Starting as a Talisman Master

Chapter 272 Drawing Away Evil and Curing Illness, the Respect of the Two Elders (5.7k)

When Xuan Chen Zhenren and Qin Zheng heard Lu Chi agree, they both showed genuine joy.

Master Xuanchen said with a smile, "Please, no need for formalities. Since you are willing to join my sect, we are now fellow disciples, so there's no need for such formalities."

"From now on, we can address each other as fellow disciples. As for the conditions I promised earlier, I will fulfill them without hesitation."

Qin Zheng stroked his beard slightly and said, "With Junior Brother Lu joining us, it is truly a great joy for our Luoxia Sect."

"In my opinion, our sect should immediately organize a Golden Elixir Ceremony, send out invitations widely, and announce it to fellow practitioners from all directions."

Lu Chi shook his head slightly and said calmly, "I appreciate your kindness, Senior Brother. However, I have always been used to a quiet life and do not wish to attract attention by being too ostentatious."

"Let's skip this grand celebration that invites people from all directions. Just announce it within the sect so that the disciples know."

"Since Junior Brother prefers peace and quiet, we will do as you say." Master Xuanchen and Qin Zheng did not insist any further.

The original intention of proposing to hold a grand ceremony was merely to take the opportunity to announce something to the other six factions of Dali. Now that Lu Chi has joined the sect, it is only a matter of time before the other factions find out, so there is no need to rush.

Master Xuanchen stroked his beard and said, "Junior brother, please follow us to the Ancestral Hall. After performing the entrance ceremony, you will be officially considered a member of our Luoxia Sect."

The three of them stepped out of the main hall and walked up the stone steps towards the back mountain. Before long, they arrived in front of an ancient and solemn hall. Above the hall door hung a black wooden plaque with the three characters "Ancestral Master Hall" written on it.

The interior of the hall was dimly lit, with an old scroll hanging high in the center.

The painting depicts a gaunt old man draped in a robe shimmering with rosy light; this is none other than the founding patriarch of the Luoxia Sect, a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Below the scroll, the memorial tablets of past sect leaders and elders who made great contributions are neatly arranged.

Master Xuanchen stepped forward with a solemn expression. He took three sticks of incense from the table, subtly activated his magic power with his fingertips, lit the incense sticks, and then respectfully inserted them into the bronze incense burner.

Lu Chi, with a solemn expression, stepped forward and accepted the three sticks of incense that Qin Zheng handed him.

He channeled his magical power from his fingertips, lit the incense sticks, held them above his head with both hands, and bowed deeply before the portrait of his ancestor.

After bowing three times, Lu Chi stepped forward and steadily inserted the long incense stick into the incense burner. Wisps of smoke rose and slowly gathered and dispersed in the hall.

Master Xuanchen nodded slightly and took out a jade scroll from his sleeve.

He joined his fingers like a pen, gathering his magical power, and slowly wrote Lu Chi's name and cultivation level on the inner pages of the jade book. A faint spiritual light flashed on the jade book, and the writing immediately disappeared into the depths of the jade slip.

"The Jade Register of Names, the ceremony is complete." Master Xuanchen put away the Jade Register, then took out a purple-gold elder token and solemnly handed it to Lu Chi. "From this day forward, Junior Brother Lu is the rightful Second Elder of my Luoxia Sect."

Qin Zheng stepped forward, her sleeves fluttering slightly, and a purple robe and an ancient jade slip appeared in her hand.

He handed both items to Lu Chi.

"Junior Brother Lu, this robe is called the Sunset Purple Cloud Robe." This robe is made of extraordinary material, with multiple defensive runes inscribed inside. Wearing it regularly also has the effect of warding off dust and purifying the mind.

"As for what's recorded in this jade slip, it's a Nascent Soul divine ability passed down by the founding patriarch of my Falling Clouds Sect, called Purple Cloud Sky-Controlling Light." Now that you've formed your core, Junior Brother, you're qualified to comprehend and cultivate this method.

Lu Chi reached out and took it, then sent a wisp of his divine sense into the jade slip to sense it. He immediately felt that the method within was profound and complex, subtly influencing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. It was indeed a genuine supernatural technique.

"I've only just entered the sect today, and they're already willing to impart all their Nascent Soul level supernatural abilities to me. The sincerity of the Falling Cloud Sect is truly rare," Lu Chi thought to himself.

