Medical Sage

Within the unassuming, grey-walled, grey-tiled quadrangle courtyard, the wrinkled old Yuue Erzhu calmly watched as Chen Fei slowly pushed open the gate and walked in. Despite being somewhat prepared, the sight of Chen Fei in the flesh still sent a flicker of surprise through his turbid eyes, and his aged face filled with deep emotion.

It was worth noting that he was a ninety-year-old Half-Step S Rank Ability User and, at the same time, one of the top metaphysical divination masters in Hong Kong and Macau. Naturally, he could tell at a glance that an astonishingly vast energy was hidden within Chen Fei’s young body.

Peak of First-Class Ancient Warrior, and perhaps even Half-Step Innate... Although he couldn’t precisely determine it at that moment, having even this vague ”answer” was utterly astounding. A man in his twenties at the peak of the First-Class Ancient Warrior level, or even Half-Step Innate... If word of this got out, it would probably shock and stupefy countless people. This is no joke.

As everyone knows, the lifespan of both Ancient Martial Artists and Ability Users is closely related to their cultivation realm. Ascending one step in realm increases one’s lifespan by a certain number of years. For example, most regular people can generally only live to be seventy or eighty. However, if their cultivation level could break through to First-Class Ancient Warrior or A Level Ability User, their lifespan would increase by twenty years.

And if one were fortunate enough to break through to become an Innate Ancient Martial Artist or an S Level Superpowered, their lifespan would extend by at least fifty years.

As the saying goes, ”at fifty, one knows their destiny,” so an extra fifty years of life was a number that would make anyone green with envy, especially for an old man like Yuue Erzhu, who already had one foot in the grave.

After all, he was now ninety years old. Although his lifespan was extended by twenty or thirty years due to reaching the Half-Step S Rank Ability User level, he had, in reality, almost exhausted it. He was well aware that he had no hope of another breakthrough in this lifetime. He could not expect to reach the level of an S Level Superpowered, which meant he truly did not have much time left.

In contrast, Chen Fei was different. He was at most twenty-five or twenty-six, yet his cultivation was already suspected to have reached the peak of a First-Class Ancient Warrior, or even Half-Step Innate, putting him on par with Yuue Erzhu’s current realm.

Thus, it was safe to say that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this young man had at least a seventy or eighty percent chance of breaking through to the Innate Ancient Martial Arts Realm in his lifetime. He might even go a step further and aim for the legendary Realm of Grandmaster of Innate Ancient Martial Arts, which was not an impossible dream. His potential is enormous, truly admirable.

At this thought, the wrinkled old man sighed inwardly. He instantly understood what attitude he should adopt toward Chen Fei. He revealed a smile and said gently, ”You must be the young Mr. Chen, I presume? A pleasure to meet you. Please, take a seat.”

Just as the wrinkled old man was sizing him up, Chen Fei was observing him with equal interest. Judging by how the Patriarch of the Yuue Family, Yuue Kunlun, had only escorted him to the courtyard gate and not entered with him, it was easy to deduce that the old man seated inside was of no ordinary status.

And now, upon closer observation, it was indeed surprising.

A Half-Step S Rank Ability User, and the hostile aura around him is so intense... He seems like the sort of old-timer who has braved storms of bullets. Truly extraordinary.

Unlike ordinary Ancient Martial Artists or Ability Users, Chen Fei had a unique advantage. Due to his cultivation method and the special nature of the spiritual energy in his body, he could determine another’s cultivation realm and approximate strength at a glance, as long as the disparity between them wasn’t too vast.

”Elder, you flatter me. I’m very glad to meet you. Let me introduce myself. My name is Chen Fei, and I’m from the mainland,” Chen Fei said politely, looking at the old man.

”Chen Fei? A fine name, a fine name. A true young hero indeed. Hahaha...” The wrinkled old man looked at Chen Fei and laughed before introducing himself. ”This old man’s surname is Yuue. As for my given name, I can’t quite recall it anymore. I only remember that everyone around here calls me ’Erzhu’.”

He paused for a moment and added cheerfully, ”So, young man, if you don’t mind, just call me Yuue Erzhu. Of course, that’s just a title, a name. I’m not taking advantage of you, hahaha!” He laughed again.

”Erzhu, now you’re being too formal. At your age, you could be my great-grandfather, so how could you possibly be taking advantage of me? Right? In that case, I’ll follow local customs and call you Erzhu,” Chen Fei replied with a grin, seeing how courteous and easygoing the old man was.

Clearly, that was just his character. It was always better when everyone could get along peacefully.

