Chapter 90: Evil Heart Master

"That's right! Just one finger, and he instantly opened a profound opening! This is clearly the legendary 'One-Finger Profound Opening'! My heavens! I never imagined I'd be lucky enough to witness this ultimate medical technique in my lifetime!" an old physician exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement.

"It's said that Gu Qiuhong, the Azure Wind Empire's foremost physician, can open three profound openings — Kui Shui, Zi Que, and Xin Men — in profound practitioners. But even he absolutely cannot achieve 'One-Finger Profound Opening'! This man... he is very likely a peerless divine physician who surpasses Gu Qiuhong!"

Seeing the physicians' excited faces and trembling eyes, their emotions almost out of control, Xiao Tiannan frowned and asked, "'One-Finger Profound Opening'—what does that mean?"

Xiao Baicao, the chief elder physician of the sect's Pill & Medicine Hall, stepped forward and explained, "Sect Master, as you are not involved in medicine, you may not know. This 'One-Finger Profound Opening' is the ultimate medical art. With just one finger, it can quickly open a profound practitioner's profound opening! You naturally know how difficult and dangerous it is to open profound openings postnatally. Unless one possesses an unparalleled mastery of human anatomy and medical principles, it's absolutely impossible. Even across the entire Profound Sky Continent, there are no more than five peerless physicians who can achieve 'One-Finger Profound Opening'! Although I have practiced medicine for many years and consider myself well-versed in medical theory, I wouldn't dare dream of mastering such an extreme technique in my lifetime."

"Zai He had always wanted to open his Shoulder Well Profound Opening but never succeeded. Yet, this divine physician, with just one finger, in a mere few breaths, directly opened Zai He's Shoulder Well Profound Opening! This kind of miraculous skill is 'One-Finger Profound Opening'!" As Xiao Baicao spoke, his gaze involuntarily turned to Yun Che, his eyes filled with shock and reverence.

"What?! There's such a miraculous skill?" Xiao Tiannan was greatly moved. "Then... if this divine physician is willing, couldn't he open all the profound openings in a profound practitioner, giving birth to the legendary Heavenly Spirit Divine Veins?"

"Haha, of course, that's impossible," Xiao Baicao replied, shaking his head. "Physicians generally cultivate less profound energy, so their lifespans are often not long. To open one profound opening over a hundred years is already enough to be proud of for a lifetime. Gu Qiuhong, the Medical Saint of Azure Wind Imperial City, is now 160 years old and has opened three profound openings — Kui Shui, Zi Que, and Xin Men — over a hundred years. Such an achievement is rare in a millennium, and given more time, he should also reach the realm of 'One-Finger Profound Opening.' As far as I know, the physician with the highest medical attainment on the Profound Sky Continent today has opened a total of six profound openings. If a profound practitioner hasn't opened these six profound openings innately, and gains this divine physician's favor, they could directly open six more profound openings postnatally. But this is already the limit achievable on this continent. What the Sect Master mentioned—opening all profound openings postnatally to achieve the legendary Heavenly Spirit Divine Veins—is fundamentally impossible and beyond the power of mortals."

Gongsun Xiu could no longer contain himself. He stepped forward and respectfully asked, "Divine physician, you just mentioned you recently arrived in the Azure Wind Empire... Could it be that you are not from our Azure Wind Empire?"

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Yun Che... Indeed. If a divine physician with such miraculous skill were from the Azure Wind Empire, his name would surely have already resonated throughout the land. No one in the Azure Wind Empire had ever heard of a divine physician possessing such a skill. It seemed this divine physician was definitely not from the Azure Wind Empire.

Yun Che smiled faintly and said calmly, "I am from the Divine Phoenix Empire. I traveled to the Azure Wind Empire a month ago and only arrived in New Moon City this morning."

The Divine Phoenix Empire?!

Everyone was startled once more. The Divine Phoenix Empire, the largest nation on the Profound Sky Continent, boasted a territory twice the size of all other six nations combined. Its national power was immense, standing proudly like a mighty lion at the center of the Profound Sky Continent. Although the other six nations were independent, they formally deferred to it.

With its vast territory, the Divine Phoenix Empire naturally produced countless talents. It surpassed the Azure Wind Empire in many aspects, by several levels. Comparing the Azure Wind Empire to the Divine Phoenix Empire was like comparing Floating Cloud City to Azure Wind Imperial City—they were hardly comparable. The citizens of the Azure Wind Empire had always harbored a sense of awe, slight or profound, towards the Divine Phoenix Empire.

