Chapter 1451: Run Quickly! It’s the Beast Tide

“Mm, these are the three herbs. Speaking of which, I have been refining pills for so long, this is the first time I have seen these three spirit herbs. If my master hasn’t marked the growth habits of these herbs, it would be really difficult for me to find them in this vast Thousand Medicines Mountain.”

She started smiling when she spoke of this. “But I’m glad that I’ve got the first one.”

“Does Martial Uncle know the properties of this longevity flower and seven-leaf variation grass?” Feng Jiu asked.

“I once heard that Master Third Sun suffered fatal internal injuries in the past. In recent years, his internal injuries have worsened and the Longevity Pill wasn’t much effective. The Stone Iron Azalea is necessary for refining Longevity Pill. I guess the other two spirit herbs should also be the medicine for refining the Longevity Pill. His intent should be to use these to refine pills that can cure his internal injury and prolong his life.”

Her voice slightly paused with a little hesitation. “It’s just that, after all, I’m far inferior to him in the Way of the Alchemy. Even if I know these three herbs, I don’t know what kind of Longevity Pill he is going to refine.”

“Martial Uncle Duan asked Martial Uncle not to collect these herbs. Otherwise, you would lose your life. Didn’t you think that besides these, the peak master may want your life?”

Feng Jiu pointed out the most critical point directly. But, even she had no idea why it was her mother. Was there anything in her mother’s body that Master Third Sun sought?

She always had a feeling that something was wrong with Master Third Sun who accepted her mother as the core disciple and brought her into the sect. However, there was no grand ceremony for worshipping him as her master and she was not allowed to go down the mountain.

It was as if, he was afraid that she would escape.

Shangguan Wanrong’s eyes flashed slightly. She said with a smile, “You don’t have to worry. I’ll pay attention to this. We can’t find the answer to these things here. You have to go back to the peak to know.”

“Mm.”

Feng Jiu answered. Together with her mother, they went to look for the remaining two spirit herbs. She pondered inwardly, what kind of medicine would be formed when these three herbs were combined and refined?

A few days later, in the forest, Chen Dao and others had refined a batch of medicinal pills and went out again to look for spirit herbs.

“In fact, we should go to Thousand Medicines Mountain where all the precious spirit herbs are. It’s a pity that…” An alchemist spoke out with yearning and fear in his eyes.

There were many spirit herbs in that place, but there were also many dangers. As far as the alchemists who only cultivated their spirit energy but didn’t cultivate their combat strength, their Golden Core strength was not better than that of a Foundation Building cultivator’s combat strength.

Entering this place with that kind of strength, they couldn’t tell precisely when they would lose their lives here. But, at the thought of all kinds of spirit herbs in the Thousand Medicines Mountain, their hearts itched unbearably.

“Think about it well, guys. You have to do everything according to your ability. Don’t compare with others. We don’t have that strength.” Chen Dao glanced at them, sitting under the tree and drinking water to moisten his throat. Just as he was about to relax and take a nap for a moment, he felt that the ground was shaking slightly as if something was running towards this side.

“What noise is that?”

Some people asked with trepidation. He quickly laid down on the ground to listen to the movement. Once he took a listen, it was like the sound of thousands of horses galloping. His face changed. “It sounds like..a beast, a beast tide!”

“What! A beast tide?”

As soon as the crowd heard this, they stood up with their face ashen. Even Chen Dao and Luo Heng’s faces were full of shock and astonishment. Looking at the crowd still stunned in place, Chen Dao immediately shouted, “Run! Don’t just stand there!”

“Run quickly! Run to the outer forest!” He yelled. As soon as he shouted, he ran out in the direction of the outer edge…

Chapter 1452: Repaying kindness with ingratitude

The crowd reacted and quickly followed Chen Dao to escape. However, right behind them, there were chaotic sounds like ten thousand stampeding horses. There were loud bangs, the sounds of trees snapping and falling over as well as the mixed screams and roars of those ferocious beasts and spirit beasts reverberating in the forest one after another.“Ah…”

An alchemist was too slow to flee and butted by a ferocious beast coming close behind him. The person flew into midair screaming. When he fell down, the man was stomped under the beasts’ hooves.

“Hiss!”

Looking back at this scene, Chen Dao and others at the front were dazed and drew their breaths sharply. However, they didn’t dare to slow down even a bit. “Run quickly! Hurry up! Escape on your flying sword!”

Seeing a great number of beasts rushed behind them, they jumped onto their flying swords and prepared to flee on the swords . However, due to the tangle of trees in the forest and the altitude restriction, they could only fly at limited height. In such a situation, dodging the trees while fleeing quickly, had taken a toll on those alchemists’ emotional state.

“Arghhhhh!”

A cry of alarm was heard. An alchemist on a flying sword crashed into a big tree and the man fell to the ground, trying frantically to escape while crying out. “Help me! Help me!”

The other people were too busy running away and couldn’t give him a helping hand. They just looked downwards in horror and abandoned him.

Chen Dao clenched his teeth when he saw it and turned around, sweeping towards that man.

“Senior Brother Chen, you’ll die!” Luo Heng shouted loudly. He felt incomprehensible seeing Chen Dao turned back to save that person.

“You leave first!” Chen Dao didn’t look back. He turned his flying sword back, reached out a hand to pull the alchemist who had fallen to the ground and was too frightened to stand up. “Get up!”

The alchemist was so frightened that his face turned pale. His body was shaking. Due to an extreme fear, he tried to stand upright on both feet but he could not stand. Even, after Chen Dao pulled him up to stand on the flying sword, the man fell down again.

“Stand up quickly! Hurry up!” Chen Dao shouted, pulling the man up one more time.

Seeing this scene, Luo Heng struggled inwardly and gritted his teeth. “If I die, I’ll die!” He also turned back, took out the sword, injected his spirit energy breath into it, and attacked the ferocious beasts, trying to buy more time for Chen Dao to save the man.

Shortly after that, Chen Dao finally took that alchemist on his flying sword and called out to Lou Heng immediately. “Leave quickly!”

So, the two caught up quickly with the people in front on flying swords. Behind Chen Dao stood the alchemist he had rescued earlier. However, the beast tide was not just limited to ferocious beasts running on the ground. There were also some ferocious beasts and spirit beasts appearing mid-air, as if something was chasing them.

“Be careful! It’s the scarlet-beaked blood eagle!”

Chen Dao looked at a group of scarlet-beaked blood eagles in front of him, trying to slow down and avoid them. Unexpectedly, a single scarlet-beaked blood eagle came up from behind and attacked them.

Luo Heng cried out and dodged the eagle quickly. While Chen Dao was about to avoid the bird, suddenly he sensed someone holding his robe behind him and pushing him toward the scarlet-beaked blood eagle.

“Ah! Don’t come to me! I don’t want to die yet!”

The alchemist rescued by Chen Dao did not fight or face the crisis with Chen Dao at the critical moment, but pushed him out…

Chapter 1453: Chen Dao’s grave injury

“Ah!”

Chen Dao cried out in alarm. Due to the force from behind, he could not stop his body from thrusting forward. Right away, the scarlet-beaked blood eagle raised its sharp beak to peck at Chen Dao’s lumbar spine.

His face turned pale in an instant. When the piercing pain hit him, all he could hear was the sharp, clear sound of his bones breaking. That crisp and distinct sound reverberated in his mind. Then, he was trampled by the scarlet-beaked blood eagle and fell down from mid-air.

Before he fell into a coma, he seemed to hear Luo Heng’s shout of shock and anger.

“Senior Brother Chen…”

Luo Heng exclaimed angrily and looked at the man who was running away with Chen Dao’s flying sword. He cursed him angrily, “Bastard!”

As soon as he shouted, he saw the scarlet-beaked blood eagle chasing the man. Not long after, the alchemist let out a scream. His head was pecked by the eagle. In an instant, blood splashed out everywhere and permeated the air…

“You deserve a painful death!”

He cursed bitterly and turned his head to look for Chen Dao. However, he saw Chen Dao had fallen into a small ditch in the forest. Even though Chen Dao had avoided the miserable fate of being trampled by a great number of beasts, Luo Heng’s heart sunk when he saw Chen Dao lay motionless in the ditch, covered with blood.

He seemed to hear a snapping sound when Chen Dao was pecked by the scarlet-beaked blood eagle. In the end, where did he get injured?

He did not dare to go down, because all he saw were beasts. If he went down, he would be trampled down.

Fortunately, the beasts rushed past and did not make a stop. After the beasts left, he took a look around him and determined that there was no danger before he went down.

“Senior Brother Chen? Senior Brother Chen?”

Among so many people, Chen Dao was the most righteous one. Even though he was also afraid of death, he couldn’t let such a person be abandoned here.

Chen Dao obviously saved a person, but that man turned around and bit the hand that fed him, pushing Chen Dao to die. Human nature was selfish, but when it was personally seen and experienced, you know that kind of selfishness can chill the heart.

He wanted to lift Chen Dao who fell into the trench, but it’s width only fit one person with half a meter deep. It was very difficult to help him up. Moreover, he was afraid that he did it carelessly and made the wound more serious. He was at a complete loss for a time.

“Senior Brother Chen? Senior Brother Chen?”

He called out to Chen Dao. He had no other way but to fly down onto the trench. He crouched down, picked up the robe and pulled him from underneath.

This method was like hoisting him up. Even if his bones were dislocated, they should not move too much.

Once on the flying sword, he quickly examined Chen Dao, especially at the lower backbone where he heard the snapping sound. When his hands touched the bones of his lower backbone, his heart was chilled as if sinking into the bottom of the valley.

People who understood alchemy had some medical skills. Luo Heng also found out that besides the internal injury Chen Dao suffered when he was trampled and thrown down by the scarlet-beaked blood eagle’s foot, the most serious one was the lumbar spine.

Everyone knew how important the lumbar spine was. It was the force that supported a person to stand upright. Now, this support point was actually…unexpectedly…

Luo Heng looked at the unconscious Chen Dao, shook his head and sighed, and took out a medicinal pill for him to take.

Chapter 1454: Who is it?