”Young man, you’re trying to say I’m old in a roundabout way. But there’s no use denying it. After all, I am already over ninety years old, so I suppose I do have the right to be your great-grandfather,” the wrinkled old man said with a laugh, not at all offended.

Seeing this, Chen Fei chuckled again and then got straight to the point. ”Erzhu, you should know the reason for my visit, right? That piece of jade...”

”Are you talking about this jade pendant?” the wrinkled old man asked, taking a jade pendant from his clothes as his eyes flickered slightly.

The moment the old man produced the jade pendant, Chen Fei’s attention was completely captivated. This is clearly what I’m looking for. It’s just like the jade ring I obtained before, containing flowing spiritual energy within, but its formation pattern is damaged. It’s a broken magic artifact.

”That’s right, that’s it. I was wondering, Erzhu, if you would be willing to part with it and sell it to me?” Chen Fei asked with a smile, pursing his lips.

The jade ring contained a fragment of a map to a mysterious location. If I’m not mistaken, this jade pendant should have another piece. If I can complete it, I might be able to unravel the secrets left behind by that Foundation Establishment Expert from long ago.

”It’s not impossible, but...” the wrinkled old man said slowly, a smile playing on his lips, as if sensing the urgency in Chen Fei’s voice.

”But what?” Chen Fei couldn’t help but ask.

”But, if you’ll permit my audacity... young man, could you satisfy an old man’s curiosity? Is there some secret hidden within those three jade artifacts from the black market auction?” the wrinkled elder asked with a slow smile.

Chen Fei was taken aback and fell silent. Only now do I realize that my previous actions might have seemed a bit too eager.

Seeing Chen Fei fall silent and the atmosphere grow slightly awkward, a strange light flickered in the old man’s turbid eyes. He suddenly smiled and said, ”Young man, don’t take it to heart. This old man is merely curious. If you feel it’s inconvenient, you don’t have to tell me. I can just change my condition.”

”Then, elder, please change your condition. I apologize, but I cannot discuss the details of this matter. And to be blunt, it would be useless even if you knew,” Chen Fei replied immediately and without hesitation.

He wasn’t lying. This was a secret left behind by a mighty Foundation Establishment Expert. Unless one was a Cultivator, at least at the Mid or even Late Stage of Qi Refining, it would be useless for others to know. They simply walked different paths and played by different rules.

Though he spoke the truth, the words sounded different to the wrinkled old man; they sounded more like a warning. He thought, ”It would be useless even if you knew.” What audacity! Would any ordinary person or power dare to speak to the great Hong Kong Yuue Family, to him, a Half-Step S Rank Superpowered individual, with such a tone?

”Alright, then I’ll change the condition. Forgive my impertinence, young man, but would you be willing to exchange a few moves with me?” the wrinkled old man said softly after a moment.

”Exchange moves?” Chen Fei was startled, not expecting such a suggestion.

”Yes, just a simple spar. Regardless of the outcome, this jade pendant will be yours. How about it?” a sharp glint flashed in the old man’s turbid eyes. Clearly, he wanted to personally gauge Chen Fei’s strength.

”Fine, no problem,” Chen Fei said with a smile after collecting himself.

A spar? Of course, I understand what he’s up to. But with my current power at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, why would I fear a spar with a mere Half-Step S Rank Superpowered? I wouldn’t. In that case, I might as well grant the old man’s wish.

”It seems you’re quite confident, young man. Since that’s the case, I won’t hold back,” the wrinkled elder said, his eyes flashing. Suddenly, his body crackled with arcs of lightning. He opened his mouth and spat, and a cold point of thunderous light shot from his hand. It turned out to be a flying sword formed entirely from the elemental power of thunder.

”This is my Lifebound Elemental Thunder Sword. Its power is at least ten times that of a conventional bullet. Young man, you must be careful. If you can’t hold on, just shout, and I will stop. Remember this.” The wrinkled elder’s expression had now become extremely solemn. His entire being seemed to be bathed in thunder, projecting a wild, unbridled aura.

”Lifebound Elemental Thunder Sword? Seems a little interesting,” Chen Fei remarked with a simple smile.

The next moment, his previously nonchalant gaze turned fierce. A wild aura, like that of a king of beasts capable of intimidating an entire forest, surged from his body. His skin glowed with an opalescent light as the fabric of his sleeves shredded into pieces, revealing forearms that looked as terrifying as if they were cast from molten gold. A heart-palpitating, utterly horrifying pressure instantly filled the air.

”How... how is this possible?”

Feeling the terrifyingly wild aura erupting from Chen Fei, the wrinkled old man felt as if a great mountain had slammed down on his shoulders. His breathing grew tight, his heart pounded in his chest, and a look of profound, soul-shaking shock flooded his turbid eyes.