In other sects, visiting retainers would have to spend decades and make outstanding contributions to acquire such a powerful foundation. The fact that the Luoxia Sect bestowed it so directly demonstrates its upright and trusting tradition of employing people without reservation.

Lu Chi composed himself, bowed respectfully to the two men, and said in a calm but respectful tone, "Thank you, Senior Brother Sect Leader and Senior Brother Qin, for bestowing upon me these treasures and techniques. With such kindness from you two, I, Lu, will certainly devote myself to cultivation and live up to the sect's expectations."

With everything settled, Master Xuanchen stroked his beard and smiled, saying gently, "The Ancestral Hall is rather quiet. Why don't you two junior brothers come back to the main hall with me? The pot of century-old spiritual tea still retains its lingering aroma; we can take this opportunity to chat for a while."

Lu Chi nodded slightly and said calmly, "It's all up to Senior Brother Sect Leader."

The three left the back mountain and returned to the council hall on the main peak.

Just as the guests and hosts were seated, and Master Xuanchen was about to pour tea, his face suddenly turned pale, and a violent cough escaped his throat: "Cough cough—cough cough—"

Qin Zheng's expression turned slightly serious, and she immediately asked with concern, "Sect Leader, has your old ailment aggravated your blood and qi?"

After a moment, Master Xuanchen used his magic power to forcefully suppress his surging blood and qi.

He waved to Qin Zheng to indicate that he was alright, then looked at Lu Chi with a slight apology: "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Junior Brother Lu. My bones are already decaying, and my time is coming to an end. It's inevitable that my body is a bit weak, but it's nothing serious."

Lu Chi sat upright to one side, his gaze sweeping over Xuan Chen Zhenren's somewhat ashen face without revealing his expression. After a moment's thought, he casually inquired, "Sect Leader, your qi and blood are so weak. Could it be that you still have a chronic or hidden illness? I observe that there are many people in the sect who are skilled in alchemy. Could it be that even with the sect's elixirs, this illness cannot be cured?"

Master Xuanchen sighed, placed the teacup back on the table, and said slowly, "Now that you have joined my Luoxia Sect, it is only natural that you should know about the grudges and grievances between us."

"The seven righteous and demonic factions of the Great Li Kingdom coexist in one country. On the surface, they each maintain their own order, but in reality, they have never stopped fighting each other for spiritual veins and cultivation resources. This hidden ailment of mine is a result of my battles with the demonic sect in my early years."

"More than a hundred years ago, I fought against Yin Kui, the old demon of the Heavenly Extreme Sect of the Demonic Path, because of a newly discovered medium-sized spirit mine." Xuan Chen Zhenren recalled the past, his eyes revealing a hint of solemnity.

"That old man possessed profound magical power, and his methods were extremely insidious. I fought with all my might and managed to force him back, thus protecting the spirit mine, but I was also unfortunately struck by his Bone-Melting Blood Fiend."

Master Xuanchen shook his head, a helpless expression on his face: "That insidious magical power is like a bone-deep infection, once it enters the body, it goes straight for the heart meridian."

"Although the alchemists in the sect used up all the spiritual herbs in their storehouse to refine several batches of third-grade detoxifying pills for me, they could only barely suppress the bloodthirsty aura and could not completely eradicate it."

"For more than a hundred years, the remaining insidious magic power has been eroding my life force and vitality day and night. My physical body's foundation has long been exhausted, which is why I have developed such an irreversible illness."

Qin Zheng listened silently, a look of regret on her face. She picked up her teacup and took a sip, but did not interrupt.

Lu Chi remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Sect Leader, may I examine the injury?"

Master Xuanchen was taken aback. His injury had been lingering for a century, and the alchemists in his sect had long been at a loss for what to do.

But seeing that Lu Chi looked calm, he did not stop him. He placed his wrist flat on the side of the table, nodded and said, "Junior brother, you may do as you please."

.

Lu Chi extended two fingers and placed them on Xuan Chen Zhenren's pulse point, slowly channeling a wisp of Xuan Shui magic power into it.

The magic power traveled along the meridians, and along the way, it was seen that Xuan Chen's blood and qi were declining and his meridians were withered.

When the probe reached the depths of the heart meridian, the magical power was suddenly blocked.