“Senior Brother Chen, I can only stabilize the internal injury in your body first. As for the lower backbone, I can only ask someone to help you heal after returning to the sect.” Luo Heng sighed. “Luckily, it’s not long to get out of here. Otherwise, your injuries…Ah, it’s really worrying!”

Meanwhile, on the Thousand Medicines Mountain, Shangguan Wanrong who had already collected all the three spirit herbs and Feng Jiu were now going down the mountain.

When they were on the mountain, they heard a rumbling sound from below. For some reason, the whole forest seemed to shake and caused a surge of beast tide. Ferocious beasts and spirit beasts from the deepest part of the forest rushed toward the outer part while some others came towards the mountain. They both were very puzzled to see this strange phenomenon.

It was perfectly alright. How could the beast tide happen? Those ferocious beasts seemed to be running away from something. And that roar, what was the matter?

“Wasn’t that sound just now like the pill furnace’s explosion?” Shangguan Wanrong asked. She suddenly came to and said with a chuckle, “Yes, you can’t refine medicinal pills. You won’t know how a furnace breaking sounds.”

Hearing this, Feng Jiu smiled with her eyes narrowed. “I can refine pills! It’s just that I don’t refine pills at the sect. The sound of furnace breaking is familiar to me because I’ve broken a lot of them too. It sounded like someone down there was refining medicinal pills.”

“But, who would refine pills at the foot of Thousand Medicines Mountain? Senior Brothers certainly won’t. Can they be from other peaks? ” She murmured with a trace of doubt on her face.

When they went down, after a distance, maybe medicinal scent in the air was diffused by the breeze. Feng Jiu, walking next to Shangguan Wanrong, halted her steps and looked down.

This medicine…

“What happened?” Shangguan Wanrong asked when she saw Feng Jiu stopped.

“The medicinal scent in the air is poisonous.” Feng Jiu spoke slowly. With narrowed eyes, she gazed downward. “As expected, there are people refining medicinal pills below. I’m afraid it is poison. As it can make so many ferocious beasts rush out, the poison is very unusual and extremely domineering.”

“Poisonous?”

Shangguan Wanrong was stunned and her expression changed. “You know it’s toxic just by smelling it in the air?” She sniffed.” The scent in the air was so faint that I can’t tell what kind of poison it is.”

While saying this, she didn’t feel at ease. She took out some medicinal pills and poured one for Feng Jiu. “This is my antidote pill. Take one. Even if you don’t get poisoned, there is nothing wrong.”

“Of course, it’s because I am not only an alchemist but also a physician!” Feng Jiu chuckled. She spoke in a good mood. “You can keep this! I’m already immune to poison. I don’t need a Detoxification Pill. Common poisons won’t affect me.”

When Shangguan Wanrong heard this, she looked at Feng Jiu with surprise. Common poisons wouldn’t affect her? Really? Did she meet danger at that place, too? Did someone often give her so that she became immune to poisons now?

“Let’s go quickly! Go down and have a look. Maybe that man hasn’t run far.”

She took the lead to walk at the front. She was baffled. Who on earth refined the poison pills below? Moreover, the poison pill that could make the ferocious beasts impatient to move must be extraordinary. This man’s alchemy level was absolutely not simple.

Chapter 1455: Something seems different

When they came down to search, there was a place in the thick forest at the foot of a mountain where the traces of the boundary had been removed. There, the smell had not completely dissipated, stronger than in any other part of the forest.

“It’s here.”

Feng Jiu walked in and saw that there were traces of the furnace explosion on the ground. The furnace fragments had been cleaned up. Except for the traces on the ground, they couldn’t find the fragments. Even the man refining the pill was not sighted.

She strolled inside, taking a slight look. When she stepped on a piece of iron inserted in the soil, she stopped and squatted down to have a look. A fragment of a furnace was half-buried in the sand. She took it out and found some residues on it.

“What this man wants to refine should be pills of the fifth rank or above. But the furnace couldn’t withstand it and exploded. Take a look.” She handed the furnace fragment over the stove to her mother: “There are still residues on it. You can tell from the residue that it is a pill of the fifth rank or above, but he failed.”

Shangguan Wanrong took the fragment and looked at it carefully. When her eyes touched the vein pattern on the fragment, she withdrew her gaze and fear flashed in her eyes.

Seeing the look in her eyes, Feng Jiu’s eyes flashed. “Martial Uncle, do you recognize the fragments of the furnace?”

“No, I don’t recognize it.” Shangguan Wanrong shook her head. But, she gripped that piece of furnace fragment in his hand tightly with a thoughtful look.

Seeing this, Feng Jiu didn’t inquire again. After taking a look at this area for a while, she said, “This person should have left. Let’s go too.” She could guess that her mother knew the fragments of the furnace. She should know who was refining pills here. Since her mother didn’t say so, she didn’t ask.

“Mm, let’s go outside.” She put away the fragment. After controlling her expression, she left with Feng Jiu.

Not long after they left, a figure came out of a cave halfway up the mountain. He stood there watching them leave. After a long time, he turned around and entered the cave.

When the two went out toward the outskirts, they met Duan Mubai who came toward the interior.

“Junior Sister, are you alright?” When Duan Mubai saw the two, he naturally ignored Feng Jiu and placed his concern on Shangguan Wanrong.

Feng Jiu coughed lightly. Without waiting for her mother to speak, she said with a smile, “Martial Uncle Duan, you really care about us. But, don’t worry. Martial Uncle Shangguan and I are alright!”

Her father was not here. She would drive the lascivious men around her mother away!

Duan Mubai glanced at her and yelled gloomily. “Your elder is speaking, why did you interrupt? Stay on the side.” Inwardly, he thought this young errand boy was not very tactful.

His displeased gaze moved away from Feng Jiu and fell on Shangguan Wanrong. “I don’t know why, but there was a beast tide in this mystic realm. Fortunately, it has calmed down. Now that I see that you are alright, Junior Sister, I feel relieved.”

“I made you worry, Senior Brother.” Shangguan Wanrong said and glanced at Feng Jiu with a faint smile.

Duan Mubai was surprised at this scene. He felt something seemed different between his Junior Sister and the errand boy. It was as if they had become close to each other and her gaze on Feng Jiu, the errand boy, contained some…

Chapter 1456: If not at the peak, where will he be?

‘Senior Brother, are you done with all your business?” Shangguan Wanrong asked Duan Mubai.

“Mmm hmm, all done. Because of the beast tide, many people rushed to gather at the outer area. Since you were not there, I came to have a look.” He took another glance at Feng Jiu and spoke again, “Since you’re all right, then follow me to the periphery together!”

“Alright, we’re on our way to the periphery, too.” Shangguan Wanrong made a gesture at Feng Jiu for the two to go together.

Duan Mubai, following behind them, couldn’t help feeling puzzled.

Why did Junior Sister treat this errand boy so differently? They interacted warmly and there was a change in manner. What seemed to be going on between them?

At this thought, he had a strange expression on his face. He suppressed the doubt in his heart and departed with them.

Two days later, the transmission time had arrived. Before they reached the periphery, a vortex appeared in mid-air and sucked everyone in.

Alchemists throughout all the mystic realm’s areas who were still alive were transported back, while those who perished were buried inside the mystic realm for eternity…

When Feng Jiu, Shangguan Wanrong and Duan Mubai were sent out, they reappeared at the foot of Third Sun Peak.

“I’m going to see Master. Go back first.” Shangguan Wanrong told Feng Jiu and Duan Mubai.

Feng Jiu listened in silence. She was not qualified to go to the ninth peak, so she kept quiet and just looked at her mother.

Duan Mubai listened for a moment. “I also need to see Master. Let’s go together!”

Shangguan Wanrong nodded. “Alright.” With that, she looked at Feng Jiu. “Go back and have a rest first!”

“Yes.” Feng Jiu replied. Watching the two turned around and left, her eyes flashed.

While walking up the mountain, Duan Mubai couldn’t help but ask. “Junior Sister, you seem to like this Feng Jiu? I see you treat him more kindly than others.”

Shangguan Wanrong smiled. Her features overflowed with a look of joy and gentleness. “Yes, this child is well-behaved.”

He was surprised to see her gentle smile. After a pause, he changed the subject and asked, “By the way, after giving these three herbs to Master, you’d better not go to see Master alone these days.”

Shangguan Wanrong’s smile faded. Looking sideways at Duan Mubai, she stopped walking and asked, “Senior Brother, do you know something? Are you sure you’re not going to tell me?”

Duan Mubai sighed. “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but I don’t know where to start and how to say it.” He shook his head. “I just want you to be more careful and pay more attention when you come back to the peak.”

“Mm. I see.” She answered and continued walking.

Duan Mubai glanced at her and stayed at her side. “From now on, if you want to see Master in the future, please call me.”

Shangguan Wanrong smiled without giving him any reply and looked at the entrance of the ninth peak. With her eyes flashed, she asked, “Senior Brother, tell me, what is Master working on right now? Will he be inside the peak?”

“Master often refine pills in seclusion. He rarely goes out. If he’s not in the peak, where will he be?” He looked at her with a slight surprise and felt that her question was somewhat strange.

“Right, if not at the peak, where will he go?” She whispered and walked inside. When she entered, Duan Mubai, who followed behind her, was blocked by the two Nascent Soul cultivators guarding the peak.

Chapter 1457: Within three months

“It’s the peak master’s order. Except for Shangguan Wanrong, other people can’t enter without being summoned.” The two Nascent Soul cultivators stopped Duan Mubai who wished to enter the place with her.

Hearing this, Shangguan Wanrong stopped and looked back.

Duan Mubai frowned. “What’s the reason? Junior Sister can go in, why can’t I? Go and announce my arrival. I have a business to see Master. ”

“We are only responsible for carrying out the peak master’s orders. You can wait here, but you can’t go in.” The two Nascent Soul cultivators replied with a wooden expression, still refusing him to pass.

Seeing this, Shangguan Wanrong smiled. “Senior Brother, it doesn’t matter. I’ll come out after seeing Master. You can go back first.” With that, she nodded her head toward him and then stepped inside.

The moment she turned around, the smile on her face gradually faded away and her face seemed thoughtful.

