Chapter 288: What’s Going On?

Zhang Xuan was speechless. He hadn't expected the man to be so decisive, so direct—fainting the moment he was told, without any hesitation.

"Ahem, what I mean is... yes, I can resolve it, but it will cost more. Now that you've fainted, who am I supposed to charge?"

The agreement was that Zhang Xuan would resolve the Contract Gu for this man, and in exchange, the man would take him to the Poison Hall. The agreement was fulfilled, but the other party still wanted to treat his injured body. Zhang Xuan couldn't just expend his True Qi for nothing!

You fainted before I even finished speaking. Isn't that a bit disrespectful to me, a physician?

Hearing Zhang Xuan's muttering, Butler Lu on the side cleared his throat and quickly stepped forward. "Ahem, our master simply wishes for you to treat him quickly. Physician Bai, whatever requests you have, please tell me directly, and we will certainly fulfill them!"

"That's more like it!"

Zhang Xuan nodded. "Alright, aren't you in the business of selling medicinal ingredients? You must have a lot of Soul-Numbing Powder. Prepare me three portions... no, make it ten portions."

If he had been prepared earlier, he wouldn't have needed to knock someone out. Now that he knew, he might as well get more. If he didn't fleece this wealthy family, who would he fleece?

"Ten portions of Soul-Numbing Powder?" Butler Lu was stunned, blinking his eyes.

"Yes, can't the esteemed Great Physician King's Residence produce them?" Zhang Xuan frowned, feeling a little apprehensive. Had he asked for too much, and they wouldn't be able to provide it?

"This... this..." Butler Lu's face was conflicted, as if constipated. "It's just that this item is too cheap..."

Soul-Numbing Powder was just the most basic standard item for a physician. One portion cost only a few hundred gold coins; ten portions combined would only be a few thousand. Such a small amount of money to save the Great Physician King's life... it seemed too cheap for someone of his standing!

"Cheap?"

Zhang Xuan was taken aback. He glanced at Mo Yu beside him, who nodded with a helpless expression. He then gave an awkward laugh. "Right... do you have any cultivation techniques for Half-Grandmaster and Grandmaster realms in your residence? Regardless of rank, the more the better. If you can collect a thousand, that could also serve as payment."

His current cultivation had reached the peak of the Tongxuan realm. To achieve a breakthrough, he needed to collect more advanced cultivation techniques. The Tianxuan Kingdom was too low-tier; the highest available techniques were only for the Tongxuan realm, and Half-Grandmaster techniques were scarce. Red Lotus City, a city in a first-tier kingdom and a center for medicinal trade, might have enough high-level cultivation methods.

"Half-Grandmaster and Grandmaster realm techniques? A thousand copies?"

Butler Lu was surprised that Physician Bai’s requests were so peculiar. After a moment's thought, he said, "Our Great Physician King controls all medicinal ingredients in Tianwu Kingdom and the twelve surrounding countries. Many cultivators, lacking funds for purchases, exchange their unique techniques instead."

"Therefore, over the years, we've accumulated several hundred Half-Grandmaster techniques. If you truly wish for them, a single command from our Great Physician King's Residence could gather over a thousand within a short period. As for Grandmaster realm cultivation techniques... if you don't require specific ranks, we can gather several hundred without issue, but a thousand might be difficult."

"Good, that's what I want!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up upon hearing that over a thousand Half-Grandmaster techniques could be collected, and several hundred Grandmaster techniques were also possible. He quickly nodded. As expected of a city in Tianwu Kingdom, the level was indeed much higher.

As long as these techniques were collected, he could easily break through to Half-Grandmaster, and even the Grandmaster realm. By then, even if he encountered danger in the Poison Hall, he would be capable of handling it.

"Alright, go make the arrangements. I will treat your master now!"

With so many techniques as compensation, Zhang Xuan felt satisfied. He placed his finger on the Great Physician King's meridians and infused a stream of Heaven's Path True Qi into him.

