve, lining up a foot before Master Mingzhang.
“Please guide me, Master.”
Master Mingzhang was stunned.
“The *Transport Technique*?”
He picked up the talismans, examining them one by one.
Peace Talisman, Qi-Seeking Talisman, Evil-Dispelling Talisman, Breath-Concealing Talisman, Swift Travel Talisman.
Though limited by his true qi, they were undeniably complete and functional.
Had he taken in a prodigy?
Not only was his true qi progressing quickly, but his mastery of Taoist spells was instant?
Master Mingzhang was speechless, “So, you came up the mountain because…”
“Yes, please teach me something new, Master!”
Master Mingzhang swallowed hard, not because he had nothing left to teach, but because he worried about the future…
He felt a bit uneasy.
“Very well, I’ll teach you the *Five Incantation Arts*, a follow-up to the *Five Talisman Method*. It uses true qi to cast spells directly, so you won’t be caught without talismans in an emergency.”
“Truth be told, mastery matters more than quantity. With these skills, you can handle most situations.”
“Not necessarily,” Lu Zheng shook his head, “Some time ago, I encountered a commander from King Nightshade’s Night Patrol Camp. He was incredibly fast. If not for my martial arts training, I couldn’t have kept up.”
“Oh? You faced a ghost from the Netherworld?” Master Mingzhang asked, intrigued.
Lu Zheng nodded, “After I killed him, I met a City Patrol Officer from the underworld and followed him to meet the City God.”
Lu Zheng didn’t mention knowing Shen Ying, quickly shifting to his night at the City God’s court, recounting the experience.
“You were generous. That artifact, if refined with Taoist methods, would be a rare treasure, and you just gave it away.”
Lu Zheng smiled, “But I got the *Tiger’s Roar Blade* in return.”
Truthfully, Lu Zheng felt a slight pang of regret. He’d hoped giving the artifact to the City God might yield a bit more fortune light.
But until he left, the jade seal in his mind showed no reaction.
It meant the City God was powerful, and the pendant didn’t affect his fortune.
“No matter, the *Five Incantation Arts* include a Swift Travel Incantation, surpassing the Swift Travel Talisman and rivaling martial lightness skills…”
Master Mingzhang stroked his beard, then smiled, “Fine, since you master talisman arts so quickly, I’ll give you something challenging, lest you think cultivating is easy.”
Lu Zheng’s eyes brightened.
“Very well, I’ll also teach you the *Immobilizing Incantation*, which halts both humans and ghosts by cutting their qi and blood.”
An Immobilizing Incantation!
Such an advanced spell?
“This spell, unlike the *Five Talisman Method* or *Five Incantation Arts*, has no limit to its potential. In combat, it depends on your adaptability and speed.”
“So, will you learn it?”
“Yes!”
Master Mingzhang nodded, “It’s not a secret art, but it’s extremely hard to master, with endless potential. Even many Taoist masters haven’t perfected it.”
Seeing Lu Zheng’s excitement, Master Mingzhang thought that, genius or not, mastering the *Immobilizing Incantation* was no sure thing.