Duan Mubai pulled a long face. Facing the two powerful Nascent Soul guards, he had no way to force his way in. He could only wait outside.

On the other side of the peak, after reaching the bamboo house, Shangguan Wanrong stopped outside. While still hesitating, she heard her Master’s voice coming from inside.

“Now that you’re here, why don’t you come in?”

Master Third Sun’s aged and muffled voice was heard from inside the bamboo house and stopped Shangguan Wanrong’s wandering thought. She adjusted her mind and then pushed the door and walked in.

“Master.”

She looked at the sitting figure and saluted respectfully. Then, she took out the three spirit herbs from the space. “Disciple has completed what Master assigned. There are three spirit herbs here. Please have a look.”

Master Third Sun turned to look at her with an imposing expression on his withered face. With a hand stroking his beard, he examined the three spirit herbs on the table.

“Mm. The roots are intact and well-preserved. Very good.”

He nodded with satisfaction. After seeing the three spirit herbs on the table, his tense expression gradually relaxed. His eyes were fixed on Shangguan Wanrong and asked, “Have you made a breakthrough in your strength? You shouldn’t stay in the Golden Core period for so long. Did you not take the medicinal pills I gave you to help improve your strength? ”

“Disciple hasn’t had the time to take them before entering the mystic realm.” She lowered her gaze.

“Then, put aside all the things at hand and advance your strength first. I have an extremely important matter to entrust you once you become a Nascent Soul cultivator. He put away the spirit herbs and then took out a bottle of medicinal pills: “Take this. Take one pill every ten days, so that you can raise your strength to the Nascent Soul stage within three months.”

“Within three months? She was stunned. “Isn’t it too fast? If done this way, I’m afraid the foundation will be unstable and it will be difficult for me to advance in the future. ”

“No need. I have personally refined the medicinal pills for you. It will do no harm to your health. Don’t worry!” He waved his hand and explained, “In addition, you can’t tell your Senior Brothers about this, lest they say that I am partial to you. Remember my words, within three months, you must be promoted to a Nascent Soul cultivator.”

Shangguan Wanrong’s eyes flashed when she heard this command. “But, what if Disciple can’t advance in rank within three months and fail to become a Nascent Soul cultivator?”

Why must she be promoted to Nascent Soul cultivator? What ulterior motive was there? What on earth did he intend to do?

Chapter 1458: The heinous wasteland

“Not advancing within 3 months?”

Master Third Sun looked at her and suddenly smiled. “You’ve been here for some time. Have you ever heard of a place called the heinous wasteland?”

He paused and told her with a smile, “Perhaps you haven’t heard of it, but it doesn’t matter. I can tell you that this heinous wasteland, named precisely, is the place where the most vicious and fiendish people gather. They eat human flesh and drink human blood, and do all kinds of evil. There, only the strong can keep their lives. I think that is also the best place for people to gain experience. I believe that in such a vile habitat, people’s potential can be stimulated and it’s easy to enter the Nascent Soul stage. What do you think?”

Shangguan Wanrong couldn’t help but shiver. Even though her master showed a smiling expression, the smile didn’t reach his eyes. There was a weird and alarming look on the master’s face. That gaze and that smile gave her an extremely terrible sense of danger. She could not help but step back and keep some distance with him.

“I know. Don’t worry, Master! I will be promoted to Nascent Soul cultivator within three months and I will certainly live up to Master’s expectation.” She steadied her mind. “Master, if you have nothing else to tell me, I will go back first.”

“Go!” With a satisfied nod, he motioned for her to leave.

Shangguan Wanrong walked out of the room. Behind the door, she felt a slight shiver in her heart. A chill sprang up from the soles of her feet. Now she could be sure that her master wanted her dead!

However, she had no idea why. Why would he want her life? What was the use of her life to him? Why did he have to wait until she became a Nascent Soul cultivator?

Lost in thought, she left the ninth peak absent-mindedly. It was not until she heard Duan Mubai’s voice that she came to her senses.

“Junior Sister, are you all right?” Duan Mubai stepped forward. Noticing that she looked a little dazed, he couldn’t help worrying.

“It’s nothing. What could happen when I went to see Master?” She lifted her eyes to look at him, shook her head and said with a smile. “Senior Brother, I’m going back first.” Then she passed him and went to her cave-dwelling.

Watching her leave, Duan Mubai wanted to stop her and ask what their Master told her after entering. However, when he saw her go far away, he opened his mouth but failed to say a word.

Even if he had a suspicion that his Master had a harmful intention for her, nothing had happened at the moment. As a disciple, how could he ask such a question?

He shook his head and sighed softly, following her toward the lower peak.

On the other side, when Feng Jiu came back to her cave dwelling, she saw the grown-even-fatter Green Hair clucking and pouncing at her. She was surprised when she saw Green Hair. “There you are! I was wondering why I didn’t see you when I entered the mystic realm. Can’t you get in?”

She chuckled. Anyway, she hadn’t bathed. She sat down at the cave’s entrance, took Green Hair in her arms and touched it. She told the chicken doubtfully, “When are you going to lay this egg? Eggs don’t usually stay inside for such a long time, right?”

“Cluck cluck cluck!”

Green Hair raised its head and clucked while flapping its wings. Feng Jiu had no idea what it was clucking for. Feng Jiu looked around and thought, then touched a Speech Pill. Should she feed the pill to Green Hair?

However, she rejected this idea altogether. If Green Hair spoke the human language, she would be in trouble.

Chapter 1459: Unable to stand

While stroking Green Hair’s plump body and felt the egg under its belly, Feng Jiu was thinking quietly. Her mother should be safe when she went to meet Master Third Sun inside the Third Sun Peak. Master Third Sun couldn’t afford to get himself a bad reputation for harming his own disciples. Even if he wanted to kill her mother, he would do it secretly.

However, this kind of scenario made her anxious to let her mother stay around Master Third Sun. Her mother was just a Golden Core cultivator. If she could send her away from this place, for example to Leng Shuang, handling the rest of the things would be simpler and more straightforward. What’s more, only when her mother was safe and away from this place could she do things freely.

She sat in contemplation with Green Hair pressed in her bosom. The chicken couldn’t lift its head and could only lie in her bosom quietly.

After a good while, Feng Jiu stood up, released Green Hair, and entered her cave dwelling. She planned to rest until the evening to take a bath. It’s not convenient to rinse her body here since the cave dwelling didn’t have a room for bathing. She could only wait until late at night when no one was around.

However, around nightfall, when she was still resting in the cave, she heard Luo Heng’s voice.

“Feng Jiu? Feng Jiu?”

Outside, Luo Heng was shouting with worry, “Are you still alive?”

She jumped out of bed and went out sullenly after draping an outer robe. She scoffed at him, “What do you mean, still alive? Are you looking at a ghost right now?”

He was stunned for a moment and waved his hand. “No, no, I don’t mean that. I just want to come and see whether you are still alive.” Luo Heng answered. “Did you not encounter the beast tide at that time? You’re deep in the forest, how do you not have a single wound at all?”

Feng Jiu nodded. “I’ve also encountered it. I was at the mountain peak at that time and saw the beast tide’s rush from the top. By the way, how’s Senior Brother Chen? Is he alright?”

Luo Heng’s smile disappeared in an instant. “Senior Brother Chen, he, he…”

“What happened to him?” She caught his odd expression even though he concealed it with a lot of effort.

“What happened to him? Say it!” Feng Jiu urged him. She pondered with a heavy heart. Is Chen Dao dead? When encountering a beast tide head-on, people’s mortality rate usually isn’t low.

After Feng Jiu’s repeated questions, Luo Heng sighed and told her the circumstances at the time in detail.

“After I brought him back, I asked the people in the peak to give him medical treatment. However, they can only refine pills and are unable to his spine. A physician and an alchemist said that Senior Brother Chen Dao would be unable to stand all his life because he was injured in his lower back. Additionally, they said that he has already missed the time window for treatment.”

Feng Jiu frowned: “Where is he now? I’ll go and see him. ”

“I just sent him back to his cave dwelling, but he was so agitated. He can’t accept the fact that he will never stand up and started to smash all the things inside the cave. He didn’t listen to my consolation. I think you’d better not go there to avoid getting things hurled at you and get hurt.”

Luo Heng sighed again. “If I knew it earlier, I wouldn’t enter the mystic realm. The time we spent inside was very short and we left so soon. It’s not worth it.”

Chapter 1460: A jade card

Feng Jiu moved her gaze. Without speaking, she went towards Chen Dao’s cave dwelling.

Chen Dao helped her a lot in Third Sun Peak. If this resulted in Chen Dao unable to stand up, let alone Chen Dao himself found it unbearable, Feng Jiu would also not allow such a situation to happen.

“Hey, Feng Jiu, Feng Jiu, what are you going to do?” When Luo Heng saw her walking away, he followed her and advised, “There’s no need for you to go to Chen Dao’s home. He won’t see anyone. It’s useless for you to go.”

“How will I know that it’s useless if I don’t go see him?”

“What else can you do? You don’t know, after the accident, the Great Elder went to see Chen Dao. They are still considered relatives. After seeing Chen Dao, the Great Elder only said one sentence, which was the most devastating.”

Feng Jiu halted her steps and asked, “What did he say?”

Luo Heng also stopped. “After those physicians and alchemists reported to the Great Elder that Chen Dao’s lumbar spine was seriously injured and can’t stand up for the rest of his life, the Great Elder said that he will notify his clan’s men to pick Chen Dao up to return to the Chen Clan and retire there.”

Luo Heng sighed. “Tell me, if Chen Dao is really sent back to his clan, what kind of retirement he will get? Clearly, he’ll return home and wait for death. But, what can we do now? Even the Great Elder gave up on him. Moreover, as soon as the incident spread, some people who were on friendly terms with him before have also alienated him. After returning from the mystic realm, they didn’t even visit him.”

“I recalled that at the pinnacle of Chen Dao’s career, each and every one of those people came calling and begging him for advice on the Way of Alchemy and how to modify medicinal pills. Now, these people are avoiding him. I still have a little conscience.”

