Chapter 171 : The Miracle Doctor’s Abilities and the Shadow of the Evil Dragon!
Chapter 171: The Miracle Doctor’s Abilities and the Shadow of the Evil Dragon!
With the map coordinates in hand.
And the detailed route laid out.
The Calamity Army marched to their destination.
When Zhang Zhongjing learned that Uncle Tree’s companions had already arrived—
He was quite surprised. “The Calamity Army marches with such speed? It’s been no more than half a day since we met, yet even from Wan City by forced march would take at least two days. Not to mention your territory lies even farther away.”
Uncle Tree explained, “Of course. Our Lord granted us many abilities, including methods of long-distance communication and spatial teleportation. I only found this place through the Lord’s revelation, and after being rescued by Elder Immortal Zhang, my companions immediately grasped the situation and set off.”
How miraculous!
So this was the power of the Starsea Natives?
Just what kind of existence was Lord Hang Yu, to be able to bestow such powerful abilities upon his followers and people? Could this person truly be the savior sent from the heavens to save the world? It was necessary to observe and understand him closely!
After waiting for less than ten minutes—
A dense and rapid clatter of hooves came from ahead.
A cavalry unit appeared in view. Their numbers weren’t enormous, yet not small either—at least over five hundred. Each one rode a Spirit Horse and galloped swiftly across the flatlands of the valley, reaching them in a matter of moments.
“Dismount!”
The riders dismounted simultaneously. Hundreds of warhorses dissolved into glowing particles, instantly vanishing and scattering into the air.
Then, several leaders stepped forward, respectfully saluted Zhang Zhongjing, and shouted aloud with full vigor—
“The Calamity Army’s War God Hall Legion pays respects to Elder Immortal Zhang!”
“The Calamity Army’s Divine Feather Palace Legion pays respects to Elder Immortal Zhang!”
“The Calamity Army’s Wings of Freedom Legion pays respects to Elder Immortal Zhang!”
“The Calamity Army’s Undying Dragon Soul Legion pays respects to Elder Immortal Zhang!”
“……”
After these leaders saluted Zhang Zhongjing, the rest of the Calamity Army soldiers followed suit. Though the movements weren’t perfectly uniform, they all showed enough respect to this NPC.
After all, this was a legendary Miracle Doctor!
Zhang Zhongjing examined the people before him. Through the art of aura observation, he noticed that their auras were pure and radiant, filled with vitality and youthful energy—completely different from the natives of the Abyssal Plane.
Although the Calamity Army’s attire was a bit odd, each person wearing different gear and men and women mixed together in an unorthodox fashion, this troop was undeniably strong—most had Tier-Two strength!
In fact, for this operation—
The players had rallied six hundred members.
However, they encountered some trouble during their march—
Resulting in a few dozen casualties who didn’t make it to the destination.
But that was alright. Those who died were weaker players and didn’t affect the army’s overall strength. The players who made it were mostly Tier-Two cultivators, and the legion commanders and core elites of each major legion were all present.
“No need for such formality,” Zhang Zhongjing hadn’t expected the world to have such a unique force. “I am but a humble commoner—hardly worthy of being called an immortal. Just address me by name.”
Chimera Wraith said, “You are a Miracle Doctor who brings salvation to the world and will be remembered for generations. How could we dare show you disrespect?”
Still, calling him “Elder Immortal” did feel a bit strange. The players had come to complete a quest and bring the elder back to contribute to territory development—not to worship him like a deity. Calling him “Doctor” or “Miracle Doctor” was more appropriate.
“Miracle Doctor Zhang, there’s no time to lose. Let’s head out and confront Shadowstep!” Ye Li Meng suggested.
Black-Eyed Rui Ge added, “Elder Doctor, just tell us where it is—leave the rest to us!”
The players were an impatient bunch.
All they wanted was to fight the boss and complete the quest.
So they didn’t want to waste even a moment and were ready to get started immediately!
“You brave souls dare to step forward in the face of danger—this old man is already deeply grateful. How could I sit back and reap the rewards? Though I am old, I still possess some means to protect myself—and assist you all!”
Zhang Zhongjing wanted to participate in the quest himself?
Ye Li Meng, Black-Eyed Rui Ge, and others exchanged glances—and saw a flicker of delight in each other’s eyes.
Truth be told, they weren’t entirely confident about completing this quest smoothly. After all, the monsters in this valley didn’t seem any weaker than those in Centipede Canyon.
Shadowstep, though a boss in horse form, was no ordinary steed. As a divine horse of historical renown, its revival under the influence of the Will of the Abyss likely made it no weaker than the Thousand-Legged Dragon King.
Players weren’t afraid of death—
They were afraid of wasting game time.
The problem was—there was no nearby respawn point.
If they died, they’d have to respawn at White Tiger City.
From there, teleport to the southern Luling Hamlet, then pass through the Abyssal Fog Gate to reach Huangniu Hamlet of Wan City, and finally travel nearly two hundred li to get back here. Plus, the mountain path through the valley was treacherous—it would take six to seven hours of running through maps back and forth.
Too long!
Death was acceptable.
But the time cost was just too high.
The legion commanders had set two clear goals.