The Great Physician King's loss of vitality was essentially due to blocked meridians and obstructed qi flow. By simply clearing these blockages, the potent True Qi of the Grandmaster realm would naturally re-nourish his essence, energy, and spirit, restoring his health.

Boom!

The pure True Qi surged through the blocked meridians, forcefully breaking through the previous restraints. The after-effects of the Contract Gu melted away like snow encountering the scorching sun, with nowhere left to hide. The internal problem was resolved, and the Great Physician King's shriveled, slack skin regained its elasticity and vigor, as if he had instantly become decades younger.

"This..." Mo Yu, standing beside him, blinked repeatedly.

She had previously thought that Zhang Xuan's treatment, like other physicians', would involve various medicinal ingredients and require a long accumulation of time. She never expected that by simply grasping the other party's wrist, he would recover instantly... Was this truly a physician's method? How had she never heard of it?

Having spent only a few days with this man, countless things she had known before had been overturned, and her entire worldview had been completely upended.

"Done!"

The True Qi quickly flowed through the Great Physician King's body, clearing all blockages. Zhang Xuan stood up and exhaled. It was even simpler than he had anticipated.

With the hidden problem resolved, the Great Physician King slowly awoke. Seeing his skin, which had regained its softness, and the surge of power throughout his body, he felt deeply emotional, though not as shocked as Mo Yu. This man could even cure the Contract Gu, which countless physicians and poison masters found helpless against. Healing minor injuries like this was a piece of cake; it would have been a ghost's trick if he couldn't.

"Many thanks, Physician Bai Chan!"

His face flushed, the Great Physician King knelt again. If not for this man, he would likely be dead by now. This kind of gratitude could no longer be measured by money.

"It was just a transaction! I'm just curious, given your status, why would you sign this Contract Gu and allow yourself to be controlled?" Zhang Xuan waved his hand, looking at him with confusion.

Even Mo Yu couldn't understand. The Great Physician King was so formidable in Red Lotus City that even the Tianwu royal family dared not send troops to conquer it. For such a person to sign a Contract Gu was unbelievable unless witnessed firsthand.

"Alas, it's a long story. If you knew who made me sign the contract, you wouldn't think that way!" Noticing the confusion in their eyes, the Great Physician King gave a bitter smile. The other party had saved his life, and having faced death, he knew there was nothing left to hide.

"The one who signed the contract with me is... the Hall Master of the Poison Hall!"

"The Poison Hall Master?"

"Yes!" The Great Physician King nodded, with a complex expression. "The Great Physician King may seem mighty and powerful, untouchable in Red Lotus City, but in reality, I am merely a proxy for the Poison Hall! It's not just me; every generation of Great Physician Kings must sign a contract with the Poison Hall Master, becoming their puppet on the outside."

"Every generation?" Zhang Xuan and Mo Yu gasped, then suddenly understood.

Red Lotus City was the only gateway to the Poison Hall. Without the Poison Hall's backing, how could generation after generation of Great Physician Kings control such a lucrative medicinal market? And how could they face a kingdom without fear, even daring to execute princes and princesses? Only a mysterious and unpredictable force like the Poison Hall could possess such deep power. Otherwise, a decaying ancient city, even if it controlled the flow of medicine, would certainly not dare to oppose a great nation like Tianwu!

Tianwu Kingdom had two-star master teachers, and even more than one. With such master teachers providing education, while not everyone became a dragon, their overall cultivation was certainly far superior to that of the Tianxuan Kingdom. When their armies moved out, the earth would shake, and mountains would crumble. If it weren't for the Poison Hall's backing, how could a small Red Lotus City become a lawless land like this? It would have been flattened long ago.

"The Contract Gu only activates upon the death of its caster, so could it be..." Zhang Xuan thought of something and couldn't help but look over.

"Exactly!" The Great Physician King nodded. "This current Hall Master has died!"