Feng Jiu was indifferent when she heard this. “There are many superfluous people who only add flowers to an already beautiful embroidery. However, those who send coals in the midst of winter are rare. It’s just human nature.” She continued to move forwards.

‘But there’s no use in your going! You are a little errand boy who has no skill in refining pills and no skill in the art of healing. If you go, it will only make him sadder.”

Along the way, Luo Heng kept walking beside Feng Jiu, chattering incessantly like a little sparrow. Feng Jiu couldn’t stand it. With a glance, she told him, “Are you done? Haven’t you said enough? It’s your business whether you’re going or not. It’s my own business to go. Why do you keep blocking me?”

Being yelled at by Feng Jiu, Luo Heng was startled. Watching Feng Jiu continue walking after a brief stop to shout at him, Luo Heng scratched his head in a daze. “This boy, he threw me off guard and scared me. Does he have any awareness that he’s just an errand boy? Why did he talk so loudly, wanting to scare me out of my wits?”

In front of Chen Dao’s cave dwelling, Feng Jiu stopped and looked at the cave protected by the boundary. She sighed softly, recalling the time when they were about to enter the mystic realm. That time, he gave her a jade card that allowed her to enter and leave his cave freely. Little did she think that this jade car came into use in this way.

Just as he was about to walk in, Luo Heng pulled her arm.

“Are you stupid? Don’t you see the boundary? We can’t get in until he opens it. After sending him back, I returned here several times but I could only call out from outside then entered together with the Great Elder.”

She looked back at Luo Heng and explained, “Senior Brother Chen once gave me a jade card to allow me to enter and exit his cave freely. So, even if his boundary was not opened, I can still go through.”

Chapter 1461: You Will Recover

Luo Heng was startled and saw Feng Jiu walk forwards past the boundary barrier. Sure enough, the boundary barrier had dissipated and he immediately followed her inside.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had this thing earlier! You made me come here in vain so many times.” He couldn’t help but complained. However, once he heard his voice travel through the deafening silence of the cave dwelling, he closed his mouth hurriedly.

Feng Jiu looked at the items that were scattered on the ground in a mess. In addition to some commonly used items, there were also some medicinal herbs amongst the items. When she walked past the alchemy room, she saw that the shelf that used to hold the elixir medicines had been smashed to pieces on the floor.

She stopped walking and asked in a low voice: “If he couldn’t get up, why is everything in here so messy? Even the elixir medicines are scattered on the ground.”

“You don’t know that he was injured in the Mystic Realm? When he came back he was conscious but after we sent him back here, he struggled and smashed everything within his reach. He must have continued to smash things after we left and even smashed up the elixir medicine shelf in the alchemy room.”

As he spoke, he tilted his head to look inside and said in a low voice: “Why is it so quiet? Has something happened to him?”

Upon hearing this, Feng Jiu walked inside quickly and when she came to his bedroom, she saw Chen Dao lying on the ground. His forehead was bleeding and he was unconscious on the ground.

When she saw this, Feng Jiu’s heart sank and she stepped forward quickly: “Quickly, help him into bed!”

Luo Heng seemed to be in shock and responded hurriedly. He lifted him up onto the bed with Feng Jiu’s help and shouted anxiously: “I’m going to get a doctor!”

Before Feng Jiu was able to say anything in response, he had already opened the boundary barrier of the cave dwelling and headed outside.

Upon seeing this, she could only take a look at Chen Dao’s injuries. When she checked his pulse, she realised that his internal injuries had not completely healed, and as Luo Heng had said, the most serious injury was his spinal injury.

She took an elixir pill out from her space and put it into his mouth, at the same time, her palm had gathered spiritual energy to help him digest the pill. She also tended to the wound on his forehead. After about the time it took to burn an incense, he finally woke up.

“Senior Brother Chen, it’s me, Feng Jiu. How do you feel now?” She asked softly as she saw his eyes go still. She then said: “Don’t worry, your spinal injury won’t give you any major problems. Once it’s been treated, it will be just like before.”

She was speaking the truth, however, to Chen Dao, it was just Feng Jiu trying to console him. Therefore, he remained expressionless and just murmured: “I am just a handicap, I have become a useless person. What is the point in living anymore?”

“Senior Brother Chen, how can you give up on yourself? It’s just two broken bones, what’s the big deal? Once the broken bones are mended you will recover. It’s no big deal.”

“You should leave! I know what my situation is.” He stared at the ceiling of the cave dwelling expressionlessly and murmured emotionlessly: “I never thought that I, Chen Dao would ever face such a day, death is better than such a life…..”

Upon seeing this, she continued to speak: “Senior Brother Chen, I may not have many talents, however, I do have a family-owned ointment for treating broken bones. Don’t worry, you will recover from your injuries within three months.”

Chapter 1462: I Will Realign

“Thank you for your kindness.” Chen Dao said indifferently, unable to find his previous sense of reckless self-confidence, feeling only silent despair.

It was only natural to feel this way after experiencing such a serious injury. If he had to lie in bed for the rest of his life as a handicapped person, then how would he be able to accept it? Perhaps he had never imagined that such a thing would ever happen to him, so it was completely unexpected. It had caught him off guard and he didn’t know how to deal with it.

“Senior Brother Chen, since I have entered the Sect, you have helped me numerous times. Now that you have encountered a problem, please let me help you!” She said softly: “Don’t refuse me so readily. Just try the treatment for a while. Really, just trust me.”

“The Sect’s doctors and alchemists have all said that it is impossible to heal, so how can you help me? Feng Jiu, don’t waste your time, it’s useless.”

“How do you know it will be useless before you’ve even tried it? There are many things in life that you have to try before you know, even if others tell you that it won’t work. Even if others extinguish the flame of your hope, you cannot let the flame in your heart go out.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Dao stared at her blankly: “Is there still hope for me? You don’t know this, but a fellow disciple from the same peak, I rescued someone once but he pushed me out to die, he was someone who used to call me Senior Brother…..”

“I know that human nature is selfish, but I never thought that someone whom I had once saved would not do as I once did but instead push me out to die in that moment of life and death. Hahahaha….. I deserve it! I deserve it! I saved someone who doesn’t deserve to be saved, I deserve it!”

As she watched his emotions change from yelling to crying to laughing, almost at the brink of insanity, Feng Jiu stepped forward and held him down: “Senior Brother Chen, you didn’t do anything wrong and it’s not your fault either. God won’t let you just lie here in bed unable to stand.”

“Get out! Get out! Get lost!”

He yelled, tears spilled from the corners of his eyes as he tried to push Feng Jiu away. However, in the next moment he went from screaming hysterically to sleeping calmly.

“Rest now! Leave the rest to me.”

Feng Jiu retracted the silver needle in her hand and looked down at the person who had fallen asleep. She was about to remove his clothes when she heard a voice drifting in from outside.

“They’re too snobbish! Each and every one of them are shameless! They don’t even care to think about what Senior Brother Chen used to be like. Now they look at his current state and are kicking him while he is down! So shameless!”

Feng Jiu turned around and looked at the person who had walked in and asked: “What’s the matter? Didn’t you say you were going to get a doctor? Why have you come back by yourself?”

“Hmph, those people are too shameless.” He stepped forward angrily and said: “I went to look for a doctor but none of them were willing to come, they all said that there was nothing that can be done and they refused to even come and take a look. They’re so snobbish!”

When she heard that, Feng Jiu smiled: ” It’s okay, it’s okay, it doesn’t matter that they’ve not come, as long as you’re here.”

“What do you mean?” Luo Heng asked: “I don’t have any medical knowledge, I can’t save Senior Brother Chen.”

“You don’t need to save him, you just need to help me take his clothes off and hold him up for me. I will realign the bones for him. I just need to realign the broken bones and then bandage him up with my secret ointment, he will be able to get out of bed and walk within three months.”

Upon hearing this, Luo Heng was in shock for a moment, then he scoffed: “Come on, if you really had the ability then you wouldn’t be an errand boy.”

Chapter 1463: Surgery

Feng Jiu chuckled: “Then are you helping? Or are you not helping? If you’re not helping then I will have to do it myself.”

When he heard this, Luo Heng frowned: “Are you serious?”

“Of course, do you think I’m kidding?” She looked at him and said: “Didn’t you say that the doctors and alchemists said that there is no hope for him and that he will lie in bed for the rest of his life? Since that’s the case, then if you truly wish him to get better, why don’t you trust in me this time?”

He looked at Feng Jiu’s serious expression and thought for a while, then stepped forward and took off Chen Dao’s shirt and asked: “Do you want me to remove his trousers as well?”

“No need, you just need to lower his trousers.” Feng Jiu removed her shoes and got onto the bed and pointed: “Flip his body over sideways and support him.”

“Oh.” Luo Heng did as he was told and turned a half-naked Chen Dao sideways and supported his body while he slept sideways. When he noticed that he hadn’t woken up, he asked: “What did you do to him?”

“Acupuncture, nothing to worry about, nothing will happen to him.”

Feng Jiu squatted down and held Chen Dao’s arm with one hand as she probed his back vertebrae with her other hand and finally rested on his lumbar spine. She could feel the misalignment there and it was precisely because of the misalignment that had caused Chen Dao’s paralysis.

“How is it?” Luo Heng couldn’t help but asked when he saw no movement for a while.

“I need to operate on him.” She said slowly: “In addition to the misalignment in his lumbar spine, there are also bone spurs inside. They must be removed.” Saying that, she jumped out of bed and put on her shoes then went outside.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“Wait for me. I am going to get a basin of clean water.” Feng Jiu said without looking back. After she walked out of the bedroom, she went into the shower room to get a basin of clean water and prepared all the things she needed to use before she returned to the bedroom.

“Lie him down so that his back is flat and facing upwards. Come and help me.” Feng Jiu instructed and took out some large and small knives, a tweezer, silver needles and medicine.

Luo Heng looked at the knives glinting in the light and couldn’t help but shuddered: “What, what are you going to do?”

“Didn’t I tell you earlier? His lumbar spine has been injured and as long as his bones are realigned and the bone spurs are removed by surgery, he will be able to recover.”

