Great Wu Dynasty, Huai'an Water Region, Golden Sand Island.
The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. The weather had grown colder.
The first snowfall of the year came later than usual.
Just days ago, the sun had been shining brightly. Then, as soon as the Laba Festival arrived, a heavy snow descended without warning.
In a lavish courtyard, snowflakes drifted outside while lamplight flickered within.
At the desk, Zhao Huaian trembled as he held a magazine, reading intently.
"In Wu State Tianyuan Year 28, disasters plagued Qingyang County. Rats ran rampant, until a sword came flying from beyond the heavens and wiped them out. From then on, the weather was fair and the harvests were good."
"In Wu State Tianyuan Year 69, children in Wuzhong City often wept in the dead of night. Suspecting evil spirits were at work, more than a thousand people died mysteriously in just three days, leaving the city's inhabitants living in terror."
"A Daoist heard of this and came with a young acolyte. He set up an altar in the city, drew talismans, and drove out the evil spirits. From then on, Wuzhong City enjoyed peace."
"In Wu State Tianyuan Year 93, Black Water River."
"The river flowed backward, and a drought struck for a thousand miles around. It was suspected that a water demon was to blame."
"An immortal named Xiaoyaozi flew in from beyond the heavens on his sword. His Flying Sword plunged into the river, and rain soon poured down from the sky."
"In Wu State Tianyuan Year 128..."
One bizarre incident after another, recorded in the book, flickered through Zhao Huaian's mind.
"Demons, ghosts, immortals..."
"According to the book, disasters plague this world, demons and monsters run rampant, and all living things are mere ants."
"The world I've transmigrated to is a Cultivation World!"
"Only immortals endure through the ages, warding off evil and demons, and living forever."
As he read, Zhao Huaian's expression grew more animated, and a glint flashed in his eyes.
That was right—he had transmigrated!
He did not belong to this world.
A year ago, he had opened his eyes and found himself in this world where cultivators existed. He had taken over the body of a youth who was also named Zhao Huaian.
Fortunately, the original Zhao Huaian had been alone, with neither father nor mother. And since he had inherited Zhao Huaian's memories, he had blended into this world seamlessly.
"Luckily, tomorrow I can go to the Greenwood Sect and take part in its once-every-three-years disciple recruitment examination."
"According to the book, the Greenwood Sect is one of the four great cultivation sects in the Huai'an Water Region."
"Now that the path to immortality is right before me, how could I be content to live as a mortal after being given a second life? I must enter the Greenwood Sect and find a way to step through the gates of immortality."
Watching the snow drift past his window, Zhao Huaian clenched his fists and silently swore an oath.
But as one of the four great cultivation sects of the Huai'an Water Region, the Greenwood Sect naturally set a rigorous examination, and competition was fierce.
Over the past hundred years, several thousand people from Golden Sand Island had taken the Greenwood Sect's examination. Yet only a handful had managed to become disciples.
The most recent had been thirty years ago.
"For ordinary people, joining an immortal sect is as hard as climbing to the heavens. Talent aside, one's character matters just as much."
"But..."
"That's only true for ordinary people."
Zhao Huaian's lips curled upward.
"Heavenly Tome."
He silently called out.
The next moment, Zhao Huaian gently closed his eyes and focused his mind.
Soon, a Heavenly Tome radiating brilliant golden light slowly opened in his mind.
Name: Zhao Huaian
Lifespan: 15/98
Cultivation: None
Cultivation Art: None
Skills: Medical Skill (Grandmaster 2369/3200), Flying Needles (Great Accomplishment 1569/1600), Gentle Breeze Footwork (Great Accomplishment 1358/1600)
The information displayed in the Heavenly Tome resembled a video game status screen from his previous life.
Looking at its contents, Zhao Huaian's smile grew wider.
The moment he had transmigrated, this Heavenly Tome—something like a status screen—had appeared in his mind.
As for its origins, Zhao Huaian had no idea.
But he had discovered that as long as he trained diligently and studied hard, any skill or cultivation art he practiced or learned would be converted into proficiency, raising its level.
In just one year, Zhao Huaian had attained Grandmaster-level Medical Skill and Great Accomplishment-level Flying Needles thanks to the Heavenly Tome in his mind.
Still, this had not made him even the slightest bit arrogant, because beyond the mortal world lay the Cultivation World.
And according to the book, the Cultivation World had an extremely prestigious profession: alchemist.
In their hands, any illness or serious injury could be cured with just a single Elixir Pill.
Before an alchemist, his Grandmaster-level Medical Skill was nothing.
"Alchemist..."
"If I join the Greenwood Sect one day, I wonder whether I'll have the chance to become an alchemist."
Thinking of the miraculous alchemists described in the book, Zhao Huaian could not help feeling a yearning stir in his heart.
