Chapter 427: The Critical Moment of the Sick Cultivator (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

The villa had just been repainted, its walls stark white, contrasting with the green pus–oozing smile of Green Water Beggar, creating an eerie yet dazzling effect.

Green Water Beggar's smile was indeed brilliant; at this distance, facing him head-on, Chu Shaotiang had little chance of survival.

The methods of the Sick Cultivator are too hard to counter—either crush him with superior cultivation, or possess a special Dao gate capable of restraining him; otherwise, confronting a Sick Cultivator directly, even at equal cultivation, offers little chance of victory. This has become a consensus among high-level cultivators in Pulu Province.

Chu Shaotiang stepped down the stairs one by one, looking at Green Water Beggar: "About what happened back then, I really want to talk to you properly—why did you assume I wanted to seize Green Water Bay?"

Green Water Beggar blinked, as if recalling the past: "The four great families, four heads—back then, all believed Lu Dongliang had the highest cultivation, but in truth, it was you."

"Your cultivation had long surpassed the ninth level, and you used certain techniques to conceal even more. Even the Earth Deity of Cloud's Top Layer couldn't match you—I know all this."

Chu Shaotiang frowned: "If I was the strongest, does that make me guilty? I never said I wanted to seize Green Water Bay—why did you try to kill me?"

Green Flower Zi laughed: "When you finally speak plainly, will I still be able to hear you? I was already sent to the Yellow Springs by you—have you forgotten how Green Water Bay came to be? Didn't I seize it too?"

Chu Shaotiang shook his head: "There's a misunderstanding—I truly didn't…"

Green Water Beggar popped a pus-filled blister; a spray of ink-green pus interrupted Chu Shaotiang: "Stop stalling. The Artisan's Hundred Blades—every moment you delay, you gain an advantage."

Chu Shaotiang halted his steps, as if dodging the pus: "The longer a Sick Cultivator plans, the greater his advantage. Let's catch up properly—you won't lose anything."

Green Water Beggar shook his head: "My Dao gate values speed and surprise—it doesn't need elaborate planning."

"Surprise? True. But is your Dao gate truly fast?" Chu Shaotiang shook his head. "Green Flower Zi, your Dao gate is excellent at deception. Sick Cultivators are formidable, but not because of speed."

"Their true strength lies in 'smallness.' The lesions are so tiny—formless, traceless, silent, invisible."

"No one knows when they come, how they come, or how to stop them."

"So many misunderstand them, calling it 'disease strikes like a mountain falling.'"

"Everyone thinks illness strikes quickly—but the lesion doesn't come fast. It's just so small, catching you off guard."

"Like now—your oozing pus, your swollen sores—all visible, nothing to fear. What I should fear are the ones too small to see—those are the lesions you truly can't escape."

As he finished speaking, fine snowflakes suddenly appeared in the villa's grand hall.

Within the snowflakes were invisible pathogens—more precisely, the corpses of pathogens.

These pathogens had been killed by the "snow," falling from the air, enveloped in flakes, their pungent alkaline stench making Green Flower Zi 's cheeks twitch.

"What magic treasure is this?" Green Flower Zi rolled his eyes, searching for the source of the spell.

"Not a magic treasure—just lime." Chu Shaotiang plucked a "snowflake" from the air and crushed it into powder.

Upon hearing "lime," Green Water Beggar glanced around the walls.

The once smooth white walls were now mottled—large amounts of lime were rapidly flaking off.

Chu Shaotiang said: "Lesions are small—so small they infiltrate everywhere. Back then, when I fought you, I built three layers of barriers—and still couldn't stop you."

"All these years, I never forgot that battle. I've spent decades thinking—how can I defeat you?"

"Eventually, I realized one thing: to defeat you, don't try to be faster, don't try to be flawless."

"No matter how tight your defense, there will always be a breach. To defeat you, you must become as small as you are."

"So I stopped focusing on weapons—I focused on dust."

Huh~

The "snowflakes" in the hall suddenly grew denser—Green Flower Zi increased his pathogen release.

The lime in the air responded instantly—the dust became finer, more concentrated.

