Chapter 115

After finishing her class, Hua Changxi hurried back to her own courtyard, then immersed herself in cultivation, beginning to solidify her cultivation base.

However, after cultivating for a short while, she stopped.

Now when she cultivated, she could gain over a million spirit qi points in one hour; she absorbed so much spirit qi that as soon as she started, the surrounding spirit qi would surge toward her.

Before, since the Chores Hall received little attention, she could cultivate freely, but now she dared not do so.

Seeing Mu Qingying and the He sisters in class today, she knew that the Ministry Director and the He family were keeping an eye on her.

As for Gu Jinfan, who had obtained the cultivation technique from the Vermilion Bird Inheritance Stone, it was very likely he would also be watching her from the shadows.

Now that she was surrounded by these observers, if she still cultivated as before, it would not be long before she drew others' attention.

Having finally increased her cultivation speed, yet being unable to cultivate freely, Hua Changxi was very frustrated: "If only I could set up a teleportation formation."

With a teleportation formation, she could instantly teleport to Five Finger Mountain to cultivate and then teleport back, without anyone knowing she had left.

But the teleportation formation was a high-level array, not even mentioned in the *Introduction to the Four Arts*.

Although her somersault cloud was already very fast now, taking only a little over half an hour to reach Five Finger Mountain, if she made such round trips every day, aside from getting tired, she would inevitably leave traces that those watching her from the shadows could discover.

"Bang bang bang~"

A knock came from outside the courtyard. Hua Changxi went out and opened the gate, finding it was Yu Gui.

Yu Gui: "Sister Changxi, I hope I'm not disturbing you."

Hua Changxi shook her head: "What did you come to see me about?"

Yu Gui lowered his voice: "Do you still remember Eunuch Xuan of the Eastern Depot?"

Hua Changxi nodded: "Has he been poisoned again?"

Yu Gui was taken aback: "Eunuch Xuan isn't poisoned, but his subordinates are injured. He wants to invite you to treat them. My godfather sent me to ask if you have time to go to the Eastern Depot?"

Hua Changxi's eyes moved: "Go to the Eastern Depot?"

Many places in the inner city of the capital were off-limits to ordinary citizens, especially areas near the imperial city.

Since the Eastern Depot was located right next to the imperial city, she would willingly go to explore a place she had never been to openly.

"Eunuch Xuan has given me plenty of business. Since he's asked, how could I refuse?"

Seeing she was willing to go to the Eastern Depot, Yu Gui immediately took her to see Eunuch Yu, who then accompanied Hua Changxi to the Eastern Depot.

The Eastern Depot not only adjoined the imperial city but also occupied an entire alley; its power was no less than that of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Upon arriving at the Eastern Depot, Eunuch Yu warned Hua Changxi: "Master, many of the Eastern Depot's affairs involve the imperial family. Once inside, it's best if we don't speak unless necessary, and be careful not to break any taboos."

Hua Changxi could see that the people in the Eastern Depot were all very cautious. She followed behind Eunuch Yu in silence all the way to the courtyard where Eunuch Xuan worked.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw it filled with wounded people.

Looking at the wounds, they were clearly caused by spirit power attacks.

But weren't these wounds too uniform?

Hua Changxi examined a few people nearby and found that the severity of their injuries was almost the same.

This was...

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered; these people were probably struck by some artifact or formation capable of area-of-effect attacks.

What had the Eastern Depot people been doing?

Hua Changxi looked around the courtyard; there were as many as sixty to seventy wounded people. Although most were martial artists, quite a few—about twenty—were cultivators.

These cultivators could not be all the Eastern Depot had; if one agency had so many cultivators, one had to wonder how many cultivators the imperial family had secretly trained.

Just then, Eunuch Xuan came out of the room. When he saw Eunuch Yu and Hua Changxi, he hurried over.

He was also injured, but not as severely; he could still move, unlike those lying in the courtyard, many of whom were unconscious, and the few who were awake were barely breathing.

Hua Changxi looked at Eunuch Xuan, then at the others lying in the courtyard, her eyes flickering.

With so many immobile wounded, how had the Eastern Depot brought them back?

"Supervisor Hua, please take a look. Can these people be treated?"

"I won't know if I can treat them until I examine their injuries."

"Then examine them quickly."

Hua Changxi walked toward the martial artist with the most severe injuries.

Seeing her prioritize the martial artist, Eunuch Xuan quickly stopped her: "Treat the cultivators first."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "Cultivators have spiritual energy to sustain them and can hold out longer, but martial artists are mortals. Severely wounded by spiritual power, they won't last long."

After hearing this, Eunuch Xuan was silent for a moment, but still insisted: "Treat the cultivators first."

Training a cultivator is far more difficult than training a martial artist.

Cultivators must first have spiritual meridians, then be given cultivation techniques, cultivation resources, and time to grow.

As for martial artists, the Great Jin's martial arts are flourishing; there is no shortage of martial artists. As long as one spends more silver, there are plenty of martial artists willing to risk their lives.