She replied without raising her head. After she had cleaned her hands, she instructed: “When I am operating, don’t make a fuss over everything. If I perspire, remember to wipe my sweat with a clean cloth. You mustn’t let my sweat drip into the open wound. In addition to that, when I ask you to stop the bleeding, you will use these tweezers to clamp the clean gauze to stop the bleeding. Don’t ask so many questions.”

“But, but, can you really do it? That’s a big knife and a small knife. Will he, will he….” He didn’t dare to say the word die, but he felt his heart trembling and stiffen.

“Don’t worry, this type of surgery is just a trivial thing to me, it’s not a big deal.” After speaking, she seemed to have thought of something and went outside then came back in again soon after.

“What were you doing?” Luo Heng asked.

“To be on the safe side, I have set up the boundary barriers again. Let’s get started!” At this moment, she removed her dusty cloak and wore only her clean undergarments to operate on Chen Dao.

Luo Heng who was stood by the side didn’t dare to disturb her and only focused on the tasks Feng Jiu had instructed him to do. At that moment, he hadn’t even realised that he, a dignified alchemist, was taking instructions from an errand boy.

Chapter 1464: Explanation

Immediately afterwards, when he watched Feng Jiu’s fluid movements, proficient and smooth, he was dumbfounded and his mind was blank at the shocking scene in front of him.

He never knew that when bones were misaligned, they could be treated this way. He also never knew that there would be someone who would be able to do something like this and that someone in the world would have such superb medical skills…

When he heard the cold, calm voice instruct him to wipe the sweat, he followed Feng Jiu’s instructions and wiped the sweat at regular intervals.

When the voice said to stop the bleeding, he picked up the tweezers and clamped the gauze to stop the bleeding…..

After some time, his whole body felt dizzy. When he saw Feng Jiu holding a needle with an embroidery thread suturing the wound on Chen Dao’s back, he opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

So human flesh could be sewed like clothes….

“All right, the operation is complete.” Feng Jiu exhaled lightly. After about four hours, the operation was finally completed and the situation wasn’t too bad either.

The speed of recovering would have been faster had she held the misaligned bones with something to hold it in place. However, that was too troublesome as she would have to operate on him again to remove it. Hence, she used another method.

He would heal naturally. Although the healing process would take longer, at least he wouldn’t have to endure another operation.

“It’s done? It’s done?” Luo Heng muttered. After he saw Feng Jiu nod her head, he fell over with a loud bang.

“Hey?” Feng Jiu was startled and looked dumbfounded at Luo Heng who had collapsed on the floor and passed out. What happened?

She stepped forward to check on him and found that he had fainted from shock and there was nothing wrong with him. Hence, she ignored him and used the time to make an ointment instead.

She had also prepared a bottle of liquid medicine and retrieved a blade of Specter Grass leaf from space to put into the bottle of liquid medicine. Once the liquid medicine was ready, she fed it to Chen Dao.

“Speaking of which, you are so lucky that I picked the Specter Grass herb when I entered the Secret Realm this time. It will help to speed up your recovery.” She chuckled. Although she had vitality she could use to heal Chen Dao’s wound quickly, that would arouse suspicion. Therefore, the stitches could only be removed after applying the ointment for a few days.

Luo Heng was awakened by the cold from lying on the floor all night. When he leapt up, he saw Feng Jiu at the table mixing medicines and asked: “What are you doing?”

“You’re awake?” She glanced at him and said: “Just in time, come over here, I have something to say to you.”

“Oh.” He responded and walked over instinctively. When he came to Feng Jiu’s side, his expression was strange as he wondered why he was so obedient.

“This is ointment. It can only be applied after I remove his stitches three days later. As it’s still not healed, we can only apply some anti-inflammatory liquid medicine. In addition, Chen Dao has to drink a bottle of this liquid medicine everyday over the next three days. You will be in charge of looking after him. I have some matters to attend to so I may not be able to look after him.”

As Feng Jiu spoke, she handed over the different types of medicines to him and said: “Also, in order to prevent him from getting too emotional, I have fed him some medicine so he will be in a coma over the next few days. Therefore, this medicine to replenish his body energy must also be given to him.”

Chapter 1465: Mother

“His injury is still not stable, so while he is lying on the bed, try not to move him too much. Also, don’t let anyone come to visit him these few days as you don’t want to hinder his treatment and misplace his bone alignment again.”

As Feng Jiu left her instructions, she didn’t hear any response from him. Hence, she raised her head to look at him and saw him staring at her blankly with a strange expression on his face. She asked: “What’s wrong?”

Luo Heng came out of his reverie and took a look at the medicines, then he asked: “Where did you get them? Don’t tell me you made them by yourself?”

Although they were not medicinal pills, they were liquid medicines and only an alchemist could make them. He was only an errand boy, how did he know how to make things that their alchemists didn’t know?

“Oh, well!”

Feng Jiu smiled and replied: “Didn’t I tell you earlier? This is a secret family recipe, this ointment has no other uses other than to treat broken hands, feet and bones. As for the other liquid medicines, they are gifts from other people. Even if I don’t know how to refine medicines, my cosmos sack is filled with all the elixir pills you have all given to me! There are quite a lot of them too.”

Upon hearing this, though Luo Heng was puzzled, he also knew that her explanation made sense. Although this chap was only an errand boy, however, because he was highly efficient and had a glib tongue, many alchemists had often given him lower-grade pills as rewards.

Therefore, it wasn’t at all surprising that Feng Jiu would possess liquid medicines that some alchemists were unable to make.

“All right, I will remember everything you have said.” He nodded and put away the medicines on the table then turned to Feng Jiu and said: “Leave Senior Brother Chen with me. I have noted down everything you have instructed me to do. Don’t worry!”

“All right.” Feng Jiu nodded and let a few more instructions before she left.

That day, she had wanted to use the excuse of delivering elixirs to the Eighth Peak to visit her mother. However, just as she walked out of the cave dwelling, she saw her mother walking not far away.

She was taken aback for a moment and then quickly stepped forward: “Martial Uncle, what’s the matter?” It was quite funny thinking about it as she was her mother and they knew of each others’ identities, but she still addressed her as a Martial Uncle.

“You live here?” Shangguan Wanrong glanced at the humble cave dwelling behind her and frowned slightly.

“Errand boys live here.” She smiled and her eyes crinkled up: “Do you want to come inside to sit down?”

“Yeah.” Shangguan Wanrong nodded and entered the cave dwelling with her.

After she had entered the cave dwelling, she noticed that the cave was not only small, but also inadequately decorated. There wasn’t even somewhere to take a bath. When she thought about the fact that she didn’t even have somewhere to bathe at ease, she felt guilty.

She was only living in such a place and became an errand boy disciple of Third Sun Peak because she had come looking for her. Not only had she failed to care for her as her mother all these years, she had also allowed her to live such a hard life. It was not right.

“Sit down.” Feng Jiu gestured and poured a cup of tea for her. She then looked at her and asked with anticipation: “Can I call you mother?”

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wanrong’s heart twitched and she lifted her head to look at her daughter. Her eyes felt hot as she held her daughter’s hands and stroked her face. She asked softly: “Then will you listen to what mother has to say?”

Feng Jiu’s face revealed a pleasant smile when she heard this and she replied: “Mother, what is it you want to say?” Her father would be so happy when he found out that she had found her mother.

“Get out of here, get out of here quickly and go back to your father.”

Chapter 1466: I Have A Way

The smile on Feng Jiu’s face narrowed and she looked at her asking: “Then will you come with me mother?”“I can’t leave. Master wants me to advance to the Nascent Soul stage within three months and become a Nascent Soul cultivator. Otherwise, he will exile me to the most evil wasteland and let me undergo the most tragic survival advancement.”

Shangguan Wanrong looked at her and said: “I came over here today because I want you to leave here as soon as possible. It’s not safe here and I won’t be able to stop worrying until you are back by your father’s side. Once I have settled everything here, I will come to look for you.”

“Mother, do you think that you will be able to leave here safely?” She asked softly and saw the atmosphere stagnate and become solemn.

Feng Jiu didn’t take much notice of it and continued speaking: “Mother, you don’t know this, but before my arrival here, I had already been to the Shangguan Residence. I had wanted to ask for you, but when I found out that you had come here, I came looking for you.”

“Father is rest assured about me being outside by myself because I have the ability to protect myself. Although my strength is not considered outstanding within the Eight Supreme Empires, I will have no problem protecting myself at all. I will also have no problem protecting mother either.”

Shangguan Wanrong stared at her blankly, and at this moment the feeling she had revealed to her was different from before. At this moment, she was calm and indifferent, confidence exuded through her eyes and a look of excitement throbbed between her eyebrows. A noble and pressing aura also pervaded her whole body at this point in time.

“Mother, I can tell you now that Master Third Sun means to do you harm. Although I don’t know what his intentions are exactly, it cannot be anything good. You need to tell me everything you know and let me share your burden. I can discuss the matter with you and give you ideas. Otherwise, I don’t believe you will be able to walk away alive from Master Third Sun.”

“But, if you stay, and if something happens….” She was extremely worried as she hadn’t expected her to refuse to leave. Even more unexpected what her whole demeanor had changed when she said these words to her.

“If you don’t leave then I won’t leave either. I promised father that I will bring you back.”

After hearing that, Shangguan Wanrong sat in silence for a while, and after a long time, she sighed: “Then stay behind! However, when we are outside, don’t call me mother. Otherwise they might harm you if they find out.”

“Yes, I know.” She nodded and smiled. She squinted her eyes and asked: “Then now will mother tell me the whole story?”

Seeing that she had no other choice, Shangguan Wanrong divulged the details about how she was brought back by Master Third Sun and everything else that had happened.”

“I feel that there is something fishy about why Master Third Sun has ordered me to advance to the Nascent Soul stage. If he wants to take my life then I feel that it would probably be after I advance to the Nascent Soul stage.”

She spoke slowly, continuing: “But it’s not that easy to advance to the Nascent Soul stage. I am afraid that if I were to take pills to force myself to advance, my foundation will be unstable and it will be difficult to advance further in the future. But given the current situation, even if I don’t take pills to advance, once the three months deadline is up, I fear that he will do something.”

