Solve the epidemic and spread faith

Chapter 11

Even Li Changmeng, a cultivator at the fourth level of the Qi Refining Stage, couldn't help but take two steps back when he saw this scene.

"Who has your mother been in contact with recently?"

The sudden question stunned Yang Jian'an for a moment, but he quickly replied, "My mother traded some local specialties with the traveling merchants passing by our place a few days ago... Lord Spiritual Boy, what do you mean?"

Yang Jian'an was the first to respond to Li Changmeng's recruitment that day—a sign of his quick wit. With a slight prompting, he immediately considered a possibility.

"That's right. This must be a serious epidemic disease! It has escalated to this extent in just a few days. Fortunately, the old lady has stayed at home since falling ill and hasn't gone out. And you, Mr. Yang, seem to be in good health, so the disease hasn't spread throughout Mingguan Post Station. However, if left unmanaged, it will eventually break out everywhere!"

Li Changmeng was certain. The elderly, being typically frail, were the first to show symptoms. Although Yang Jian'an appeared healthy at the moment, that was likely only an appearance—he would probably fall ill in a few days.

"Please, Lord Spiritual Boy, bestow the blessings of the Taoist Lord and save my mother!"

With a thud, Yang Jian'an knelt down and pleaded sincerely. Having lost his father at a young age, Yang Jian'an had been raised by his mother selling mountain products. He had not even allowed the old woman a few days of comfort before his heart filled with grief.

"Mr. Yang, what are you doing? I am here today precisely to treat your mother. The Taoist Lord is watching over us. Do not worry."

After soothing Yang Jian'an, Li Changmeng approached Mother Yang. Even someone with little understanding of medicine could tell she was on the verge of death—her breath was barely detectable, and her body was covered in boils.

"Alas, you have suffered greatly. Now, let the five spirits gather to relieve the illness and heal the wounds!"

Reciting an incantation while circulating his spiritual power, Li Changmeng pointed his finger at Mother Yang's forehead. Under the effect of his magic technique, his spiritual power transformed into the medicinal power of the five elements—the principle behind the Five Spirits Healing Technique, which mimics common medicines of the mortal world.

As the medicinal power entered Mother Yang's body, her face quickly turned ruddy. The boils on her body swelled, and pus began to slowly ooze out, intensifying the stench many times over. Li Changmeng's face twitched, and he promptly used his spiritual power to block his sense of smell temporarily. Within a dozen breaths, as the pus was discharged, the boils vanished.

"Cough, cough, Jian'an..."

After coughing twice, Mother Yang opened her eyes and saw Li Changmeng before her.

"Lord Spiritual Boy?"

"Mother Yang, you are very fortunate. Mr. Yang's sincere prayers moved the gods, which is why I am here to cure your illness," Li Changmeng said kindly, explaining his presence.

At that moment, Yang Jian'an rushed to the bedside. Ignoring the filth covering the bed, he carefully helped his mother sit up.

"Mother, I am unfilial for allowing you to suffer this illness. Thank you, Taoist Lord!" he cried, bursting into tears.

Mother Yang, though unsure how long she had been unconscious, knew her son had been deeply worried.

"Thank you, Lord Spiritual Boy. I will definitely go to the temple tomorrow to offer incense and worship the Taoist Lord."

"You have a kind heart. Since your illness is cured, Mother Yang, I will take my leave now. Mr. Yang, your mother has just recovered from a serious illness and needs proper care."

After these words, Li Changmeng left Yang Jian'an's house and returned to the temple. From Mother Yang's epidemic, he recognized the potential for the great propagation of faith.

When is faith most likely to spread? Naturally, it is when people are struggling to survive—only then will most place their hopes in the gods. The traveling merchant who carried the disease might eventually spread it further; once the epidemic broke out, Li Changmeng could then cure the affliction in the name of the Taoist Lord. Under the grace of having saved their lives, faith would spread like wildfire on the prairie, growing rapidly at the slightest breeze.

"Let me see how to operate this..."

Li Changmeng checked the magic techniques recorded in his cultivation method, seeking one that could allow others to treat the illness on his behalf. Acting alone was too inefficient. Fortunately, as a cultivation method aiming for immortality, his system covered a wide range of magic techniques. He quickly found a suitable approach—talismans.

There were two types of talismans: one that sealed the magic technique, and another that invited the gods to descend. The former could be drawn during the Qi Refining Stage, while the latter was typically used by cultivators of the Incense Taoist Sect and could only be drawn at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

After ordering Wang Hu and Sun Er to go to town to buy yellow paper, cinnabar, and writing brushes, Li Changmeng began crafting his own talismans. Standing before the table, he found that the yellow paper had already been cut to the appropriate size. Dipping his brush in cinnabar, he smoothly completed the drawing in one fluid motion.

Drawing talismans at the Qi Refining Stage was not difficult, as the magic techniques were relatively simple and did not require complex structures. The only drawback was that when drawn on ordinary yellow paper, the spiritual energy would gradually dissipate and could not be preserved for long.

"It's done!"

After finishing the last stroke, Li Changmeng picked up the talisman and felt a faint fluctuation of spiritual power emanating from it.

The Five Spirits Healing Talisman!

At the same time, drawing this talisman consumed twenty wisps of his spiritual power—several times more than directly releasing the magic technique. With his current reserve of one hundred wisps, he could only draw five talismans in total, and it took about three hours to recover his spiritual power. Considering the strain on his body, ten talismans a day was the optimal output.

Successfully drawing it on the first try suggested that the Five Spirits Healing Technique was not overly difficult. As an introductory magic technique in the Wonderful Method of Nurturing the Spirit and Changing the Fetus, a normally intelligent cultivator could draw it within three attempts.

"Then, what comes next is—the magical power, the Spirit-Connecting Jade Hands!"

Li Changmeng suddenly removed his clothes. The four Spirit-Connecting Jade Hands on his back waved as they arranged four pieces of talisman paper, then grasped four writing brushes. Soon, the four tentacles simultaneously completed the drawing of four talismans.

Li Changmeng stacked and put away the five Five Spirits Healing Talismans before heading to the back room of the temple to transfer the spiritual power and cultivation base from the spiritual embryo to his main body. His spiritual power recovered by twenty wisps, and his cultivation base improved slightly.

"Hoo~"Letting out a sigh, Li Changmeng began consolidating the little cultivation base he had just obtained.

After strengthening his cultivation base, he called Wang Hu and Sun Er in.

"Lord Spiritual Boy!" they knelt, hearts surging with anticipation as Li Changmeng announced, "I will have a task for you in a few days. If you perform well, you will gain great merit and be rewarded by the Taoist Lord!"

Great merit and a reward from the Taoist Lord! For Wang Hu and Sun Er, who had already witnessed the might of the Taoist Lord, this prospect filled them with eager anticipation.

"I wonder what you want us to do, Lord Spiritual Boy?" they asked eagerly.

"The Taoist Lord has issued a divine decree. Soon, an epidemic disease will descend from the heavens. We must resolve this calamity and spread the name of the Taoist Lord so that those who have lost their way can feel His radiance!" Li Changmeng declared, raising his hands with a face full of fanatic determination.