I lead my disciples to seek immortality in the sect's cultivation.

Chapter 12 Seeing a Doctor

The underground chamber was deathly silent, with only the faint, intermittent breathing of the boy.

Ahe's assertion sent a chill down Shen Gui's spine. He took his young apprentice's hand and asked in a low voice, "Ahe, investigate further. What is Wang Liu's true purpose in reforming this boy?"

Ahe pursed her pink lips and once again probed Wang Xiaoshi's meridians and dantian with a wisp of pure but weak magic power. Her brows furrowed tightly as she probed and pondered in a low voice. Her fingertip gently touched the boy's dantian: "Master, his meridians have been widened by brute force, and his dantian has been forcibly expanded... It seems that they want to artificially enhance his cultivation talent so that he can absorb spiritual energy faster and condense his energy wheel more easily."

Upon hearing this, Shen Gui's lips curled into a sneer, his gaze falling on Wang Xiaoshi's pale face as he fell into deep thought.

This young man is indeed exceptionally talented. At the age of fifteen or sixteen, he had already condensed his second cycle and entered the second level of the embryonic breathing stage. He is considered a rare talent, one in ten thousand, in the northern border region.

But when he touched the boy with his fingertips, Mingtianzhong in his mind did not react at all, and there was no indication of "finding a talent".

It seems that Mingtianzhong's selection of disciples is not based solely on talent, but on other mysterious criteria.

"Forcibly enhancing talent?" Shen Gui's voice was cold, tinged with sarcasm. "Utterly absurd. The 'Notes on Observing Fetal Breathing Cultivation' taught to me by Ming Tianzhong can only clear meridians and resolve cultivation difficulties; it has no divine means to directly enhance talent or accelerate cultivation. What Wang Liu is using is not a proper method at all, but a delusional evil art!"

Ahe nodded vigorously, her small face full of solemnity. She withdrew her magic power and said softly, "Master is absolutely right! This boy's dantian has already been ravaged by the medicine, and his meridians are full of hidden injuries. He will never be able to stand and walk like a normal person in this lifetime. At most, he can only lie in bed and practice breathing exercises. He has become a living puppet who can only cultivate!"

"A living puppet..." Shen Gui's eyes darkened, and a chill had quietly begun to grow in his heart towards Wang Liu.

Just then, the stone door to the basement was pounded on, and Wang Liu's anxious yet tentative voice came through the door: "Immortal Shen! How is it? Is there any cure for my grandson's illness?"

Shen Gui suppressed his cold aura, his expression returning to calm, and said indifferently, "Come in."

The stone door was flung open, and Wang Liu rushed in, his cloudy old eyes fixed on Shen Gui, his voice urgent and almost manic: "Immortal Master! How is it? Can my grandson be cured? Can he cultivate like a normal person?"

Shen Gui's expression was indifferent, and his tone was firm and calm: "His meridians and dantian are severely damaged, and he can no longer move around normally. He can only rest in bed for the rest of his life. However, his cultivation is not hindered, and he can still breathe in spiritual energy to stabilize his embryonic breathing realm."

If these words had come from an ordinary grandfather, he would have been heartbroken and devastated.

But upon hearing this, Wang Liu's face showed no trace of sadness; instead, an overwhelming joy welled up within him. His cloudy eyes lit up, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned upwards as he rubbed his hands together repeatedly, exclaiming, "That's wonderful! That's wonderful! As long as I can cultivate, that's enough!"

Shen Gui took in his reaction, and his vigilance instantly spiked, a chill running down his spine.

This old man really doesn't care whether he's alive or dead, or whether he can move; he just wants a tool to cultivate.

Even the boy's current state of being worse than dead is likely the result of Wang Liu's deliberate actions!

But why exactly?

"Since the Immortal Master says he can cultivate, then I will trouble you two to take care of him!" Wang Liu suppressed his joy, bowed respectfully to Shen Gui, his expression seemingly respectful, but a hint of relief lurked in his eyes, as if a great worry had been lifted from his heart. "Immortal Master, rest assured, I will not let you two come for nothing! Although my grandson is not seriously injured this time, I will present him with a dose of Nourishing Vein Powder as a token of my gratitude! If my grandson shows any changes in the future, I will need your continued care!"