As Feng Jiu listened, her eyes darted about slightly, an idea bounced around in her head and she said: “Oh, mother, leave this matter to me! I can disguise myself as you mother and stay behind. Mother, you can leave first and go and meet up with Leng Shuang and the rest. What do you say?”

Chapter 1467: Human Furnace

“No way!”

Shangguan Wanrong refused immediately and said with a solemn expression: “That is too dangerous and it won’t fool him.”

“Why won’t I be able to deceive him? Mother, I am already a Nascent Soul cultivator. I am only suppressing my cultivation at the moment. If I were to stay behind, I have the ability to protect myself and nothing will happen to me. I also definitely won’t let him find out that we have switched places either. ”

Shangguan Wanrong shook her head: “No.” When she saw her daughter’s puzzled expression, she paused slightly and hesitated for a moment: “He’s given me medicine, there’s something wrong with my body.”

“What?”

Feng Jiu was stunned. She grabbed her wrist and checked her pulse. After a while, she said in confusion: “There’s nothing wrong with your body! There’s no poison in your body.”

“It’s this hand.”

She stretched out her other hand and showed Feng Jiu her palm: “Look here, a red line has appeared on my middle finger. Although it’s not very obvious, this red line extends further and has already reached my arm. It’s just that it’s not that obvious with it being under my skin if you don’t pay attention to it.”

When she looked at the red line that appeared under her skin, Feng Jiu’s eyes darkened. No wonder she was unable to detect anything in her pulse, it was hidden in her arm.

She stretched out her arm and probed the wrist carefully. After a while, her expression became strange.

“This is not poison, it’s medicine.” She said slowly and looked at her mother: “I think I know what Master Third Sun intends to do.”

“What is he planning to do?” Shangguan Wanrong asked softly.

Feng Jiu looked at her and asked with a strange expression: “Mother, do you know that you have a spirit-gathering physique?”

She shook her head and asked: “Spirit-gathering physique? What kind of physique is that? What is it used for?” Other than being imprisoned in the Shangguan Residence, she was brought here and she had only ever been exposed to matters of alchemy. She didn’t know anything about physique.

“A spirit-gathering physique is a mobile spirit-reservoir. Master Third Sun wants you to advance to the Nascent Soul stage so that he can take your newly condensed Nascent Soul energy and refine elixirs from it.”

She looked at her shocked expression and continued speaking: “The newly condensed energy of a Nascent Soul cultivator who has a spirit-gathering physique is the purest form of all. Just like a newborn, it gathers the essence, qi and blood of your whole body. The medicine in your arm is what he needs to refine the elixir once you have advanced to the Nascent Soul stage. To put it bluntly, he is using you as a human furnace to refine an elixir that will make him immortal.”

“Human furnace?”

Shangguan Wanrong’s face turned pale and a storm surge in her heart. She knew that nothing good was ever given for free in this world. If she wasn’t useful, why would Master Third Sun bring her here and take her in as his core disciple?

So this was his plan all along, to use her as a human furnace to refine an elixir to make him immortal!

“Well, mother, the medicines in your arm are top-grade spirit herbs and each one is five hundred years old. I’m not sure what method he has used but he has locked the medicinal properties in your arm so that they won’t dissipate into your body. They are not harmful to your body. But because these spirit herbs haven’t been refined into pills, your body is unable to absorb their qualities.”

Shangguan Wanrong came out of her reverie and asked: “So these spirit herbs in my body won’t pose any threat to me?”

Chapter 1468: What Should We Do

“No, they aren’t harmful to you at the moment because they are locked in this red line in your arm right now. However, if the medicines spread then that’s different.” Feng Jiu frowned and thought for a while, then said: “It’s a little difficult at the moment. Even if I disguised myself as you and can pass off as you by learning your mannerisms, it’s no use if he can see through my disguise. Moreover, there is a medicine among these called Seven Mile Purple Gold Incense that prevents you from escaping from here.”

She walked around the cave slowly as she thought of a way. She sighed and said: “The other medicines aren’t a problem. I can drain the blood from your arm and it will remove the effects of those medicines. However, the Seven Mile Purple Gold Incense is a latent drug and if your distance from Third Sun Peak is too far, it will turn into poison. The only medicine that will cure the poison from the Seven Mile Purple Gold Incense is its companion herb, the Three Leaf Purple Gold Clover.”

“Then why didn’t the Seven Mile Purple Gold Incense turn into poison when I entered the Secret Realm?” Shangguan Wanrong asked in surprise.

“That must be because you had the Three Leaf Purple Gold Clover within your body.”

Shangguan Wanrong shook her head: “But I don’t have anything like that in my body. If there is, I would know.”

“The Seven Mile Purple Gold Incense is not scented, so even if it’s in your body, you wouldn’t notice it. It has a reaction to its companion herb. If the Seven Mile Purple Gold Incense is away from the Three Leaf Purple Gold Clover, it will become poison. If the companion clover leaves the incense, it will wither within seven days. Moreover, this is the only antidote.”

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wanrong said: “In that case, I will act like I don’t know anything and stay here to continue to practice my cultivation. I will leave once I’ve found the companion herb.”

“It’s just your current situation….” Feng Jiu was a little worried.

“It’s fine, nothing will happen.” She smiled and said: “As for you, you have to look after yourself. I won’t be coming to visit you again so as to not arouse suspicion.”

“Mmm, I will come to visit you in secret.” Feng Jiu adjusted her state of mind and smiled at her mother: “Don’t worry mother, you are not alone.”

“Yes, I know.” Her eyes reddened and she reached out to hug her tightly in her arms.

The pair of mother and daughter continued speaking in the cave dwelling for some time and it was nearly noon when Shangguan Wanrong got up to return to her cave dwelling to practice. Although three months was a short deadline, however, with the help of pills, it was not impossible to advance to the Nascent Soul stage.

Over the next few days, other than taking care of her mother’s situation, she had to visit Chen Dao occasionally. Three days later, after the stitches were removed and the ointment was applied, Chen Dao was still unconscious.

This was because Feng Jiu felt that Chen Dao being unconscious was more beneficial to his recovery as he wouldn’t get too emotional. She decided that she would let him regain consciousness when his injury was nearly healed. By that time, he would be able to see the results and he wouldn’t be agitated and accidentally open up his wound.

On this day, Feng Jiu once again came to Chen Dao’s cave dwelling. However, as she was approaching, she heard Luo Heng’s voice coming from inside the cave dwelling.

“Feng Jiu, Feng Jiu, you’re here? Come in, I have something to tell you.”

She stepped forwards and asked: “What’s the matter?”

“The Great Elder came this morning and said that his clansmen will be here soon to bring Senior Brother Chen back. What should we do about that? Senior Brother Chen’s injuries haven’t completely healed, has it? If we allow them to move him, his wound might split open.”

Chapter 1469: Feng Jiu, Who The Hell Are You?

Feng Jiu asked: “What did you say to him?”

Luo Heng scratched his head and said: “I, I didn’t even get a chance to speak and they left. He just came over to let me know and he didn’t even go inside to look at Senior Brother Chen. He left so quickly that I couldn’t react quick enough!”

“Next time he comes, tell him that Senior Brother Chen wishes to return after three months. If he asks you for the reason, just tell him that Senior Brother Chen has lived here for so many years and he has sentimental feelings to this place. He knows that once he leaves he will never be able to come back. Therefore, you hope that Great Elder will be accommodating and allow him to remain here for three more months before taking him back.”

She paused and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly: “I don’t think that the Great Elder will refuse such a small request and have no regard for the family clan.”

Luo Heng was a little puzzled by what he heard and asked: “Why don’t we tell him the truth that you are helping Senior Brother Chen with his treatment? And that he will recover in three months time? Is it because you are not confident?” Wasn’t it more straightforward to tell him the truth? Why did he have to make excuses?

Feng Jiu rolled her eyes and said: “I am only an errand boy, if you don’t even believe that I can cure Senior Brother Chen, do you think the Great Elder will believe it? Moreover, won’t it sound a little strange telling the truth? You said it yourself, how can an odd-jobber disciple like myself possess medical skills? If they decide to deal with me like I’m a spy, then who will I turn to when I’m in trouble?”

“That’s right, you have medical skills, so why are you an errand boy? Unless you’re really a spy?” He asked in confusion, as he really did find it very strange!

The corners of Feng Jiu’s mouth twitched. How annoying, he had questions for everything she said. At this rate, he would just keep asking questions….

“Hey, Feng Jiu, you…”

She raised her hand to stop him from asking anymore questions: “I’m going to check on Senior Brother Chen.” She then entered Chen Dao’s cave dwelling.

After she had come to Chen Dao’s bedside, she checked his pulse and the speed of recovery of the wound on his back. She also asked: “When did you apply the ointment?”

“I applied it in the morning.” Luo Heng who was following behind her replied and also came to the bedside: “Feng Jiu, Senior Brother Chen hasn’t eaten in a few days. Can his body really be sustained just by taking your liquid medicine?”

“Yes, of course.”

She then asked how much medicine was left. After checking the medicines, she left a few more bottles and said: “In another half a month! After another half a month we can wake him up and he can eat by himself. By then, he will also be able to feel the recovery of strength in his back.”

When she saw Luo Heng staring at her without saying anything, she asked: “What’s the matter? Is there something on my face?”

“No, there’s nothing on your face. It’s just that, you’re amazing! Although I don’t have much medical knowledge, I can see Senior Brother Chen improving daily. So tell me why would a person such as yourself be an errand boy?”

Feng Jiu smiled without the intention of saying much more and started to walk outside. However, she was blocked by Luo Heng: “Feng Jiu, tell me honestly, it’s a torture to be left dangling like that! Tell me truthfully, who the hell are you?”

“I am Feng Jiu! That’s my name, I didn’t lie to you.” She chuckled and said: “As for other matters, don’t be too nosey, you just need to know that I won’t harm you.”

“But, who are you really? The more I look at it, the more I feel that you’re not a simple errand boy. Although I am an alchemist but after being by your side, I am feeling more and more like I am the errand boy instead.”

