Chapter 360 - 138: The Sacred Way, Part 3

Chapter 360: Chapter 138: The Sacred Way, Part 3

"The final effect—agelessness. I’ve heard of such things in this world. There are some precious Treasures that can preserve one’s appearance for a limited time, and also some evil Secret Techniques, but the cost is enormous, and the side effects aren’t minor."

"This part is optional. It’ll be up to Mother. Third Sister, however, should be very fond of it."

Fang Rui shook his head. "The only thing is, it isn’t one of the Longevity Divine Techniques! It only works within the natural limits of one’s lifespan..."

This so-called lifespan limit wasn’t the universal 150 years he had imagined. It fluctuated, different for every person.

On one hand, it was determined by Innate factors, seemingly related to the mysteries of the Soul. On the other, it was affected by Acquired influences. For instance, poor nutrition in childhood, overexertion and depletion in one’s youth, a failure to care for one’s body... all these things could shorten a person’s maximum lifespan.

For an ordinary person, that meant about eighty or ninety, perhaps a hundred years at most. Even so, in this day and age, that was definitely considered a long life.

"That’s fine. I can let Mother, Third Sister, Nannan, and Ling’Er live this life in peace and contentment!"

Fang Rui sighed.

In this world, after a person died, their Soul would dissipate. Only a sliver of their True Spirit would be reincarnated, perhaps as a flower, a blade of grass, a tree, or even an insect, fish, bird, or beast...

He didn’t believe he could ever find the reincarnated True Spirits of Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and the others. And even if he could, he didn’t believe they would still be the same people.

"I’ll live with no regrets, be there for them, and see them happily through this lifetime. The rest... I’ll leave to time."

"The path of a Saint is to move with the world, to experience emotion without being encumbered by it."

...

After a surge of cyan light...

Fang Rui walked out of Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family’s room.

"How is she?" Third Lady looked over anxiously.

"She’s fine."

Fang Rui nodded with a smile.

Of course, he wouldn’t reveal the Divine Technique, Withered Wood Evergreen. He only said it was a Secret Technique that infused Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family with ’Life Essence Power’. As for restoring her youthful appearance, Mrs. Xue had refused.

Fang Ling and Nannan had taken Fang Li out. They didn’t need the treatment for now, and neither did Fang Rui himself. That only left Third Lady.

"Third Sister, come with me. I have something to tell you."

"Perfect. Brother Rui, I have something to tell you, too."

"Alright, let’s go to my room. What did you want to talk about, Third Sister?"

"It’s about Nannan. Brother Rui, I’m getting old..."

"Who said Third Sister is old?"

Fang Rui interrupted Third Lady, pulling her into a gentle embrace as a dense light, like that of an ancient, evergreen tree, emanated from him. "Third Sister, look in the mirror."

"Ah!"

Third Lady felt waves of warmth entering her body, making her feel as if she were overflowing with vitality. She instinctively looked toward the mirror.

In the mirror, the wrinkles around her eyes and brows rapidly faded away. Her few strands of white hair turned to a youthful black. Her face grew younger, reversing in age... forty, thirty, twenty-five...

"Brother Rui, this... this is..." Third Lady cried out in astonishment.

"It’s just an infusion of ’Life Essence Power.’ It won’t replenish on its own, and it only changes your appearance—your lifespan is unaffected. Still, to avoid trouble, Third Sister, you must keep this a secret. It would be best if I put a disguise on you before you go out..."

It wasn’t that Secret Techniques for maintaining a youthful appearance didn’t exist in this world. With Fang Rui’s current status and network, he could certainly protect a person or two. Still, the less trouble, the better.

"Yes, thank you, Brother Rui. I understand."

"Third Sister, why are you thanking me?"

Fang Rui glanced at his panel, noting the loss of over a thousand Tribulation Points. The corner of his mouth twitched, but when he looked up and studied Third Lady, who now looked just as she had the year they first met, his heart skipped a beat. He knew it was worth it.

What made it feel even more worthwhile was the joyful, dimpled smile on Third Lady’s beautiful face.

"Third Sister?"

"Hm?"

"Let’s..."

Fang Rui whispered something in her ear, then swept Third Lady into his arms and strode toward the bed with its gently swaying gauze canopy.

...