Chapter 959: An Dong

But Qian Kun Da Shi is still Qian Kun Da Shi.

Many of Jing Yan's operations were incomprehensible, but by merely recounting the scene and details of the surgery he performed with Chen Qing on Lin Ling, combined with Lin Ling's current physical condition, Qian Kun Da Shi could instantly understand.

As a result, Jing Yan finally exhaled in relief.

After clearly explaining the surgical procedure and certain details, he was discarded like trash, left aside by Qian Kun Da Shi.

Fortunately, Jing Yan was happy to have some peace—he wasn't a professional, and most of Qian Kun Da Shi's techniques were beyond his understanding; he only knew that Qian Kun Da Shi had stuck countless Silver needles into Lin Ling and burned something like moxibustion, pressing hard on acupoints until the flesh sizzled.

Watching Qian Kun Da Shi operate was indeed a pleasure.

That man, standing at the pinnacle of Qing Guo's medical art, moved with effortless fluidity, precise down to the finest detail, as if forged by a thousand hammer blows—his hands steady not like a human's, but like a precision instrument performing its task.

But after watching too long, it became tedious, for Qian Kun Da Shi seemed to have no pause, no rest, as if he could not stop once he began.

On a whim, he opened his friend list and glanced—his eyelid twitched.

There, Chen Qing's avatar had lit up again.

Without a moment's hesitation, he shot to his feet.

Amid the stunned expressions of others, Jing Yan had already dashed out of the inn.

Yet just as he stepped outside, Chen Qing's avatar dimmed.

But Jing Yan did not return to the inn—he stood there, staring blankly upward at the horizon.

At the edge of the horizon, a vast, boundless Black Cloud was rolling across the sky, descending upon Jingcheng like a tidal wave.

"What the hell is that?"

Jing Yan was bewildered—when suddenly, the massive Black Cloud crossed Jingcheng's boundary, and with a sharp *zī* explosion, countless illusory patterns flickered into existence across the sky—a protective array.

Jing Yan's heart eased slightly.

He'd almost forgotten—he was no longer in Gu Yue Cun, some backwater village; this was Jingcheng, the capital, whose protective array couldn't possibly be breached by any oddity…

*BANG! *

In an instant, black lightning exploded around him—the illusory patterns in midair shattered like a mirror, exploding into fragments that rained down.

The massive Black Cloud resumed its advance, sweeping over the entire city!

Jing Yan's thoughts froze—he widened his eyes, terror flooding his chest.

What the hell is that…?!

Startled, Jing Yan turned and sprinted back into the inn.

"Disaster! Jingcheng—"

"Aaaahhhhh!"

Jing Yan's shout and Lin Ling's scream erupted simultaneously.

Upon closer look, Jing Yan saw Lin Ling, half-naked, had sat up on the table—his body bristling with countless Silver needles, each one oozing black blood.

"Lin Ling—he…"

As Jing Yan spoke, Lin Ling's scream cut off abruptly—his grotesque expression vanished, and his tightly shut eyes slowly opened.

"Captain Lin?" You Sisi asked nervously.

"Phew, looks like his life is saved," Qian Kun Da Shi exhaled deeply.

Amid the attention of all, Lin Ling spoke slowly: "I am Han Bai."

Lord Han?!

The crowd was not shocked—they were elated. If Lord Han was alive, then Lin Ling was alive.

"Lord Han, how do you feel?"

"Seventy to eighty percent recovered. I can sense 【Cheng Yue Dan】 and 【Da Lu Meng Dan】—special pills reserved for Qing Guo's imperial family—flowing through my body. How did you get these pills…?"

Though Lord Han was asking You Sisi and the others, his gaze was fixed on Qian Kun Da Shi.

"Lord Han, this is Qian Kun Da Shi—the best physician in Jingcheng. He's the one who healed your injuries," You Sisi quickly introduced him.

Lord Han did not know Qian Kun Da Shi—his time in Jingcheng had never overlapped with Qian Kun Da Shi's years studying at Qian Yao Palace; they had never met.

But during his years in seclusion in Gu Yue Cun, he had heard rumors of a miraculous physician emerging in Jingcheng—though the man was far away, he had no reason to travel there. Besides, the deeper layers of 【Yuhan zhi shi】 were beyond even the Qian Yao Palace's master to resolve; only by breaking through to Immortality could one have a sliver of hope.

Lord Han's character needed no explanation.

Immediately, he bowed deeply to Qian Kun Da Shi.

"Qian Kun Da Shi, your grace cannot be repaid in words. I have nothing of value on me now, but when I find something precious, I will come to your door to thank you for saving my life…"

As Lord Han spoke, his expression suddenly changed—he spun around and slammed his palm upward at the ceiling.

*BANG! *

With Lord Han's motion, a violent airwave erupted midair, blowing tables flying and shattering the ceiling into a gaping hole.

What happened?!

You Sisi, flung by the airwave, landed on the ground and immediately looked up—her pupils contracted sharply.

Through the broken ceiling, the Black Cloud above rumbled with thunder.

Illuminated by the lightning, a semi-illusory girl's figure hovered in midair, one finger piercing Lord Han's palm, extending unnaturally to pierce his forehead.

Behind her grew a colossal, shadowy tree rooted in her body, stretching straight to the heavens!

Like… the World Tree!

"No… impossible…"

"A, An Dong'er?!"

Hearing Jing Yan's stunned, frozen voice, You Sisi froze—she… was An Dong'er?

Ye Se had been searching for his adopted sister, An Dong'er?

While everyone stood stunned, Lord Han suddenly roared.

"Run!"

Before anyone could react, a violent gust of energy erupted from Lord Han, shattering the entire inn with a boom—

Like a ton-scale bomb detonating at its center, the inn exploded violently.

Amid flying wood splinters, You Sisi felt the world spin wildly; her body was flung far away by the furious energy wave, and in the next instant, her chest seared with pain as she froze midair.

Confused, she looked down and saw a glowing branch piercing through her chest; following the branch forward, its end connected unmistakably to the enormous spiritual tree behind An Dong'er!

As the branch lifted her high, her vision shot upward—and she saw below, on the second branch, hanging Jing Yan, Niu Niu, Waizui Xiaowang, Ye Shao, and… Chen Qing!

That Chen Qing, whom they had searched for day and night, was also hanging from that very branch!

While You Sisi was stunned, the others gradually came to their senses.

"Chen Qing?! So you were here all along!"

"Aaaah, Brother Niu, what is this?! Why are we hanging from the tree?!"

"I'm hanging from a southeast branch—what do I do?! Online and waiting, it's urgent!"

Ye Shao, whether due to some mental deficiency or not, still had the nerve to crack a joke—but when You Sisi looked closely…

Holy shit! Damn it, it's the Lost Refugee's Soul-Dodging Technique—his eyes had lost all luster, his soul gone from his body!

(End of Chapter)