A cold, sticky, and slightly fishy alien force lurked here, biting at the heart and silently eroding the surrounding life.

"This chilling aura must be the bone-melting blood demon that my senior brother, the sect leader, mentioned," Lu Chi pondered to himself as he carefully sensed it.

He allowed his own magical power to touch it briefly, observed it for a moment, and then came to a conclusion.

"This power seems insidious and troublesome, but in terms of the purity of its demonic energy, it is still somewhat inferior to the several Heavenly Demon Sect divine abilities I have cultivated. Ultimately, it is still just an evolution of Yin Sha Qi."

"7

Since it was malevolent energy, Lu Chi remembered the "Guiding Malevolent Energy and Transforming it into Essence Technique" taught by Li Qianyou.

"This technique is specifically designed to counter all kinds of malevolent energy; I wonder if it can even slightly neutralize it."

With a slight thought, Lu Chi secretly began to practice the "Drawing Evil and Transforming Essence Technique" with his fingertips.

The wisp of Xuan Shui magic power that had entered Xuan Chen's body suddenly had a devouring intent, tentatively pulling at a trace of the blood evil energy that had lingered for a hundred years.

This bone-melting blood demon, which had been dormant for many years, was suddenly stirred up in the heart meridian by the technique.

Master Xuanchen's expression changed drastically. His originally ashen face was instantly flushed with an eerie red, and his body trembled slightly.

Qin Zheng, who was standing to the side, noticed the chaotic energy within Xuan Chen's body, her expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously took a step forward.

Before he could speak, Master Xuanchen suddenly raised his other hand. His face was extremely solemn as he firmly pressed down on Qin Zheng's arm, shaking his head slightly to signal him to be quiet and not move.

Seeing that his senior brother, the sect leader, looked solemn and although his face showed signs of pain, Qin Zheng felt a little relieved. He immediately suppressed his surging magical power, took half a step back, and stood aside to protect him, not daring to utter a word that might disturb him.

The hall fell silent once more.

Two hours passed quietly.

Suddenly, Master Xuanchen's body trembled, he leaned forward half a step, and "whoosh" vomited a mouthful of extremely foul-smelling black blood.

The black blood fell to the ground, corroding the bluestone tiles with a sizzling sound, and rising a wisp of gray-black, cold, and fishy smell.

Lu Chi withdrew the two fingers that had been resting on his pulse point, calmed his internal energy, and sat calmly to the side.

Upon seeing this, Qin Zheng quickly stepped forward to help him up.

Master Xuanchen waved his hand and sat up straight. Although his face was slightly pale, the deathly aura that had lingered between his brows for a hundred years had dissipated somewhat.

He took a deep breath, carefully examined the flow of Qi within his body, and said slowly, "This icy shackle that has been entrenched in my heart meridian for a hundred years has indeed lessened considerably. Even the flow of Qi and blood is smoother than before."

Qin Zheng was overjoyed and couldn't help but ask, "Senior Brother, could it be that the Bone-Melting Blood Fiend has been cured?"

Master Xuanchen shook his head slightly and sighed, "A century-old ailment has long been deeply entangled with the heart and meridians; it cannot be eradicated so easily."

At this opportune moment, Lu Chi spoke up, his tone calm: "What Senior Brother Sect Leader said is absolutely right. I just used my magic to remove a small amount of blood evil from the outer edge of his heart meridian."

"This malevolent energy is deeply rooted. If we try to eradicate it by force, it may damage your vital energy. We must not be too hasty. We should accumulate it day by day and deal with it slowly."

He paused, then continued, "However, if we can gradually remove it using this method, it shouldn't take more than a few years to completely eliminate this bone-dissolving blood evil."

"Although this Bone-Melting Blood Fiend is stubborn, the Fiend-Guiding and Yuan-Transforming Technique is indeed its nemesis. By spending a few years of painstaking effort, I can completely save the life of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator and allow him to continue to guard the Falling Clouds Sect. For me, this is truly beneficial in every way," Lu Chi thought to himself.

In fact, if we're talking about removing this kind of sinister and malevolent energy, he has an even more domineering method within him.

Within his dantian, he nurtured a mysterious fire that had devoured two different kinds of heavenly and earthly flames.

