Yu looked at Wu Zhiqi with a resolute gaze, showing no trace of fear. "You wicked demon! I've come to subdue you today!"
As he spoke, Yu took out his Magic Treasure and led four Martial Venerables (Grand Unity Golden Immortals) in a charge against Wu Zhiqi.
Wu Zhiqi saw them coming and brought out a Black Iron Rod. He fought the five of them, the clash ringing out like thunder.
For a time, the winds and clouds changed color, and the Huai River surged with enormous waves. Yet after a long battle, the five still couldn't defeat Wu Zhiqi.
Yu thought, This wicked demon is incredibly powerful. Even the five of us, all at the same cultivation level as him, are no match.
"Co-Lord, this great demon is too powerful. We should retreat and ask Immortal Master Bei Xuan for help," one of Yu's subordinates said.
"Good. Let's ask our teacher for help." With that, Yu led his four subordinates away from the middle of the Huai River to find Bei Xuan.
Wu Zhiqi watched Yu and the others flee and paid them no mind. You still have to control the flood, so you'll have to come down the Huai River. You'll definitely be back.
"Even if you don't come back, I'll force you to," Wu Zhiqi said.
Wu Zhiqi used his divine ability to summon a massive flood. Like ferocious beasts, the waters rushed toward the Human Tribe. Many homes were destroyed, people fled in every direction, and some were injured and cried out in pain.
Some brave people tried to hold back the flood, but their efforts were no more than a drop in the ocean.
The waters rose higher and higher, gradually submerging the entire tribe.
In the flood, innocent elderly people and children were swept away. Their cries for help echoed through the air, heart-wrenching to hear.
When Yu heard the news, he was instantly consumed by rage.
He reproached himself bitterly. This is all my fault! If I hadn't been so confident that I could take on the responsibility of controlling the flood, and sent my teacher back to cultivate—
If I'd kept my teacher by my side to help, this wouldn't have happened.
He knew the situation was urgent and couldn't be allowed to drag on. So Yu resolved to act faster, find his teacher as soon as possible, and ask him to help fight Wu Zhiqi and destroy him quickly, putting an end to Humanity's Peril.
As Yu returned to Shouyang Mountain, a figure was already busy in the badly damaged Human Tribe, doing everything she could to treat each injured tribesperson. Her movements were gentle and practiced, as if she had been born to save lives.
That figure was the Little Girl. She looked to be about sixteen, with delicate features and a gaze full of resolve and tenderness.
She carefully examined each wound, applying herbs before binding it tightly with hemp cord.
Tears kept streaming down her face, but she never stopped working. She knew time was short, and every moment could mean the difference between life and death.
"Child, hurry and leave. Don't stay here. That monster could fly into a rage and unleash another flood at any moment," an elderly man lying on the ground said weakly to the Little Girl, his voice filled with worry and compassion.
"That's right, child. You should go. It's too dangerous here," another old woman said with difficulty, enduring her pain. Her face was full of kindness and concern.
But the Little Girl didn't heed them. She raised her head, her eyes shining with determination.
"Grandpa, Grandma, I won't leave you. I'm a Healer—how could I watch you suffer?" she said softly. Then she lowered her head and continued tending to the injured.
But with the herbs and medical supplies she had on hand, there were some severe cases she couldn't treat. She felt deeply saddened and helpless.
She blamed herself. If only she were stronger, if only she had more herbs and better medical tools, perhaps she could save more lives.
But reality was cruel. She could only do her best, never enough to save everyone. The helplessness weighed more and more heavily on her heart.
Just then, a voice rang out. "Are you giving up already?" There was a hint of reproach in it, but more than that, encouragement.
She raised her head and saw someone standing before her: a tall, imposing man whose eyes showed unwavering resolve.
The man was Su Mu. He had been quietly watching her, admiring her hard work and dedication.
Su Mu walked over to her. Seeing her exhausted face and sorrowful expression, he said gently, "Don't give up so easily. We still have many chances to save those who need help."
"As long as you keep going, you'll find a way to solve the problem." His words brimmed with strength and confidence, and she rallied.
Su Mu hadn't planned to come here. He still had many pills to refine, but after hearing the System Prompt, he decided to come and take a look.
A few days earlier, Su Mu had been completely absorbed in alchemy in his cave dwelling when the system's voice suddenly sounded in his ear.
{Ding! The Human Race has suffered heavy casualties, and the Human Race Medical Dao has begun to emerge. Host, please help establish the Medical Dao and increase the chances of Human Revival.} {Reward: Innate Supreme Treasure "Hongmeng Cauldron," Innate Supreme Treasure Chaos Bell, five drops of Pangu's blood essence, and one Saint Cultivation Experience Card.}
Hearing this, Su Mu couldn't help frowning. He knew nothing about the so-called Medical Dao, much less how to establish it.
There were no Healers in the world yet. What was he supposed to do?
Su Mu sank into thought, his gaze drifting unconsciously toward the place where the Human Race lived.
The moment he looked, Su Mu was overcome with fury. He sprang to his feet and shouted, "That Demon Monkey dares to harm the Human Race!"
He immediately decided to go and eliminate the hateful Demon Monkey. But then his gaze fell on the Little Girl, who was doing her best to treat the injured.
