Chapter 108.2: No One Below the Thousand Cauldrons Stage Can Restrain Dao Shi'er! (II)

Lu Changsheng returned to the Heavenly Maiden Sect. He knew that gathering the materials for the Divine Strength Grand Pill would still require the sect's assistance.

Not long after his arrival, Yun Haitang came to see him.

"Brother Dao, is it true? I heard you overpowered everyone and took the Alum Core Ore," Yun Haitang asked.

She had been keeping a close watch on every piece of news related to Dao Shi'er.

"That's right," Lu Changsheng replied. "I've already handed the Alum Core Ore to Immortal Master Shangyuan. He will refine the Divine Strength Grand Pill for me. However, I still need the help of the Heavenly Maiden Sect to gather the required materials for the pill."

Lu Changsheng was direct with Yun Haitang. As Yun Haitang's Dao Guardian, their interests were already bound together. Whatever would benefit the Heavenly Maiden Sect, it would also benefit him. Since the sect could be put to use, there was no reason not to make full use of it.

Yun Haitang agreed without hesitation. "That is not a problem. The Heavenly Maiden Sect will spare no effort to gather the materials you require, Brother Dao."

Lu Changsheng handed her the list of materials.

With the matter settled, he returned to his room to rest. Days passed one after another. Gathering the materials was a slow process. None of the items required for the Divine Strength Grand Pill were easy to obtain.

During this period of time, Lu Changsheng briefly returned to the Four Seas Gang. He made a few arrangements there, making sure his name would not be quietly removed from the Medical Hall due to his long absence.

For the most part, however, he remained at the Heavenly Maiden Sect, keeping a close watch on the progress of the material collection.

One day, Yun Haitang came to see Lu Changsheng.

"Brother Dao, I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?" Lu Changsheng asked.

Yun Haitang gnashed her teeth. "I have just recently become the Heavenly Maiden, and my position within the sect is not yet completely secure.

"One of our former disciples has encountered trouble. According to the sect's rules, the Heavenly Maiden Sect must intervene, but this matter is special.

"If we were to send ordinary disciples, they wouldn't be able to resolve it, so I plan to go personally. It would also solidify my position within the sect. However, I will need Brother Dao to accompany me."

Lu Changsheng understood her meaning at once. Yun Haitang was asking him to lend her his strength. He was her Dao Guardian after all.

More importantly, the Heavenly Maiden Sect was mobilizing manpower and resources to gather materials for the Divine Strength Grand Pill on his behalf, which had inevitably placed pressure on the sect.

The pressure would fall on Yun Haitang herself. Since the sect had found itself in trouble while they were busy helping him, resolving it quickly would help relieve that strain.

Lu Changsheng could have refused, but in the jianghu, nothing was free. If one wanted something, one had to give something in return. He was relying on the Heavenly Maiden Sect's resources to gather rare materials. In return, it was only right that he helped the sect deal with its problems.

"Alright," Lu Changsheng said. "When do we leave?"

"As soon as possible," Yun Haitang replied.

Yun Haitang moved quickly, and by the next day, all preparations were complete. She led several disciples of the Heavenly Maiden Sect down the mountain, with Lu Changsheng accompanying them. Their destination was Taoyuan Prefecture.

All of them were martial artists, so their pace was swift. By traveling day and night without pause, the group reached the Tao residence in Taoyuan Prefecture after just several days.

At the residence, white lanterns hung outside the gates, signaling that they were holding a funeral.

Inside the mourning hall, the Tao Clan members were dressed in coarse mourning clothes, and their faces were heavy with grief. Mixed among them were burly martial practitioners standing about with indifferent expressions, showing no trace of respect for the occasion. These were desperados.

They feared neither heaven nor earth and cared only for silver.

They knew very well that trouble had struck the Tao residence, yet they were still willing to be hired for the high price of no less than ten times the usual payment. Even so, the Tao Clan still recruited a handful of experts.

"Darling, I've already sent word to the Heavenly Maiden Sect. They will send people to help soon," a young woman said softly to Tao Shen.

Tao Shen's eyes were bloodshot. It was clear he had gone without proper rest for days. Truth be told, he didn't have much hope. Even if the Heavenly Maiden Sect responded, how many people would they possibly send?

This was Taoyuan Prefecture, not Zhanhai Prefecture. The sect's influence did not reach this far. To make matters even worse, the trouble the Tao Clan faced this time was no ordinary matter.

"Young Master, Madam," a servant called out urgently as he hurried in. "People claiming to be from the Heavenly Maiden Sect have arrived outside."

"The Heavenly Maiden Sect?" Tao Shen shot to his feet. "How many came?"

"Not many. Seven or eight people at most."

"Only seven or eight..." Tao Shen muttered. Disappointment flickered across his face. Just as he had expected. What difference could seven or eight people make?

Still, the Heavenly Maiden Sect had traveled all this way. Compared to the other forces on friendly terms with the Tao family, this already showed sincerity. No matter what, he could not afford to be discourteous.

"I'll go and welcome them personally," Tao Shen said after some thought.

"There's no need," a cool and composed voice of a woman replied from outside the mourning hall. "We're already here."

Everyone lifted their heads at once. The Tao Clan members and the martial artists present all turned toward the entrance, curiosity written plainly on their faces.

Everyone present had heard of the Heavenly Maiden Sect. The sect was famous for accepting only women, and it was often said that every disciple was a rare beauty.

In the jianghu, there were countless rumors about the Heavenly Maiden Sect, and many of them were embellished and tinged with fantasy. Yet despite all the talk, very few people had ever truly seen its disciples in person.

When the voice faded away, several women stepped into the mourning hall. Each was strikingly beautiful, their bearing refined and otherworldly. A soft stir rippled through the crowd at the sight of them.