Chapter 1388: Treating Elder Liao

Stunned for a moment, then he understood.

It wasn't that Zhang Xuan's strength surpassed his own, but rather that the lotus had been nearly shattered by the exchange between him and the Azure Dragon Beast, and the opponent's sword qi had happened to find its weakest point, using minimal force to achieve a decisive victory.

Even so, it was impressive.

Even he had failed to find the weak point of this suddenly appearing lotus, yet the other had spotted it at a glance and, from such a distance, split it with sword qi without harming Elder Liao inside—his eyesight and control over power had reached an astonishing level.

Admiring this in his heart, he looked down and saw that Zhang Xuan on the ground was not elated by splitting the lotus, but rather pale-faced and frowning.

"Hmm? What's going on!"

"This lotus is so strange..."

Just as he was about to ask what was up with this lotus-shaped true qi, he heard exclamations of surprise from below. Hurriedly looking, he saw that the split lotus, now turned to mist, was once again burrowing into Elder Liao's body along his skin, as if alive.

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, dozens of silver needles appeared at Zhang Xuan's fingertips, and he flicked them sharply.

Woo woo woo!

The needles pierced the air and landed on various acupoints of Elder Liao. The mist burrowing into his body, encountering these needles as if meeting its nemesis, emitted a sizzling sound and stopped, unable to enter further.

Whoosh!

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. Zhang Xuan waved his hand, pulling Elder Liao down from the air and placing him back on the stretcher, while lightly tapping his finger on the other's brow.

"Cough, cough..."

With a violent cough, Elder Liao opened his eyes, spat out a mouthful of black blood, and sat up from the stretcher. Then everyone heard a series of "crackling" sounds from within his body, like firecrackers.

"This is..."

Bai Yu's eyes widened: "About to break through?"

He knew his old friend's condition well: ravaged by fire poison, his life force severed, on the verge of death at any moment. Even with his own profound medical skills, curing him was impossible... Yet this fellow, with just a few needles and a tap on the brow, was about to break through...

Was he seeing things?

Rumble!

Before his shock subsided, he heard a series of explosions from within the newly awakened Elder Liao. His cultivation broke through layer after layer, and in moments, he went from the mid-stage of Saint Domain Seventh Level to its peak.

Even so, the speed did not diminish. The bottleneck of the peak of the Void Ascension Realm was shattered in just over ten breaths. In an instant, winds and clouds surged, and the domain of the Void Insight Realm spread out from around his body.

Only then did it slow down, and his cultivation gradually stabilized.

Half-step Void Insight Realm!

From the mid-stage of Void Ascension directly to half-step Void Insight—such a speed of advancement was unprecedented.

Bai Yu's mouth twitched.

This old friend, ever since being poisoned, had never progressed in cultivation. For centuries, he had stagnated at the mid-stage of Void Ascension. Never did he expect that now he would break through so swiftly and fiercely!

"I..."

He was speechless with shock. Elder Liao, sitting on the ground, stared blankly at the surging power within his body.

Before fainting, his life force was dissipating, and he was on the verge of death. Opening his eyes, he was not only fully recovered but also brimming with cultivation, immediately breaking through... He wondered if he was dreaming.

Slap!

He slapped himself, feeling the burning pain on his face.

"I'm alive?"

Tears streamed down his cheeks, and his body trembled with excitement.

For so many years, he had been hovering on the edge of life and death. He thought this time he was doomed, but never dreamed that not only was his problem resolved, but his cultivation had also broken through.

He swayed, flew off the stretcher, and in a few steps came before Zhang Xuan. His knees went weak, and he knelt down.

"Thank you, Master Zhang, for saving my life..."

Though he had been unconscious and didn't know what had happened, seeing Master Zhang's pale face and trembling body, he knew the other must have paid a great price to restore him.

"No need to be polite... I wasn't entirely sure either, but fortunately it succeeded..."

