"Fuyao, relax. I’m just going to be gentle," Lu Xuan said, his tone deliberately casual.
He activated the spiritual formula of his Medical Scripture, a faint emerald light swirling over his palm. An incredibly gentle, warm power began to flow, filling the air with an aura that made Ji Fuyao feel profoundly comfortable.
Lu Xuan placed his hand on her back. Once again, he was met with a soft, delicate sensation—like silk, like white porcelain. Exquisite.
He caught a subtle, faint fragrance emanating from her.
In that instant, a mysterious, soothing energy flowed from his hand into Ji Fuyao’s back and coursed through her meridians. It was like a spring breeze, a gentle spring rain, nourishing the vast inner world of her body.
The power surged into her blood, her hidden physical recesses, and her Divine Soul, silently healing the deep wounds within her.
Ji Fuyao slowly closed her eyes, observing the changes within. After she had been forced to burn her soul, fragments of her spirit had been reduced to tattered remnants, drifting within her boundless internal cosmos. Her meridians were fractured, her spiritual energy flow obstructed, and there were old, chronic injuries from before she even joined the Grand Dao Sect.
Now, Lu Xuan was meticulously treating every single corner, slowly mending the damage.
The healing power was so soft and gentle that it brought her a sense of profound clarity, as if she were experiencing a Heaven-Man Connection.
Suddenly, a thought struck Ji Fuyao: while Master was treating her, wasn't he essentially seeing her entire inner world?
Her face flushed crimson.
But... if it's Master, then perhaps it doesn't matter.
She was an Empress in her past life, but she would never allow a second man to touch her body!
With this thought, Ji Fuyao tilted her snow-white neck slightly and asked, "Master, did you... see everything?"
Lu Xuan looked utterly bewildered. "See what?"
??? What is Fuyao thinking now?
Ji Fuyao’s delicate lips trembled slightly. "Nothing, Master."
However, Ji Fuyao’s question suddenly prompted Lu Xuan to turn his Divine Sense inward.
Wait... wait a minute. Holy hell!
He realized he could indeed see countless scenes of profound spiritual beauty—a sight that was, frankly, a little too much.
A cavern of wonders, infinite beauty on the perilous peak! How can the water be so clear? Because of the living source at the head!
He quickly reined in his thoughts, clearing his throat and focusing on the task. "Ahem, ahem, ahem..."
See no evil, Lu Xuan! This is my First Disciple! Don't be a creep, man...
But at that moment, as the power of the medical Dao continued to surge, Ji Fuyao’s body began to heat up. She was starting to lose control.
Ripples appeared in her eyes, and her delicate body trembled.
"Oh... Master, please be gentle..." Ji Fuyao couldn't help but let out a soft, involuntary gasp.
Lu Xuan froze.
What the actual hell kind of suggestive dialogue is that?
He was genuinely just healing her injuries!
Ji Fuyao’s face was completely scarlet with shame.
Oh no, oh no, oh no... Master heard me again!
Her heart was pounding. She wanted to hold it in, but the power of this medical Dao was too gentle and comfortable; she truly couldn't control herself. In her previous life as an Empress, she had endured endless pain on the path of cultivation, yet she couldn't withstand this indescribably soft sensation.
"Fuyao," Lu Xuan said softly, "hold your mind steady. Don't move around."
Ji Fuyao meekly replied, "Oh." She quickly activated her spiritual formula, collecting her thoughts and daring not to let her mind wander.
Sigh. My image as a majestic Empress is completely ruined in front of Master! Now, all Master sees is a sheltered, inexperienced young woman!
Soon, beads of fragrant sweat appeared on Ji Fuyao’s beautiful, flushed face. Her breath came in soft pants, and the subtle fragrance of her body diffused around them.
Drip!
Drops of her sweat fell, like precious spiritual dew. Her eyes were hazy, and her fiery red dress was completely soaked, clinging tightly to her snow-white body, revealing her perfect, curvaceous figure. She looked incredibly alluring and beautiful.
Ji Fuyao quickly tried to distract herself by thinking of other things. She asked, "Master, has Junior Brother Ye Chen entered that Ancient Secret Realm yet?"
"I don't know," Lu Xuan replied.
"And what do you know about the Ancient Supreme Artifact, the Bronze Ancient Palace?" she pressed.
"Not much," Lu Xuan said.
Ji Fuyao bit her lip, speechless.
An hour later, Lu Xuan slowly withdrew his hands from Ji Fuyao’s back.
Heaven help me, I was truly just healing her!
But Ji Fuyao's reaction—he had seen it with his own eyes—was even more intense than the first time! He was starting to suspect that the medical expertise the System gave him was somehow tainted. Why does it feel so inappropriate?
Ji Fuyao lightly adjusted her fiery red dress. The fabric, soaked with sweat, clung to her body, and he could faintly see her tender, fair skin beneath. Her cheeks were still slightly pink. "Master, are you finished?"
Lu Xuan nodded. "Yes. Go back and consolidate your gains! Run your spiritual energy through a few cycles to regulate your body."
Ji Fuyao tilted her head, slowly rising from the ground. "Master, I'll be leaving now."
"Go," Lu Xuan said.
Watching her beautiful figure flee in haste, Lu Xuan shook his head slightly.
He immediately questioned the System internally, "System, come out! Is this medical expertise you gave me legitimate?"
The System sounded innocent. [Yes! Would I give you anything illegitimate?]
"Then what about Ji Fuyao's reaction?" Lu Xuan asked.
[That is because this medical inheritance is the Origin Power of the Medical Dao. What is the Origin of the Medical Dao? It aligns with the Heavenly Dao, formless and traceless. It is precisely because this medical power is too pure—like a spring breeze, like a spring rain...]
