Chapter 169: Cousin Visits

Wiping away a layer of colorful paint from the surface of the statue, there’s a layer of dark gold paint hidden underneath, covered with densely packed tiny characters in an even brighter golden color.

"Nine Heavens Golden Palace True God Transformation Technique"!

"Oh my gosh!" Lu Zheng grimaced, "Are all the cultivation techniques in this world named so awesomely?"

"Young Master, the dumplings are ready, come eat while they’re hot!" Uncle Li called out from the side door.

"Okay!" Lu Zheng replied, waited for Uncle Li to leave, then traveled to the modern era and placed the statue on the bedroom nightstand before traveling back.

...

After lunch, Lu Zheng traveled to the modern era, habitually took photos first, then typed the text onto the computer for storage, and finally started studying the cultivation technique scripture.

Lu Zheng guessed right, this was indeed a technique for cultivating the divine soul, strengthening the true soul with continued practice, not only allowing various spirit secret techniques to be performed but ultimately enabling the divine soul to solidify, roam the heavens and earth, and achieve immortality.

"There’s still a problem now." Lu Zheng read the cultivation technique thoroughly and looked solemn, "It’s written too concisely, there are many parts I don’t understand, what should I do?"

...

When in doubt, consult White Cloud Temple.

"Wow, you managed to get your hands on something like this?" Daoist Mingzhang said in surprise as he looked at Lu Zheng, "This is a secret cultivation technique from the Jinhua Sect, I’ve only ever heard its name."

"Disciple’s understanding of Taoist teachings is limited, there are many things I don’t understand, please guide me, Master," Lu Zheng said with a smile and then asked suggestively, "Additionally, there’s no aftermath from me practicing this technique, right?"

"There’s indeed no aftermath, not only that, if you return this statue to the Jinhua Sect, they’ll likely gift you another cultivation technique or a dharma artifact as a gesture," Daoist Mingzhang replied.

"Hm?" Lu Zheng froze at his words, could this really be true?

Daoist Mingzhang nodded, "It’s the practice of all sects, each sect has a history of hundreds or even thousands of years, inevitably leading to the loss of techniques, so if anyone returns a lost technique, not only are you allowed to learn it, but you’ll also be gifted something in return.

But the prerequisite is not passing on their secret techniques publicly, you end it where you started, if you wish to pass on the teachings, you may choose a technique from the return gift that can be publicly shared."

"Like the ’Meridian Breathing Method’?" Lu Zheng asked.

Daoist Mingzhang laughed, "If it were indeed our White Cloud Temple’s ’Cloud Walking Technique’ that got lost, the return gift certainly wouldn’t be so light."

"Is this technique equivalent to our temple’s ’Cloud Walking Technique’?" Lu Zheng’s eyes shone brightly, it really was a powerful technique.

"More or less," Daoist Mingzhang said, and then asked, "Do you truly wish to cultivate it?"

Lu Zheng seemed bewildered, "Why not?"

"Of course you can," Daoist Mingzhang nodded, "Though in cultivation, depth is valued over breadth, you should primarily cultivate ’White Cloud’s Common Refining Qi Scripture’, as your cultivation matures the temple will pass down the ’Innate Cloud Transformation Qi Method Scripture’, which paired with ’Cloud Walking Technique’ greatly increases in power, you can study this ’Divinity Transformation Technique’ on the side, but don’t let it distract you from your fundamental cultivation."

Lu Zheng bowed, sincerely indicating he had understood, "I will heed Master’s teachings!"

"The Jinhua Sect is located in Hui State, Yinan Dao, whenever you feel like traveling, you can return this statue there," Daoist Mingzhang nodded, indicating approval.

After small talk, Daoist Mingzhang explained the parts Lu Zheng couldn’t understand, then sent him down the mountain.

...

"No wonder he could possess nearly fifty strands of the Light of Fortune, turns out it’s such a powerful technique, if not for his own lack of talent, and limited achievements in the future, he might have been given more."

Lu Zheng returned to Tonglin County happily, just arrived at Renxin Hall to pick up Liu Qingyan after work when a man in gray clothing rushed into the clinic, exclaimed excitedly towards Liu Qingyan, "Cousin!"

Lu Zheng: ???

Liu Qingyan looked up, spotted Lu Zheng first, her smile blossomed, "Lu Lang!"

Only then she saw the gray-clad man, her face changed, seemingly worried and joyful, and stood up to greet him, "Cousin!"

Cousin?

Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, looked at the handsome gray-clad man before him, sensing a faint demon qi on him, does this mean this person is also a fox spirit?

"Lu Lang?"

The gray-clad man saw Liu Qingyan’s heartfelt smile and immediately turned to look at Lu Zheng, his eyes fluctuating with a complex expression on his face.

Liu Qingyan gave Lu Zheng an apologetic look, then turned to the gray-clad man, "Cousin, how did you find this place?"

At this time, Elder Liu also finished attending to the patient in front of him and approached the gray-clad man, "Erlang."

"Uncle!" the gray-clad man called Elder Liu, then looked around and glanced at Lu Zheng, frowned, "You’re quite bold to dare openly running a clinic?"

Elder Liu furrowed his brows, "What, he could track us from Yaozhou to Yizhou?"

The gray-clad man showed a difficult expression and glanced at Lu Zheng again, "Let’s discuss it at home."

Elder Liu’s face turned somber, thus he nodded and said, "Qingyan, you take Erlang home first, inform your mother, I’ll be back soon."

Liu Qingyan nodded in agreement, then turned to Lu Zheng and the gray-clad man and said, "Cousin, Lu Lang, let’s go home first."

"Alright." Lu Zheng nodded, smiled and clasped his hands towards the gray-clad man, "Lu Zheng from Tonglin County, greetings cousin."

Liu Qingyan felt secretly delighted, her face blushes with joy but only offered a subtle smile.

The gray-clad man blinked and dryly clasped his hands, "Pleasure to meet you, I am Huangfu Xu, greetings Young Master Lu."

The two made their acquaintances with a greeting, Liu Qingyan led the way, and the two followed behind, advancing silently while observing each other.

Until they arrived at the Liu Family’s doorstep at Tongyi Lane, Liu Qingyan called out to open the door and went in first, as Lu Zheng was about to follow though, he was blocked at the door by Huangfu Xu.

"Young Master Lu, I have some family matters to discuss with my cousin’s family, it’s inconvenient for you to be privy, please stay," Huangfu Xu said while giving his cousin a meaningful look.

"Lu Lang, come in," Liu Qingyan ignored him, checked outside to make sure no one was there, and said to Huangfu Xu, "Lu Lang knows I’m a fox."

Huangfu Xu: (꒪⌓꒪)

Thus Lu Zheng smiled at Huangfu Xu, gently pushed his arm aside, and followed Liu Qingyan inside.

"Brother Lu! Sister!" A figure dashed out from the backyard, it was Liu Qingquan, who then bounced over to Liu Qingyan’s side, only to notice Huangfu Xu, "Eh? Cousin Xu?"

"Erlang!"

"Erlang!"

Liu San and Liu Wu, the two old servants, saw Huangfu Xu and eagerly greeted him.

"Erlang is here?" Madam Liu appeared from the courtyard, seeing Huangfu Xu, both surprised and delighted.

"Auntie, I’m here," Huangfu Xu hastily saluted.