"So, you are a divine physician from the Divine Phoenix Empire," Gongsun Xiu said, his posture becoming even more respectful. "May I... may I ask your esteemed name?"

"My surname is Huangfu," Yun Che replied leisurely.

"Huangfu..." Gongsun Xiu paused for a moment, then, after a few seconds, his face suddenly showed surprise as he stammered, "Could it be... could it be Senior Huangfu He, the 'Evil Heart Saint Hand' from the Divine Phoenix Empire?"

The moment the name "Huangfu He" was uttered, it was as if a bolt of lightning struck again. All the physicians present gaped, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.

Yun Che's heart immediately began to pound... *Huh? Oh crap! Is there actually such a person? I even specifically picked an incredibly obscure compound surname!*

Yun Che had claimed to be from the Divine Phoenix Empire to conceal his identity. Firstly, there was no "divine physician" like him in the Azure Wind Empire. Secondly, it would make it impossible for the Xiao Sect to trace him. Even if they actually went to the Divine Phoenix Empire to investigate, they wouldn't get results for at least ten days to half a month, by which time he would have long since slipped away.

However, he hadn't expected that there actually seemed to be a divine physician with the compound surname Huangfu in the Divine Phoenix Empire. And his reputation seemed immense, famous even among physicians in small cities like those in the Azure Wind Empire.

Yun Che, stroking his long beard, could only steel himself and say, "Oh? I didn't expect someone in the Azure Wind Empire to know my name. Yes, I am Huangfu He. As for the title 'Evil Heart Saint Hand,' haha, let's not dwell on it."

The moment he said this, the entire Pill & Medicine Hall erupted. All the physicians went wild.

Sun Hong immediately rushed forward, almost kneeling on the ground, incoherent with excitement. "So... so Senior is actually 'Evil Heart Saint Hand' Senior Huangfu! This junior was blind earlier to have spoken so disrespectfully. I am utterly ashamed. I humbly ask Senior Huangfu to overlook this junior's transgression."

"This old man has actually witnessed the legendary Evil Heart Saint Hand with his own eyes! And received personal guidance from Senior Huangfu! This life has truly not been lived in vain!" Gongsun Xiu exclaimed, overwhelmed with emotion.

"No wonder he can achieve One-Finger Profound Opening, so miraculous! It turns out he is the world-renowned Senior Huangfu!"

"I've actually met the legendary Evil Heart Saint Hand! Is this... is this a dream?! If I could get even one word of advice from Senior Huangfu, it would be worth more than a lifetime of medical study!"

"It is said that Senior Huangfu's medical skills are unparalleled, and his conduct is unconventional, following his whims. Seeing him today, the rumors are indeed true."

Yun Che still held the small, tattered flag. But now, when the physicians looked at it, no one showed mockery or disdain. Instead, their gazes were fervent, as if they were revering a sacred artifact... It was rumored that Huangfu He was called the 'Evil Heart Saint Hand' because of his eccentric personality; he treated patients entirely based on his mood. Sometimes he was utterly serious, sometimes irascibly temperamental, sometimes completely mad. And as a divine physician of his generation, only the Evil Heart Saint Hand would dare to carry such a flag and practice medicine on the streets! Or rather, this perfectly aligned with the Evil Heart Saint Hand's habits. Those sixteen domineering characters, that rhyming, supremely eloquent text, those crooked strokes seemingly containing peerless medical principles, especially the last four characters—who else but the Evil Heart Saint Hand would have the audacity to utter such powerfully arrogant words!

Xiao Baicao's face was flushed red as he excitedly said to Xiao Tiannan, "Congratulations, Sect Master! Truly, heaven smiles upon our Xiao Sect! The Young Sect Master is saved this time! This senior is none other than the renowned 'Evil Heart Saint Hand' Huangfu He. If he is willing to act, the Young Sect Master will surely be safe and sound!"

"Is this 'Evil Heart Saint Hand' truly such a formidable divine physician?" Xiao Tiannan was hearing the title "Evil Heart Saint Hand" for the first time, but observing the reactions of Xiao Baicao and the other physicians in the hall, he knew this person was absolutely an extraordinary figure in the medical world, perhaps even on par with, or surpassing, Gu Qiuhong, the Azure Wind Empire's foremost divine physician.