"Crunch... crunch..."
Just as Zhao Huaian was musing, the sound of footsteps crunching through the snow suddenly came from outside the courtyard.
"Divine Doctor Zhao, it's me, Guoshanhu!"
A short while later, someone knocked on the courtyard gate.
A deep voice called from outside.
"Coming!"
Hearing the voice, Zhao Huaian raised an eyebrow and walked out, a knowing look in his eyes.
He opened the courtyard gate. A burly man with a face full of muscle stood at the entrance, and the air was thick with the smell of blood.
"Did you bring what I asked for?"
Zhao Huaian looked at Guoshanhu without a trace of emotion.
Guoshanhu hurriedly took a brocade box from his robes and respectfully presented it. "After losing more than thirty of my brothers, I still managed to fulfill your request."
Zhao Huaian nodded and opened the box.
Inside lay a herb of deep blue, its surface radiating a bone-piercing chill.
Ice Grass!
And not just any Ice Grass—it was three hundred years old!
Zhao Huaian's pupils lit up as he looked at the three-hundred-year-old Ice Grass.
He had never imagined that, when he asked for an Extreme Cold Item, Guoshanhu would bring him a three-hundred-year-old Ice Grass.
With this, he would have an even better chance of succeeding on his trip to the Greenwood Sect.
"Divine Doctor Zhao, what about the poison in my body...?"
Seeing Zhao Huaian's pleased expression, Guoshanhu brightened and cautiously asked.
"Of course. One item for another. You brought me what I wanted, so naturally I'll help remove the poison from your body."
Zhao Huaian nodded with a smile.
The next moment, he flicked his fingers. Silver Needles shot out one after another, glinting coldly in the air before plunging into several of Guoshanhu's acupoints.
The needles sank into his acupoints, and streams of energy surged through his body.
As the energy coursed through him, Guoshanhu's face flushed red. He abruptly spat out a mouthful of black blood.
"Done. I've forced the toxins out of your body. Follow this prescription and take the medicine, and you'll recover within a month at most."
Looking at the blood smoking on the snow, Zhao Huaian nodded with satisfaction. It seemed his Medical Skill had improved quite a bit again.
As he spoke, Zhao Huaian took out a prescription he had prepared earlier.
"Yes, thank you, Divine Doctor Zhao!"
Feeling the ease in his body, Guoshanhu was overjoyed and quickly took the prescription.
After checking that it was correct, Guoshanhu's gaze drifted, almost of its own accord, to the brocade box in Zhao Huaian's hand.
A three-hundred-year-old Ice Grass! More than thirty of his brothers had died to obtain it.
Thinking of how precious the Ice Grass was and all he had sacrificed to get it, Guoshanhu could not help feeling a wicked impulse rise within him.
"The poison in your body has been removed. What are you still doing here?"
Seeing Guoshanhu standing there dazed, Zhao Huaian frowned.
"Divine Doctor Zhao, are you sure the poison in my body has been removed?" Guoshanhu asked in return.
"Of course."
Zhao Huaian nodded. He had complete confidence in his Medical Skill. A mere mortal poison was something he could dispel with a wave of his hand.
Hearing Zhao Huaian's assurance, Guoshanhu burst into laughter. "In that case, please return the Ice Grass to me, Divine Doctor Zhao. I'm willing to pay a thousand taels of silver."
"Oh? Once an item has been exchanged, it won't be returned. Are you trying to break my rules?"
Guoshanhu's sudden attempt to kill the donkey once it had finished grinding had not unsettled Zhao Huaian in the slightest. His expression merely turned cold as his fingers curled ever so slightly.
"Hahaha, rules? My rules are the rules! I call you Divine Doctor to show you respect. Without that, you're nothing. More than thirty of my brothers died for this Ice Grass. Now that the poison in my body is gone, you think you can keep such a treasure?"
Guoshanhu laughed scornfully. Clearly, he did not take Zhao Huaian seriously.
In his eyes, Zhao Huaian might have been skilled in medicine, but he was young. What could he possibly do?
Besides, the poison in Guoshanhu's body had already been removed. Zhao Huaian was of no further use. He was nothing but a fish on the chopping block, ready for Guoshanhu to carve up.
"Alas... what a pity..."
Zhao Huaian shook his head and sighed.
"Then hand it over!"
Guoshanhu looked smug, thinking Zhao Huaian had accepted the reality before him.
But just as he reached out to snatch the box, a splash of scarlet suddenly bloomed between his brows.
Thud!!!
The next moment, Guoshanhu's burly body crashed to the ground. Snowflakes and blood scattered in every direction, as brilliant as fireworks.
"What I mean is, it's a shame to see a perfectly good life end like that..."
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