Chapter 295: Showing Strength

"Your teacher's martial uncle?"

"The Special Emissary's grand-martial uncle?"

The Grand Apothecary and Steward Lu exchanged a glance, nearly tearing out their beards. *Aren't you Physician Bai? Didn't you say you didn't know if the Special Emissary would come, or when? Weren't you impersonating someone? When did you become the Special Emissary's teacher's martial uncle? What the hell! The key thing was... the Special Emissary looked utterly bewildered, seemingly unaware that he even had a grand-martial uncle! Impersonating an elder martial brother, a junior martial brother, a fellow disciple, or a friend would be fine... but directly claiming such a high rank... Brother, you really have the nerve to say that! If it were them, they wouldn't even dare to imagine it. Both felt blood surge to their chests, ready to erupt at any moment.*

On the side, Liao Xun, the other two Hall Masters, and numerous elders also looked dizzy, staring at each other in disbelief. They had initially thought this impostor would be slapped to death by the Special Emissary, or at least left completely disoriented. They never imagined the two knew each other, and even seemed to have a seniority relationship. Could it be such a coincidence?

"Your teacher calls you martial uncle?" Gu Mu was also stunned, his entire body stiffening. This person before him knew him inside out. He had thought he was some never-before-seen colleague from the branch, but he never imagined he would have... such an identity! He had followed his teacher for so many years and had never heard of a martial uncle. But if he wasn't, how could the other party know everything about him, speaking with such precision? Putting everything else aside, just his discerning eye was beyond what an ordinary person could achieve, perhaps even beyond his own teacher.

"It's merely a matter of seniority; I've always been a wanderer, living outside, so your teacher might not even know of my existence!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand with the air of an expert. To prevent the other party from making a move, he needed an identity that could completely subdue them. Since they had attended the same lectures, they could call each other martial siblings. Impersonating an identity that couldn't be seen or imagined meant there were no sufficient grounds to expose him. He couldn't possibly run back and ask his teacher if he really had such a martial uncle! Besides, by stating that his teacher might not even know, he made it impossible for them to verify. However, mere talk wouldn't suffice. Since he had pointed out the other party's problem, only by helping him solve it could he truly gain their trust.

Without further ado, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly and looked over. "Alright, let's not discuss this further. Since we've met here, it seems we were fated. I only have one question for you: Do you want to resolve the problems you're experiencing?"

"Me... this problem... can it still be resolved?" Gu Mu still harbored some doubts about the identity of the person before him. Now, hearing him stop the probing questions and instead ask this, his face flushed with excitement. Who would choose to die when they could live? Moreover, he carried a deep-seated blood feud. His wife had been poisoned by a four-star physician. He had always suppressed the pain and anger in his heart, diligently cultivating, hoping to one day avenge her. He was only a step away from a higher realm, with vengeance within reach, but recently he had clearly discovered that years of forced cultivation had depleted his body. As the other party said, he didn't have long to live. His own death would be insignificant! But even if he died, he had to tear his enemy into a thousand pieces.

"Forcibly using poison to enhance cultivation and deplete the body would indeed leave others helpless, but for me, it's nothing; I can resolve it easily!" Zhang Xuan said with a calm expression. Even bodies ravaged by contract gu worms could be repaired by his Dao of Heaven True Qi. For someone who was still active and vigorous like Gu Mu, it was naturally even more effortless.

"Please lend your assistance, Grand-Martial Uncle!" After a moment of hesitation, Gu Mu knelt on the ground, a look of resolute determination in his eyes. "As long as you can cure my illness and help me slay my enemy, I am willing to do anything, even work like an ox or a horse!" After his wife's death, he had long wished to follow her; he had only lingered on to avenge her. This person before him, though of unknown origin, could discern his problem at a glance and speak of things even his teacher hadn't noticed. Perhaps he truly could help him resolve this hidden danger! As long as the hidden danger disappeared, he was confident that his years of accumulation would allow him to break through the final barrier and reach that long-cherished realm. It was, in essence, an opportunity. If successful, vengeance was within reach. Of course, if the other party was merely toying with him, then so be it; he would go down fighting, as he didn't have long to live anyway and had nothing left to fear.

"Ah..." As he knelt, everyone's eyes nearly popped out of their heads. The Special Emissary from headquarters, high and mighty, a peak 3-star poison master and a peak Supreme realm expert, kneeling before an impostor... Was it real or fake? Especially the Grand Apothecary. He knew Physician Bai's true identity; he was no grand-martial uncle, not even remotely related. Yet, a few casual words had made the other party willingly kneel... Physician Bai, you are truly incredible! If it were them, and their imposture was exposed on the spot, they would have long since been scared stiff and on their knees, not daring to utter another word. But here, someone did kneel—the very person he was impersonating! Even witnessing it firsthand, they wondered if they were dreaming. The change was so sudden and swift, catching everyone off guard, almost making their backs seize up. However, after the initial shock, they began to understand. If he were in the state he was in a few days ago, and someone offered to cure his contract gu, he would have willingly called them 'Grandpa,' let alone 'Grand-Martial Uncle.' Only when facing death does one truly understand the preciousness of life; dignity and face truly mean nothing in its presence.