"Fine," Lu Xuan muttered, unconvinced.
Soon after, Lu Xuan lay down on his Profound Ice Bed to rest.
So tiring!
He then remembered the Cangxuan Old Ancestor suddenly leaving with the Sect Master and the others. Could it really be related to Ji Fuyao?
With that thought, he sent a mental transmission to the Sect Master. "Sect Master, are you there?"
No response.
Lu Xuan put away the communication jade slip. Forget it. I won't worry about it. Fuyao is safe now, anyway.
Time to rest!
***
In the depths of the void, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor and several Peak Masters were traversing space. A brilliant divine light streaked across the sky like a meteor, moving at an unimaginable speed!
Everyone’s hearts were burning with anxiety.
However, the Grand Dao Sect was tens of millions of miles away from Cangzhou. Even though the Cangxuan Old Ancestor had activated an Ancient Forbidden Secret Art and paid a heavy price, it would still take several hours to reach Cangzhou.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor’s expression was grim. "We don't have much time! I wonder how Fuyao is doing right now?"
He had used the Grand Dao Sect’s secret technique to lock onto the spiritual aura Ji Fuyao had left behind.
The location was Cangzhou, Liucheng!
The No-Phase Peak Master asked, "Old Ancestor, could it be the Heavenly Net Palace? Three thousand years ago, the Heavenly Net Palace destroyed the Fuyao Dynasty, but there were rumors that the Dynasty's elite forces escaped that massacre!"
The Misty Peak Master frowned, a look of worry on her face. "That child Fuyao ran off so far. Could it be that the former loyalists of the Fuyao Dynasty are in Cangzhou?"
The Sect Master looked distraught, secretly thinking, Fuyao, please don't let anything happen to you.
Everyone sighed softly. They hoped no accident had occurred.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor’s face was cold, his eyes filled with unconcealed killing intent. "No matter who it is, anyone who dares to target a disciple of my Grand Dao Sect will be killed!"
This time, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor was prepared to unleash a bloody slaughter! Daring to touch Ji Fuyao was courting death!
Not long after, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the others finally arrived at Liucheng in Cangzhou.
Space tore open!
The space twisted violently, and the Cangxuan Old Ancestor and several Peak Masters stepped out of the spatial rift.
Liucheng had been reduced to ruins!
Blood flowed like rivers here; it was clearly the aftermath of a recent massacre!
Seeing this scene, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor’s expression turned extremely ugly.
At that moment, the Misty Peak Master pointed to a massive, broken token in the ruins. "Old Ancestor, that is a token from the Heavenly Net Palace!"
Everyone immediately looked.
They saw a huge, ancient token, broken into two halves—one half bearing the character for "Heaven" and the other for "Net"—lying half-buried in the rubble.
Everyone frowned. Their fears had been realized.
It was indeed the Heavenly Net Palace!
As a newly risen hegemon-level power in the Southern Wilds, the Heavenly Net Palace was known for its tyrannical style, often wiping out entire factions without a second thought. Over the past few millennia, the Heavenly Net Palace had risen relentlessly, destroying many forces across the Southern Wilds' three thousand states.
The Fuyao Dynasty was just one of them!
Thinking of this, everyone asked with deep concern, "Old Ancestor, can you use a secret technique to investigate Ji Fuyao's aura?"
Hearing this, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor swept his sleeve, his spiritual formula changing rapidly. He summoned his Emperor Weapon, which pulsed with an incredibly profound energy. The weapon, currently shaped like a celestial compass, floated above Liucheng. As the Old Ancestor poured his Divine Sense into it, brilliant Dao patterns began to spread outward, looking cryptic and mysterious, peering into the hidden secrets of the battle.
The Sect Master and the Peak Masters watched this scene with utmost solemnity.
This was the Cangxuan Old Ancestor’s Emperor Weapon!
It contained the power of the Heavenly Dao, interwoven with Dao and Essence. Coupled with the Old Ancestor’s centuries of continuous refinement using the power of the Grand Dao Scripture, no one dared to guess how truly powerful this Emperor Weapon had become. After all, the Grand Dao Sect had not been involved in any major conflicts with other Southern Wilds forces for nearly a thousand years, and the Cangxuan Old Ancestor had not made a move in just as long!
A short while later, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor recalled his Emperor Weapon and slowly spoke.
"If my deduction is correct, an Emperor-level battle took place here! There were three Great Emperors involved!"
"Two Great Emperors carried the aura of the Heavenly Net Palace, consistent with the token. They must be the Heavenly Net Palace's Emperors! The third Great Emperor... I cannot discern. Their aura is completely incompatible with the Heavenly Net Palace's! Only a wisp of ethereal Dao Essence remains here. That method of attack was like a killing blow from the Heavenly Dao itself—formless, traceless, and utterly terrifying!"
The Sect Master and the others were shocked. "Old Ancestor, since that Great Emperor wasn't from the Heavenly Net Palace, could they be the protector behind Fuyao?"
They had always suspected that Ji Fuyao had a powerful backer!
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor had previously ordered them not to investigate, so they hadn't pried. From all past signs, the person behind Ji Fuyao held no malice toward the Grand Dao Sect.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor then said, "I cannot see through that Great Emperor! However, I sensed Fuyao’s aura. She was injured!"
"What?"
The Sect Master and the others’ expressions changed instantly. "Fuyao was injured?"
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor gently waved his hand, catching a wisp of formless aura. He used a supreme secret art to analyze this wisp and quickly discovered the truth.
The Sect Master and the others cried out in alarm, "This is the aura of a burned soul!"
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor nodded, his face icy cold. "The Heavenly Net Palace forced Fuyao to burn her soul. This matter will not be settled easily!"