Chapter 227 - - Sect Head Senior Brother Gaoyi 225

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Are all physicians noble?

Of course not.

At least not once they embark on the path of cultivation.

There are more doctor-patient disputes among common folk.

I've never seen these lofty medical cultivators take the initiative to offer free medical consultations and treat the illnesses of the common people...

These medical cultivators spend most of their time in the Medical Immortal Sect, concocting elixirs or waiting for cultivators with health issues to seek them out. Then, they earn a large amount of spirit stones from them, which they use for their own cultivation.

Medical skills are merely a means for them to exchange for cultivation resources.

Do they really fail to see through Duge's poor performance?

Perhaps not entirely.

The story that Duge concocted is full of holes, it cannot withstand scrutiny or investigation...

But even if they knew the truth, what of it?

Who cares?

Having Duge's cultivation technique is enough.

Just as Duge said.

This is a demon cultivation art, no one can resist the temptation of the devil...

No.

It's a cultivation technique almost akin to the Dao, if used properly, it can save lives and heal the injured.

What's wrong with a doctor treating your illness and receiving a bit of your spiritual energy as compensation?

The medical cultivators like the packaging Duge has given to the cultivation technique, which perfectly matches their profession.

They appreciate those two overarching principles, "The Way of Heaven takes from the excess to replenish the deficient; the Way of Man takes from the deficient to serve the excess."

Merely absorbing others' cultivation is indeed a demon art, but if one can also bestow spiritual energy onto others, then it is surely a righteous cultivation technique, and no one can slander them.

It must be said, Duge is well-prepared.

...

As for Duge's purpose, everyone can guess.

A poor man is innocent, but holding a jade brings guilt.

A minor and insignificant sect, suddenly realizing such a heaven-defying cultivation technique, that's a disaster for them.

His master and he are both clever people.

His master destroyed the cultivation technique, aiming to nip the disaster in the bud and protect his few disciples.

Wang Chong is more ambitious than his master; he took the technique to the Medical Immortal Sect to seek a higher starting point and shelter, and perhaps the so-called loss of the fundamental principles was merely an excuse to protect himself.

Regardless.

No one cares for the petty schemes of a child.

After all.

The Medical Immortal Sect needs a technique to join the ranks of the top sects, while Wang Chong needs a high starting point and protection. For now, this is a win-win.

What follows will be a tug-of-war for the complete technique, to see who will have the last laugh.

...

The spiritual energy in Medical Immortal Valley is incredibly dense, and the scenery is splendid.

The Sect Leader is called Li Anjiang, who appears to be an old man in his seventies or eighties.

But in reality, he is over four hundred years old.

Of his generation of brothers and sisters, more than twenty are left, all now elders of the Medical Immortal Sect.

Most of these elders are at the Nascent Soul Stage.

There are only three, including the Sect Leader, at the Divinity Transformation Realm, with ages not too different from his own.

In this world, cultivation not only enhances combat capability but also extends longevity. Becoming a Golden Core cultivator can grant about three hundred years of life, barring any accidents;

Within those three hundred years, breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage grants about six hundred years of lifespan;

Reaching the Divinity Transformation Realm, one can live for about a thousand years; and so on, until reaching the Mahayana Stage, at which one can live for over eight thousand years.

Just as Duge guessed, each realm corresponds to a transformation of the body, and when one's natural life ends without achieving the next breakthrough, they will meet their demise along with their Dao.

Therefore.

Breaking through earlier means having more time to accumulate spiritual energy, increasing the chances of success for the next leap in life.

Talent, physique, cultivation techniques, and resources determine the speed of a person's progression, which is why Duge's cultivation technique is so popular.

His Way of Heaven forcibly levels the playing field of innate talent.

Directly pushing spiritual energy to the peak of one's current realm, it skips the process of accumulating spiritual energy, leaving plenty of time for breaking through to the next realm. Even those with poor talent, even if they were pigs, with time could push their realm to higher levels...