Hua Changxi furrowed her brows, thought for a moment, then wrote a prescription to slow down the rampant spiritual energy. She had Eunuch Xuan decoct the medicine for the injured martial artists to consume, which could at least prolong their survival.

After all, coming from the Eastern Depot, when Eunuch Xuan saw that the prescription required over a dozen fine medicinal herbs, he gritted his teeth but still ordered someone to fetch the herbs from the storehouse and prepare the decoction.

The cultivators were generally not unconscious, so Hua Changxi began asking them about their conditions.

[Observation, Listening, Inquiry, and Palpation Technique (Beginner): Diagnosis 4/10]

As the data appeared before her eyes, Hua Changxi's gaze flickered, and she continued diagnosing earnestly.

[Observation, Listening, Inquiry, and Palpation Technique (Beginner): Diagnosis 5/10]

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[Observation, Listening, Inquiry, and Palpation Technique (Beginner): Diagnosis 10/10]

When she had diagnosed ten cultivators, Hua Changxi felt a warm current flow toward her eyes.

Hua Changxi immediately closed her eyes, sensing the warm current washing over her eyeballs again and again.

Seeing Hua Changxi suddenly stop diagnosing, Eunuch Xuan frowned and looked at Eunuch Yu.

Eunuch Yu shook his head, pulled Eunuch Xuan aside, and explained: "Treating cultivators is very mentally taxing. She has already diagnosed seven people in a row; it's time for a break."

Eunuch Xuan rubbed his aching forehead and said anxiously: "Losing one or two of these cultivators wouldn't be a big deal, but if too many die, I'll be held accountable."

Eunuch Yu lowered his voice: "What exactly did you guys do to get so many people injured?"

Eunuch Xuan glanced at him: "Don't ask about what you shouldn't." Seeing Eunuch Yu look embarrassed, he added, "It's for your own good. Knowing too much about certain things isn't a good thing."

At that moment, Hua Changxi opened her eyes again. The instant she did, five-colored spiritual light flashed across her pupils.

When she looked at the injured again, she gained X-ray vision. Her eyes were like scanners, able to thoroughly scan the inside and outside of the victims' bodies.

Hua Changxi's heart trembled. Now she could not only see the amount of spiritual energy in the victims' meridians and determine their cultivation level from the concentration of spiritual energy, but also clearly see a small sword condensed from spiritual energy rampaging through their meridians, destroying them.

Wherever the small sword passed, not only were the meridians damaged, but the overflowing spiritual energy also violently attacked the flesh.

Hua Changxi went back to check the six she had diagnosed earlier, and they were all the same.

Then she continued diagnosing the remaining cultivators; without exception, she saw wandering small swords inside their meridians.

Hua Changxi tried to force the small swords out with her own spiritual energy, but failed.

Seeing this, her expression turned grave.

She had corresponding spiritual pills to treat damaged meridians in cultivators, but how was she to eliminate the small swords inside their meridians?

"What's wrong?"

Eunuch Xuan noticed the change in Hua Changxi's expression and immediately asked.

Hua Changxi's eyes scanned Eunuch Xuan, and from the concentration of spiritual energy in his meridians, she determined that he was a Qi Sea realm cultivator.

"These people have a sword qi rampage inside their bodies, destroying their health. They can take Restoration Pills to repair the physical damage."

"However, if the sword qi is not removed, they cannot fully recover. Moreover, over time, it will damage their cultivation aptitude."

Eunuch Xuan was first shocked by Hua Changxi's gaze; when she looked at him, he felt as if he had been seen through. Then he was surprised that she could diagnose that they had been injured by swords.

"Can't you eliminate the sword qi?"

Hua Changxi thought for a moment and said, "There is one way to try: acupuncture. But ordinary silver needles definitely won’t work. They are cultivators, and that sword energy is formed from spiritual energy, so we need corresponding needle tools that are Dharma implements."

Seeing Eunuch Xuan’s brows knit into a knot, Hua Changxi asked, "Eunuch, do you have any cultivators skilled in artifact refinement under your command? Needle tools that can bear spiritual energy shouldn’t be hard to forge."

"If the corresponding needle tools can be obtained, I should be able to dissolve the sword energy inside them."

Eunuch Xuan’s eyes lit up, and he said quickly, "First suppress their injuries. I’ll be back soon." With that, he was about to leave.

Hua Changxi hastily called him back: "Eunuch, suppressing their injuries requires taking Vessel-Stabilizing Pills."

Eunuch Xuan’s expression paused: "Vessel-Stabilizing Pills?"

He had heard of Vessel-Stabilizing Pills, but he simply didn’t have such spiritual pills on hand.

Eunuch Xuan looked at Hua Changxi: "The Eastern Depot has no Vessel-Stabilizing Pills. Can you… refine them?"

Hua Changxi smiled: "If it were someone else, then I definitely couldn’t. But since you, Eunuch, have asked, I can refine them. However, Vessel-Stabilizing Pills are very difficult to refine."

