"Introduce your sect," Ying Chen said, his expression unperturbed.
Aunt Tang pondered for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts, and then spoke: "Our Shennong Sect originated in the late Ming Dynasty, with a history of four hundred years. We can be considered an old sect with a long and continuous tradition."
"The founding patriarch was a highly accomplished monk who abandoned Buddhist scriptures for Xuan studies. Initially, he dedicated himself to saving all living beings. During times of war, he dispensed benevolence and healed the sick. The elixirs he refined undoubtedly saved countless individuals on the brink of death."
"Later, those people, grateful for the patriarch's deeds, voluntarily followed him. Their numbers gradually increased from three hundred to three thousand. Seeing that these individuals had good intentions, the patriarch accepted them all as disciples. This is the origin of the 'Three Thousand Xuanzi' mural, still etched in our sect's main hall."
"The sect's name was also decided at that time, signifying the benevolent heart of Shennong, to aid the world."
"Unfortunately, the sect suffered several setbacks, gradually declining. Not only were many secret methods and elixirs lost, but the number of disciples also dwindled."
"However, the sect managed to preserve its most crucial asset: the medicinal valley. Due to its unique natural conditions, any herb planted here grows vigorously and its efficacy doubles. With this, the sect has gradually revived in recent years and has established connections with many Xuanmen figures."
"Even among the Five Great Sects of the Dragon Country, many elders and disciples are on friendly terms with us."
Upon saying this, Aunt Tang secretly glanced at Ying Chen.
The reason she was rambling on was to lead to this point. She intended to warn Ying Chen: be sensible and release me quickly, or not only will our sect not let this go, but the people from the Five Great Sects will also not forgive you!
Unfortunately, Aunt Tang's words were like casting pearls before swine.
Because Ying Chen had no idea what the Five Great Sects were!
"What are the Five Great Sects?"
Unexpectedly, it wasn't just Ying Chen who didn't know about the Five Great Sects, but also Min Ziqing.
If Master Luo hadn't been stuck to the wall and unable to get down for a while, he would have rushed over to cover Min Ziqing's mouth.
"Don't speak carelessly. If your words are heard by disciples of the Five Great Sects, you might be in serious trouble!"
"The Five Great Sects are the five Xuanmen great sects in the Dragon Country with the longest history, the most comprehensive inheritance, and the deepest strength. To put it this way, the Five Great Sects are like the Shaolin and Wudang of the martial arts world, the leaders of the alliance, the established powers."
"However, the Five Great Sects rarely interfere in worldly affairs, so they have remained little known. The Xuanmen lineage and the martial arts lineage are like the two legs supporting the Dragon Country. Although their paths are vastly different, they are both integral parts of the Dragon Country's hidden strength."
"Every year, among those who attend meetings in Yanjing, there are the five sect masters of the Five Great Sects, as well as several senior figures from our martial arts world."
After listening to Master Luo's explanation, Min Ziqing seemed to understand, yet not entirely.
In short, he felt it was profound but couldn't grasp the specifics!
Ying Chen's focus, however, was entirely elsewhere. He frowned, "Who told you that Xuanmen and martial arts have vastly different paths?"
Master Luo was taken aback: "Isn't this common knowledge? Since ancient times, those who practice martial arts do not enter Xuan, and those who enter Xuan do not practice martial arts. This is a traditional rule! Furthermore, it is impossible for anyone to cultivate their physical body and their divine soul simultaneously!"
"The deeper one cultivates the physical body, the more closely blood and qi merge with the body, and the more vigorous the yang energy becomes. The body is like a great furnace; while Xuanmen cultivation focuses on the divine soul, cultivating the yin soul, which cannot tolerate yang energy. Yin and yang cannot be achieved simultaneously; this is an obvious principle, otherwise, one would die without knowing how."
"Nonsense." To Master Luo's surprise, Ying Chen gave a two-word evaluation.
Just as Master Luo was about to ask why, Ying Chen refused to elaborate.
Ying Chen certainly wouldn't tell Master Luo that two thousand years ago, alchemists began their cultivation from the physical body, and only after reaching the Earth Spirit realm would they cultivate techniques.
The so-called harmony of yin and yang was not an issue at all.
He hadn't expected that two thousand years later, with the decline of Daoist principles, the cultivation of the physical body and the divine soul had diverged into two different directions.
And if they continued on this path, they might never reach the true ultimate realm.
One must understand that the human body is equivalent to a boat, and the divine soul is like the person on the boat. Only when the person on the boat controls the boat to move forward and they cooperate can they cross rivers and seas and reach the other shore.
Currently, whether it's martial arts or Xuanmen, they are both abandoning one aspect and walking with a limp. How can they move fast, how can they reach the other shore?
A word of true transmission is worth ten thousand volumes of false teachings. Although this theory is only a few short sentences, it is enough to change a person's "true transmission."
Ying Chen had no reason, nor could he, tell Master Luo and Aunt Tang.
"Continue. Elaborate on what medicinal herbs your Shennong Sect cultivates," Ying Chen said expressionlessly.
Aunt Tang was stunned.
She had expected that Ying Chen, upon hearing about her sect's good relationship with the Five Great Sects, would be sensible and let her go.
She hadn't expected Ying Chen to react with indifference!
From Ying Chen's words, it seemed he was even considering taking advantage of the Shennong Sect's medicinal herbs!
Aunt Tang was almost amused to death by Ying Chen.
This fellow was truly like a mouse offering to accompany a cat for a drink—risking his life for profit!
Very well, since you want to target the Shennong Sect's medicinal herbs, I'll let you have your fill!
Thus, Aunt Tang listed all of the Shennong Sect's precious medicinal herbs in one breath.
Her objective was singular: invite the wolf into the house! And then trap it for a beating!
She believed that after hearing about so many precious medicinal herbs, Ying Chen would undoubtedly be tempted and rush over impatiently.
At that time, Aunt Tang would let Ying Chen know why the Shennong Sect had stood for four hundred years without falling!
However, to her surprise, after hearing her description, Ying Chen frowned: "Why are they all just weeds and wild grasses? Are there no real 'yellow and white' medicines?"
"..." If she weren't unable to defeat Ying Chen, Aunt Tang would have jumped up and slapped him.
He was young, but his words were arrogant!
The sect-guarding medicinal herbs of the dignified Shennong Valley, which even disciples of the Five Great Sects yearned for, were now being dismissed as mere weeds and wild grasses by someone from a sect of unknown origin!
Aunt Tang desperately wanted to ask Ying Chen what kind of medicinal herbs, in his eyes, were not weeds and wild grasses?
Was it Zhenyuan Great Immortal's Ginseng Fruit, or the Queen Mother's Flat Peach?
"Does your sect have such a medicinal herb?"
Ying Chen pondered for a moment, then his toes moved rapidly across the ground, sketching a pattern on the hard marble floor.
The depth of the lines caused Master Luo and Aunt Tang to feel a tremor of fear and astonishment!