...

Under the guidance of the Sect Leader, Duge bowed and offered incense to their master, officially becoming the junior brother among the Medical Immortal Sect's elders.

After completing the rites of discipleship, Duge paid his respects to his senior brothers, "Wang Chong pays his respects to all senior brothers."

“Junior brother, there’s no need for formalities,” Sect Leader Li Anjiang extended his hand and helped Duge up, smiling, “Later, I will have your second senior brother take you to claim a cave dwelling, and then you can start recruiting disciples, becoming a new branch of the Medical Immortal Sect.”

“Junior brother, I will definitely choose a cave dwelling with rich spiritual energy for you,” the second senior brother said with a beaming smile, “Once you settle down in the Medical Immortal Sect, I’ll accompany you back to Danyang to retrieve your master—my martial uncle’s—spirit tablet, so all our brothers can pay their respects.”

“Thank you, Sect Head Senior Brother, thank you, second senior brother,” Duge thanked them again and said, “Later, I will transcribe the ‘Big Dipper Seven Star Skill’ for my fellow senior brothers to study. My master attained enlightenment of the true meaning of the Dao through a fragment of the Big Dipper Seven Star Skill.

The Seven Star Jue channels the starlight of the Big Dipper into the body, following the path of interception, which coincides with the true meaning of the Dao as realized by my master. It’s a pity, however, that the main part is missing. I also do not know how my master managed to enlighten himself to the original intent of the Dao…”

Missing the main part?

Li Anjiang frowned slightly; if it were not for Duge demonstrating the power of the cultivation technique convincingly, he would’ve struck down this charlatan by now, but at this moment, he only wore a warm smile, “There’s no rush, no rush. Let’s get everything set up first.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Sect Head Senior Brother,” Duge said with a smile, “My master, starting from that fragment and creating something from nothing, gradually enlightened himself to the Dao—how difficult that was. Now, having grasped the true meaning of the Dao, I can demonstrate it to my senior brothers at any time, allowing us to deduce the main part in reverse. With the wisdom of my senior brothers, it will surely be much easier than it was for my master to enlighten himself to the Dao.”

“What you say is very true,” Li Anjiang said with a smile.

“Sect Head Senior Brother, even if it’s easier, deducing the main part will likely take some time,” Duge said as he looked at Li Anjiang, his tone turning serious, “Moreover, once word of the cultivation technique spreads, it will undoubtedly attract covetous glances from those great sects, who probably will not allow the Medical Immortal Sect to strengthen itself through this technique.

Worldly resources are limited; if the Medical Immortal Sect grows stronger, it will inevitably have to compete with them for resources. Additionally, possessing this technique will likely put other sects on edge. After all, the cultivation technique that my master created is too similar to a Demon Cultivation Art.”

Li Anjiang frowned again: “Junior brother, what do you suggest?”

After a pause, Duge said, “I want to help all my senior brothers raise their cultivation level to the Integration Realm in the shortest possible time.”

A moment of stillness ensued, as if the air itself had frozen.

Duge looked around at everyone and continued, “If over twenty of our brothers ascend to the Integration Realm, those who want to confront us would have to think twice.

I know that all my senior brothers have a doctor’s benevolence and do not wish to stir up disputes, but to protect the technique, and for the prosperity of the Medical Immortal Sect, we must be determined. When the top sects like Heaven’s Path Institute and Longevity Residence were established, they surely didn’t shy from raising storms of blood and conflict…”

That’s what you’re really after, aren’t you!

Li Anjiang and the others exchanged glances, no one spoke out, but Duge’s ulterior motives were blatantly laid out on the table—he intended to use the Medical Immortal Sect to enhance his own power.

But the Integration Realm—Who could resist such a temptation?

Limited by the geographical constraints of the Medical Immortal Sect, even their father hadn’t managed to reach the Void Refinement Realm!