These lime particles didn't need Chu Shaotiang's command—they fought Green Water Beggar's pathogens directly. His exquisite Artisan technique made Green Water Beggar uneasy.

What troubled Green Water Beggar most was that Chu Shaotiang had grasped the Sick Cultivator's core weakness.

"Smallness" was the most critical element of the Sick Cultivator.

"You really think this lime is that effective?" Green Flower Zi plucked a lime snowflake and rubbed it between his fingers.

Chu Shaotiang paused: "You think lime is bigger than the lesions you create?"

Green Water Beggar said: "Anything visible isn't small."

"So there's lime you didn't see," Chu Shaotiang smiled. "Smell again—that alkaline stench—doesn't it feel like it's burning through your lungs?"

The lime snow fell heavier—Green Water Beggar was forced to wrap his body in pus.

This house held endless lime—each grain of lime dust was Chu Shaotiang's spiritual object, nearly as tiny as the pathogens.

Now every grain fought the pathogens; due to lime's alkalinity, the pathogens had almost no defense.

He'd been tricked.

Green Water Beggar shouldn't have entered this house.

Now he wanted to leave—but it wasn't easy. The pus on his body was hardening, congealing.

Chu Shaotiang's figure had vanished into the lime snow, but his voice remained: "I've said all I needed to say. We truly must settle this."

"Green Flower Zi, I remember you have one last move—you can enter the Unnameable Place."

"This is your final chance."

"I'm very interested in the Unnameable Place. Use it before me—you can escape, and I can study it properly. A win-win."

Green Flower Zi didn't move—he was covered in lime, now a snowman.

He refused to open the Unnameable Place—it was too precious.

Even if he opened it now, he might not escape—it could be seized by Chu Shaotiang, and even his covenant scroll might be taken with it.

Chu Shaotiang stood amid the lime, silently watching Green Water Beggar: "I didn't expect you to be this stubborn. Then I'll send you on your way."

A gust of wind swept in, pressing the dust tightly against Green Water Beggar's body.

The pus on his body fully hardened and cracked; beneath it, his skin hardened and split.

Beneath the skin lay muscle and bone; beneath that, organs. Soon, Green Water Beggar was filled from head to toe with lime, dried and rigid.

Chu Shaotiang lit a cigarette and casually tossed the lighter onto Green Water Beggar's body.

Boom!

The lighter shattered Green Water Beggar's body.

Like a broken gypsum statue, brittle fragments scattered across the floor.

Was this Green Water Beggar's corpse?

Yes—this was Green Water Beggar's true body.

Chu Shaotiang had prepared too thoroughly. From the moment Green Water Beggar entered the house, escape was impossible—his body had been completely petrified by lime.

Was Green Water Beggar dead?

Chu Shaotiang had doubts.

Outside the courtyard, several Zhi Guai still stood in place.

One Zhi Guai's head suddenly exploded—emerald pus sloshed within its cavity.

Chu Shaotiang grabbed a handful of lime and threw it out the window—accurately striking the Zhi Guai.

Simultaneously, the pus inside the Zhi Guai rapidly coalesced into a small green figure, over a foot tall, vanishing instantly from Chu Shaotiang's sight.

Had Green Water Beggar revived?

Why had he vanished so suddenly?

He had entered the Unnameable Place—the Outer Province's term for the Dark Dimension. For Chu Shaotiang, uncovering the truth of the Dark Dimension was far more valuable than killing Green Water Beggar.

Thinking of the Dark Dimension, Chu Shaotiang felt a pang of regret.

The pair of Judge's Pens I acquired could have allowed limited access to the Dark Dimension—but that fool Huai Jun gave them away!

I shouldn't have entrusted the family estate to him—Huai Yuan would have been far better.

Green Water Beggar left too quickly—Chu Shaotiang hadn't clearly seen the details of the Dark Dimension.

But it didn't matter—Green Water Beggar still carried lime. Chu Shaotiang could find him.

Green Water Beggar was weak—he couldn't stay long in the Unnameable Place. He must return to the normal realm to replenish his power.