"Butler Lu already mentioned that the Poison Hall has been undergoing internal strife recently and is very dangerous, not receiving outsiders. That was not an exaggeration! This Hall Master of the Poison Hall suddenly died, and his three successors are all vying for the position, which has caused this chaos. Even I wouldn't dare to go there easily; otherwise, I wouldn't even know how I died." The Great Physician King smiled bitterly. "To them, I'm just a puppet. As long as the Poison Hall exists, they can always install a new one later."

Though he didn't want to admit it, Zhang Xuan knew this was the truth. As long as the Poison Hall was backing them, appointing someone as the Great Physician King was just a matter of a word. The Great Physician King, who appeared so formidable to outsiders, was merely a dispensable puppet. It was hard to believe without hearing it firsthand.

The Great Physician King looked at Zhang Xuan, with a serious look in his eyes. "Physician Bai Chan, you saved me. As a condition of our exchange, taking you to the Poison Hall is my duty. However... with the three disciples vying for the position, the entire Poison Hall is fraught with danger. Anyone who goes there will face a dead end. If you can wait, why not stay here with me? I will also gather information for you at any time. Once a new Hall Master is established, we can go, which will avoid many dangers."

The struggle for power in the Poison Hall was no different from royal succession struggles, rife with conspiracy and murder. If outsiders entered, they might easily be used as pawns and die without knowing how. It could be said that the current Poison Hall was definitely the most turbulent and dangerous it had ever been. However, once the Hall Master was determined, there would be a need to win over supporters and suppress the losers, which would stabilize the situation and make it much safer.

"I can't wait!"

Zhang Xuan knew that what the Great Physician King said was correct and not meant to deceive him, but he still couldn't wait. Although the poison gas in his body was suppressed by the Heaven's Path True Qi, no one could guarantee when it would backfire. He could wait three, five, or even ten to fifteen days, but waiting a year or two was definitely impossible.

"Actually... if Physician Bai is truly in a hurry, it's not entirely impossible."

Seeing that his savior was anxious and wanted to go to the Poison Hall as soon as possible, the Great Physician King pondered for a moment and said, "The old Hall Master's three major disciples all control a portion of the Poison Hall's support and are evenly matched. Under normal circumstances, it would indeed be difficult to decide a successor within a year or two. However, it's not absolutely certain!"

"Tell me more!" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

The Great Physician King said, "The Poison Hall, like the Alchemist Guild and the Artifact Forger Guild, also has a headquarters and numerous branches. Our branch in the Red Lotus Mountain Range is just a small one!"

Zhang Xuan nodded. By reading various books, he also knew that his current location was merely a tiny speck in this vast world, insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Although the Poison Hall in the Red Lotus Mountain Range was famous, its influence was truly formidable only within the jurisdiction of the Tianwu Kingdom. In higher kingdoms, there were naturally more powerful branches.

"As far as I know, the old Hall Master died suddenly without passing his position to anyone. The various elders within the hall have already sent this news to the headquarters! If the headquarters is willing to intervene, sending a special envoy to quell the internal strife and determine the Hall Master would simplify matters significantly, and the time taken would also be shortened!" the Great Physician King said.

"Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Xuan's eyes brightened.

As long as it was a branch, it had to follow the arrangements of the headquarters. If a branch Hall Master died, and the headquarters sent someone over, no matter how chaotic things were, they would certainly be resolved within a short time.

"Typically, in such a situation, how long does it take for the Poison Hall headquarters to send someone? And how long does it take to quell the internal conflict? Have there been any precedents?" Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.

"According to the Poison Hall's history, there have indeed been precedents, but..." The Great Physician King hesitated, a bitter smile on his face. "The exact timing truly cannot be determined. The Red Lotus Mountain Range Poison Hall, while sounding impressive, is actually just a corner, an unimportant place to the headquarters. If they really sent a special envoy, it would take less than half a month to completely settle it. However... if they consider it insignificant and don't send anyone, they will let it develop on its own, and it won't be resolved in less than a year or two!"

Although sending a special envoy could resolve it, for the Poison Hall, a small, dispensable place wasn't worth the effort, so not sending anyone was also normal. There had been such situations before. If that happened, it would be ridiculous. Therefore, even he couldn't determine the duration of the internal conflict.

