The Hua family's ancestor had divided acupuncture techniques into three stages: conventional needling, Controlling Needles with Qi, and Controlling Needles with Thought.
Conventional needling needed no explanation. Controlling Needles with Qi required the practitioner to reach at least the early Grandmaster realm. After generating true qi within the body, they also had to be able to channel it into silver needles.
When performing acupuncture, true qi could pass through the silver needles into the acupoints and meridians, making the treatment dozens or even hundreds of times more effective.
As far as Hua Ming knew, aside from himself, probably only experts from the mysterious Medicine Sect of the ancient martial arts world could achieve Controlling Needles with Qi.
As for Controlling Needles with Thought, Hua Ming had never witnessed such a level. His ancestor Hua Tuo had merely recorded that an immortal had once used this technique, leaving him awestruck and marveling at a being beyond mortal reach.
Hua Tuo had even wanted to become his disciple, but in the end, he had regretfully learned only the barest scraps.
"Was that really necessary?" Despite performing such a world-shaking feat, Lin Fei showed not the slightest emotional fluctuation. He even thought their reactions were too exaggerated.
They marveled at everything because they had seen so little.
The silver needles before him seemed alive, tracing streaks of cold silver light through the air as they pierced the acupoints throughout Ji Zhongjin's body.
Their placement was not off in the slightest, and their depth was perfect.
The silver needles trembled faintly, even wreathed in a soft white glow.
At that moment, Ji Zhongjin felt strands of invisible warmth rush through his limbs and bones, filling his entire body with indescribable ease.
"Hm?" Ji Zhongjin frowned and abruptly pressed a hand over his liver.
"Dad, what's wrong?" Startled, Ji Chongwei hurriedly asked.
"I'm fine!" Ji Zhongjin raised a hand to stop him, then turned his head aside and retched out a mouthful of pitch-black, foul blood.
"If anything happens to my father, I won't let you off!" Ji Chongwei shot Lin Fei a vicious glare.
Yet Lin Fei merely smiled casually. "The cancer cells have spread. Did you think he could be cured without expelling them?"
Sure enough, after vomiting, Ji Zhongjin immediately felt clearheaded and refreshed. Even his complexion grew considerably rosier.
"That's enough." Lin Fei swept two fingers through the air, and a row of silver needles instantly flew out, returning to the needle case and arranging themselves neatly.
Recovering quickly from his shock, Hua Ming reached out to take Ji Zhongjin's pulse.
His fingers had barely touched the pulse before he looked at Lin Fei in astonishment. "He's cured!"
Hua Cheng's eyes widened as he felt his entire worldview suffer a tremendous blow.
Holy fucking shit, he just cured late-stage liver cancer?
Was he really from Earth?
He had to be an immortal!
Ji Zhongjin, an old man of immense prestige in Rongcheng, abruptly rose and bowed deeply to Lin Fei.
Lin Fei reached out to help him straighten up and smiled faintly. "A trifling matter. Don't worry about it."
He then looked at Hua Ming, lightly tapping the tabletop with his index finger. "For that brat Hua Tuo's sake, I'll give you one last chance!"
Hua Ming's expression shifted uncertainly. Though he knew full well that he had a guilty conscience, he simply could not swallow his pride.
Besides, that was a whole eighty million!
At his age, he no longer cared much, but that money was enough for those spendthrift descendants of his to dress in silk, feast on delicacies, and squander away an entire lifetime.
Seeing him remain silent, Hua Cheng immediately declared forcefully, "Even if your medical skills are extraordinary, what proof do you have that my grandfather took money against his conscience?"
A thought stirred in Hua Ming's mind, and he immediately sighed as well. "I poured my heart and soul into refining the Soul-Returning Pill that cured Miss Ji."
"Please don't make baseless accusations and slander my reputation, young man."
Ji Zhongjin also murmured in agreement, smiling quite amiably at Lin Fei. "Young man, whatever else may be said, Divine Doctor Hua did save my granddaughter's life. Taking back his payment would be rather like tearing down the bridge after crossing the river. Our Ji Family doesn't do such shameful things."
Lin Fei gave him a faint smile, then looked at Hua Ming with interest. "You really can cure Thousand Spiders and Ten Thousand Poisons?"
Hua Ming hardened his heart and simply decided that, having gone this far, he might as well go all the way. "That's right!" he declared with certainty.
Lin Fei wasted no more words on him and pointed a finger.
A strange purplish-black light instantly sank into the space between Hua Cheng's eyebrows.
"Ah!" Hua Cheng screamed, his eyes rolled back, and he fell to the ground with a thud.
He lost consciousness then and there.
The Ji father and son's expressions changed, but after exchanging a glance, both remained silent.
Hua Ming's face drained of color. He hurriedly threw himself over Hua Cheng and helped him up. "Grandson!"
Yet no matter how he shook him, Hua Cheng showed no response.
Hua Ming hurriedly took Hua Cheng's pulse, then shuddered all over and looked at Lin Fei, his face deathly pale. "How do you have Thousand Spiders and Ten Thousand Poisons?!"
In an instant, the way the Ji father and son looked at Lin Fei changed.
He possessed Thousand Spiders and Ten Thousand Poisons, and his words had also vaguely suggested that he knew Ji Yaoguang.
Then was it possible... that he was the one who had poisoned Ji Yaoguang?
Seated in his chair with one hand propping up the side of his face, Lin Fei said indifferently, "Didn't you say you could cure Thousand Spiders and Ten Thousand Poisons? It shouldn't be too difficult for you, should it?"
Hua Ming trembled all over, his teeth tightly clenched.
He knew better than anyone.
He... could not cure it.
There was a thud.
Hua Ming knelt before Lin Fei.
At that moment, Lin Fei sat casually at an angle in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, his eyes holding a stillness as deep as the ocean.
The orange-red light of the setting sun streamed through the main entrance, dappling the room with light and shadow.
From Hua Ming's perspective.
He was like an immortal seated upon a divine throne.