Chapter 1140: Qi Lao

Zhuo Dingfeng had previously brought a portrait of Zhang Xuan. However, Hall Master Xing dismissed it, considering Zhang Xuan to be merely the dean of a first-tier empire's academy and thus insignificant. He didn't even bother to look at it, instead instructing his subordinates to handle the arrangements. After all, someone of his standing would be utterly exhausted to death if he personally handled every single matter, no matter how powerful he was.

Now, the thought that Sun Qiang was of a similar age to Zhang Xuan made him somewhat suspicious. While this world certainly didn't lack geniuses, those as exceptionally gifted were rare. It seemed impossible for Qingyuan City to suddenly have two such individuals.

"I'll go look for him..."

Vice Hall Master Liao nodded and was about to leave when he suddenly saw Hall Master Xing frown, as if he had sensed something. A communication jade token appeared in Hall Master Xing's palm. After a quick scan with his spiritual sense, Hall Master Xing's eyes lit up, and his face flushed with excitement.

"What's wrong?" Vice Hall Master Liao looked over. The Hall Master usually kept his emotions well-hidden; such a drastic change surely meant something significant had occurred.

"Old Master Qi has returned!" Hall Master Xing clenched his fists.

"Old Master Qi? The Old Master Qi from the Physician Guild? He saved your life, but then vanished shortly after. I thought he had passed away..." Vice Hall Master Liao was also stunned.

Over twenty years ago, Hall Master Xing had been gravely wounded by the Otherworldly Demons, his primordial spirit damaged, leaving him comatose for three full years. Had it not been for Old Master Qi, he would have likely perished long ago. After Old Master Qi saved him, Hall Master Xing had wanted to express his sincere gratitude, but to his dismay, the old master had vanished without a trace, remaining uncontactable for over two decades. Even Hall Master Xing had felt profound disappointment, believing Old Master Qi was likely no longer alive... He never imagined he would actually return!

"Indeed! We can discuss the portrait later. Please help me prepare the necessary items as quickly as possible; I intend to visit him personally!" Hall Master Xing, with an excited expression, ordered. With his lifesaver reappearing, all other matters became secondary.

The two quickly made preparations, then hurried out of the Combat Master Hall. Before long, they arrived at the Physician Guild and successfully met Old Master Qi. Old Master Qi appeared much the same as before, though his aura seemed even more formidable.

"Congratulations, Old Master Qi, on breaking through to the Half-Primordial Spirit realm!" Hall Master Xing's eyes lit up, and he promptly cupped his fists in salute. After not seeing him for twenty years, Old Master Qi had not only shown no signs of physical decline but had also significantly increased his strength, which thrilled Hall Master Xing.

"Your strength has also advanced. Excellent, excellent!" Just as he had discerned Hall Master Xing's cultivation level, Hall Master Xing had naturally discerned his. Old Master Qi nodded with satisfaction.

"If Old Master Qi hadn't intervened to save me, I might still be in a coma..." Hall Master Xing sighed, then looked at him with a hint of confusion: "Old Master Qi, why did you suddenly leave without a word?"

"Sigh!" Hearing the question, Old Master Qi sighed, "It's a long story. I didn't leave willingly; I was poisoned and hunted, ultimately fleeing to a first-tier empire to survive. Otherwise, I would have certainly perished long ago!"

"Poisoned? Hunted?" Hall Master Xing's expression darkened, and a surge of killing intent emanated from his body. He knew Old Master Qi's character intimately: an upright and impartial man his entire life. Who would dare to attack him, especially right under the noses of the Master Teacher Pavilion and the Combat Master Hall?

"Who poisoned you? Does Old Master Qi know?" Hall Master Xing's gaze was cold.

"I've already guessed who it is, but... the implications are too vast for me to reveal just yet. I specifically summoned you here to discuss this, and also to seek temporary refuge in your Combat Master Hall. Once I've thoroughly consolidated my strength, we can then make further plans!" Old Master Qi said.

"Seek refuge? And at the Combat Master Hall?" Hall Master Xing's pupils contracted. Although Old Master Qi hadn't named the culprit, Hall Master Xing had already narrowed down the possibilities. Old Master Qi, currently at the Half-Primordial Spirit realm and a former Guild Master of the Physician Guild, still needed to seek refuge in the Combat Master Hall... It was likely that the person who poisoned him held a significant identity and status.

"Very well, you'll be safe at my place!" Hall Master Xing nodded with a solemn expression. The Combat Master Hall gathered the strongest combat power in the entire Qingyuan Empire. Not to mention that he had already reached the Primordial Spirit realm, even if he were still only at the Half-Primordial Spirit stage, any ordinary Primordial Spirit realm expert who dared to come would be guaranteed to never leave. Most crucially, the many grand halls within the Combat Master Hall were fortified with various powerful formations. Anyone who dared to attack would undoubtedly be seeking their own demise.

"Thank you, Hall Master Xing. After being poisoned and hunted this time, I truly believed I would never return. Had I not encountered a noble individual who saved my life, I fear we might never have met again..." Remembering his previous experiences, Old Master Qi couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Old Master Qi, your medical skills are so profound, yet you couldn't detoxify yourself... Could it be that this noble person you speak of possesses medical skills even greater than yours?" Hall Master Xing looked at him inquiringly. He knew Old Master Qi's medical skills intimately; if not the best in Qingyuan Empire, then certainly very close. For someone of Old Master Qi's caliber, who couldn't resolve a poisoning that lasted over twenty years, yet a noble person easily saved him... This person must be truly formidable!

"Compared to him, I am merely an ant to a divine dragon; there's simply no comparison. While this noble individual's combat strength may not be high, his discernment and medical skills are far beyond anything I can rival..." Remembering his benefactor, Old Master Qi's eyes showed admiration. When it came to medical skills, aside from his esteemed teacher, he had never truly held anyone in such high regard. Yet for that individual... no amount of respect felt excessive.