"If it's uncertain, I can't just keep waiting indefinitely!" After hearing the explanation, Zhang Xuan felt even more frustrated. He wanted to find enough poison master books to study and resolve the hidden danger of the poison gas in his body. He couldn't possibly wait for an uncertain piece of news for one or two years!

"The best option is to keep waiting. However, if Physician Bai truly wishes to go, I can take you now. It's just that... I cannot guarantee what might happen," the Great Physician King hesitated before saying.

"I'll consider it!" He was going to the Poison Hall simply to read books. As long as he didn't get involved in their struggle for the Hall Master position, it shouldn't be as dangerous as he imagined. Of course, he didn't know much about poison masters, so he couldn't be sure if that was the case. He could only take it one step at a time.

"Once you've collected the books, we'll depart!" After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Xuan made up his mind. He had gone through so much trouble to reach Red Lotus City; he couldn't just keep waiting. Since that was the case, he would go when it was time, regardless of any internal strife. However, before that, any improvement in strength would be beneficial. As long as he reached the Grandmaster pinnacle, with his pure Heaven's Path True Qi, he could even fight a Half-Saint. Even if the Poison Hall members wanted to kill him, it would likely be very difficult.

"Collect books?" The Great Physician King was a little confused. He had been unconscious when Zhang Xuan discussed the conditions with Butler Lu and was unaware of this.

"It's like this..." Zhang Xuan explained.

"So Physician Bai wants these books? That's simple! I'll personally supervise it to speed things up. In three days at most, we can gather all the Half-Grandmaster and Grandmaster realm books in Red Lotus City!" Hearing that this formidable Physician Bai Chan's requested payment was this, the Great Physician King was first surprised, then smiled, his eyes showing profound confidence. Red Lotus City, under his management for many years, was as solid as a rock. While these books were precious, it would be quite simple if he personally handled it.

"That's great then. I'll leave it to the Great Physician King!" Hearing that it would only take three days, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

"Please rest here for now, Physician Bai. I will go oversee this immediately." The Great Physician King stood up, called a guard, arranged for the two to stay, and hurried out. He dared not neglect his savior's request.

"Let's settle down for now!" Zhang Xuan knew there was no use rushing. He took Mo Yu and calmly settled down.

"Do you think that guy was right or wrong in his diagnosis?" Outside the Great Physician King's residence, the physicians who had just left were clustered together, their brows furrowed. They hadn't left after being dismissed from the residence but had stayed to wait.

Two-star and three-star physicians, renowned throughout the kingdom, had their thunder stolen by an unknown one-star physician. Anyone in their shoes would be utterly depressed.

"A one-star physician getting the diagnosis right? What a joke, he must have been spouting nonsense!"

"That's not necessarily true. If he hadn't been right, how could he have provoked such a strong reaction from the Great Physician King?"

"If he was really right, what exactly is this Contract Gu? Why have I never heard of it before?"

The more they discussed, the more confused they became. If the man was spouting nonsense, it wouldn't have caused such a reaction from the Great Physician King, who even went so far as to expel them. But if he was right, what was this Contract Gu? And why had they never heard of it? Was there really such a disease in the world? Moreover... how could a one-star physician be more capable than them, and how did he discern it?

"This Bai Chan, I've known him for so many years, when did he get such abilities!" Physician Cheng Feng in the crowd was so frustrated he wanted to go crazy. He was the most familiar with Physician Bai Chan. He had intended to mock him and embarrass him, but he never dreamed that the man would actually pinpoint the problem, giving him a huge slap in the face.

"Stop agonizing over it. Right or wrong, if we wait here, we should know soon enough!"

"If he truly diagnosed the Great Physician King's illness, he can walk out proudly. Otherwise, he'll become a corpse!" Mu Hong and the other two most capable three-star physicians interrupted the discussion.

"Yes!" Everyone nodded simultaneously. That man, ignorant of his own limitations, had knocked out the Great Physician King with one punch, which was already taboo. If he could cure the illness, that was one thing, but if he couldn't, he would surely be killed.