She's treating illnesses and saving people. She's a Healer! Su Mu felt a surge of joy.
Su Mu sat and pondered for a long while. Then he stood and went to Shouyang Palace.
Inside the main hall of Shouyang Palace.
"Teacher." Su Mu bowed.
"Su Mu, is something the matter?" Nuwa asked.
Su Mu pointed directly at the girl in the stricken Human Tribe and said with resolve, "Teacher, please look."
At his words, Nuwa followed the direction of his finger. Her gaze crossed the void and settled on the place where the girl was.
Her brows drew tightly together, and a flash of anger passed through her eyes. "How dare that lowly Demon Monkey harm the Human Race! Su Mu, go and destroy it at once."
But Su Mu didn't move. Seeing that he had no intention of acting, Nuwa grew puzzled. She raised her hand, preparing to deal with the Demon Monkey herself.
Su Mu hurriedly stopped Nuwa. "Teacher, please wait. I didn't ask you to look at the Demon Monkey, but at the Little Girl."
Hearing that, Nuwa lowered her hand and looked at the girl again. Surprise appeared in her eyes. "I see. She's treating the injured members of the Human Race."
"Teacher, her cultivation is far too shallow. She simply can't treat so many people. To save more of them, she needs powerful Creation energy. Only with that power can she do it," Su Mu said to Nuwa.
Nuwa nodded slightly. A spark of light flew from between her brows, and thirteen tiny needles appeared in her hand.
The spark shimmered with a mysterious radiance, like a brilliant star, while the thirteen needles gave off a faint yet powerful aura, as if they contained boundless vitality.
Nuwa looked at Su Mu, expectation and trust in her eyes. "Su Mu, this is the Creation Art of my Human Cult. It contains boundless Creation energy and can heal every illness and injury."
"I have imbued each of these thirteen needles with Creation energy. They can restore the injured and bring them back to health."
"Now, I want you to give these treasures to her and accept her as my disciple on my behalf. Once she has treated all the injured, have her come to Shouyang Palace to become my disciple."
Su Mu respectfully accepted the spark of light and the thirteen needles. Feeling the tremendous power they contained, he couldn't help but feel a surge of reverence.
He understood that these precious treasures were far more than mere objects. The meaning they carried was profound.
They represented not only Nuwa's deep trust in the girl, but, more importantly, her earnest hopes for her: to save the Human Race from its dire straits.
When he met her, he found her hard at work caring for the injured villagers, blaming herself and crying over those she couldn't treat.
Hearing Su Mu's words, she cried as she replied, "But their injuries are too severe. There's truly nothing I can do."
Su Mu stepped forward, explained why he had come, and handed her Nuwa's gifts.
The woman accepted the spark of light and the thirteen needles. Feeling the tremendous power they contained, she looked surprised and grateful.
She turned toward Shouyang Mountain, slowly knelt, touched her forehead to the ground, and performed a deep bow.
Her voice was low but firm. "This disciple, Shaoyao, thanks Empress Nuwa. I understand how important this task is, and I will do everything I can to treat the injured."
"Once I have completed this mission, I will personally go to Shouyang Mountain to become your disciple." After speaking, she bowed again to show her respect and gratitude to Empress Nuwa.
After Su Mu left, the woman began using the Creation Art and the thirteen needles bestowed by Empress Nuwa to treat the injured villagers.
Shaoyao practiced the Creation Art as she treated her tribespeople. With the miraculous effects of the art and the thirteen needles, many who had been gravely injured gradually recovered and regained their vitality.
Su Mu then went to the Human Ancestral Land, found Shennong, and asked him for the Shennong's Hundred Herbs Classic.
This classic circulated throughout the Human Race, but the version Shennong had was the original.
Because it had been kept by Shennong for so long, this version had special properties.
By reading the original, people could deepen their understanding of herbs and improve their ability to grasp their uses.
Su Mu gave the Shennong's Hundred Herbs Classic to Shaoyao to study and use as a reference.
Shaoyao took the Shennong's Hundred Herbs Classic, her hands trembling slightly. She had clearly felt how important this gift was.
She gently opened the book. Its densely packed text and illustrations dazzled her.
Watching Shaoyao's focused expression, Su Mu felt a swell of satisfaction.
He knew the Shennong's Hundred Herbs Classic would bring Shaoyao endless help and inspiration.
It contained not only extensive knowledge of herbs, but also Shennong's wisdom and experience.
"I hope this book will be of help to you," Su Mu said softly.
Shaoyao looked up, gratitude shining in her eyes. She nodded. "Thank you, Senior Disciple Brother. I'll treasure this book."
Su Mu smiled, confident that Shaoyao would make good use of the Shennong's Hundred Herbs Classic and become an outstanding Healer.
As for him, he would keep working hard to uncover more of alchemy's mysteries.
As time passed, Shaoyao successfully treated all the injured. Treating them had further refined her medical skills and deepened her understanding of medicine.
Her cultivation rose from the Martial General (True Immortal) Realm to the Martial Emperor (Golden Immortal) Realm.
Seeing Shaoyao immersed in sudden enlightenment, Su Mu was delighted and personally guarded her.
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