Chapter 616: Controlling The Medicine King Sect

The Secretary-Envoy's attitude was plain enough: he had known about the matter all along, and he didn't particularly care.

What he was deeply dissatisfied with, however, was Gao Yuan's attempt to slander a colleague.

Gao Yuan, oh Gao Yuan, you've truly lost your mind! The Secretary-Envoy's methods reach the heavens. How could Zhou Qing'ang's petty schemes possibly escape his notice? To think you would be so presumptuous...

A life of comfort has truly dulled your edge.

Bitter regret settled over him, though complaining now would change nothing.

At least his reminder to pay attention to unity suggests the Secretary-Envoy still holds some regard for our past ties.

Having been chastened by Li Fan, Gao Yuan had no choice but to take Zhou Qing'ang's request seriously.

In principle, cultivators wishing to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance first had to receive approval from the Alliance's central headquarters.

Only after a cultivator's information was submitted would the Tianxuan Mirror generate usage permissions for that individual.

In practice, however, the process was far less rigid. The Myriad Immortals Alliance governed over a hundred provinces, and routing every single matter through central approval would strangle its operational efficiency.

Therefore, in reality, each province held a degree of autonomy and could temporarily grant newly joined cultivators access to the Tianxuan Mirror. They only needed to submit the roster and records of new members on a periodic basis.

Once the central headquarters verified those identities, it would issue formal Tianxuan Mirror spatial permissions, a process entirely invisible to the new members themselves.

Furthermore, for cultivators at the Golden Core realm and below, only routine questioning was generally required upon joining.

It was only those with high cultivation realms and unclear origins, or system-affiliated cultivators taking up official posts, who had to endure the trial of the White Jade Heart-Questioning Platform.

With preparations on the Myriad Immortals Alliance side made, Li Fan began his act.

"Elder Liu, a thousand years have passed and the land is barely recognizable. I tried to locate the Longevity Valley the Sect Leader mentioned, but the terrain has shifted too much. I've asked around for some time now without any luck. I'm afraid you'll have to make the journey yourself."

Li Fan's expression was grave.

"In this era, Dao Unity cultivators are scarce. So long as you are careful, Elder Liu, the chances of running into trouble are slim.

"But if something does go wrong, retreat without hesitation. Your life comes first. The Medicine King Sect cannot afford to lose you."

Li Fan grasped Liu San’s hands tightly, imparting his instructions with reluctance.

"Put your mind at ease, Young Master. This old servant walked every step of that arduous road alongside the Sect Leader, from the very beginning. When it comes to direct combat, I may fall a notch short — but when it comes to keeping myself alive?" Liu San let out a low chuckle.

"I doubt many cultivators of this generation can claim to do it better than I can."

As he finished, he took the map Li Fan transmitted to him and studied it carefully. A moment later, his brows drew together. "A thousand years have truly turned heaven and earth upside down. But this old servant will complete the task."

Li Fan quickly added, "Whether you succeed or not, Elder Liu, you must return within thirty days. Matters here at the Congyun Sea cannot proceed without you."

Liu San cupped his hands in salute and said nothing more.

Leaving behind a communication spirit talisman, he transformed into a streak of green light and sped directly toward the inland regions of the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

After seeing him off, Li Fan entered the Medicine King Cauldron.

He performed the Bloodline Transference on over forty Foundation Establishment cultivators in succession, stopping only when a faint dizziness crept in.

Then, wearing Liu Yihang's face, he began waking the Medicine King Sect disciples one by one.

At first, all was well. Without actively circulating their techniques, the cultivators, groggy and disoriented upon waking, did not perceive the restriction of the Exclusivity of Techniques that now permeated the world.

But as more and more awakened, an odd atmosphere began to brew among the disciples.

Instinctively, they widened the distance between themselves and their fellow sect members, and a dangerous light flickered behind their eyes.

Li Fan watched without intervening. He continued rousing the slumbering Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The atmosphere inside the Medicine King Cauldron grew heavier by the moment, a thick murderous intent seeping into the air.

Finally, when the number of awakened cultivators in that confined space surpassed thirty, something snapped. All at once, they perceived the wrongness within the cultivation technique they practiced.

Their eyes flooded red, and they looked upon their fellow sect members as enemies.

Just as they were on the verge of a fight to the death, Li Fan unleashed his grotto-heaven domain and suppressed them. He stacked on the Insect Binding divine ability, locking them in place entirely.

"Disciples of the Medicine King Sect, heed my command!"

His voice cracked through the air like thunder, jolting their minds back to clarity.

"Immediately cultivate the Taishang Primordial True Scripture and dissolve the Salvation Longevity Scripture you have practiced!"