Knowing this, everyone stopped agonizing. As long as the man walked out upright, it meant he had indeed diagnosed the illness. If he was carried out horizontally, it meant he was spouting nonsense and showing off to his death.

"No need to guess, he's definitely coming out horizontally..." Physician Cheng Feng gritted his teeth, but before he finished speaking, he heard a "creak!" from ahead, and the mansion's main gate slowly opened.

"Look, someone's coming out..."

Hearing the sound, the many physicians simultaneously looked over. After just one glance, their eyes widened instantly, barely preventing themselves from fainting on the spot. Walking out was an old man, with Butler Lu following behind him, his face filled with respect.

"Is that... the Great Physician King?"

Upon seeing the man's face clearly, all the physicians simultaneously swallowed. They had just treated the Great Physician King for so long; how could they not recognize him? Although this one looked much younger than the previous one, who else could it be if Butler Lu was so respectful? Just moments ago, he was lying motionless in a reclining chair, as if on the verge of death... and now, less than twenty minutes later, he walked out proudly, full of vigor, looking decades younger...

Who could tell me what happened? Even if he truly diagnosed the illness, wouldn't treatment take some time? Cured in twenty minutes... and able to walk out on his own.

What the hell, did they really not see wrong?

"This..." Physician Cheng Feng staggered, nearly spitting blood. He had just said the other party would surely be carried out horizontally, but instead... the Great Physician King walked out standing!

Who could tell him what had happened?

"Are the physicians still here?" Walking out of the courtyard and seeing that everyone hadn't left, the Great Physician King smiled.

"Great Physician King, you are..." Physician Mu Hong couldn't hold back any longer and stepped forward, his face full of surprise.

"Physician Bai Chan cured my illness. His medical skills are truly extraordinary!" The Great Physician King's eyes showed a look of admiration as he exclaimed, then cupped his fist. "Alright, everyone, I have matters to attend to and won't delay you. I'll take my leave!" With that, he strode away.

"Did he really cure him?"

"In just twenty minutes, he made a man who looked over ninety years old appear less than fifty?"

Although they had guessed it earlier, hearing him confirm it personally still made everyone feel dizzy, their minds muddled. So many of them had studied the illness for a long time without understanding it, yet this man cured it in such a short time... What level of skill was that? Was he truly a one-star physician?

"It seems... we were all mistaken. This Physician Bai Chan is likely no longer a one-star physician!" After a long silence, a three-star physician couldn't help but say. Badges don't represent true strength.

"Yes, how could a one-star physician easily cure the Great Physician King... such ability must be at least four-star!" The second three-star physician also said. Though he didn't want to admit it, Physician Mu Hong nodded as well.

"A four-star physician... when he comes out, I must pay him my respects and make amends for my previous rashness!"

"Yes, I must also seek his guidance..." Hearing the three three-star physicians make such a judgment, everyone else's expressions simultaneously hardened. Back in the hall, they had mocked this Physician Bai quite a bit. Now knowing that he might be a super powerful four-star physician, they all felt a wave of panic.

"Damn it, don't let me see you, or I'll beat you to death..."

As the crowd was making their silent resolutions, they heard an angry roar. They all turned their heads simultaneously and saw a man, still without his outer robe, standing not far away, his face full of rage, waving his arms.

"Physician Bai Chan?"

Upon seeing the man's appearance clearly, all the physicians were stunned, then their eyes lit up, and they rushed toward him. The poor Physician Bai, waking up from his coma, found that not only had his physician's badge been stolen, but his outer robe had also been stripped off. He was screaming in rage. Just as he was about to search for the "culprit," he saw a group of two-star and three-star physicians rushing towards him as if they had met an idol.

He was so startled he nearly collapsed.

These guys usually acted so aloof and dismissive when he saw them. How was it that after he fainted for a bit, they were all acting as if they'd met a senior master?

Who could tell him...

What the hell was going on here?