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan could no longer bear it and fell to the ground with a "thud."

This time, it wasn't an act.

Having just executed the Sword Splitting the Sea, his true qi was nearly depleted. Before he could recover, he had to resolve the Yin Frost Fire Poison for the other. Even with the absorption of a top-grade spirit stone, he felt his essence, energy, and spirit were nearly exhausted, on the verge of fainting.

"Master Zhang..."

Elder Liao rushed over, supporting him, full of anxiety.

Whoosh!

Bai Yu hurriedly flew down from the air: "Don't worry, it's just overexertion. With enough spirit energy and time, there should be no lasting damage..."

He had acted earlier because he misunderstood that the man intended to harm Elder Liao. Now knowing that he was not harming but saving, his hostility naturally vanished.

And crucially, he had been helpless with his old friend's condition, yet this man, in less than three minutes, not only cured him but also enabled his breakthrough, without medicine or elaborate methods—it baffled him, and he couldn't fathom it.

"That's good..."

Hearing that he was fine, Elder Liao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Master Zhang, what... exactly happened?"

Holy Physician Bai Yu couldn't help but look over.

In all his years as a physician, he had never seen anyone treat illness like this, and moreover, cure it effortlessly.

"To save Elder Liao just now, I unintentionally insulted the Holy Physician. I hope you won't take offense!"

Struggling, Zhang Xuan cupped his fists apologetically.

"That's nothing..."

Holy Physician Bai Yu waved his hand.

Even if he had been beaten, witnessing such remarkable medical skill would have been worth it.

It was precisely because of this dedication to medical arts that he had come so far, surpassing others in skill.

"I hope Master Zhang can enlighten me..."

His eyes full of sincerity, Holy Physician Bai Yu was filled with anticipation.

In fact, not only he, but also Master Fei, Feng Ziyi, Zhang Xu, and others, upon hearing the question, all looked over.

If it were through taking pills or various true qi guidance to resolve the poison and boost strength, it would be understandable. But this—knocking someone out, cursing them, then beating them half to death—and it ends up saving them—it was incomprehensible and baffling.

If saving lives and detoxifying were this simple, there wouldn't be so many patients dying of illness in the world.

"This..."

Seeing his eager look to learn, Zhang Xuan smiled wryly: "Holy Physician Bai Yu, would you allow me to recover a bit before answering you?"

Right now, he was so weak he was about to die and had no energy to speak.

"Right, my fault..."

Blushing, Holy Physician Bai Yu was full of shame.

He had been so focused on learning that he forgot the other's condition.

"I have a Jingyuan Pill here. Take it, and it will quickly restore your strength..."

Flipping his wrist, he produced a jade bottle and handed it over.

As the top physician of the Saint Son Hall, countless people sought his treatment, so he had no shortage of treasures.

Taking the Jingyuan Pill, Zhang Xuan looked at it and shook his head helplessly.

The pill was indeed good, but for him, it was of little use.

Heavenly Dao true qi had very demanding requirements for spirit energy. The higher his cultivation, the greater the demands. This Jingyuan Pill might be effective for ordinary Void Ascension experts, but for him, it was no different from eating candy.

"This pill is useless to me. Thank you..." Shaking his head, he handed the pill back.

"Useless?"

Holy Physician Bai Yu was taken aback: "I have more here..."

"I appreciate your kindness, Holy Physician Bai, but I'll find my own way..."

Hesitating, Zhang Xuan was reluctant to take out the top-grade spirit stone. Instead, he looked up at the old man before him: "Elder Liao, I may need to trouble you!"

"Master Zhang, what are you saying? Just give the order. If I can do it, I won't refuse!" Elder Liao nodded.

"That's good..."

Nodding, a flash of excitement passed through Zhang Xuan's eyes: "Elder Liao, then please... break through to the Void Insight Realm!"

"Break through... the Void Insight Realm?"

Stunned on the spot, Elder Liao was dumbfounded.