Hua Tuo's Life and Death at a Thought

After several days on the road, Yang Xiu returned to the Flame Emperor Sect. He was ready to draw a card. Random cards were more likely to summon someone powerful, so he had deliberately waited until he was back at the Sect.

"System, use the Random Summoning Card."

"Card used successfully. Congratulations, host. You have obtained Hua Tuo."

Name: Hua Tuo

Soul Power: Level 97

Martial Soul: Elixir, yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red

Martial Soul: Surgical Knife, black, black, black, black, black, black, red, red, red

Trait 1: Miraculous Hands Rejuvenate: He has unique insights into disease. Elixirs refined through his Martial Soul may yield unexpected results, especially those used to treat illness and injury.

Trait 2: Life and Death at a Thought: A thought of life: As the forefather of surgery, he can swiftly heal any external wound. All healing effects increase by 500%.

A thought of death: Once Hua Tuo decides to kill, he casts aside all benevolence. His Elixir and Surgical Knife Martial Souls gain unimaginable toxicity, all his attributes increase by 200%, and he becomes immune to all negative effects. He turns into a Soul-Reaping Asura, indifferent to any life outside the Flame Emperor bloodline.

Title: Divine Healer (S-rank), not unlocked

"Hiss... This is Hua Tuo? He's an enhanced support fighter? He's probably stronger than Guan Sheng!"

"System, summon him."

Soon, a little old man appeared before Yang Xiu.

"This old man greets the Sect Master."

"No need for ceremony, Divine Healer."

"Sect Master, this old man wouldn't dare claim the name Divine Healer." Hua Tuo said he did not dare, but he did not look embarrassed in the least.

Seeing that, Yang Xiu fell silent and stared at him until the old man began to feel uneasy. He did not call him Divine Healer again. "Hahaha! Who would've thought, Hua Tuo, that you had this side to you?"

"Hua Tuo, have you researched any elixirs that improve Soul Power or talent?"

"Sect Master, when it comes to healing the sick, even those with baffling ailments, this old man has confidence. But what you're asking about? I haven't researched it much. The elixirs produced by my Martial Soul have limitations. Taking them affects a person's future potential, and only those below Soul Saint can use them. As for improving talent, I do have something, but it only works on the young. Once they're past twelve, it's useless. Their talent has already taken shape by then. I can't compare with 'it.'"

The "it" Hua Tuo mentioned at the end was naturally the system. Yang Xiu considered this, then said,

"Do you have any ready-made ones? Let me see."

"One moment, Sect Master." Hua Tuo searched through his system space and eventually took out five kinds of elixirs.

Martial Soul Pill: After use, has a chance to trigger Martial Soul Evolution and increase Innate Soul Power. The lower the Martial Soul's quality, the higher the chance. Can be used before age twelve. Example: If someone with a low-grade Martial Soul and level-one Innate Soul Power evolves to a mid-grade Martial Soul, their Innate Soul Power rises to level three to five.

Low: 0–3; mid: 3–5; high: 5–7; top-tier: 7–10.

Marrow-Cleansing Pill: Has a chance to increase Innate Soul Power by one level. The lower the Innate Soul Power, the easier it is to succeed. Can be used before age twelve; afterward, Innate Soul Power becomes permanently fixed.

Soul Ancestor Pill: Permanently increases Soul Power by five levels. Side effect: the user cannot break through level 50 without a Soul King Pill.

Soul King Pill: Permanently increases Soul Power by four levels. Side effect: the user cannot break through level 60 without a Soul Emperor Pill.

Soul Emperor Pill: Permanently increases Soul Power by three levels. Side effect: the user cannot break through level 70.

Yang Xiu looked over the effects of the elixirs. They were good, especially the Martial Soul Pill. These elixirs would work for cultivating the Sect's lower ranks.

"Hua Tuo, make some of each. They'll be useful later. Also, see if you can develop an elixir that lets people break through to Soul Saint. If you need anything, go to Dragon One. He handles much of the Sect's business."

"Understood, Sect Master. I won't disturb you any longer."

Yang Xiu watched Hua Tuo leave with a cheerful smile and wondered just how strong the old man became when he wanted to kill. Someone skilled with poison might not be a good physician,

but a good physician who used poison was certainly terrifying. Yang Xiu gave it no more thought and began cultivating. Soon, the day arrived for the Sect to recruit disciples. The foot of the Flame Emperor Sect's mountain was packed with people: commoners, nobles, and scouts from various factions.

Many people below were talking.

"Did you see? Isn't that Dragon One Douluo of the Flame Emperor Sect? I never thought I'd be lucky enough to see him."

"You saw him too? That's right, a Titled Douluo! One of the most powerful people on the continent. I wonder if we'll get to see Dragon Two Douluo today."