"May I know who this expert is?" Hearing him praise so much, Hall Master Xing couldn't help but ask.

"His name is Sun Qiang. I'm not entirely sure where he comes from..." Old Master Qi nodded and then looked at Hall Master Xing. "You have more connections. If you ever get the chance, please keep an eye out for him. If I could meet him again, I would want to thank him profusely..."

As he was explaining, he saw Hall Master Xing's eyes widen, and the latter couldn't help but frown. "What's wrong?" Old Master Qi asked.

"Today, a master teacher arrived at our Combat Master Hall, also named Sun Qiang. He... once claimed to be a physician! Is it... is he the one you mentioned?" Hall Master Xing couldn't help but blurt out. Earlier, when Sun Qiang offered to use poison to resolve Hall Master Xing's underlying issues, he had specifically stated that he was also a physician! Could it be... the same person?

"Also named Sun Qiang? What does he look like?" Old Master Qi was full of excitement and eagerly looked over.

If Zhang Xuan had been present, he would have instantly recognized Old Master Qi as the peculiar elderly man he had saved from severe poisoning in Jingyuan City. After being detoxified at that time, Old Master Qi had immediately broken through to the Primordial Spirit realm. In the two months since, his cultivation had further solidified, and he had even made another breakthrough, reaching the Half-Primordial Spirit realm. The most crucial aspect of advancing from the Primordial Spirit realm to the Half-Primordial Spirit realm is the tempering of the soul. Having endured severe poisoning for over two decades, once Old Master Qi's condition was resolved, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

"He's a young man in his twenties, looks very young..." Hall Master Xing described him.

"No, the Sun Qiang I met was around forty years old. However... many powerful cultivators can use disguise arts... How about this, take me to see him!" Hearing that his benefactor might be in the Combat Master Hall, Old Master Qi could no longer contain his excitement.

"Okay!"

Hall Master Xing and Vice Hall Master Liao nodded and swiftly flew back towards the Combat Master Hall, bringing Old Master Qi with them.

"The assessment at the Inner Qi Hall essentially evaluates the quantity of a cultivator's true qi! The Inner Qi Pathway is equipped with an extremely potent grand formation capable of measuring true qi volume. The higher the score, the denser one's true qi. You are currently at the peak of Saint 1-dan. With your strength, achieving more than ten points means you pass and can directly enter the library to study!" Vice Hall Master Wei explained as they walked.

Zhang Xuan nodded. As the two talked, they had already arrived at the Inner Qi Hall. It was a tall building, similar to the Hall of Hearts, and filled with students, a constant stream of people moving through.

"Honestly, with Master Sun's strength, there's no need for an assessment at all; I could simply escort you directly inside..." Vice Hall Master Wei chuckled. The individual before him had, with merely peak Saint 1-dan strength, successfully evaded the combined attacks of three Primordial Spirit realm experts. Setting aside all else, possessing such combat prowess meant passing a minor Inner Qi Hall assessment would be effortless.

"I've always been focused on my cultivation and haven't had the chance to test it. I'm also curious to see how I compare to the various combat masters..." Zhang Xuan replied. In truth, Zhang Xuan had a personal reason for wanting to take the test. Firstly, as he had stated, he wanted to assess his own strength. Secondly, he also wished to understand the Combat Master Hall's standards, so that the members of his Xuanxuan Society could prepare themselves in advance. Otherwise, if they were to engage in exchanges without even knowing their opponents' true strength, they would undoubtedly suffer significant losses. On their way there, he had already used a communication jade token to transmit the cultivation method for the Glazed Heart Refining Art to Wang Ying. He had modified this cultivation technique to be exceptionally simple, such that even without further explanation, Wang Ying should be able to understand it easily and cultivate it smoothly.

"Gap?" Vice Hall Master Wei shook his head. While there was indeed a "gap," it was certainly this individual who would be far ahead of all other combat masters. Of course, he kept this thought to himself and continued to lead the way. Before long, they arrived at a passageway.

The Inner Qi Pathway differed from the Demonic Heart Pathway; almost no one underwent assessment in the latter, and Zhang Xuan had entered via a special elder's passage, so he hadn't seen a single soul there. Here, however, the pathway was crowded with combat masters. Many of them had reached the peak of Saint 1-dan, hoping to pass the assessment and acquire cultivation techniques for Saint 2-dan.

Seeing the Vice Hall Master arrive, everyone promptly made way. At the same time, they all looked at Zhang Xuan, their eyes filled with doubt. What kind of person, only at Saint 1-dan, commanded such importance that the Vice Hall Master would personally escort him?

"Who's inside?" Ignoring the crowd's curiosity, Vice Hall Master Wei asked. The passageway was currently closed, clearly indicating someone was undergoing the assessment inside.

"Reporting to Vice Hall Master, it's Shi Hao!" A combat master in the crowd cupped his fists.

"Shi Hao? That boy is finally willing to take the test? He's finally decided to break through..." Vice Hall Master Wei's eyes lit up, and he chuckled. Fearing Zhang Xuan wouldn't know, he immediately explained, "Master Sun, this Shi Hao is the champion of every grand competition for Saint 1-dan cultivators in the Combat Master Hall. His strength is formidable; his individual power already surpasses that of a Centurion! His inner qi density, in particular, is terrifying, far exceeding many Saint 2-dan combat masters. He reached the peak of Saint 1-dan twenty years ago, but to consolidate his foundations more thoroughly, he consistently suppressed his cultivation and avoided breakthroughs or any assessments. Now that he's here, he's likely preparing to advance to the Saint 2-dan realm!"