Shennong Qi

The position of Subordinate Eighth Rank Director of Medicine at the Princess's Residence was actually quite a cushy appointment, if one ignored the lurking danger of being beheaded for failing to cure a patient. Most days were leisurely.

After all, the people under him were not just sitting around eating for free.

The Director of Medicine was like an elderly physician presiding over a clinic. He only needed to step in when his subordinates could not resolve a case, and there were not usually that many difficult ailments.

Once Lu Changfeng returned to the Spirit Pivot Institute, he found himself with little to do.

Qing Dai went to prepare what he needed.

While digesting what he had learned in the Pivot of Heaven Pavilion, Lu Changfeng began cultivating the Shennong Glazed Glass Art. With the martial principles granted by his fully mastered Nine Yin Manual, switching cultivation methods was not difficult.

Lu Changfeng sat in the quiet chamber normally used to treat distinguished patients, assumed the posture of five centers facing heaven, briefly collected himself, and began circulating his true qi.

This art reached lofty realms and had at least four levels, but what he had obtained was incomplete. Only the first three levels were intact, enough to cultivate to the peak of Xiantian. Without the visualization diagram, he could not condense true intent, develop an intent realm, or break through to the Grandmaster realm.

For now, he had no other choice.

Lu Changfeng was in no hurry either. He began guiding his true qi through the first step: producing Shennong qi!

Shennong qi was the foundation of Medicine King Valley's exclusive arts, a kind of true qi devoted to healing. Using it to treat injuries yielded twice the result for half the effort!

Lu Changfeng settled his mind and began circulating his qi according to the Shennong Glazed Glass Art, first sinking his awareness into the foot jueyin liver meridian.

The liver belonged to wood, governed free flow, stored blood, and served as the pivot of the body's flourishing vitality.

To produce Shennong qi containing boundless vitality, this art had to begin with the liver meridian. Only with this as its foundation could it govern all the transformations that followed.

"The five grains transform into essence; the hundred flavors become qi."

As he circulated the mental formula, he used his liver as a cauldron. The refined substances derived from his past meals and stored within his liver blood stirred under the art's unique rhythm, melting like spring snow into trickling streams.

At the same time, a trace of innate lesser yang qi, buried deep within his kidney essence and representing the source of life, was drawn out and slowly fed into his liver meridian.

These two elements, acquired essence and innate wood qi, began merging within the channel of his liver meridian and the "initial cauldron" of his liver.

At that moment, Lu Changfeng used his long, steady breaths as wind to drive his liver qi into gentle circulation. He used the pure internal energy cultivated through the Nine Yin Manual as both an ignition fuse and a medium of water and fire, tempering the scorching intensity within.

This process was extraordinarily profound, requiring the practitioner to control their internal breath down to the finest degree.

Drawing on the solid foundation granted by the Nine Yin Manual, Lu Changfeng precisely controlled the "heat," imitating the natural rhythm of plants sprouting from seeds and growing strong, now quickening, now slowing, now gathering, now dispersing.

Gradually, along the course of his liver meridian, particularly near its source point-the Taichong Acupoint-a unique sensation of qi began to gather, warm, gentle, and vibrant, carrying something like the fresh fragrance of growing plants.

At first, this sensation was faint, like a tender shoot just emerging, yet it contained incomparably pure vitality. As his cultivation deepened, it grew increasingly distinct, until a green current of qi, as fine as gossamer yet extraordinarily lively, was born within his liver meridian.

It no longer remained confined to the liver meridian, but naturally flowed into the vast sea of his meridians, cleansing his body.

This was Shennong qi! Though still only an embryonic form, it already revealed the fundamental nature of wood.

As soon as this vividly green strand of Shennong qi was born, it began circulating on its own. Like the first rain of spring, its life-filled current quietly neutralized and purified the traces of dryness and fire toxins left behind by his earlier internal cultivation.

More wondrous still, Lu Changfeng felt a cool sensation wash over his eyes, and his vision became clearer and sharper. This was a sign of abundant liver qi flowing upward to nourish the eyes.

He understood. So the first level, "Drawing Out the Inner Medicine," means awakening the liver's vitality and refining this Shennong qi rooted in wood. Only with this qi as the foundation can I grow like a tree, gradually nourishing heart fire, spleen earth, lung metal, and kidney water, until all five organs harmonize and refine the great medicine together!