If this mysterious fire is activated to burn and erode, the bone-melting blood evil that is entrenched in Xuan Chen's heart meridian can be completely burned away in just a few months, allowing it to be completely healed.

However, even in the vast cultivation world of Qingming Continent, strange flames are extremely rare. Once they appear in the world, they are very likely to attract the covetous eyes of high-level cultivators. Lu Chi understood all too well the principle that possessing a treasure is a crime.

Such a powerful technique should only be kept as a trump card and never be easily revealed to others.

Using this "Drawing Evil and Transforming Essence" technique to slowly remove it is the safest way to do so. It can both show kindness to the Luoxia Sect and protect the sect leader who is in the late stage of the Golden Core realm, and also conceal one's own background.

Master Xuanchen felt the long-lost smoothness in his body, his eyes filled with joy, and he exclaimed, "Junior Brother Lu is truly a man of great talent."

Your actions have truly given us a tremendous surprise. I had thought I would only live to see my end, but I never imagined I would encounter such good fortune.

Qin Zheng also looked ashamed. She stepped forward, bowed respectfully to Lu Chi, and said, "Just now, I saw that Senior Brother Sect Leader's energy was in disarray, and in my haste, I almost bumped into you, Junior Brother. I misunderstood your good intentions, Junior Brother, and I apologize for this. I hope you won't take offense."

Lu Chi slightly turned his body to avoid the half-bow, and replied calmly, "Senior Brother Qin, you flatter me. It is only natural for Senior Brother to be so eager to protect the Sect Leader, and I will not blame you."

He paused briefly, then continued, "What I just used was merely a side method I acquired by chance during my travels in my early years. It might be somewhat useful for dispelling Yin energy, but it would be of little use in a real battle."

"I am not good at killing, and I will have to rely on my two senior brothers to take care of me so that I can make a living in the sect in the future."

Master Xuanchen stroked his beard and smiled, readily agreeing: "Junior brother, please rest assured. Since you can cure this old man's century-old ailment, you will be a great contributor to my Luoxia Sect."

"From now on, you only need to focus on your cultivation in your cave. As for the grudges and disputes outside, your junior brother Qin and I will take care of them for you and will never let any trouble disturb your peace."

Lu Chi cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Senior Brother Sect Leader."

Before they knew it, the moon was casting dappled shadows outside the palace, and the night was deep. A cold mountain breeze, carrying a few drops of cool night dew, slowly blew in through the open palace doors, dispersing the lingering stench of blood within.

Just then, a soft footstep sounded from outside the hall. A young man dressed in inner sect attire stepped into the hall.

Lu Chi had a keen sense of perception and had already noticed this person when he stepped into the main peak formation.

Observing the spiritual energy fluctuations on the young man's body, he knew that he was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. He knew that Xuan Chen and the other two had summoned him to do chores earlier, so he sat quietly and waited for him to speak.

The young man walked into the hall and respectfully bowed to the head of the hall, Master Xuanchen, and Qin Zheng. He then turned to Lu Chi and bowed deeply.

"Disciple Song Ming greets Master, Uncle Qin, and Elder Lu. I report to Master that Elder Lu's spiritual vein cave has been properly prepared, and all furnishings have been arranged according to the highest standards."

Master Xuanchen nodded slightly and introduced to Lu Chi, "Junior Brother Lu, this Song Ming is my worthless personal disciple. You just entered the sect today, yet you went to great lengths to remove the blood evil from me, expending a lot of your magical power in the process."

"It's late now, Junior Brother, why don't you go with him to his cave to rest? There's plenty of time in the future; we brothers can sit down and discuss the Dao another day, shall we?"

Lu Chi had the same idea, so he didn't refuse and nodded in agreement: "Then I will do as the sect leader says. I will go and rest first."

Master Xuanchen turned to look at Song Ming, his expression slightly stern, and said in a deep voice, "Song Ming, you should lead the way carefully. Your Uncle Lu has always preferred quiet, but you never keep your mouth shut and always love to chatter on and on."

"You must keep yourself in check on the journey and not talk too much. If you upset your Uncle Lu, I will not let you off easily."

Song Ming smiled awkwardly and nodded repeatedly in agreement: "This disciple obeys and would never dare to speak out of turn in front of Uncle Lu."