Once he emerged from the Unnameable Place, he was dead.

…

In Wujie Hospital, Cui Ti sat in his office, fingers lightly tapping his desk.

He was nervous—a powerful enemy was approaching.

But he had no choice—he had to face this enemy.

Cui Ti put on a mask, opened his office door, and saw a man in a gray-white overcoat and gray-white top hat standing at the threshold.

"Sir, are you here to see me?" Cui Ti asked politely.

Chu Shaotiang outside the door was startled—logically, this foreigner shouldn't have seen him.

Had Green Flower Zi warned him?

No—he could truly see me. That much was clear from his tone and gaze.

Chu Shaotiang glanced past Cui Ti: "I'm not here for you—but the person I'm looking for is here."

Cui Ti turned around: "You're looking for a patient? This is my office—you should go to the wards."

A "snowflake" fell from the air into Chu Shaotiang's palm—he was certain Green Water Beggar was in this room.

Chu Shaotiang smiled: "I don't want to kill you—not yet. Step aside, and this whole matter has nothing to do with you."

Cui Ti shook his head: "I'm sorry—this office, and indeed the entire hospital, are my private domain. I cannot let you pass."

Chu Shaotiang's smile didn't fade: "Then you can't live. You're simply too stubborn."

Fine snowflakes drifted slowly downward. Though this wasn't Chu Shaotiang's house, Cui Ti wasn't Green Water Beggar—the lime on Chu Shaotiang's person was enough to kill him.

Green blisters swelled on Cui Ti's body—many burst instantly, spraying fluid into the snowflakes.

The fluid carried Green Water Beggar's aura—this foreigner could wield Green Water Beggar's power?

Chu Shaotiang tightened his guard, yet showed no expression: "So you're a Sick Cultivator. You mean to fight me to the death? I never expected your Dao gate to have a disciple so loyal."

Cui Ti said: "I am indeed loyal. I am willing to give my life for my Dao gate."

Chu Shaohong nodded and said, "I can grant your wish."

Cui TiKe still stood at the door: "Don't be so impulsive. I believe you're also a loyal man."

You were sent by Neizhou. If your master doesn't wish to offend an ally, I advise you not to lay a hand on me."

The word "master" stung. Chu Shaohong's cheek twitched; his smile faded. "Foreign devil, what do you think you are?"

Cui TiKe answered calmly: "I am nothing at all—but this is my hospital, this is my territory."

There are many spiritual objects and magic treasures here—not for battle, but for communication."

If you force your way into my territory, I will fight you to the death. If you kill me, the news will spread instantly, and many things will be dragged into it. I urge you to think carefully before acting."

Chu Shaohong fell silent for a moment, then left the Wuji Hospital.

Cui TiKe removed his mask and sat on the chair, breathing heavily for a long time.

He was terrified. Since the peddler helped him suppress the Green Water Beggar's power, Cui TiKe had never felt such a fierce threat to his life.

A small green figure, more than a foot tall, appeared floating on the table.

"Chu Shaohong has changed. Neizhou has changed him too much," the little green man sighed. "In his old self, you'd be dead already. That's why I'll never go to Neizhou."

Cui TiKe bowed to the little green man: "I love my Ancestor Master. My loyalty to the Dao Sect will never change."

The little green man laughed. "I trust you. To stand up to Chu Shaohong, you've got guts. What level is your cultivation base now?"

Cui TiKe said: "Still at the seventh level."

The little green man placed his right hand on his left shoulder, twisted hard, and snapped off his left arm, handing it to Cui TiKe: "Eat this. It will push you to the eighth level."

"Thank you, Ancestor Master, for this gift!" Cui TiKe swallowed the arm without hesitation.

The little green man nodded: "I have another task for you. Go to Jianren Gang and deliver something good to that woman. If you complete it, I'll elevate you to the ninth level!"

PS: The Unnameable Place—the Dark Dimension. This concept first appeared in Chapter 401, when Liao Zihui used the Dark Dimension to evade Li Banfeng's ambush.

Dear readers, please give your monthly votes to Shala.

(End of Chapter)