He gathered his mind and stopped deliberately guiding it, merely keeping the "furnace flame" burning as this newborn strand of Shennong qi followed the circulation cycle, continually growing stronger and purer.

According to the art, once this qi filled his entire body, cleansed his meridians and marrow, and expelled all acquired impurities, he would achieve the immaculate glazed glass body. Then no illness could invade him, poisons would struggle to harm him, and he would be clear inside and out, free of every blemish and impurity...

Qing Dai returned from outside the residence carrying a cloth bundle, looking for all the world like a thief.

Fortunately, her status as one of the Plum Blossom Guards set her apart from ordinary servants. Otherwise, if anyone learned what was in that bundle, there would certainly be no end of trouble.

She headed straight for the Spirit Pivot Institute. When Shen Jingwan told her that Lu Changfeng was in the quiet chamber, apparently cultivating, she waited a while longer. Only after faint sounds came from inside did she softly call, "Sir?"

"Come in."

Qing Dai pushed the door open at his reply.

But the moment she stepped one foot into the chamber, she froze.

Lu Changfeng sat upright on the couch, still wearing the same pale green official robe, yet he seemed utterly reborn. His handsome but slightly pale face now shone with the warm luster of jade, as though a precious radiance flowed beneath his skin. Most astonishing were his eyes, clear as a mountain spring, making her scarcely dare meet them. Even the air around him was delicate and fresh, like a bamboo grove beneath clearing skies after rain, refreshing the heart and lungs.

"S-sir."

For a moment, Qing Dai was dazed. Hastily lowering her head, she gently placed the bundle on a nearby table. "Everything you asked for is ready..."

She wondered, What happened? Why does he seem like an entirely different person?

Lu Changfeng slowly concluded his cultivation. During that session, all the Nine Yin true qi within him had been refined and merged into this newly born, vibrant Shennong qi, beginning his transformation toward a glazed glass body.

In just a few more days, once his impurities were washed away, he could attempt a breakthrough to Xiantian!

The corners of Lu Changfeng's mouth curled upward. In excellent spirits, he hopped off the couch, walked over to the bundle, and opened it. "You didn't attract any attention, did you?"

Qing Dai shook her head.

Lu Changfeng nodded, recalling Zhang Shouzhuo's aggressive manner as he abused his office to settle a private grudge. "Good. Once I've made a few preparations, I'll send that old dog a grand gift!"

He carried the bundle into the kitchen.

Don't be impatient. I'll send you to meet the King of Hell soon enough!

The imperial city.

Inside the attendant physician's duty room at the Medical Pharmacy Bureau.

Sun Huaijin was studying a rare medicinal herb in deep concentration. He was around forty, with a lean face and piercing eyes, and carried the imposing air of someone long accustomed to authority.

Hearing the announcement outside, he frowned slightly, but still said calmly, "Let him in."

Zhang Shouzhuo all but stumbled into the room. Disregarding etiquette, he blurted out, "Senior Brother Sun, something's happened!"

Sun Huaijin did not even raise his eyes. His tone remained flat. "Why panic? The sky isn't falling. Is it County Lady Wu... did you come away empty-handed?"

"Far worse than empty-handed!"

Zhang Shouzhuo spoke urgently, his voice filled with resentment and alarm. "We... we may have sewn someone else's wedding robes!"

"Hmm?"

Sun Huaijin finally looked up, his gaze striking Zhang Shouzhuo like two bolts of cold lightning. "Explain."

Zhang Shouzhuo hurriedly recounted everything that had happened in the Pivot of Heaven Pavilion, emphasizing how Lu Changfeng had "just happened" to read the Thousand Gold Prescriptions after they left, and his almost monstrous ability to remember everything at a glance.

"Senior Brother!"

Zhang Shouzhuo finally exclaimed, "When Lu Changfeng entered, he went straight to the Medical Compendium, clearly intending to search for an extraordinary method of treating internal injuries. That was only natural for a physician. But why would he suddenly turn to a vast foundational work like the Thousand Gold Prescriptions? This was no coincidence! I'm certain he discovered something in it! County Lady Wu was deceived by his glib words, but I'll stake my head on it: there is definitely something wrong with this fellow! The secret of the Shennong Glazed Glass Art has probably... probably fallen into his hands!"