With the Bloodline Transference, even their deep reluctance could not hold out against Li Fan's relentless urging. One by one, they complied, and gradually their senses returned.

"Senior Brother Liu, what in the world just happened?" The disciples were shaken, their faces full of confusion and alarm.

Li Fan recounted what he had already told Liu San, keeping it concise.

For a time, the Medicine King Cauldron filled with gasps, disbelief, quiet sobbing, and barely suppressed panic.

Li Fan watched them without expression.

When they had slowly settled, he spoke in a hard, level tone. "Our Medicine King Sect stands at the edge of extinction. I have received my adoptive father's final decree to lead the entire sect, and I will be responsible for every one of you. The times have changed, and the world outside is treacherous. Reclaiming our footing will be a brutal struggle. One misstep could destroy us entirely.

"In times like these, there is no room for error. You will follow my commands to the letter. Any who disobey will be executed without mercy."

The words carried genuine killing intent. Already bound by his essence blood, and now facing this, none harbored so much as a thought of resistance.

They called out in unison: "We respectfully obey Senior Brother's command!"

Li Fan's eyes narrowed, his expression displeased.

A quick-witted disciple caught it immediately and cried out again: "We respectfully obey the Sect Leader's command!"

The others followed in a rush, declaring their loyalty.

Li Fan gave a slight nod.

Having subjugated these thirty Medicine King Sect disciples, Li Fan temporarily halted the awakening process.

"Everyone, return to your rooms and change into these garments. Leave all personal belongings behind. When you're done, come back here." He distributed a pile of black garments among the group.

The disciples obeyed without question. Before long, thirty black-clad Foundation Establishment cultivators stood assembled before him. He led them out of the Medicine King Cauldron to wait for his avatar, Zhou Qing'ang.

A few hours later, Zhou Qing'ang arrived quietly. "Whatever you encounter, do not panic, and do not speak," Li Fan told the group. "Senior Zhou will handle everything. Follow his instructions."

The Medicine King Sect disciples nodded.

Under Zhou Qing'ang's guidance, the first group of Medicine King disciples made their way into Congyun City.

Its towers rose high enough to pierce the clouds, but the former Medicine King Sect headquarters had been no less imposing in its day, and the disciples showed little outward reaction to the sight.

Others in the city noticed the unfamiliar cultivators trailing behind Zhou Qing'ang and felt a flicker of curiosity, but assumed it was official business and let it go.

With Zhou Qing'ang, the city's de facto administrator, at the head of the group, they passed through without obstruction and soon reached the Administration Hall.

Gao Yuan was already waiting.

"Fellow Daoist Gao, my apologies for the trouble," Zhou Qing'ang said, cupping his hands.

"It’s no trouble at all," Gao Yuan replied hastily, not daring to put on airs. His gaze moved over the cultivators behind Zhou Qing'ang. They were all at the Foundation Establishment realm, as agreed, but something about them felt off.

"These are..." His eyes narrowed. Then understanding struck, and his pupils tightened sharply.

"Cultivators of the old methodology?" He glanced at Zhou Qing'ang, his tone probing.

Zhou Qing'ang smiled faintly. "Well? I did not deceive you, did I? These individuals were discovered by a close friend of mine within a certain secret realm. Like the Secretary-Envoy, they are genuine ancient cultivators."

No wonder the Secretary-Envoy turned a blind eye. Gao Yuan's remaining worries dissolved. There was no chance these people were spies for the Five Elders Council.

The ancient cultivation methodology differed fundamentally from the modern path. From their bearing to their Dao Foundations and Golden Cores, ancient cultivators were distinctly different from contemporary practitioners. Anyone with a moderately sharp spiritual sense could detect the difference.

Sending ancient-method cultivators as spies... the Five Elders Council couldn’t possibly be that foolish.

Moreover, ancient cultivators had vanished from the world for many years. Even if the Five Elders Council wanted to, they likely couldn’t find suitable candidates.

With that, Gao Yuan’s suspicions dissolved completely. Since they truly weren’t spies, simply trying to conceal their identities as ancient cultivators, the matter became straightforward.

Gao Yuan produced a seal talisman and began questioning each cultivator in turn, registering them one by one.

"Meng Wushi, naturalized rogue cultivator, Foundation Establishment cultivation..."

"Ji Yu, naturalized rogue cultivator..."

The Congyun Sea was a frontier province, but a full province nonetheless. Thousands of cultivators joined the Alliance through this branch each year. A few more would raise no eyebrows at all.

In short order, thirty ancient Medicine King Sect disciples had silently and seamlessly become nominal members of the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

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