Chapter 322: One Mount is Stronger Than the Next

The middle-aged general was a Battalion Commander under Chu Junling, the Right General of the Demon-Suppressing Army, named Lu Lifeng.

Lu Lifeng had already experienced Hua Changxi's arrogance earlier; bringing over the white-haired, youthful-looking cultivator, he immediately announced their status: "This is the Duke of Cheng'en—Duke Zhu."

Hua Changxi knew a little about the imperial family; the current Empress bore the surname Wu, while this Duke of Cheng'en before her bore the surname Zhu, suggesting he was kin to the Empress Dowager.

As kin to the Empress Dowager and holding the title of Duke, his status was exceedingly noble, so why would he appear in this place?

And suffering severe injuries at that!

Hua Changxi glanced at Duke Zhu; the Duke's condition was far from optimistic. He possessed a Metal Spirit Root, yet his spirit root and dantian were flooded with dense Fire spiritual energy.

Everyone knew that Fire overcomes Metal!

"Thank you for your efforts, Peak Master Hua."

Compared to Lu Lifeng's earlier attitude, Duke Zhu was remarkably amiable.

Hua Changxi smiled and said, "Your Grace is too polite."

Just as everyone else expected Hua Changxi to begin treating Duke Zhu, her gaze swept past him to the injured patients seeking treatment behind him, her expression turning troubled.

"I am honored by Your Grace's high regard, but everything follows the order of arrival; these people have already queued for a long time."

Having spoken, Hua Changxi said no more, only smiling as she looked at Duke Zhu.

True approachability does not mean harming others to benefit oneself; a public image is easy to fake, but true character is revealed through actions.

"Hua Changxi, do not go too far!"

Before Duke Zhu could react, Lu Lifeng could no longer contain himself and roared at Hua Changxi.

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

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

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

Duke Zhu's eyes flashed: "So, Peak Master Hua believes my injuries are not serious?"

Hua Changxi nodded affirmatively: "Yes."

She could clearly 'see' that massive amounts of Fire spiritual energy were raging within Duke Zhu's body, yet under their violent assault, his spirit root was being constantly torn apart while simultaneously being constantly repaired.

Such a situation could only arise because he had consumed some extraordinary heavenly treasure.

Furthermore, hovering above his dantian was a square jade seal, wreathed in precious light, forcefully suppressing the surging sea of qi below.

At this moment, Duke Zhu might be suffering greatly, but he was absolutely not in life-threatening danger.

Hua Changxi was also thinking that for such dense Fire spiritual energy to invade Duke Zhu's body was beyond human capability; nine times out of ten, it was related to the earlier explosion of the Qisheng Palace's mountain-protecting formation.

Besides the Asura Sect, nobles and officials were likely involved in the disaster that befell Qisheng Palace this time.

Since Duke Zhu was kin to the Empress Dowager, one could infer that the imperial family was certainly involved.

Thinking thus, a trace of sarcasm flashed through Hua Changxi's eyes.

Previously, when the Four Sacred Lands were recruiting disciples and cultivators from outside the capital were entering Jingcheng, the imperial family had acted as if the influx would cause turmoil in the capital.

But what was the reality?

After the outside cultivators entered the capital, all was calm; instead, it was the capital's nobles who caused the great chaos at Qisheng Palace, resulting in countless casualties and displacements.

Duke Zhu felt that Prince Shou's evaluation of Hua Changxi was correct—disregarding moral codes, acknowledging neither others nor heaven—and suddenly could not help but laugh aloud: "You haven't even examined me, yet you already know the extent of my injuries?"

Hua Changxi's smile did not fade: "Observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking are the basic skills of any physician."

Hearing this, Duke Zhu's expression changed slightly; he withdrew his smile and fell silent.

Hua Changxi also knew that with Duke Zhu present, even if he yielded to those behind him, they would likely not dare to truly jump ahead to seek treatment, so she added: "The reason Danyuan Peak does not treat Nascent Soul cultivators is twofold: first, we believe Nascent Soul cultivators possess the ability to protect themselves; second, neither the disciples of Danyuan Peak nor I can refine fourth-grade pills."

"The most I can do is diagnose the condition; as for prescribing treatments and such, I have the heart but lack the power."

Duke Zhu laughed: "Everyone says Peak Master Hua's pill-refining skills are superb, yet you claim you cannot refine fourth-grade pills; are you joking?"

Hua Changxi looked at him: "If I can, I can; if I cannot, I cannot."

Seeing her serious expression, which did not seem feigned, Duke Zhu frowned slightly, then dropped his amiable facade and sat down directly.

"Please examine me, Peak Master Hua; as long as you are quick, you will not make those behind wait too long."

He wanted to see for himself whether Hua Changxi truly cared nothing for the imperial family's face.

Hua Changxi looked at him: "No examination is needed."

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

Just as the surrounding crowd gasped in shock, Hua Changxi continued: "Fire spiritual energy rages within Your Grace's body, yet you possess a Metal Spirit Root; Fire overcomes Metal."