Sun Huaijin listened silently, his fingers unconsciously tapping the desk with soft, hollow knocks.

Only Zhang Shouzhuo's heavy breathing remained in the room.

After a long while, Sun Huaijin finally spoke slowly, his voice betraying neither pleasure nor anger. "Lu Changfeng... the newly appointed Director of Medicine who cured Xue Chongyin and dragged your Imperial Medical Bureau's reputation through the mud?"

Zhang Shouzhuo paled. "Yes... that's him."

Sun Huaijin's gaze suddenly deepened. "He remembers everything at a glance? If he truly comprehended anything from our late master's manuscripts, then he has stolen Medicine King Valley's closely guarded secret!"

He rose, his tone chilling. "It's actually a good thing Wu Lingyun took the notes away. Even if Princess Taiping realizes what happened, it will be too late..."

He considered for a moment, then a sharp light flashed in his eyes. "Go and do two things immediately. First, find a way to approach Wu Lingyun's attendants. Promise them generous rewards and have them pay particular attention to volume thirty of the Thousand Gold Prescriptions while sorting the notes. See whether there is anything unusual."

"Second, keep Lu Changfeng under constant watch! If he truly obtained the inheritance, he will certainly cultivate it in secret! This art's greatest strength lies in the glazed glass body. It allows the five organs to nurture five kinds of qi, unlocking the body's medicinal treasury. Then he can absorb the medicinal properties of everything under heaven into his body and call upon them at will! He will definitely use medicines to nourish his qi! Pay particular attention to what medicinal ingredients he gathers in the coming days and where he goes to cultivate. Report any unusual behavior immediately!"

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

Zhang Shouzhuo's spirits lifted. He hurriedly bowed in acknowledgment and left.

Standing alone in the room, Sun Huaijin murmured, "Master, oh, Master. You concealed this divine art, refusing to pass it on even to me, your direct disciple... and now, will it finally emerge into the world? It was destined to be mine!"

With his senior brother's instructions, Zhang Shouzhuo felt thoroughly reassured. He left the Medical Pharmacy Bureau and returned to the Imperial Medical Bureau, considering which of Wu Lingyun's attendants could be entrusted with the task and how to keep close watch on Lu Changfeng.

While he was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a faint commotion outside.

Then Imperial Medical Deputy Wang Bingwen entered with two medical officials. He held a letter, his expression peculiar.

Zhang Shouzhuo asked, "What is it?"

Wang Bingwen said, "A letter landed at the bureau entrance, specifically addressed for you to open personally..."

Zhang Shouzhuo paused, rather surprised.

He had many acquaintances in Chang'an, but who would deliver a message this way?

He took the letter. The envelope was thin, and when he squeezed it, there seemed to be only a single sheet of paper inside.

Several other medical officials and clerks in the bureau were also drawn by this curious incident and gathered around, their faces full of interest.

"Did you see who delivered it?" Zhang Shouzhuo asked with a frown.

Wang Bingwen and the two accompanying medical officials shook their heads together. "The messenger had exceptional lightness skills and seemed to come from the direction of the Western Market Apothecary. We only saw the letter float over, not the person. Imperial Physician Director, with so much happening lately, caution would be best. Beware of a trap!"

Zhang Shouzhuo was about to tear open the envelope, but paused at those words.

He carefully felt the envelope again. Nothing seemed unusual, except that the seal was slightly stiffer than on an ordinary envelope. He gave it little thought, assuming someone had simply applied too much paste.

He prided himself on his medical skill. Even if an envelope like this were poisoned, how large could the dose possibly be? He possessed Medicine King Valley's inheritance and had Shennong qi protecting his body. Could someone really kill him with a letter here in the Imperial Medical Bureau, beneath everyone's eyes?

Besides, with so many people watching, he could not show fear.

"It's fine. I doubt it's anything serious."

Zhang Shouzhuo smiled dismissively, pressed down with his fingertips, and ripped hard along the seal!

There was an extremely faint pop, as though some tiny pouch had burst under pressure.

A colorless, odorless, almost imperceptible wisp of vapor instantly escaped the torn envelope and rushed straight at Zhang Shouzhuo's face!

He felt only a faintly cool breath enter his nostrils. Before he could react, a violent numbness spread from his face throughout his entire body like lightning!