Gu Master Elder

"You're saying they're both interns, so why did Ling Xin go to the valley with Teacher Tie?"

At the tea stall in the inn's courtyard, Zhao Jian ate some side dishes and asked curiously.

"Can you compare to Ling Xin?" Xu Yiming scoffed. "She's a member of the Ling Family branch. Even Guan Hongyue, the Frost Moon Vice Captain Guan Hongyue we met back then, is said to be inferior to her!" He lowered his voice, "If she hadn't come to Ningdong to study, we probably wouldn't have had any interaction with her..."

"Isn't he a student now too?" Zhao Jian was quite unconvinced. Ever since he found out that Ling Xin had no feelings for him, he had developed some prejudice against this privileged girl... Of course, Luo Jun analyzed that it was mainly due to the resistance he felt after his narcissism was exposed. He felt somewhat ashamed whenever Ling Xin was mentioned.

"There are differences among students." Lu Fei took a sip of tea. "After the last battle against the Virus Progenitor, I have a feeling that the strongest person in our team might not be Teacher Tie, but this member of the Ling Family clan."

"That powerful?" Zhao Jian and Xu Yiming's eyes widened. In their eyes, Tie Jingang was among the strongest experts besides immortals and Peak cultivators. He was also a major Combat Power in the academy's classrooms, which were full of experts. Could he be inferior to a student?

Lu Fei nodded. "I had only heard about her before, but I witnessed her Demon-Breaking Golden Edge this time, and it is indeed powerful... However, I always felt that she was holding back when she attacked, as if she was always restraining her power. I wonder why?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Jun immediately thought of Ling Xin's corruption in the [Savage Wilderness]. Normally, no matter how severe the corruption, as long as one hasn't become Polluter, returning to the Main World for a month would purify all the corruption. However, upon closer inspection, less than twenty days had passed between their departure from the [Savage Wilderness] and Ling Xin's appearance in the [Martial World]. Could it be that her corruption hadn't been completely purified yet?

Yes, we learned in class that pollution in different worlds is calculated separately. If you enter another Different World with pollution, the pollution from the previous world won't be purified or worsened; instead, it will begin to accumulate in the new world. So, could it be that Ling Xin is still carrying the pollution of the [Savage Wilderness], preventing her from fighting at her full strength?

If that's the case, why bother with this internship? Wouldn't it be better to purify herself in the Main World? She's strong enough that one more internship experience isn't a problem... Could it be that her pollution is too severe to be purified?

Luo Jun recalled the blue scales he had seen on Ling Xin before. She must have indeed been subjected to excessive pollution in the underground Arena. Although she hadn't completely mutated, she shouldn't be so easy to purify.

"Brother Yuan, you're too kind..." After reading the letter, the Valley Master looked at Tie Jingang and said, "For my mere birthday, you've prepared such a grand gift; it's truly an expense."

"It's this?!"

Tie Jingang nodded. "That's right. This girl's father was the adopted son of Sect Acting Head Yuan. He was murdered by villains many years ago. Over the years, Sect Acting Head has treated her like his own granddaughter. Unfortunately, this child has a hard life. She was recently poisoned by an unknown Evil Toxin. We have consulted many famous doctors without success, which is why we have come to ask for your help, Valley Master."

The Valley Master nodded and beckoned to Ling Xin, saying, "Come here, child, let me take your pulse."

The Reception Room Medicine King Valley.

Although he looks to be only around forty years old, this is indeed the current master of Medicine King Valley Master, Sun Yichen, who is celebrating his sixtieth birthday this year!

A moment later, the Valley Master opened his eyes, frowning slightly. "This girl is full of vitality and has a strong Root Bone. It's rare to find someone of this age with such cultivation... But forgive my ignorance, I haven't detected any signs of poisoning in her..."

Is this the technique of "Martial World"? It's not just about looking at the heartbeat and pulse. Simply taking a pulse is equivalent to having a full-body checkup.

The Valley Master was startled upon seeing this and hurriedly took the pulse again. After a long while, he revealed a look of horror.

Sun Yichen released his grip and nodded. "About twenty years ago, it was Brother Yuan who sent over a young man... Although that young man didn't have scales growing on his body like this girl, he also had some strange changes. At that time, his pulse was very similar to this girl's!"

"Not at all," Tie Jingang said, clasping his hands in greeting. "The Valley Master and Acting Head Yuan have been friends for many years. Their friendship over the years cannot be measured by these material things. If the Acting Head hadn't had important matters to attend to, he would have personally come to congratulate the Valley Master on his birthday."

"Brother Yuan, you're too kind..." Sun Yichen nodded, then looked at Ling Xin: "Is this the girl he mentioned in his letter?"

So... did Tie Jingang take Ling Xin to pay respects to the Valley Master for this reason?

