Chapter 322: Each Strike Stronger Than the Last

The middle-aged general was a commander of a thousand under Right General Chu Junling of the Demon Suppression Army, named Lu Lifeng.

Lu Lifeng had already experienced Hua Changxi's arrogance earlier, and as soon as he brought over the elderly-looking but youthful-faced cultivator, he first revealed his identity: "This is the Duke of Grace—Duke Zhu."

Hua Changxi also roughly knew some of the imperial family's situation; the current empress was surnamed Wu, and the Duke of Grace before her was surnamed Zhu, so he seemed to be a relative of the Empress Dowager's family.

A relative of the Empress Dowager's family, and also a duke—his status could be said to be extremely noble—how could he appear in this place?

And heavily injured at that!

Hua Changxi looked at Duke Zhu; this duke's injury was quite unfavorable. He had a metal spirit root, but his spirit root and dantian were filled with dense fire spiritual energy.

One must know, fire overcomes metal!

"I’ll trouble Peak Master Hua."

Compared to Lu Lifeng's previous attitude, Duke Zhu could be described as quite amiable.

Hua Changxi smiled: "You're too kind, Duke."

Just as everyone else thought Hua Changxi was about to start treating Duke Zhu, her gaze swept past Duke Zhu to look at the injured patients seeking treatment behind him, looking troubled.

"I'm honored by the Duke's regard, but everything follows the principle of first come, first served; they have been waiting in line for a long time."

After saying this, Hua Changxi did not say more and simply smiled at Duke Zhu.

True approachability does not mean harming others to benefit oneself; a public persona is easy to fake, but one's moral character is truly tested in deeds.

"Hua Changxi, don't go too far!"

Before Duke Zhu could react, Lu Lifeng couldn't take it anymore and roared at Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi glanced at him, too lazy to speak to him, and continued smiling at Duke Zhu.

Duke Zhu was also looking at Hua Changxi. Although he wore a kind smile on his face, the scrutiny and probing in his eyes were undisguised. After a long silence, he suddenly smiled: "Is first come, first served also Peak Master Hua's rule for saving people?"

Hua Changxi shook her head: "It depends on the urgency of the condition."

Duke Zhu's eyes flickered: "So, Peak Master Hua thinks this duke's injury is not serious?"

Hua Changxi nodded firmly: "Yes."

She could clearly 'see' that a large amount of fire spiritual energy was rampaging inside Duke Zhu's body, but under the impact of the fire spiritual energy, Duke Zhu's spirit root was constantly being torn apart while simultaneously being constantly repaired.

The reason for this situation must be that he had taken some extraordinary heavenly treasure.

Furthermore, above his dantian floated a square jade seal, surrounded by a precious light, forcefully suppressing the surging and churning dantian qi sea below.

At this moment, Duke Zhu might be feeling very uncomfortable, but he was definitely not in life-threatening danger.

Hua Changxi was also thinking that the invasion of such dense fire spiritual energy into Duke Zhu's body could not be the work of human power; it was most likely related to the previous explosion of the Artifact Saint Palace's mountain-protecting formation.

Apart from the people of the Shura Sect, the disaster suffered by the Artifact Saint Palace this time probably also involved nobility.

Duke Zhu was a relative of the Empress Dowager's family, so it could be inferred that the imperial family was certainly involved as well.

Thinking of this, a hint of sarcasm flashed through Hua Changxi's eyes.

Previously, when the four sacred grounds recruited disciples and out-of-town cultivators entered the capital, the imperial family put on a pretense that the capital would be thrown into turmoil by the influx of out-of-town cultivators.

But what was the fact?

After the out-of-town cultivators entered the capital, everything was calm; instead, it was the capital's nobles who caused the great chaos at the Artifact Saint Palace, leading to countless injuries, deaths, and displacements.

Duke Zhu felt that Prince Shou's assessment of Hua Changxi was correct—she was unruly, disregarding norms and fearing neither others nor heaven. He suddenly couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Without even diagnosing, you know this duke's injury?"

Hua Changxi's smile did not fade: "Observation, auscultation, interrogation, and palpation are the basic skills of a physician."

Hearing this, Duke Zhu's expression changed; he put away his smile and didn't speak.

Hua Changxi also knew that with Duke Zhu here, even if he yielded to the people behind him, they probably wouldn't dare to actually step ahead of him to seek treatment. She added: "The reason Dan Yuan Peak does not treat Nascent Soul cultivators is, first, that we believe Nascent Soul cultivators all possess self-protection abilities, and second, because the disciples of Dan Yuan Peak, including myself, cannot refine fourth-grade pills."

"The most I can do is diagnose the condition; prescribing medicine and treating—I have the will but not the ability."

Duke Zhu laughed: "Everyone says Peak Master Hua's alchemy skills are superb, yet you say you can't refine fourth-grade pills. Are you joking?"

Hua Changxi looked at him: "If I can, I can. If I can't, I can't."

Duke Zhu saw that her expression was serious and didn't seem fake, furrowed his brows, then stopped maintaining his amiable image and sat down directly.

"Please, Peak Master Hua, treat this Duke. As long as you are quick, you won't keep those behind waiting too long."

He wanted to see if Hua Changxi truly showed no regard for the royal family's face.