As Wang Liu spoke, his gaze subtly swept towards Ahe, and he smiled amiably, saying, "Young Immortal, you've already condensed the Profound Realm Wheel at such a young age; you're truly a once-in-a-millennium genius. I wonder what superior cultivation method you practice?"

Ahe felt tense all over under his gaze. She gripped Shen Gui's sleeve tightly with her small hands, shrank behind him, her face full of vigilance, and bit her lip, not daring to answer.

Shen Gui silently shielded Ahe behind him, his aura slightly cold, and said indifferently, "A rudimentary method, not worth mentioning. Fellow Daoist Wang, hurry and fetch the spiritual herbs; my master and I must return to Daling Village."

Wang Liu stopped probing and smiled awkwardly, "It was my rudeness, Immortal Master, please wait a moment, I will be back immediately!" Before he finished speaking, he turned and left in a hurry, his steps flustered and completely lacking his previous composure.

Shen Gui stared at his retreating figure, his eyes cold and deep. This old thief clearly coveted Ahe's talent; his every question revealed his malicious intent.

He gently patted Ahe's hand and whispered to comfort her, "Don't be afraid, with your master here, he can't hurt you."

Ahe looked up at Shen Gui, her little face full of trust. She nodded vigorously, pressed her face against his sleeve, but her round eyes were fixed on the entrance. Her body was tense, and she dared not relax for a moment.

Shen Gui became even more wary.

What I fear most is that this old man's real scheme is to find Ahe, who also possesses remarkable cultivation talent, by his side!

Shen Gui still remembers clearly the fleeting greed and shock in Wang Liu's eyes every time he saw Ahe.

This old scoundrel used crude evil magic to transform his own genius boy. Now that he has seen a disciple with such excellent potential as Ahe, how could he not have wicked thoughts?

I'm afraid that if she's not careful, Ahe will fall into the hands of this old thief and become the next Wang Xiaoshi to be reformed!

As the footsteps faded into the distance, Shen Gui looked down at Ahe, signaling her to be on her guard with his eyes.

Ahe nodded obediently, her small body pressed tightly against Shen Gui's side, her little hands gripping his sleeve, always on guard.

Before half an incense stick had burned out, footsteps echoed in the courtyard, and Wang Liu's cheerful voice rang out: "Immortal Master Shen, Little Immortal Master, the Moistening Vessel has been brought!"

Shen Gui led Ahe out of the basement and into the courtyard.

Wang Liu stood in the center of the courtyard, holding a herb with plump leaves that shimmered with a pale blue spiritual light. A smile spread across his face as he handed it over: "Immortal Master, this is the finest Runmai Moxa. Please keep it safe!"

Ahe's little nose twitched slightly, the tip of her nose furrowing a little. Before Shen Gui could react, she suddenly grabbed his sleeve and gently tugged, whispering urgently in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Master! This medicine is wrong! It's not Runmai Coating!"

Before he could finish speaking, a cold glint suddenly flashed in Shen Gui's eyes!

Without the slightest hesitation, without the slightest doubt!

The fine iron longsword at his waist was instantly drawn, and a half-foot-long, gleaming white sword light burst forth from his body, sharp and incomparable.

Shen Gui took a step forward, closing in on Wang Liu. With a sudden flick of his wrist, the sword light flashed like lightning, slashing straight at Wang Liu's right arm holding the medicine!

"what!"

A heart-wrenching scream echoed throughout the courtyard!

Blood gushed out, splattering all over the courtyard wall. Wang Liu's right arm snapped off and he fell heavily to the ground!

The "herbs" in his hand fell to the ground, and as soon as they touched the ground, a pungent gray fumes rose up!

The fake mask shattered completely, Wang Liu's face turned deathly pale. Clutching his severed arm, his eyes were filled with resentment and terror as he glared at Shen Gui, hoarsely roaring, "You! How dare you cut off my arm! I kindly gave you the spiritual herb, and you are so vicious!"