"I can proceed, but there are certain rules that need to be clarified beforehand!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand and called out, "Grand Apothecary, explain my rules to Gu Mu!" His current cultivation was only at the half-step Grandmaster realm. If he treated the patient while conscious, he would undoubtedly reveal his true capabilities, and his profound image would vanish. It was best to treat him while unconscious. This way, he wouldn't expose his true cultivation level and could conceal the unique nature of his Dao of Heaven True Qi. However, if he said this himself, it would surely arouse various suspicions; it would be much better for the Grand Apothecary to state it.

"Completely unconscious?" Gu Mu frowned. In an unfamiliar place, falling unconscious meant placing one's life entirely in someone else's hands, completely losing control. Although what the other party said was accurate, it wasn't enough to put him completely at ease.

"Rest assured, this is Elder Bai's rule. When he helped me resolve the contract gu earlier, he also put me to sleep!" Seeing his hesitation, the Grand Apothecary urged.

"Resolved the contract gu? You mean... he helped you resolve the contract gu?" Gu Mu was stunned, his face filled with disbelief. Liao Xun and the others didn't understand the contract gu deeply, as they were only two-star poison masters and didn't know much about it. But as a peak three-star, he had encountered many powerful poison masters and knew the terrifying nature of this poison! Legend had it that once afflicted, even a five-star poison master couldn't resolve it. Something a five-star poison master couldn't solve, yet this Grand-Martial Uncle could? Could it be... that his rank had already surpassed that?

"Indeed, I nearly died a few days ago. Elder Bai saw it and intervened to resolve it!" said the Grand Apothecary.

"We can confirm this; he was indeed afflicted by the Old Hall Master's contract gu previously!" Liao Xun and the others nodded.

"He can resolve the contract gu?" Gu Mu clenched his fists and carefully observed the Grand Apothecary. Sure enough, he noticed something amiss. As a peak three-star poison master who had been afflicted by and experienced the contract gu, he could tell. Confirming his judgment, his face flushed a deep red, and he gained further certainty about the skill level of this "Grand-Martial Uncle." However, he was still a bit uneasy about being treated while unconscious.

"I know what you're worried about," Zhang Xuan said, seeing his doubts. "Once you're unconscious, your life is in someone else's hands, and you wouldn't even know how you died. No one would willingly do that! If it were anyone else questioning me like this, I would simply disregard their doubts and leave. However, since you are my disciple's disciple, I'll tell you this... If I truly wanted to kill you, I wouldn't need to go through all this trouble!" With a light sound, Zhang Xuan stamped his foot. Before anyone could react, he had already appeared sixty meters away. The next moment, the distant figure slowly dissipated, while he himself remained standing in his original spot, as if he hadn't moved at all.

"Such incredible speed!"

"Even a peak Supreme realm expert couldn't do that!"

"Could it be... he has already surpassed the Supreme realm?" Everyone around was startled, their pupils contracting. They were all Grandmasters or below in cultivation; how could they have ever witnessed such speed? How could someone capable of such speed have a low cultivation level? Fortunately, they hadn't made a move earlier, otherwise, he could probably wipe out the entire Poison Hall branch with a single strike! The Grand Apothecary's face also turned pale. All this time, he had thought Physician Bai's strength was comparable to his own; he never dreamed the gap was so vast. With such speed, if he wanted to kill him, he probably wouldn't even react before his head was gone.

Gu Mu also clenched his fists instantly. The speed the other party had just displayed was far beyond even his current capabilities. Moreover, judging by his relaxed demeanor, he hadn't even used his full strength, appearing completely at ease. This meant... this "Grand-Martial Uncle's" strength had absolutely surpassed the Supreme realm, reaching an entirely different level.

"Looks like it worked well!" Zhang Xuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, seeing everyone's stunned expressions. With his cultivation reaching half-step Grandmaster, his Dao of Heaven Movement Technique became faster, and the distance he could cover also increased. That was how he was able to perform the feat just now. The move looked flashy and was incredibly fast, but in reality, with his current physical strength, he could only perform it twice before reaching his limit. Moreover, at such speeds, even he himself couldn't react, let alone injure or kill anyone. To put it plainly, while the move was fast and useful for escaping, it was useless for killing enemies. Of course, now it had one more use... showing off.

Suppressing the intense tearing sensation in his body, he secretly circulated his true qi. He stood quietly in place, hands clasped behind his back, like an otherworldly expert untouched by dust. With a calm expression, he looked at Gu Mu, his voice like an ancient well, without a ripple, devoid of the slightest emotion.

"With my strength, if I wanted to kill you..."

"Wouldn't it be easier than killing a chicken?"