Are physicians all noble?

Of course not.

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

There are even more disputes between doctors and patients among the common folk.

I’ve never seen these high-and-mighty medical cultivators offer free consultations or actively treat the illnesses of the common people…

Most of these medical cultivators spend their time in the Medical Immortal Sect, concocting elixirs, or waiting for cultivators with ailments to seek them out. Then, they earn a fortune in spirit stones from them, using them for their own cultivation.

Medicine is merely a means for them to exchange for cultivation resources.

Do they truly not see through Du Ge’s clumsy act?

Perhaps not entirely.

The story Du Ge concocted was full of holes, unable to withstand scrutiny or investigation…

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

Who cares?

Having Du Ge’s cultivation techniques is enough.

Just as Du Ge said.

This is a demonic technique; no one can resist the temptation of the devil…

No.

It’s almost a Daoist technique, which if used correctly, can save lives and heal the wounded.

What’s wrong with a doctor treating you and taking a bit of your spiritual energy as compensation?

The medical cultivators liked the way Du Ge packaged the technique; it perfectly matched their profession.

They liked the two guiding principles: “The way of heaven is to take from the surplus and replenish the deficient; the way of man is to take from the deficient to serve the surplus.”

Taking others’ cultivation techniques is indeed demonic, but being able to give others spiritual energy makes it a righteous Daoist technique, and no one can accuse them otherwise.

It must be said, Du Ge was well-prepared.

…

As for Du Ge’s purpose, everyone could guess.

A man with a jade is guilty of possessing it.

For a minor sect that suddenly comprehends such a heaven-defying technique, it’s a disaster.

Both his master and he are smart people.

His master destroyed the technique to nip the disaster in the bud, preserving the few disciples under his wing.

Wang Chong was more ambitious than his master; seeking out the Medical Immortal Sect with the technique was just to find a higher starting point and protection. Perhaps the so-called loss of the guiding principles was just an excuse to protect himself.

However.

No one cares about the little schemes of a child.

After all.

The Medical Immortal Sect needed a technique that could elevate them to a first-rate sect, and Wang Chong needed a high starting point and protection. For now, it was a win-win situation.

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

…

The spiritual energy in Medical Immortal Valley was incredibly rich, and the scenery was beautiful.

The Sect Leader was called Li Anjiang, appearing to be an old man in his seventies or eighties.

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

There were still over twenty of his fellow disciples from the same generation, now all Elders of the Medical Immortal Sect.

Most of these Elders were at the Elemental Infant stage.

Including the Sect Leader, there were only three at the Divine Transformation stage, all around the same age.

In this world, cultivation not only enhances combat power but also longevity. A Golden Elixir cultivator, barring accidents, can live for about three hundred years;

Within three hundred years, breaking through to the Elemental Infant stage grants about six hundred years of life;

At the Divine Transformation stage, one can live for about a thousand years; and so on, up to the Body Fusion stage, which grants over eight thousand years of life.

Just as Du Ge had guessed, each stage corresponds to a transformation of the body. When one’s lifespan ends without a breakthrough, they die along with their Dao.

Therefore.

An earlier breakthrough means more time to accumulate spiritual energy, increasing the success rate of the next leap in life.

Talent, physique, cultivation techniques, and resources determine the speed of one’s leveling up, which is why Du Ge’s technique was so popular.

His way of heaven forcibly levels the playing field of talent.

Directly pushing spiritual energy to the peak of the current realm, it saves the process of accumulating spiritual energy, leaving plenty of time for breaking through. Even with poor talent, even a pig, given time, can push their realm higher…

…

Under the Sect Leader’s guidance, Du Ge paid respects to their master, officially becoming a junior brother among the Medical Immortal Sect’s Elders.

After the ceremony, Du Ge greeted his senior brothers: “Wang Chong pays respects to all senior brothers.”

“Junior brother, no need for formalities.” Sect Leader Li Anjiang helped Du Ge up, smiling, “Later, let your second senior brother take you to claim a cave dwelling. Then you can recruit disciples and become a new branch of the Medical Immortal Sect.”

“Junior brother, I will definitely pick a cave dwelling with rich spiritual energy for you,” the second senior brother said with a smile, “Once you’re settled in the Medical Immortal Sect, I’ll accompany you back to Danyang to invite the spirit tablet of your master, my senior uncle, so all our brothers can pay their respects.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader senior brother, thank you, second senior brother,” Du Ge thanked them again, saying, “Later, I will transcribe the ‘Big Dipper Seven Stars Art’ for all senior brothers to study. My master comprehended the true meaning of the Dao from the remnants of the Big Dipper Seven Stars Art.

The Seven Stars Art draws the starlight of the Big Dipper into the body, following the path of interception, which converges with the true meaning of the Dao my master realized. It’s a pity that it also lacks the guiding principles. I don’t know how my master deduced the fundamental meaning of the Dao from it…”

Missing the guiding principles again?

Li Anjiang frowned slightly. If it weren’t for Du Ge’s solid demonstration of the technique’s power, he would have already slapped this charlatan to death. But now, he just wore a warm smile: “No rush, let’s get everything settled first.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Sect Leader senior brother,” Du Ge said with a smile, “My master, through the remnants, created something out of nothing, step by step comprehending the Dao, how difficult it was. Now, I have mastered the true meaning of the Dao and can demonstrate it to all senior brothers at any time, to deduce the guiding principles from it. With the wisdom of the senior brothers, it will surely be much easier than when my master comprehended the Dao.”

