Chapter 99: A Doctor's Parental Heart

Winds of Kyushu

A previous major battle with Dong Shuye had left him feeling powerless; facing the overwhelming force of high-level cultivators, it was incredibly difficult for low-level cultivators to survive.

However, if he had possessed a defensive spirit artifact at the time, he might not have suffered so badly. While the Imperial Guard Spirit Mark was effective, it drained too much spiritual power.

This small bell spirit artifact was undoubtedly a good defensive item, and Lu Ye wanted to claim it for himself. However, after obtaining it, he attempted to activate its power. Unfortunately, the artifact was resistant to external spiritual energy; when Lu Ye channeled his spiritual power into it, it was clearly repelled by some force.

The sensation was akin to trying to open a storage bag that didn't belong to him.

Thus, Lu Ye wondered if this item also had a restriction lock.

He dared not continue trying blindly. Previously, on Qingyun Mountain, he had attempted to open a storage bag, which triggered its restrictions and resulted in the bag being completely destroyed.

While the destruction of a low-level cultivator's storage bag wasn't a great loss, losing this small bell spirit artifact would be too regrettable.

The old cultivator gave Lu Ye a peculiar look, took the small bell spirit artifact, examined it briefly, and then handed it back.

Lu Ye stared at him, bewildered.

The old cultivator picked up the nearby teapot, took a sip, and then slowly asked, "Young friend, you're a rogue cultivator, aren't you?"

How did he discern that?

Following his lead, Lu Ye replied, "Yes."

The old cultivator nodded. "Rogue cultivators have it tough," he said. "Well, since you're quite straightforward, I'll teach you something useful." He pointed at the small bell spirit artifact in Lu Ye's hand. "Spirit artifacts are different from storage bags. Every restriction within a spirit artifact is extremely important, as it pertains to the artifact's quality. Therefore, generally, spirit artifacts won't have self-destructing restrictions, as that would diminish the artifact's inherent power, especially if its quality isn't high. Although your spirit artifact hasn't reached mid-grade yet, it's still a top-tier low-grade artifact. Its restrictions are primarily protective in nature. Do you understand now?"

Lu Ye carefully considered his words, then vaguely understood. "Sir," he asked, "does that mean this spirit artifact doesn't have a restriction lock?"

The old cultivator chuckled. "'Restriction lock' is just a term," he explained. "Restrictions themselves are a type of invisible lock. It's just that if some restrictions aren't cleverly undone, they can lead to unpredictable consequences, such as shattering or spontaneous combustion. But most restrictions don't possess this characteristic. Take the spirit artifact in your hand, for example; you just need to slowly infuse your your own spiritual power into those restrictions and nourish them. Naturally, you'll be able to control it as easily as an extension of your arm. You can't use it now because this spirit artifact still retains traces left by its previous owner."

Lu Ye was stunned, realizing then that he had misunderstood.

After obtaining the small bell spirit artifact, he had only attempted to use it briefly before giving up, primarily out of fear of repeating past mistakes. But now it seemed he had given up too soon.

This spirit artifact originally belonged to the Young Master of the Nine Star Sect. Having been nurtured by the Young Master with his own spiritual power, the various restrictions within it retained his traces, which naturally prevented Lu Ye from activating it.

However, if he erased those traces and then nourished it with his own spiritual power, he could make the artifact his own.

If the restrictions within a spirit artifact were compared to a lock, then the cultivator's spiritual power was the key. With the Young Master of the Nine Star Sect dead and the key lost, Lu Ye would have to use his own spiritual power to forge a new key for this artifact.

Everything became clear.

"Thank you, Sir," Lu Ye said, standing up to express his gratitude.

The old cultivator simply waved his hand and slowly resumed drinking his tea.

Stepping out of the Tianji Merchant Alliance, Lu Ye examined the Young Master's storage bag. Inside, he found over thirty Spirit Nurturing Pills, more than twenty spirit stones, and several bottles of medicinal pills that he didn't recognize. There were also some miscellaneous items, including women's clothing...

The clothing was all very thin and revealing, made with minimal fabric. Lu Ye could only sigh, thinking, "This Young Master certainly knew how to enjoy himself."

His gains weren't extensive, but he hadn't suffered a loss either.

He now possessed over 350 Spirit Nurturing Pills. Unfortunately, only the six largest pieces of primal magnetic ore remained, which left Lu Ye feeling somewhat melancholic. He had initially believed these ores would suffice for his cultivation to the ninth level of the Spirit Creek Realm, but it now seemed he had vastly overestimated.

After navigating several bustling streets, he arrived at a corner of the market.

Screams immediately reached his ears. Lu Ye looked intently and saw a makeshift tent set up nearby. Inside were a few cots, and on one, the burly Kong Niu was holding down a struggling male cultivator. Hua Ci, wearing a headscarf, was rapidly patting the man's abdomen with dazzling speed. With each pat, the man would scream, and occasionally, a jet of blood would spurt from the wound on his abdomen. The blood wasn't normal crimson; it was somewhat black.

It appeared the man had been poisoned.

This was Hua Ci's designated treatment spot in Liusu Market. Many heavily injured cultivators from the Haotian Alliance would come to her for treatment, and business seemed to be good today, as several injured individuals lay on cots, awaiting their turn. Each looked utterly miserable, and he wondered what they had all endured.

Each time the male cultivator being treated screamed, he would invariably cry out, "Mother!"

Hua Ci's medical skills were undoubtedly excellent, yet it was undeniable that her treatment methods were quite brutal. Lu Ye confirmed once more that she was the kind of woman who spoke the gentlest words while executing the most ruthless actions.

As he listened to the man's miserable wails, Lu Ye couldn't help but recall Hua Ci's previous joking remarks about healers. It seemed she hadn't been talking nonsense after all; someone really was calling her "Mother."

"I told you not to move, don't move!" Kong Niu forcefully held the man down, preventing him from breaking free.

The male cultivator cried, tears and snot streaming down his face, wailing, "Kill me! Just kill me!" His screams were chilling; anyone unfamiliar with the situation would surely think some inhumane torture was being conducted there.

After a good while, Hua Ci finally stopped. Her eyes immediately fell upon Lu Ye, who was standing by, watching the spectacle. She unceremoniously called out, "You over there, come help."

Lu Ye pointed to himself.

"Yes, you!" Hua Ci said, wiping the blood from her hands with a piece of cotton cloth.

Lu Ye reluctantly stepped forward. Hua Ci picked up a bowl of green medicinal liquid and gestured to the side, "Make him drink this."

Lu Ye took the medicinal liquid, and many unpleasant memories immediately surfaced in his mind. A smile played on his lips as he walked step by step towards the cultivator being treated.

Kong Niu was still holding the male cultivator down. The man, catching sight of Lu Ye approaching him step by step, suddenly, for some unknown reason, had a terrible premonition and struggled even more fiercely. "Let me go, quickly let me go!" he cried.

Lu Ye walked up, stood in front of the man, and smiled innocently. "Brother," he said, "it's time for your medicine..."

"I don't want it!" the male cultivator cried, his sense of dread intensifying as he shook his head from side to side.

Lu Ye gave Kong Niu a glance. Kong Niu immediately pinched the man's mouth shut, and Lu Ye then picked up the large bowl and poured its contents in.

"I... mmm-gurgle... don't... gurgle..." came muffled protests.