Ling Xin stepped forward and sat down in the chair next to the Valley Master, extending her wrist. The Valley Master placed three fingers on Ling Xin's pulse point and closed his eyes slightly.

"What happened to that young man afterward?" Tie Jingang pressed.

Tie Jingang and Ling Xin sat in the guest seats, while in the host seat, a dignified-looking, otherworldly-looking middle-aged man was reading a letter.

Ling Xin was slightly taken aback. She felt three faint auras entering her body through her pulse points, but they were not malicious. They were simply circulating throughout her body through her meridians to check her physical condition.

"Ling Xin's Evil Toxin is usually hidden, and it only appears when her vital energy is stimulated." Tie Jingang nodded to Ling Xin. Ling Xin understood, and her vital energy accelerated its circulation. When it reached a certain level, a look of pain appeared on her face, her body trembled slightly, and bluish-black scales began to appear.

Upon hearing Sun Yichen's words, Tie Jingang and Ling Xin's eyes lit up. "Has the Valley Master ever seen a similar situation?"

Tie Jingang touched his large face; he wasn't even forty yet, but he looked older than the Valley Master.

I have long heard that Medicine King Valley is an expert in medicine, capable of not only curing diseases and saving lives, but also prolonging life and preserving youth. Seeing it today, I can confirm that its reputation is well-deserved.

"At that time, I had only recently assumed the position of Valley Master and had never seen such a bizarre situation. Later, I discussed and researched with many elders for many days, searched through countless books, and tried several times before finally finding a way to suppress the Evil Toxin in his body."

"It really worked?" Tie Jingang and Ling Xin looked delighted, but then the Valley Master said, "However, my method only temporarily suppressed it; it couldn't completely eradicate it. But according to Brother Yuan, suppressing it to this extent is enough. He has other methods to remove the remaining poison." Then he took the young man and left.

Tie Jingang and Ling Xin exchanged a glance. Since Old Yuan had said so, they had no choice but to try this method.

"I hope the Valley Master will use that method again to help Ling Xin."

The Valley Master nodded. "Rest assured, since it was Brother Yuan's request, I, Sun, will certainly do my utmost. Please, both of you, follow me."

Sun Yichen led Ling Xin and Tie Jingang out of the Reception Room, through the courtyard, and all the way to the Back Mountain of the sect, where they walked into a deep and secluded path.

Located deep in a valley, the roadside is lined with rare and Rare Flowers and Exotic Herbs that are hard to find elsewhere, and the mountain air is filled with a unique fragrance.

"Be careful, you two, don't touch the flowers and plants here carelessly." As they walked, the Valley Master warned, "Almost all the Rare Flowers and Exotic Herbs here have medicinal uses, and many also contain potent poisons; it's extremely dangerous!"

The two dared not move rashly and even activated their protective qi to prevent accidental poisoning.

Finally, at the end of the path, we saw a quiet courtyard.

The Valley Master stepped forward and knocked on the door. "Spirit Gu Martial Uncle?"

Before long, the door opened, and a child of about ten years old, with delicate features, bowed and greeted Sun Yichen, saying, "Greetings, Senior Brother Sect Leader."

"Qing Lian, where is your Master?" the Valley Master asked.

"Master is currently practicing Gu in the Alchemy Chamber. It's a crucial time right now, so it's probably not convenient for him to come out."

"It's alright, we'll wait for her in the courtyard for a while." With that, Sun Yichen led Ling Xin and Tie Jingang into the courtyard. Qing Lian went to boil water and make tea to serve them, and then went to attend to her own business.

"Valley Master, I just heard this boy call you Senior Brother?" Tie Jingang asked curiously.

"Oh, this courtyard is where Gu Master Elder lives," Sun Yichen explained. "She is currently the most senior elder in the valley, and she is over a hundred years old. She was once a disciple of the founding patriarch of Medicine King Valley, my Master, who was also the previous Medicine King Valley Master. Even she had to call her Senior Sister. Her disciples naturally have to call me Senior Brother."

"The founder of Medicine King Valley was a genius of unparalleled talent, possessing unparalleled skills in medicine, Gu Technique, and martial arts. Even his disciples could not fully master his abilities, only receiving the True Disciple of one skill. My Spirit Gu Martial Uncle inherited the Gu Technique of our Patriarch. In the world today, even among the major tribes of the Southern Borderlands, few can compare with her in Gu Technique."

Upon hearing this, Tie Jingang nodded. "I see, then he truly is a master."

At this point, Sun Yichen sighed, "My Spirit Gu Martial Uncle is indeed incredibly skilled, but she has a strange personality and dislikes being in groups. So, in this secluded place in the valley, a small courtyard was set up for her to devote herself to her research."

"Over the decades, she has taken in many disciples, but none of them were satisfactory. They would be sent to other elders after a short period of study, so she has never had a proper successor."