First, the Calamity Army must activate more Blessing Points in the Wan City Region—especially town-level Blessing Points with respawn capability. Only then could they gain a true foothold on the map.
Second, today’s quest must be cleared in one go. This was a crucial moment for the Calamity Army’s expansion and infiltration on the new map. Their core forces couldn’t afford to get stuck here for three to five days. Otherwise, if New Wan City or Old Wan City caught wind and responded accordingly, the Calamity Army would lose a golden opportunity for strategic growth!
Last time in Centipede Canyon, they had Lord Hang Yu, Zhou Cang, and the Azure Dragon Guards assisting.
This time, the players didn’t call on the Lord or the guards—but compared to before, they had grown stronger, and now had Zhang Zhongjing, a Tier-Three Commander, on their side. It seemed manageable!
After briefly assessing the situation, they set off.
The miraculous herb grew in a narrow mountain crevice, and Shadowstep roamed near the entrance of this fissure. To harvest the herb, they first had to pass this Shadowstep test.
On the way to the destination, the Calamity Army inevitably encountered some wild monsters. Although the valley had many types of monsters, the most distinctive and threatening were the Black-Scaled Dragon Horses.
Just like the Thousand-Eyed Centipede—
The Black-Scaled Dragon Horse was a Tier-Three Elite.
They were pack creatures, swift as lightning, with high mobility. Their attacks included Black Flame Breath, Wind Blade blasts, charge-and-crash, and berserk trampling. They could also briefly fly.
They could save those monsters for later farming.
The main goal now was to complete the quest.
The Calamity Army avoided most horse packs and monsters along the way, and after about an hour’s march, finally reached the area near the mountain crevice Zhang Zhongjing had mentioned.
“This place… doesn’t look ordinary.”
The mountain containing the crevice was entirely barren, not a single blade of grass, showing neither the lushness of a hidden paradise nor the twisted anomalies of abyssal corruption.
Why was this environment so unique?
Could it be related to the miraculous herb Zhang Zhongjing mentioned?
What kind of origin did that herb have, to make someone like Zhang Zhongjing care so deeply—even choosing to live in seclusion here? Surely it hid a great fortune or secret. They would know once they saw it.
“Boss, there’s a group of Black Dragon Horses up ahead!”
Several rangers from the War God Hall Legion returned with a report.
“How many?”
“Nearly forty!”
Hearing that number, the Calamity Army members furrowed their brows. That was quite a lot. Not that they couldn’t handle it, but it could still cause serious casualties.
There were many Black-Scaled Dragon Horses in this valley. Most were in groups of five to eight; occasionally ten. A pack of nearly forty was a first.
The legion commanders huddled to discuss.
Little Bell suggested, “Should we try to lure them away? They’re Tier-Three Elites—while we can win, fighting dozens at once will cost us people.”
Black-Eyed Rui Ge shook his head. “No. We’re too close to the crevice. If we’re fighting Shadowstep and these mobs attack from behind, we’ll be doomed!”
Ye Li Meng agreed. “Rui Ge’s right. Since we can’t avoid them or draw them off easily, the only way is to lure them into an ambush and wipe them out in one go!”
Toasting the Moon also nodded.
This might cause casualties—
But it was better than being attacked by mobs mid-boss fight.
Black-Eyed Rui Ge volunteered, “You all go set up an ambush in the woods ahead. As for luring them—I’ll handle it. I’ve recently learned a few new skills; I’ll be fine.”
Ye Li Meng said, “It’s too dangerous for you to go alone. Lone Boat, go with Rui Ge!”
Lone Boat: “Alright!”
The group quickly split up to begin their operation.
The Calamity Army lay in ambush within a small grove ahead of the fissure grounds, while Black-Eyed Rui Ge, Lone Boat, and several top-tier players went to lure the enemies.
A few minutes later—
Lone Boat, Rui Ge, and the other rangers returned.
Dozens of majestic Black-Scaled Dragon Horses followed closely behind.
These wild dragon horses were incredibly fast—not only skilled at trampling charges but also capable of breathing fire. Their combat power was certainly not to be underestimated.
“Brothers! Charge with me!” Ye Li Meng pulled out the Thousand-Skull Demon Hammer and let out a roar. His muscles bulged and reddened, flames igniting across the surface of his body.
Fiery Tiger Battle Soul!
This was another green-grade skill Ye Li Meng had learned from Zhou Cang. It granted a semi-transformation state, greatly boosting the user's attributes, giving all attacks fire damage, while preserving the effects of their original skills.
After activating Fiery Tiger Battle Soul, Ye Li Meng surged to the front of the formation. Then, he stomped hard on the ground—like a cannonball launching into the air, he leapt nearly ten meters high.
A brief pause—
“Fiery Tiger Mountain-Crushing Drop!”
Ye Li Meng’s burning body dove toward the horse herd. At the same time, both hands tightly gripped his warhammer as he activated the weapon’s skill: Thousand-Skull Charge!
This Thousand-Skull Demon Hammer was originally dropped by Ma Yuanyi. Though it began as a mid-tier Tier-One green weapon, it had since been upgraded and enhanced multiple times, improving its quality, tier, attributes, and skills.