Over twenty individuals in the Integration Realm would mean they would truly be a great and esteemed sect!

Gulp!

Someone swallowed nervously, undetected.

As if he hadn’t heard the noise from behind, Duge continued with a persuasive tone, “Sect Head Senior Brother, those in the Divinity Transformation Realm only have a thousand years of lifespan. If, and I mean if, we don’t decipher the main part before your life reaches its end, Sect Head Senior Brother, it might be too late to seek a breakthrough from it.

Moreover, many senior brothers are merely at the Nascent Soul Stage; even if you don’t consider yourself, Sect Head Senior Brother, you should also think of the other senior brothers. Can you really bear to watch, one by one, those brothers who have shared life’s ups and downs with you pass away?”

With those words spoken.

The Nascent Soul Realm elders could no longer maintain their composure; Li Anjiang was in the Divinity Transformation Realm, with at least five to six hundred years of longevity ahead of him. They were merely at the Nascent Soul Realm, and if they could not break through, they might turn to dust in just one or two hundred years.

The path to longevity was right before their eyes—who would want to fall behind halfway?

…

“Sect Head Senior Brother, I believe junior brother has a point. The Cultivation Technique of the Way of Heaven defies nature; without sufficient cultivation level to protect us, I fear that the Medical Immortal Sect won’t last until its rise, but will instead perish,”

“We can’t be working hard for others’ benefit!”

“Sect Head Senior Brother, let’s do this!”

…

They’re putting me on the spot!

Li Anjiang looked toward Duge; at this rate, the Medical Immortal Sect might as well become the Devil Doctor Sect!

“Sect Head Senior Brother, I know you’ve spent your life saving others and can’t make such a ruthless decision, and you worry about leading the Medical Immortal Sect down a dead end,” Duge said earnestly to Li Anjiang, “But those who aim high must not be bound by minor details. Only if the medical path flourishes can we save more lives.

As for the criticism of the public, Wang Chong can take it on behalf of the Medical Immortal Sect. If the Medical Immortal Sect really is on a dead end, Sect Head Senior Brother, you can push me out to take the blame. After all, I brought the cultivation technique, and I am to blame for this ordeal.

The Medical Immortal Sect has built up a lot of good karma over the years, and once I, this demon head, am pushed out, I trust they will leave a way out for the Medical Immortal Sect.”

Duge fell to his knees before Li Anjiang once again, “For welcoming my master into the Medical Immortal Sect and in gratitude for that kindness, Wang Chong would gladly die a thousand times over. I only wish for the medical path to greatly prosper…”

NMB!

Li Anjiang glared at Duge.

In just a few words, we moved from improving a cultivation technique to forcefully seizing other people’s cultivation? And you’ve got my foolish disciples to join your cause…

The Seven Star Gate hasn’t actually taught you cultivation, but rather the art of persuasion, haven’t they?

“Junior brother, do not be so. Considering how junior brother always has the Medical Immortal Sect’s best interest at heart, how could I possibly be so ungrateful and betray your trust, making our brothers look down on me?” Li Anjiang reached out to help Duge up, looking around at his brothers whose eyes were full of expectation, he sighed deeply, “To ensure the medical path is ever prosperous in this world, what’s to me if I, Li Anjiang, bear some infamy?”

“Senior Brother’s nobility!” Duge clenched his fists, bowing once again.

“Senior Brother’s nobility,” echoed many of the elders.

“All for the great prosperity of the medical path in this world,” said Li Anjiang, his eyes twitching slightly.

“All for the great prosperity of the medical path,” led by Duge, the elders echoed once more.

When Duge raised his head again, he saw that Li Anjiang still wore a face of righteous nobility. His gaze shifted to one of admiration and reverence, playing along with Li Anjiang’s act.

This is why he liked dealing with smart people.

I know what you’re up to, and you know what I’m up to; but neither of us says it outright. You give me an excuse, I provide the steps, and we just tacitly move forward without verbal acknowledgment.

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