"Until a few years ago, when she went on a trip to Southern Borderlands, she brought back a child and insisted on taking him as her apprentice."

"Is this the Qing Lian?" Ling Xin looked at the boy pounding medicine in the corner of the courtyard.

Valley Master Sun nodded. "She said she met this child by chance during her travels and that she was a good candidate to learn Gu Technique. At the time, many disciples in the sect objected. After all, given Gu Master Elder's seniority, any disciple she accepted would be of the same generation as other elders, or even me, the Valley Master. But Gu Master Elder wouldn't listen to anyone else's opinions. In the end, I stepped forward, overruled the objections, and helped her hold the disciple-acceptance ceremony."

"Over the past few years, this child has grown up day by day. He is indeed a genius in learning Gu Technique, just as Spirit Gu Martial Uncle said. He has also received Master Gu Martial Uncle's True Disciple. Given time, he will surely become a pillar of our Medicine King Valley!"

As they were talking, they suddenly heard a loud bang from the Alchemy Chamber, followed by thick smoke billowing out from the cracks in the doors and windows.

"What happened?" Tie Jingang and Ling Xin had just stood up when they saw the little boy Qing Lian rush up and open the door. "Master, what trouble have you caused now?"

A moment later, the child carried a disheveled, emaciated old woman out of the house. The old woman coughed as she walked out, exhaling plumes of black smoke with every breath...

"Spirit Gu Martial Uncle," Valley Master Sun stepped forward to help her sit down, "What's wrong...?"

"Oh dear... I'm getting old, I'm no good anymore..." The old lady sat at the table and took a sip of tea to calm herself down. "I don't know how, I messed up another step... The method for refining this Spirit Gathering Gu is too complicated, my memory can't quite remember it."

"Didn't I write you a note?" Qing Lian said, "Just do it one step at a time..."

"It's all because of that note you wrote!" Gu Master Elder said, half-scoldingly. "The handwriting was so small that I leaned forward to see it clearly, and by the time I understood it, I had already missed the opportunity to administer the medicine... Sigh... I'm really getting old. Qing Lian, next time you practice Gu with me, come with me."

Qing Lian hesitated somewhat, then declined, "Master, ordinary Gu are fine, but this Spirit Gathering Gu is a matter of great importance to the sect, even the entire Martial World... My skills aren't enough, I'm afraid..."

"What are you afraid of... Although you're young, your skill level is already far superior to many so-called Gu masters. It's settled then, you can come with me next time..." After saying that, the old lady looked at the Valley Master and asked, "By the way, Yichen, what brings you here? Is the Spirit Gathering Gu still working well?"

The Valley Master shook his head somewhat helplessly. "It works very well. Thank you, Martial Uncle, for developing this extraordinary Gu. Now, the disciples in our sect are making rapid progress in their cultivation. In time, the status of our Medicine King Valley in the Martial World world will surely rise significantly."

Si Gu nodded in satisfaction and looked at Tie Jingang and Ling Xin: "And these two are...?"

"Oh, these two are disciples of the Hundred Rivers Sect." Valley Master Sun and Gu Master Elder briefly introduced the purpose of their visit. Upon hearing this, Si Gu stroked his wrinkled chin and said, "Oh, Yuan Shouzhen's granddaughter. This is indeed a favor we must do... Come, young lady, come inside with me."

"Gu Master Elder," Tie Jingang suddenly called out to the old lady, "I wonder how long it will take to resolve Ling Xin's condition?"

"Based on our previous experience, it should take at least a month..."

"So long?" Tie Jingang and Ling Xin were slightly taken aback.

"But this time is different." The old lady smiled slightly, "Don't forget, we now have the Spirit Gathering Gu. This thing, planted in the body, can greatly accelerate the efficiency of the circulation of vital energy, and the detoxification process will also be greatly accelerated. I'll give her a first-grade one, and it can be done within three days at most!"

"Spirit Gathering Gu..." Tie Jingang wasn't entirely trusting of this thing. "Won't this thing have any other effects?"

"Tch, ungrateful wretch!" The old lady immediately became agitated upon hearing his words: "Do you know how difficult it is to refine this thing? Countless disciples in the sect would fight tooth and nail for a third-grade one, and I'm giving you a first-grade one for free and you're still not happy!"

Valley Master Sun, standing to the side, explained, "Don't worry, Duty Elder Tie, everyone in Medicine King Valley has tried this Spirit Gathering Gu, and it truly has no harmful effects."

"Forget it!" Gu Master Elder waved his hand. "How about this, I'll remove the Evil Toxin from this girl first, then I'll help her take out the Gu. What a waste of such a good thing! If Yuan Shouzhen hadn't spoken up, I really wouldn't have been willing to part with such a treasure!"

(End of this chapter)