Chapter 1470: Eloquence

When she heard this, Feng Jiu couldn’t help but laughed out. “Why, you are a great alchemist, how can I compare? Well, I am going to go back now and I will be back in a few days.” Saying that, she waved her hand and left.

Luo Heng stood outside the cave dwelling and watched. He had been living here during this short period of time in order to look after Chen Dao and it saved him from going back and forth too. Although prior to this, he hadn’t had much contact with Chen Dao, however, he had great respect for him and admired his character. Now that he had ended up in this sorry state, though he was unable to save him, the least he could do was take care of him.

Early in the morning a few days later, the Great Elder came to Chen Dao’s cave dwelling with a few clansmen following behind him and saw Luo Heng waiting to greet them.

“Ah, Great Elder! Greetings to you. Are you here to visit Senior Brother Chen, Great Elder?” Luo Heng asked with a smile on his face.

“I have brought men to take him back to the clan.” The Great Elder glanced at Luo Heng and asked: “Why are you still here?”

“Oh, you see, Senior Brother Chen has helped me many times in the past, so I thought since Senior Brother Chen’s movements are inconvenient at the moment, I would come and look after him for a while.” He replied, he paused and continued speaking: “Great Elder, there is a message that Senior Brother Chen has asked me to convey for him.”

“Huh? What is it?” He asked as his gaze swept back to Luo Heng.

“Well, Senior Brother Chen would like to stay here for a few more months before going back. After all, he has lived here for so many years, he’s feeling emotional and is reluctant to leave so suddenly, so…”

He was interrupted before he was able to finish his sentence.

“He’s been reduced to such a sorry state and he still wishes to remain here? Isn’t he going to become a laughing stock? It’s ridiculous! Chen Dao has injured his lumbar spine, are you telling me he has also injured his brain?” The Great Elder snorted in a displeased voice and the coercion from his whole body struck out inadvertently rendering Luo Heng speechless for a short while.

“Follow me inside and take him back to the clan!” The Great Elder instructed the men behind him and was just about to walk inside the cave dwelling himself.

Luo Heng was so nervous that he was at a loss of what to do. Just at that moment, he saw a figure in azure robes approaching slowly and immediately shouted out in joy: “Feng Jiu! Feng Jiu you’re here! Hurry, come over here quickly!”

It had been a few days since she had visited so she had decided to come to take a look when she saw the people gathered outside the cave dwelling. She knew the identity of the old man and the others. When she saw Luo Heng’s anxious expression, she knew that he was unable to deal with the Great Elder. Therefore, she hurried over to the front of the cave dwelling.

“Great Elder! Great Elder! You must be Senior Brother Chen’s Great Elder, am I right? Great Elder, I heard from Senior Brother Luo that you have been to visit Senior Brother Chen several times and I was hoping that I would have the opportunity to bump into you. However, I didn’t expect to be able to meet you today.”

Feng Jiu had stepped forwards quickly and walked past Luo Heng to stand in front of the Great Elder with surprise and excitement on her face, as if she had just seen someone she truly respected and admired, her eyes were full of surprise and delight as she looked at him.

The Great Elder was a little startled. He looked at the admiration in the youth in azure robes and couldn’t help but coughed lightly and asked: “Who are you? Where are your manners? Why are you yelling so loudly?”

“Great Elder, although your humble disciple Feng Jiu is only a lowly odd-jobber, but my admiration for you Great Elder is like the waters of the Yangtze River surging endlessly, like the Yellow River overflowing out of control. Great Elder’s name has been struck in my heart like the God of Thunder. Ever since I heard from Senior Brother Chen that Great Elder is the Great Elder of the first Sect of the Eight Supreme Empires but doesn’t forget his clan members and supports and helps….”

The few people next to him, including the Great Elder couldn’t help but be startled listening to Feng Jiu’s endless words of flattery and the atmosphere suddenly became weird…

Chapter 1471: As Wished

Everyone knew how to be a bootlicker, however, a flatterer such as this youth was rarely seen. No one would fawn over someone they had met for the first time this much, he definitely had much thicker-skin than most people.

However, being able to be able to flatter someone so much, this kid was no doubt a different breed.

“Ahem.”

The Great Elder coughed lightly, glanced at Feng Jiu and raised his hand to give a signal: “Enough, just speak your mind!” He wanted to see what tricks this kid was up to.

“I don’t have anything I want to say. I just wanted to express my endless admiration for Great Elder and….” She was interrupted before she could finish her sentence.

“That’s enough, I am here today because I have matters to attend to so I won’t talk to you.” He glanced at Feng Jiu and said: “What did you say your name was?”

“Disciple’s name is Feng Jiu, I am an errand boy from Third Sun Peak.” Her eyes narrowed as she smiled.

“Feng Jiu?” He looked at her up and down then nodded: “That’s fine, you can go about your chores! You’re not needed here.”

“No!”

With a smile on her serious looking face, she said: “Great Elder, you don’t know yet do you? Senior Brother Luo and I have been taking care of Senior Brother Chen during this period of time. Yesterday, Senior Brother Chen was crying in anguish yesterday. He said that he had disgraced the Chen family name and Great Elder. He said that ever since he had entered the Sect, it was Great Elder who had looked out for him and he respected Great Elder like he would his Father. He feels that he has let you down greatly Great Elder.”

The expressions on the other men’s faces who were beside him turned sour when they heard that. They couldn’t help but look at their Great Elder before lowering their heads.

Luo Heng’s mouth twitched. What did she mean by the both of them were looking after Chen Dao? He had been the one who was taking care of Chen Dao, and since when was Chen Dao crying yesterday? Chen Dao was fast asleep like a pig at the moment and probably wouldn’t even notice if he had been buried. Besides, he never came over yesterday. Everything he said was nonsense.

He never knew that his ability to sprout nonsense at will was so great. Even Great Elder and the others were dumbfounded and didn’t know how to react.

Just as Luo Heng had thought, the Great Elder was taken aback and a little surprised after hearing Feng Jiu’s words. As he watched the youth speak with such enthusiasm, it never occurred to him that it was purely nonsense because Chen Dao did treat him with respect within the Sect.

He hesitated for a while.

If he had disregarded his wishes and brought him back to the clan right now, wouldn’t it make him appear heartless and unkind?

At this moment, Feng Jiu looked back and asked: “That’s right. Senior Brother Luo, did you mention Senior Brother’s wishes to remain here for a few more months to Great Elder?”

“Ah? Yes, I’ve told him.” He was momentarily stunned and looked at the Great Elder.

Upon hearing this, Feng Jiu grinned and looked at the Great Elder with joy: “I knew that Great Elder would consent to Senior Brother Chen remaining here for a few more months. After all, it’s only a small request, and since Great Elder treats Senior Brother so well, how could he object?”

“Ahem!”

The Great Elder coughed lightly and looked at Feng Jiu deeply, then said: “In that case, let him stay here for a few more months! The both of you treat him so well.”

Saying that, he took out two bottles of pills from within his sleeve and handed them to Feng Jiu: “These are elixir pills that I have refined, take them to Chen Dao! Tell him to rest well.” He then turned around and left with the clansmen.

Chapter 1472: Awaken

As he watched them walk away, Luo Heng couldn’t help but breathed a sigh of relief then walked up to Feng Jiu and patted her shoulder: “Well done you, you actually managed to make the Great Elder change his mind. I did as you told me and told him what you said earlier but he refused to listen to me and insisted on bringing Chen Dao back with him.”

Feng Jiu smiled and looked at the two bottles of pills in her hands. She handed them to him and said: “Hold on to them! Let’s go inside to take a look at Senior Brother Chen.”

When he watched as the figure disappeared inside, Luo Heng hurried after her.

On the surface, Third Sun Peak seemed calm and unwavering. However, following Shangguan Wanrong’s practice in retreat, the minds of Duan Mubai and the rest were not at ease. At the back of their minds, they felt that something was going to happen. However, although they were a generation of Senior Uncles at Third Sun Peak, they were not at liberty to question their Master about anything.

Therefore, as their hearts were filled with worry and doubts, they were unable to concentrate on practising.

On this day, the four of them had met up to drink tea under the tree outside the cave dwelling. After drinking a cup of tea, the alchemist who was ranked fourth out of all of them broke the silence and asked: “What do you think Master is up to? After our return, Junior Sister went to Master’s Ninth Peak once and retreated into her cave dwelling to practice. Although there hasn’t been much going on lately, I still feel uneasy in my heart.”

“There’s nothing we can do about it anyway. We can only wait and watch. Right now nothing has happened yet so we can’t go breaking the rules either can we?” The second ranked alchemist said, sipping his tea.

“Oldest Senior Brother, what do you think?” Another alchemist asked Duan Mubai who had been silent this whole time.

“Just as Second Junior Brother has said, nothing has happened yet so there is nothing we can do.”

Duan Mubai replied and lowered his eyes. Even if they knew their Master’s intentions, he was afraid that there was nothing they could do to prevent what was going to happen. His only hope was that Junior Sister would be able to leave here safely. At least she would be able to avoid the fate of the Master killing his apprentice. However, this was only his conjecture, so how could he say anything?

The few of them drinking their tea in silence, with different thoughts running through their minds….

After a few more days had passed, because Third Sun Peak seemed peaceful and calm, Feng Jiu was idle and had nothing to do. Therefore, on this day, she came to Chen Dao’s cave dwelling once again. Upon calculating the time that had passed since she had operated on Senior Brother Chen’s back, it had been half a month. Since it had been such a long time ago, she decided that it was time to wake Chen Dao up.

Luo Heng, who had been counting the days, was excited on this day because he couldn’t wait to see the progress of Chen Dao’s recovery and ask him to tell them the results.

Therefore, on the fifteenth day, he was up early and pacing about outside the cave dwelling, waiting for Feng Jiu to arrive. When he saw Feng Jiu walking over leisurely, his eyes lit up and he waved his hands and shouted.

“Feng Jiu Feng Jiu, hurry up, don’t be so slow! I’ve been waiting for ages.”