“What junior brother said is very true,” Li Anjiang replied with a smile.

“Sect Leader senior brother, even if it’s easier, deducing the guiding principles will take some time,” Du Ge looked at Li Anjiang, changing the tone of his voice, and said solemnly, “Moreover, once the technique becomes known, it will likely attract the covetousness of the major sects. They probably won’t allow the Medical Immortal Sect to grow strong with this technique.

Resources in the world are limited; if the Medical Immortal Sect grows, it will inevitably compete with them for resources. Moreover, with this technique, other sects will likely feel threatened. After all, the technique my master created is too similar to demonic techniques.”

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

After a pause, Du Ge said, “I want to help all senior brothers elevate their cultivation to the Body Fusion stage in the shortest time possible.”

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

Du Ge looked around at everyone and continued, “If our twenty-plus brothers all reach the Body Fusion stage, they’ll have to think twice before taking action against us.

I know the senior brothers have the heart of a healer and don’t wish to start conflicts, but to protect the technique and to greatly develop the Medical Immortal Sect, we must be ruthless.

The top sects like the Heavenly Dao Institute and the Longevity Pavilion, when they were rising, must have also stirred up much bloodshed…”

That’s your real goal, isn’t it!

Li Anjiang and the others exchanged glances, no one spoke. Du Ge’s little scheme was laid out clearly on the table, intending to use the Medical Immortal Sect to strengthen himself.

But the Body Fusion stage?

Who could resist such temptation?

Limited by the geographical location of the Medical Immortal Sect, even their master had not been able to reach the Void Refinement stage!

Over twenty Body Fusion stage cultivators would make a truly prestigious sect!

Someone swallowed audibly.

As if he hadn’t heard the noise behind him, Du Ge continued persuasively: “Sect Leader senior brother, the Divine Transformation stage only has a thousand years of life. If, and I mean if, we can’t deduce the guiding principles before the Sect Leader’s lifespan runs out, it will be too late for a breakthrough.

Moreover, many senior brothers are only at the Elemental Infant stage. If you don’t consider for yourself, you should also think of the other senior brothers. Can you bear to watch your close brothers pass away one by one?”

With these words.

Those Elemental Infant stage Elders could no longer keep their composure. Li Anjiang was at the Divine Transformation stage, with at least five to six hundred years of life left. They were merely at the Elemental Infant stage; without a breakthrough, they might turn to dust in a hundred or two hundred years.

The path to longevity was right in front of them; who would willingly fall behind?

…

“Sect Leader senior brother, I think the junior brother is right. The technique of the way of heaven is against the natural order. Without sufficient cultivation to protect it, the Medical Immortal Sect might not rise before it’s gone.”

“We can’t make wedding clothes for others!”

“Sect Leader senior brother, let’s do it!”

…

You’ve put me on the spot!

Li Anjiang looked at Du Ge. Continuing like this, the Medical Immortal Sect might become the Medical Demon Sect!

“Sect Leader senior brother, I know you’ve spent your life saving people and can’t make such a ruthless decision, and you worry about leading the Medical Immortal Sect down a dead end,” Du Ge looked at Li Anjiang and said earnestly, “But those who accomplish great things must not be confined by trivial matters. Only when the medical path thrives can we save more people.

As for the criticism of the world, Wang Chong can bear it for the Medical Immortal Sect. If the Medical Immortal Sect really faces a dead end, the Sect Leader senior brother can push me out to take the blame. After all, I brought the technique, and I did everything.

The Medical Immortal Sect has accumulated good deeds and karma over the years. If they push me, this demon head, out, they will likely leave a way out for the Medical Immortal Sect.”

Du Ge once again bowed deeply to Li Anjiang, “Sect Leader senior brother welcomed my master into the Medical Immortal Sect. To repay this kindness, Wang Chong is willing to die a thousand deaths. I only wish for the medical path to flourish…”

Bang!

Li Anjiang glared at Du Ge.

In just a few words, you’ve gone from perfecting the technique to forcibly taking others’ cultivation?

And you’ve pulled these foolish brothers onto the same front as you…

The Seven Stars Sect didn’t teach you cultivation; they taught you the art of persuasion!

“Junior brother, don’t be like this. The junior brother is considerate of the Medical Immortal Sect at every turn, how could I be such an ungrateful person, letting the other senior brothers look down on me?” Li Anjiang helped Du Ge up, looking around at his brothers who were full of hopeful expressions, he sighed deeply, “For the medical path to flourish in the world, what’s a bit of infamy to me, Li Anjiang?”

“Sect Leader senior brother is truly noble!” Du Ge bowed with a fist.

“Sect Leader senior brother is truly noble,” echoed the many Elders.

“All for the medical path to flourish in the world,” Li Anjiang’s eyes twitched slightly as he spoke.

“All for the medical path to flourish,” led by Du Ge, the Elders echoed again.

When Du Ge looked up again, he saw Li Anjiang still wearing a righteous expression. His gaze turned to one of admiration and respect, playing along with Li Anjiang’s performance.

This is why he liked dealing with smart people.

I know what you want to do, and you know what I want to do, but no one says it. You give me an excuse, I give you a step, and we move forward tacitly.