"Senior Huangfu is not just a divine physician; he is practically a medical saint!" Xiao Baicao said, brimming with excitement. The name 'Evil Heart Saint Hand' had previously only existed in legends, and he had never dared to dream of seeing his true form. To unexpectedly be in the same room today, his inner turmoil was immense. "It is rumored that Senior Huangfu appears to be only forty or fifty years old, with no gray hairs in his head or beard, and he cultivates almost no profound energy. But Sect Master, do you know how old he is this year? He is over five hundred years old!"

"What?! No profound energy cultivation... yet he can live over five hundred years and still look so young?" Xiao Tiannan was greatly astonished. He had just probed, and this "Evil Heart Saint Hand's" profound energy cultivation was only at the Nascent Profound Realm.

"Exactly. This alone shows how astounding his medical skills are—truly peerless! It is said that anyone he agrees to save, no matter if their body is crippled and internal organs shattered, as long as they still have a breath of life, he can save them. And he has never failed once. The Young Sect Master's injuries are extremely severe, but in his eyes, they likely count as only minor injuries. He has already stated that to treat the Young Sect Master's wounds, he won't even need Purple Vein Sky Crystals!"

"Although the Young Sect Master has suffered a great calamity, he immediately received rescue from this heaven-sent divine physician, proving that his fate is not to be crippled! Such a divine physician has opened at least five, possibly even six, profound openings! If we can gain his favor, and he applies his sacred hand after the Young Sect Master's recovery, the Young Sect Master could open at least five more profound openings. At that point, even within the main sect, his talent would leap into the upper echelons. Even starting from scratch, his future achievements would far surpass his past... Thus, this calamity will not only *not* doom the Young Sect Master's latter half of life, but he will also gain blessings from misfortune!"

The more Xiao Baicao spoke, the more excited he became, and Xiao Tiannan grew increasingly agitated, his hands trembling. But he managed to maintain some composure and asked in a low voice, "This Evil Heart Saint Hand only exists in legends, and no one has ever seen him. What if he's a fake?"

"Absolutely impossible!" Xiao Baicao shook his head, utterly convinced. "If he had entered and immediately claimed to be Huangfu He, I would never have believed him. But there are no more than five people in the entire world who possess the miraculous skill of 'One-Finger Profound Opening'! And the Evil Heart Saint Hand is one of them. At such a level, why would he stoop to impersonating others? Furthermore, look at the flag he's carrying; it's extremely peculiar, which perfectly aligns with the Evil Heart Saint Hand's eccentric habits."

Considering Xiao Tiannan's temperament, Xiao Baicao continued, "However, I know the Sect Master is always cautious, especially when it concerns the Young Sect Master's safety. How about this: I will immediately send someone to the Black Moon Merchant Guild to purchase intelligence from the Divine Phoenix Empire. Sending a message to the Divine Phoenix Empire is extremely costly, but if it buys us peace of mind, it is well worth it. If the information we receive indicates that Huangfu He is *not* within the Divine Phoenix Empire, then this person is indeed Huangfu He without a doubt. If he *is* still within the Divine Phoenix Empire, then this person is very likely a fraud... Of course, that possibility is virtually nonexistent. Even if, by some million-to-one chance, he truly isn't Huangfu He, possessing such a miraculous medical skill means he is certainly no weaker than Huangfu He!"

"Good! Go quickly!" Xiao Tiannan urged. In truth, after hearing Xiao Baicao's words, he had no reason to doubt the authenticity of this "Evil Heart Saint Hand." Yet, since no one had actually seen the "Evil Heart Saint Hand" before, even after witnessing his "One-Finger Profound Opening" skill, a lingering sense of uncertainty remained in his heart.

"I will send someone to the Black Moon Merchant Guild right away... Oh, and Sect Master, you must treat Senior Huangfu with the utmost respect and courtesy. I've heard that when he treats people, he cares not for money or power; it's entirely based on his mood. If he's in a good mood, he'll treat completely, without taking a single penny. If he's in a bad mood, even with ten thousand gold, pleading on bended knee, or a knife to his throat, he absolutely will not lift a hand. The Young Sect Master's future now completely hinges on him."

Xiao Baicao solemnly advised before leaving.