She smiled, and not long later, she came to his side: “What’s the hurry? Aren’t I here now?” She walked past him and went into the cave dwelling asking: “Has anyone been to bother Senior Brother Chen recently?”

“Tsk, you know that ever since he has become an invalid no one comes to visit him. Of course, we are the only two exceptions.”

“It’s better that no one has come anyway.”

Feng Jiu replied and went to his bedside to examine him before she took out her silver needle: “Half a month’s time has passed and his bones have healed quite well too. Although he still won’t be able to get out of bed, his bones shouldn’t misalign so easily now.”

As she spoke, she inserted the silver needle into Chen Dao’s forehead and twisted it. After a while, the person who had been asleep all this time opened his eyes slowly….

Chapter 1473: Responsive

When his eyes opened, Chen Dao stared blankly at the young boy in front of him who was smiling. The scene that had happened just before he was put into a coma flashed before his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, his voice was a little hoarse: “You….”

“I’m Feng Jiu! Senior Brother Chen, you’ve been asleep for quite a while but don’t tell me you have forgotten me?” Feng Jiu said and squinted at him as she smiled and said jokingly.

“Senior Brother Chen, you’re really awake? Hurry up and feel your backt, hurry up!” Luo Heng who was standing by the side leaned forward and looked at him expectedly.

Back!

Yes, yes, his lumbar spine was broken, the bones in his spine were displaced and he was unable to recover from his injuries, hence, he was paralysed….

In an instant, the expression on his face was unreadable, pale but also dark. He was paralysed, paralysed, what else could he do? His life was ruined.

When he saw him lying on the bed motionless, his eyes dull and he was looking up in a daze, Luo Heng couldn’t help but scratch his head and looked at Feng Jiu. He called out once again: “Senior Brother Chen, try moving your legs! Let us see if there’s any effect.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Dao turned his face expressionlessly and glanced at Luo Heng: “I broke my lumbar spine, every part of my body below my waist is useless, there’s no strength in them, don’t you know that? I’m paralysed, I can’t move my legs.”

Luo Heng grinned: “Just try it! How will you know if you don’t even try it? Or I could pinch your lower part of your body and you can tell me if you feel it?” After speaking, he smiled and pinched Chen Dao’s thigh.

“Sss! Ah!”

When the pain struck him, Chen Dao instinctively exhaled with a look of pain on his face, and when he shouted out, he was stunned, because the pain he felt was below his waist. It was such a little movement, and yet the expression on his face was incredulous.

“How, how, how could….”

Feng Jiu glared at Luo Heng angrily: “You really pinched him? You can’t pinch him so hard! Have you forgotten that he hasn’t fully recovered yet? You’re so reckless.”

“Hey, I just thought if I didn’t pinch him hard enough he might not have felt it. That’s why I pinched him harder. And look, he felt it didn’t he?”

Of course he didn’t dare to say that now that he had an opportunity to pinch Chen Dao, of course he wasn’t going to let that go. This half a month, he had been so busy looking after Chen Dao that he hadn’t even had much sleep himself.

Chen Dao was completely stunned and asked in disbelief: “My back, I can apply force with my waist? But how can it be? How?”

“Senior Brother Chen, this is all thanks to Feng Jiu. He used his family’s secret recipe ointment to heal your lumbar spine. This kid has some medical skills as well. Fortunately, he was able to perform an operation on your back to remove all the broken bones and then he sewed your flesh up like clothes. I watched him perform it and I have been changing your dressing. There is only a dark red scar there now, not to mention it was open at one point.”

When she heard Luo Heng’s babbling and disorganised explanation, Feng Jiu rolled her eyes and pushed him aside: “That’s enough, let me tell him.”

After she pushed Luo Heng away, she said to Chen Dao: “To put it simply, I performed an operation on you.”

Chapter 1474: Hope

After pausing momentarily, she smiled and continued: “The displacement and fracture of your lumbar spine has been corrected, and you’ve been in a coma for the last half a month. After the operation, the position of your bones are fixed and they won’t move easily, but it will take some time for you to fully recover. I predict that it will take you about three months to fully recover. You should be able to get out of bed and walk after three months and be just like before.”

When he heard Feng Jiu’s word’s, Chen Dao could hear his heart beating like thunder. His words were like a ray of sunlight that suddenly appeared in the gloomy sky, swaying away the haze that had enveloped him. He was about to drown but he had hugged on to a piece of driftwood and a ray of hope appeared to him.

The previously dead heart had rekindled hope at this moment, the original despair at this point had turned into hope at this moment. People who had not gone through what he had experienced would not understand the excitement and joy he felt in his heart at this moment, they would not understand the feeling of being rescued when he was at the lowest, darkest, most desperate point in his life.

It was said that men’s tears do not fall easily, but at this moment, his eyes were red and tears overflowed from his eyes. Those were tears of joy and excitement.

“I, I can really stand up again? I will recover and return to the way I was before? I really won’t become a disable person?”

The three consecutive questions showed the eagerness and excitement in his heart.

Feng Jiu smiled slightly, her tone was sure when she replied: “Of course, if I said that you will recover then you will definitely recover. However, you do of course have to cooperate with the treatment now that you are awake. The ointment has to be applied everyday and your lumbar spine cannot be twisted. During this time, it’s best if you stay laid down.”

“Yes, yes, I will lie down. I won’t move.” He responded in a choked voice, his hands twisted into fists to contain the excitement in his heart.

“You’ve only just regained consciousness, so don’t get too excited, take it easy!” Saying that, she beckoned for Luo Heng to go out with her and asked him: “How much ointment is left? If there isn’t enough I will have to mix some up again.”

“Wait here, I will show you.” Luo Heng went inside and brought Chen Dao’s ointment out to show Feng Jiu: “Look, there’s still so much. As for the liquid medicines, there are still a few bottles that haven’t been used.”

“Once he’s finished those few bottles of liquid medicine it should be about right. As for the ointment, I will mix some up in a few days’ time and that will also be enough for him to use.”

She said to him: “You must also be tired taking after him during this time. Now that Senior Brother Chen is awake, would you like to go back to rest?”

“No need.” Luo Heng waved his hand: “He has a spare bedroom here and I’ve gotten used to living there during this time. I will go back to mine when he’s recovered! Otherwise, once the news of Senior Brother Chen’s recovery spreads, you will be in trouble too.”

Feng Jiu smiled and patted his shoulder: “Thank you for your hard work.”

“We are all brothers, there’s no need for formalities.” Luo Heng smiled and said: “Go, go in and have a chat with him.”

The two men then walked inside and briefly told Chen Dao of recent events, including the fact that his Great Elder had sent someone to take him back.

After hearing what they had told him, Chen Dao who was lying on the bed said in a hoarse voice: “Three months, you said I will recover in three months. Then in three months I will give them a surprise and let them know that I, Chen Dao can stand up again!”

Chapter 1475: Cross-Examination

When Feng Jiu and Luo Heng heard this, they looked at each other and smiled. Yes, this was the Chen Dao who liked to stroke his moustache as he spoke that they both knew so well.

When she thought of his moustache, Feng Jiu looked at him and chuckled: “Senior Brother Chen, your moustache has been shaved off by Senior Brother Luo, you will have to grow it again.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Dao instinctively reached up to stroke his moustache but touched his beardless mouth instead. Luo Heng couldn’t help but smile: “I shaved it off because it was easier to clean you, so, just…”

“It’s fine, I can grow my moustache again.” He said indifferently and thanked the two of them sincerely with a smile: “Thank you both so much for everything you’ve done during this time.”

“It’s nothing much, you don’t need to thank us, there’s no need to stand on ceremony with us.” Luo Heng smiled.

“That’s right, Senior Brother Chen, you’ve helped me out many times in the past and I am really happy that I can help you.” Feng Jiu smiled widely, her eyes narrowed as she smiled.

“Feng Jiu, you have literally given me a new life, I will forever remember your great kindness. In the future, if there is anything you need help with, don’t hesitate to tell me, I won’t refuse.”

“Please don’t stand on ceremony, Senior Brother Chen.”

She smiled and said: “It’s really not a big deal at all, Senior Brother Chen need not take it to heart.” She paused, and continued: “Since Senior Brother Chen is awake, I shall take my leave.”

Chen Dao nodded and said to Luo Heng: “Junior Brother Luo, please help me see Feng Jiu out.”

“All right.” Luo Heng responded and walked Feng Jiu out.

After he watched Feng Jiu leave, Chen Dao who was lying on the bed closed his eyes slowly. Feng Jiu, he knew from the first time they had met that he was extraordinary. What he didn’t expect was what the healers and alchemists of the Sect deemed untreatable turned out to be a small matter for him.

The alchemists and healers of the Sect are first rate people wherever they go, but they couldn’t even compare to an errand boy.

Or maybe, he wasn’t ever an errand boy to begin with.

But no matter what, he had healed him and he owed his life to him, this was a kindness that he would always remember.

Outside, after Feng Jiu had removed the boundary barrier she set up, she said to Luo Heng: “I will go back now. In a few days I will bring some more ointment. If there is anything you need, send someone to get me.”

“All right, head on back!” Luo Heng waved his hand. He knew that he was busy recently but he didn’t know what he had been up to.

After nodding, Feng Jiu turned and left.

When she walked down the Seventh Peak towards her cave dwelling, she saw Duan Mubai standing some distance away with his hands behind his back. When he saw her, he turned and walked away saying only this.

“Come with me.”

She paused slightly then followed him until they came to the back of the forest in the Seventh Peak where Duan Mubai had stopped and turned around to look at her.

Upon seeing this, she bowed respectfully: “Greetings Senior Uncle Duan, I wonder, is there something you have to instruct your lowly disciple with for calling me here?”

“Feng Jiu, who on earth are you really?” Duan Mubai asked in a deep voice.

Feng Jiu was stunned when she heard his question and her face showed a look of puzzlement: “I am Feng Jiu, don’t you already know this Senior Uncle Duan?”

Duan Mubai stared at her sharply and said: “I know you are Feng Jiu. But what I want to know is your motive for entering the Sect. Why did you enter Third Sun Peak? Also, why did you approach Shangguan Wanrong? What actually happened between the both of you inside the Secret Realm?”