Hua Changxi looked at him. "No need for treatment."

Hearing this, the Duke's face darkened abruptly, and Lu Lifeng immediately assumed a posture ready to strike at any moment.

Just as the bystanders gasped, Hua Changxi continued, "Duke, rampant fire spiritual energy is ravaging your body, yet you have a metal spiritual root. Fire overcomes metal."

His condition exposed accurately, Duke Zhu's anger faded. He looked at Hua Changxi with some surprise. "You only glanced at me and understood my injuries?"

Hua Changxi: "I said that observation, auscultation, inquiry, and pulse-taking are the fundamental skills of a physician."

Duke Zhu fell silent. "Then, in Peak Master Hua's view, is there a way to completely cure these injuries?"

Hua Changxi: "If I must say, Duke might as well just disperse your cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Duke Zhu's face darkened again.

Lu Lifeng pointed directly at Hua Changxi and rebuked, "Hua Changxi, what are you plotting by harming the Duke in such a way?"

Hua Changxi didn't even look at Lu Lifeng, only addressing Duke Zhu directly: "If you come seeking medical treatment but don't trust the doctor, you might as well not have come at all."

"Duke, I truly cannot do anything about your injuries. Please seek another better physician."

Duke Zhu was silent for a moment, then stood up.

Just as Hua Changxi thought he and Lu Lifeng were about to leave, a fierce clash suddenly erupted from the direction of the Demon Suppression Army camp.

"Not good!"

Duke Zhu and Lu Lifeng both changed expression, then flew one after another toward the Demon Suppression Army camp.

"What happened?"

Everyone looked around in confusion. Hua Changxi also furrowed her brow, but since it involved the Demon Suppression Army, she didn't intend to go watch the commotion.

However, the next moment, she saw Jing Liao and Yan Zhenzhen rush over there with several monks.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi realized something was wrong. She said a word to the injured patients seeking treatment and quickly followed.

By the time she reached the fighting scene, several monks were already suspended in mid-air, their mouths continuously opening and closing. The Buddhist sounds they emitted carried a strange penetrating force, like a massive boulder pressing down, causing everyone's mind and spirit to tremble.

The Nascent Soul cultivators who had been fiercely battling earlier, now pinned down by the Demon Suppression Army, were gradually calming down. The crimson in their eyes was slowly fading.

Eyes bloodshot...

This was a sign of demonic possession!

Hua Changxi looked closely and indeed saw that the suppressed cultivators had vigorous black flames burning on their Nascent Souls above their dantian.

"Why are you here?"

Jing Liao was chanting spells. Yan Zhenzhen saw Hua Changxi and walked over.

Hua Changxi looked at her: "I saw you all coming, so I followed." She paused. "Do you know who these people are?"

Yan Zhenzhen's eyes flickered, and she transmitted her voice: "The sect-protecting grand formation of the Artifact Saint Palace was destroyed. These people did it. The royal family dispatched eight people, each of the eight great Duke mansions sent two, and all the Marquis and Earl mansions in the capital together sent thirty."

Hua Changxi quickly surveyed the scene. Apart from the Demon Suppression Army and Jing Liao and the other monks, there were more than thirty Nascent Soul cultivators present.

"The numbers don't add up, right?"

Yan Zhenzhen laughed scornfully: "You don't think that when the Artifact Saint Palace's grand formation was destroyed, no one died, do you? It's said that over twenty Nascent Soul cultivators died."

Hua Changxi was silent for a moment: "The foundations of the royal family and the noble clans are indeed profound, to have nurtured so many Nascent Soul cultivators."

Yan Zhenzhen: "Before the great battle at Five Finger Mountain, the spiritual energy resurgence was kept secret. The royal family and noble clans almost monopolized all cultivation resources and training grounds. How could their foundations not be deep?"

She paused.

"Do you know about the Kunlun Secret Realm?"

Hua Changxi shook her head.

Yan Zhenzhen: "When the Kunlun Secret Realm first appeared, the royal family and various noble clans sent many people in. It is said that cultivation inside the secret realm was several times faster than outside."

"Not long ago, the Star Observation Pavilion's master divined that the Kunlun Secret Realm would soon open again. When those cultivators who entered earlier come out, it is estimated that not a few will have advanced to the Lingtai stage."

Hua Changxi was truly stunned: "Is it that exaggerated? Isn't cultivation very difficult? Doesn't it require the mind to keep up?"

Yan Zhenzhen looked at her: "What place is Kunlun Mountain? It is a sacred ground for cultivation, a sacred ground for comprehending the Dao. Within the Kunlun Secret Realm, there is a Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, specifically designed to assist cultivators in opening their Lingtai. My master told me that if I were delayed in opening my Lingtai, he would send me into the Kunlun Secret Realm."

Hua Changxi didn't know what expression to make. She felt that she herself was already someone who had cheated, but unexpectedly, others were not far behind.

Mastering information gaps and seizing scarce resources could all be considered forms of cheating.

As for her cheat, it came from the Divine Farmer's Cauldron. Thinking about it now, the Divine Farmer's Cauldron merely allowed her to inherit a complete alchemy inheritance and improved her alchemy skills. Compared to other cheats, it actually had little advantage.