"Haha, brother, to tell you the truth, I'm not even here to join the Flame Emperor Sect. My Innate Soul Power is only level three. I just came to try my luck and see if I could witness the splendor of the Sect's two Titled Douluo."

"Holy shit, you too? What a coincidence! I thought I was the only one."

"Heh, there are plenty of us. My brothers and I all came for that."

Dragon One was presiding over the event, while Gao Lan did the work. Gao Lan was now a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse, though he had little presence in the Sect. Hong Tian was currently the weakest member of the Sect, but he was a founding elder. Yang Xiu had used Hua Tuo's elixirs to raise him to level 62 and had even boosted his Innate Soul Power by one level. Still, if Hua Tuo could not develop an elixir for breaking through to Soul Saint, level 69 would be Hong Tian's limit for life. Of course, Hong Tian was delighted with his current strength. Without joining the Flame Emperor Sect, he could never have achieved this much. In some small cities, a Soul Emperor was a dominant figure.

Just then, Dragon One spoke to the brother beside him.

"Nine, have you collected the records of these people's ages, strength, and Innate Soul Power?"

"Yes, big brother. We have everything. Should we call the Sect Master?"

"Not yet. We'll screen them first. In a moment, tell anyone whose Innate Soul Power is below level six to leave. Some of these records are bound to be false. I'd love to know what was going through their heads. Look at this one: fifty-one years old, level 41 Soul Power, and supposedly level-seven Innate Soul Power. Does he take us for fools? Weed them out."

"Got it, big brother." Dragon Nine glanced at the noisy crowd below, then raised his voice with Soul Power.

"Everyone, please be quiet. Hear me out." As Dragon Nine spoke, the crowd gradually fell silent. Many wondered who this powerhouse was, but no one said another word. Once they were completely quiet, Dragon Nine continued.

"Today is the day our Flame Emperor Sect recruits disciples. We've collected some information and looked it over. Those of you who lied on your forms still have time to leave. Our Sect has a way to test Innate Soul Power, so don't think you can cheat. And before you try, consider your age. Does your strength match the Innate Soul Power you claimed?"

"That's all I have to say. You have half an hour. If your Innate Soul Power is below level six, please leave."

"Of course, the Sect has added a new rule: regardless of your Innate Soul Power, anyone at Soul Saint level or above will be accepted." Dragon Nine fell silent. Reaching Soul Saint generally required at least level-six Innate Soul Power, so this rule was really meant to recruit established powerhouses.

The crowd below erupted into chatter. Though they had seen members of the Flame Emperor Sect since arriving, they still had not seen where the Sect itself was. Then someone spoke up.

"Those of us who lied should leave. The Flame Emperor Sect isn't someone we can afford to provoke. Even if we can't join, we shouldn't offend them. They're no pushovers."

After he spoke, those who had hesitated began to leave. Soon, only a little over two hundred people remained. Some had come as relatives or friends, not to join the Flame Emperor Sect.

Dragon One and the others watched the crowd below. He knew few, if any, liars remained. He gave Dragon Nine a look, and Dragon Nine stepped forward again.

"All right. I trust those of you still here have Innate Soul Power of at least level six. Anyone who wants to join the Flame Emperor Sect must fill out a fresh form and hand it in. You have half an hour. Of course, if anyone still lies and gets caught, you won't leave this place alive. The Flame Emperor Sect isn't a place you can fool."

"I won't keep you any longer. Perhaps you'll become disciples of our Flame Emperor Sect."

Dragon One turned to Dragon Eighteen beside him.

"Little brother, go call the Sect Master. He'll need to conduct the final test, just as he instructed." Dragon One then whispered a few words in his ear.

"Understood, big brother." Dragon Eighteen quickly left.

Dragon One stayed where he was. He could sense many people hiding in the shadows, including three Titled Douluo. They might show themselves when the recruits entered the Sect, but they would likely be disappointed. Without someone from the Flame Emperor Sect to guide them, they could not enter just because they wanted to.

The crowd's forms were soon handed in: 147 in all. The Sect had said it would accept only a hundred people, but that did not mean the number had to be exact.

Dragon One looked through the information. There really were Soul Saints among the applicants—five of them. There were even more Soul Emperors, a full fourteen. Whether they belonged to other factions remained to be seen, but Dragon One did not concern himself with that. The Sect Master would handle it when he arrived. Still, the winds might change today. After several years on Douluo Continent, Dragon One had come to know a few people, and he could tell who the Titled Douluo lurking in the shadows were. He paid no mind to the Soul Douluo and those below them. No matter how many there were, they could not cause any surprises.

Dragon One waited quietly, paying no attention to anything around him. He knew that once Yang Xiu arrived, everything would be resolved. Time passed as he waited.