With his injuries accurately identified, the anger on Duke Zhu's face vanished, and he looked at Hua Changxi with some surprise: "You merely glanced at me and already understood my injuries?"

Hua Changxi said: "I already stated that observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking are the basic skills of a physician."

Duke Zhu fell silent: "Then, in Peak Master Hua's opinion, is there a method to completely cure my injuries?"

Hua Changxi said: "If you ask me, Your Grace might as well scatter your cultivation."

Hearing this, Duke Zhu's face darkened again.

Lu Lifeng pointed directly at Hua Changxi and scolded: "Hua Changxi, plotting to harm the Duke like this, what are your intentions?"

Hua Changxi did not even look at Lu Lifeng, speaking only to Duke Zhu: "If you come seeking treatment but do not trust the physician, then you simply should not have come to our door in the first place."

"Your Grace, I am truly powerless regarding your injuries; please seek someone more capable."

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

Just as Hua Changxi thought he and Lu Lifeng were about to leave, fierce sounds of combat suddenly erupted from the direction of the Demon-Suppressing Army camp.

"Not good!"

Duke Zhu and Lu Lifeng's expressions changed simultaneously, and they flew toward the Demon-Suppressing Army camp one after the other.

"What has happened?"

Everyone looked around at each other in confusion; Hua Changxi also frowned, but since it concerned the Demon-Suppressing Army, she had no intention of going to watch the commotion.

However, the next moment, she saw Jing, Yan Zhenzhen, and several monks swiftly flying in that direction.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi realized something was wrong; she told the injured patient seeking treatment a few words, then quickly followed.

By the time she reached the scene of the fight, several monks were already seated suspended in midair, their mouths opening and closing incessantly, emitting Buddhist sounds with a strange penetrating power that pressed down like ten thousand jun of stone, making one's spirit tremble.

Those Nascent Soul cultivators who had been fighting fiercely earlier were now pinned to the ground by the Demon-Suppressing Army; they had gradually calmed, the scarlet hue in their eyes slowly fading.

Eyes red as blood...

This was a sign of demonic deviation!

Hua Changxi focused her gaze and indeed saw that on the Nascent Souls of the suppressed cultivators, located above their dantian sea of qi, vigorous black flames were burning.

"How did you come to be here?"

While Jingliao was chanting mantras, Yan Zhenzhen spotted Hua Changxi and walked over.

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

Yan Zhenzhen's eyes flashed; she transmitted her voice: "It was this group that destroyed the mountain-protecting great formation of the Artifact Sage Palace. The imperial house dispatched eight people, each of the eight Duke's Prefectures sent two, and all the Marquis's and Count's Prefectures in the capital together contributed thirty."

Hua Changxi quickly scanned the people present; apart from the Demon-Suppressing Army and monks like Jingliao, there were still more than thirty Nascent Soul realm cultivators on site.

"The numbers don't add up?"

Yan Zhenzhen snorted with laughter: "You wouldn't think that the destruction of the Artifact Sage Palace's mountain-protecting great formation happened without casualties, would you? Rumor has it that more than twenty Nascent Soul cultivators died."

Hua Changxi fell silent for a moment: "The foundation of the imperial house and the noble families is truly profound, to have cultivated so many Nascent Soul cultivators."

Yan Zhenzhen said: "Before the great battle at Mount Wuzhi, the matter of spiritual qi recovering was kept secret; the imperial house and noble families monopolized almost all cultivation resources and cultivation grounds. How could their foundation not be profound?"

She paused.

"Do you know about the Mount Kunlun Secret Realm?"

Hua Changxi shook her head.

Yan Zhenzhen said: "When the Mount Kunlun Secret Realm first appeared in the world, the imperial house and the major noble families sent quite a few people inside. It is said that cultivating within the secret realm is several times more effective than cultivating outside."

"Not long ago, the Master of the Star-Gazing Tower divined that the Mount Kunlun Secret Realm is about to open again. Once those cultivators who entered back then emerge, it is estimated that no small number will have advanced to the Spirit Platform realm."

Hua Changxi was truly stunned: "Is it that exaggerated? Isn't cultivation very difficult? Doesn't it require one's state of mind to keep pace?"

Yan Zhenzhen looked at her: "What kind of place is Mount Kunlun? It is a holy land of cultivation, a holy land for comprehending the Dao. Within the Mount Kunlun Secret Realm lies a place called Spirit Platform Square-Inch Mountain, specifically designed to assist cultivators in opening their Spirit Platforms. My master told me that if I still cannot open my Spirit Platform after much delay, he will send me into the Mount Kunlun Secret Realm."

Hua Changxi did not know what expression to make; she felt she was already someone with a cheat, never expecting that others were equally well-equipped.

Controlling information gaps and seizing scarce resources both count as having a cheat.

As for her cheat, it came from the Shennong Cauldron; now that she thought about it, the Shennong Cauldron merely allowed her to inherit a complete alchemy transmission and improved her alchemy skills. Compared to other cheats, it actually offered little advantage.