He turned slightly to the side and respectfully gestured for him to follow: "Uncle-Master Lu, your cave dwelling is located on Qingxu Peak in the back mountain. Please follow me."

Lu Chi nodded slightly, walked with ease, and followed Song Ming out of the council hall.

The hall fell silent again, with only the flickering candlelight of a few eternal lamps.

Only after the two figures had completely disappeared into the night did Master Xuanchen finally breathe a sigh of relief. He closed his eyes, concentrated, and circulated his internal energy to carefully examine each part of his heart meridian once again.

The bone-dissolving blood evil that had lingered for a hundred years had indeed dissipated somewhat, and the flow of qi and blood had become much smoother as a result.

This profound sense of renewed vitality is absolutely genuine.

His coughing fit, which seemed to cause his blood to surge, was actually intentional.

I only intended to test this junior brother Lu's character and see if he would remain indifferent or offer words of concern when faced with a situation.

Unexpectedly, they received such a pleasant surprise. Not only did the other party not stand idly by, but they also actually had the means to remove the Bone-Melting Blood Fiend.

Qin Zheng stood to the side, still unable to completely relax. He took two steps forward and asked in a low voice, "Sect Leader, this matter concerns your Dao foundation and life. May I investigate further?"

Knowing that he had reservations, Master Xuanchen immediately extended his wrist and nodded in agreement.

Qin Zheng extended two fingers to the pulse point, channeling a wisp of magical power to carefully sense it. After a moment, he slowly withdrew his fingers, his expression shifting several times before finally settling into a complex sigh.

"It really has improved." Qin Zheng's tone revealed undisguised astonishment. "I never expected that this Junior Brother Lu would actually have such methods. A century-old illness has been cured in just a short time."

Master Xuanchen slowly opened his eyes, his deep gaze fixed on the dark night sky outside the hall, and said in a deep voice, "He modestly claims this is an unorthodox method, but are we ignorant fools?"

"Not bad." Qin Zheng nodded slightly with a solemn expression. "You and I both know how insidious and powerful Yin Kui, the old demon of the Tianji Sect, is."

"Ordinary cultivators would avoid such demonic aura like the plague. Although Junior Brother Lu frankly admits that he is not good at fighting and killing, his unorthodox methods for dispelling demonic aura are indeed remarkable."

"To be able to form a Golden Core by struggling in the outside world as a rogue cultivator, he truly has some extraordinary experiences and life-saving skills that ordinary people cannot match."

Master Xuanchen changed the subject, asking, "During this time, you secretly sent people to inquire; have you found out anything about this Junior Brother Lu's background?"

Qin Zheng shook her head and answered truthfully, "I have no clue. No one in the independent cultivation world of Dali Kingdom or even the surrounding countries has ever heard of such a person. It's as if he appeared out of thin air."

Master Xuanchen pondered for a moment, his gaze narrowing slightly, and murmured, "Could it really be a cultivator who crossed over from overseas, or even more distant cultivation kingdoms—?"

"So be it. Judging from his demeanor and conduct, he doesn't seem like a person with wicked intentions. Now that he has joined our Luoxia Sect, we should trust him without reservation."

Qin Zheng wholeheartedly agreed, but then remembered something else and inquired in a low voice, "Senior Brother Sect Leader, when Junior Brother Lu used his magic to heal you just now, did you sense the style of his cultivation method? I wonder if this junior brother is indeed as he himself said, not good at killing?"

Master Xuanchen closed his eyes and carefully recalled the energy that had been coursing through his heart meridian. He then said, "What he probed into my body was an extremely pure Xuan Shui magical power."

"Water-based martial arts are mostly gentle and sustained, which is beneficial for health preservation and healing. Judging from this, the martial arts he cultivates should be more inclined to accumulate strength and then unleash it. In this kind of fierce fighting and killing, he will indeed be at a disadvantage. What he said should be true."

"However, we will gradually find out his true nature as we study together in the same school in the future."

Master Xuanchen opened his eyes, his expression turned serious, and he solemnly instructed, "Remember, you must not deliberately test him in the future, lest you displease him and create a rift between you."

"He can cure my century-old ailment, which is of irreplaceable value to our sect. We only need to protect him well within the sect in the future."

Qin Zheng's expression immediately changed, and he cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, replying, "Don't worry, Senior Brother, I know what I'm doing."

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