Eunuch Xuan saw through it—Hua Changxi was angling for a reward. He glanced at Eunuch Yu, who was pretending to be a quail on the side, and said, "In the future, if the Eastern Depot can help with anything, just speak up."

Hua Changxi smiled: "Eunuch, you flatter me. The Eastern Depot handles great affairs; I am but a commoner—how would I dare trouble you? However, there is a small matter on which I wish to seek your advice, Eunuch."

Eunuch Yu shot a quick glance at Hua Changxi, truly admiring that she dared to negotiate terms with the Eastern Depot.

Eunuch Xuan stared at Hua Changxi for a moment, then smiled: "What do you wish to ask?"

Hua Changxi: "Eunuch, you understand teleportation arrays, right?"

Eunuch Xuan’s expression changed, and a hint of coldness crept into his gaze at Hua Changxi.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi pointed at the martial artists lying in the courtyard: "So many people suffered severe injuries—bringing them back by manpower alone wouldn’t be easy. They must have been teleported back. I’m not wrong, am I?"

"Eunuch, I have no other meaning. I simply find going back and forth between the Medical Department and home too tiring and troublesome, so I wanted to set up a teleportation array to lighten the burden."

Eunuch Xuan looked deeply at Hua Changxi: "I cannot make the decision on teleportation arrays; I must consult the Grand Director."

Bringing out the Eastern Depot’s Grand Director was meant to intimidate Hua Changxi, but who knew—Hua Changxi wasn’t scared at all.

Hua Changxi: "Then I’ll wait for your news, Eunuch. For now, I’ll go treat those injured martial artists."

Eunuch Yu watched Hua Changxi, gaining a new understanding of her boldness.

Eunuch Xuan was silent for a while, ultimately said nothing, turned, and left.

After he left, Eunuch Yu wanted to say something, but seeing Hua Changxi unperturbedly diagnosing and treating the injured martial artists, the words in his mouth ultimately turned into a long sigh.

In the most imposing courtyard of the Eastern Depot, after hearing Eunuch Xuan’s report, Eastern Depot Grand Director Zhang Fang said, "Hua Changxi..." Being thoroughly familiar with all parties in the palace, he immediately asked, "What is her relationship with Hua Changxin, the personal disciple of the Tai Su Palace Sect Leader?"

Eunuch Xuan replied: "They are twin sisters."

Zhang Fang smiled: "No wonder she has such confidence. Give her a copy of the teleportation array diagram we have—consider it forming a good karmic connection."

Eunuch Xuan hadn’t expected Zhang Fang to agree so easily, but soon he understood.

Teleportation array diagrams surely existed in Tai Su Palace as well. Even if they didn’t give it to Hua Changxi this time, once Hua Changxin returned to the capital, Hua Changxi could still obtain it.

Better to give it now, and it also lets her heal the Eastern Depot’s cultivators.

Moreover, teleportation arrays are not easy to set up. Even if they gave Hua Changxi the diagram, she might not be able to arrange it.

Zhang Fang normally interacted only with the great figures who entered and left the palace, so he didn’t pay much attention to Hua Changxi; however, the fact that she could refine spiritual pills still made him take mental note.

Seeing Zhang Fang start handling other matters, Eunuch Xuan quietly withdrew. Then he went to the artifact refinement workshop, found the Eastern Depot’s artifact-refining cultivator, and had him forge a set of acupuncture needles. Only after that did he return to the courtyard where the injured were.

When Hua Changxi saw the teleportation array diagram Eunuch Xuan handed her, to be honest, she was also a bit surprised. When she had brought it up, she had actually been prepared for refusal. She hadn’t expected the Eastern Depot people to be so agreeable and actually give it.

Since they gave her the array diagram, she took out two bottles of Vessel-Stabilizing Pills and handed them to Eunuch Xuan, telling him to give them to the injured cultivators.

Eunuch Xuan hadn’t expected Hua Changxi to have Vessel-Stabilizing Pills already refined. His eyes flickered: "The needle tools won’t be forged for another two days. During this time, will they be all right?"

Hua Changxi: "The cultivators should be fine, but for these martial artists, I’m not sure. I just examined their physical condition. I’ll write a new prescription and see if they can survive it."

Martial artists have mortal bodies. The tiny swords formed from spiritual energy have no spiritual meridians to contain them, so they rampage destructively inside their bodies. Many have already had their internal organs damaged.

After leaving the Eastern Depot, Hua Changxi returned to the Medical Department and immediately immersed herself in studying the teleportation array diagram.

After examining it, she found that she seemed unable to set it up.

The teleportation array required some special array stones; she could probably find them in Wuzhi Mountain. But the array stones needed to have runes carved on them—this really stumped her.

She couldn't draw talismans, so she still drew on stones.

However, Hua Changxi eventually thought of a solution. She first went to Five Finger Mountain to gather all the Mystic Iron Stones needed for the teleportation array, cut the stones according to the teleportation array diagram, and on the day Eunuch Xuan informed her that the acupuncture needle artifact had been forged, she brought the Mystic Iron Stones to the Eastern Depot.