Chapter 64: The Art of Alchemy

Months later, inside the mountain cave, Zhao Zhen slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air.

At his dantian, an invisible golden elixir seemed to be emitting a faint, shimmering glow.

"Without pursuing the Great Dao to escape delusion, how can one be a true man even with a wealth of talent? A hundred years of time are like a spark from a flint, a lifetime of human existence like floating duckweed.
Greedy only for wealth and rank to seek glory, unconcerned as one's appearance grows withered and dark. Ask if mountains of accumulated gold can be traded with impermanence so it does not come..."

The more he practiced this alchemy method, the more intuitively Zhao Zhen could feel how lofty the realm of the legendary Alchemy Ancestor truly was.

The opening of the alchemy method laid bare Zhang Boduan's understanding of the Dao, just as he wrote.

If one does not pursue the Great Dao to break free from delusion, even with a chest full of talent, how can one be considered a true man?
Human life is as brief as a lightning spark, a lifetime adrift like bubbles in water; chasing fame and fortune while letting body and mind wither in exhaustion, even with mountains of gold and silver, how could one bribe impermanence to stay away?

Legend has it that the Alchemy Ancestor Zhang Boduan lived to be over a hundred years old. One must remember that the Master of Ziyang Mountain was a man of the Song Dynasty, and the average life expectancy in the Song Dynasty was not even fifty years!

Zhao Zhen could feel that this alchemy method was not only a practice of dual cultivation of mind and body, but even more so a method of nurturing life.

Having practiced for just over a few months, his cultivation of mind and body had already undergone a qualitative leap!

If previously Zhao Zhen felt his mind and body cultivation fell far short of Zhang Zhiwei's, and could only rely on techniques to avoid a direct head-on clash as much as possible...

Then now, even without using the Golden Escaping Streamer, Zhao Zhen had the confidence to charge forward and trade dozens of palm strikes with Zhang Zhiwei!

"This is the profound heritage of the mysterious sects..."

After a brief sigh of emotion, Zhao Zhen slowly stood up.

Ever since he began practicing the alchemy method passed down by the Master of Ziyang Mountain, several months had already passed, and Wugensheng had long since left this place.

Just as Zhao Zhen had anticipated, Wugensheng had ultimately modified the inscriptions within the valley.

Regarding this, Zhao Zhen shook his head slightly, and then carved a few eye-catching, large characters at the entrance of the valley.

Dangerous wasteland ahead, mortals proceed with caution!

Well, although he knew that doing this was probably ninety percent useless—those bent on dying would always rush in to throw their lives away—perhaps there might just be one or two persuadable souls who would rein in their horses at the edge of the cliff in time?

All in all, he, Zhao Zhen, had done all that humanly possible and fulfilled his duty to the utmost. As for the rest, it would depend on the fortune of those who came after.

"Now that I also have the mysterious sect's mental cultivation method, everything is ready, and only the eastern wind is lacking..."

The next instant, Zhao Zhen's figure instantly transformed into a streak of golden light and vanished on the spot.

-----------------

In September 1931, the island nation manufactured the "Liutiaohu Incident," the nation-shaking event that erupted.

Subsequently, influenced by the authorities' policy of "non-resistance," the invaders rapidly occupied the Northeast at an astonishing speed.

The following year, the island nation intended to deploy troops to occupy Shanghai, but encountered stubborn resistance from the local garrison. After months of bitter fighting, both sides eventually concluded a truce by designating Shanghai as a demilitarized zone.

In Shanghai, within the Lu family's ancestral grounds.

Upon hearing the news of the truce, a flash of anger immediately surfaced on Lu Jin's face.

"What kind of damned demilitarized zone! Our army is not allowed to be stationed in Shanghai, yet these little Japanese devils' troops are allowed to station themselves wherever they please—what kind of logic is this?"

Lu Xuan, the head of the Lu family, also wore a gloomy expression, his fists clenched tightly.

Who would allow others to snore soundly beside their couch, let alone right at their own doorstep?

Yet such was the current situation; even though the Lu family was one of the Four Great Families of the otherworldly community with a heritage spanning a thousand years, they could not sway the will of the authorities.

Furthermore, after months of bitter fighting, the Lu family had already sent many clansmen onto the battlefield, and countless numbers of them had long since died or been wounded.

If the fighting continued, the entire Lu family would likely be wiped out.

Thinking of this, Lu Xuan slowly loosened his clenched fists.

"Jin'er, enough, say no more."

Nearby, Zhao Yufei let out a long sigh and cupped his fists toward Lu Xuan.

"Master Lu, please do not be angered. I feel Young Master Lu's rage as if it were my own, but since those above refuse to act, what can we small folks do about it?"

"Hmph, those people up there only care about securing their own positions first. The enemy has already forced their way into our homes, yet they still only care about these petty, sordid gains!"

Lu Xuan gave a cold snort. After slightly calming his emotions, he cupped his fists in gratitude to Zhao Yufei:

"This time, I truly must thank Boss Zhao for your generous assistance in delivering so much medicine and ammunition to us."

"Master Lu speaks too seriously. The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen. Zhao is of humble status and slight influence, incapable of personally going to the front lines to kill the enemy, so I can only do my utmost to handle some logistical support work.
As for those medicines and ammunition, compared to thanking Zhao, I think you should all be thanking Zhao Zhen even more.
If not for his timely assistance when the little Japanese devils had Shanghai sealed off airtight, even with the heart to help, I truly would not have known how to smuggle these supplies in."

"Zhao Zhen, he came too?"

Lu Jin's eyes flashed with a hint of excitement, surprised that his old friend had actually come to this city of Shanghai.

"Boss Zhao, where is Zhao Zhen? Why didn't I see him come over with you?"

Zhao Yufei opened his mouth, just about to say something, when the next second, accompanied by a flash of golden light before everyone's eyes, several figures abruptly appeared right in front of them.

"Hanying, Yunqi?!"

Looking at the blood-covered and severely injured members of the Lu family before him, Lu Xuan sprang up from his seat.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Uncle Xuan..."

Lu Hanying weakly reached out a hand, but the next second, his eyes rolled back and he collapsed into unconsciousness.

"Brother Zhao, what on earth happened to Brother Ying and the others?"

Lu Jin stepped forward with quick reflexes to support Lu Hanying, while directing his gaze at Zhao Zhen, who was likewise stained with fresh blood.

"They walked right into an ambush set by the little Japanese devils' otherworldly practitioners. I happened to be passing by and brought them out," Zhao Zhen explained with a heavy expression.

"Why are there only the two of you? Where is Tianyun? Wasn't he supposed to go with you?"

"My apologies, Master Lu. The enemy had too many men. By the time I arrived on the scene, only these two were still alive."

At these words, Lu Xuan slowly closed his eyes, and tears began to gradually well up in the eyes of Lu Jin beside him.

"Is that so? I understand..."

Lu Xuan took a deep breath, striving to keep his emotions stable.

After a few breaths, Lu Xuan cupped his fists toward Zhao Zhen.

"Young Friend Zhao, I truly must thank you for stepping in to rescue them in the nick of time this once. Otherwise..."

At this point, a bitter smile touched the corner of Lu Xuan's mouth.

He knew that if Zhao Zhen hadn't happened to pass by, even Lu Hanying and Lu Yunqi, the two brothers, certainly would not have made it back alive.

"Master Lu is too polite. Setting aside the friendship between the junior and Brother Lu, even purely as a passerby, I could not possibly stand by and watch those little Japanese devils slaughter our own people, could I?"