Now, the Thousand-Skull Demon Hammer—
Was entirely different from what it once was.
The massive hammer roared with countless howls. Its already oversized head quickly expanded, becoming as large as a train engine. The skulls etched into it seemed to come alive.
“Stun for me!”
As Ye Li Meng crashed down, his hammer slammed into the ground. A terrifying wave of flame and shock erupted across dozens of meters, not only collapsing the terrain but also reducing all nearby plant life to ash.
At least ten Black-Scaled Dragon Horses failed to evade in time. Of those caught directly in the shockwave, seven or eight were immediately stunned by the violent blow.
“Holy crap!”
“Boss Ye is insane!”
“That blow could shake heaven and earth!”
The players of War God Hall cheered with surging morale.
Rui Ge, Lone Boat, Little Bell, Mad Blade Old Wang, Street Slayer, Chimera Wraith, Midnight Pig Slayer, Artist Faction Leader—these renowned players of the Calamity Army also unleashed their powers, displaying new skills and even never-before-seen fusion abilities.
Though they couldn’t instantly wipe out dozens of Tier-Three Elites—
They at least caught the monsters off guard.
Hang Yu watched the battle from behind the scenes. Though the Calamity Army's level remained modest, their power had clearly advanced significantly.
Take Ye Li Meng for example—
If he had focused purely on leveling up—
He’d likely be level 18 or 19 by now.
Yet he had devoted almost all of his recent Abyssal Essence to skill training and upgrades. While this made his level progression appear stagnant—almost losing his lead—the boost in actual combat power was clearly evident!
This guy had learned two excellent green-grade skills from Zhou Cang: Fiery Tiger Mountain-Crushing Drop and Fiery Tiger Battle Soul!
Bear in mind—
These two skills didn’t exist as Skill Stones.
Other players might not be able to learn them at all.
Moreover, these were prerequisite skills for the blue-grade skill Tiger Demon Descent. Ye Li Meng had a chance to become the first player to obtain a blue-grade skill!
Of course, the fusion cost for a blue-grade skill was extremely high. If Ye Li Meng insisted on saving up the experience to synthesize it, he would undoubtedly fall out of the first tier in terms of level.
It all depended on what he prioritized.
Other players had also made huge progress.
This Calamity Army could be considered elite among Tier-Three Lords. For an ordinary human Lord to forge such a force would take ten years of consistent investment and stable development.
There were nearly forty Black-Scaled Dragon Horses.
And not all were level 21—
Some particularly strong ones reached level 22 or 23.
Although Ye Li Meng’s ambush stunned them at first, they quickly recovered using their massive health pools and launched a fierce counterattack.
After dodging several airborne flame attacks from the Black-Scaled Dragon Horses—
A piercing screech!
A level 23 lead stallion charged rapidly, a twisted horn on its head glowing with fierce energy like an unstoppable spear, lunging at the unsteady Ye Li Meng. The air tore apart, the earth gouged into a trench in its wake.
If this strike landed—
Even with top-tier gear and Iron Armor Technique active, Ye Li Meng couldn’t withstand it. If not killed instantly, he’d be incapacitated and burned alive by the others.
At that critical moment—
A golden needle shot forth.
Like a flash of lightning, it pierced the lead horse.
Upon being struck, the Black-Scaled Dragon Horse leader’s body locked up for a brief instant—its limbs frozen as if sealed—giving Ye Li Meng the chance to escape certain death.
“Miracle Doctor Zhang!”
“Doctor Zhang made his move!”
After witnessing the Calamity Army’s power and synergy, Zhang Zhongjing was truly astonished by their diverse skills, seamless cooperation, and overwhelming combat ability.
But he wasn’t idle either.
As the Calamity Army engaged the Black-Scaled Dragon Horses—
Zhang Zhongjing summoned over a dozen golden needles and fired them into the herd. Though their damage was low, they could easily inflict paralysis or immobilization effects.
Simultaneously—
He used a portable medicine pouch to conjure a green pill, which floated above the Calamity Army. A wave of green energy enveloped all the players.
【You are affected by “Universal Qi Restoration Pill Art”: HP +50/sec, MP +25/sec】
In mere moments—
All wounded or mana-depleted players felt their health and mana rapidly regenerate. Within seconds, they were restored.
“Holy crap!”
“What just happened?!”
“Massive area-wide healing?!”
“This is what a Miracle Doctor can do? That’s ridiculously cool!”
“……”
Players had already unlocked several healing skills, but most were beginner-tier spells like Basic Healing or Great Peace Rejuvenation Talisman, or they relied on potion supplies.
Those worked well for small parties of 3–8.
But in large-scale legion battles, Monk players often couldn’t keep up.
If players could learn area-of-effect recovery spells—
Then some Monks could evolve into full combat builds.
Considering current trends, both Transformation Builds and Summoner Builds showed great combat potential.
This would significantly boost the Calamity Army’s strength.
And now, Zhang Zhongjing’s magic wasn’t just group healing—it covered hundreds of people at once, restoring both health and mana.
But—
Zhang Zhongjing clearly had more up his sleeve.
He summoned a red pill next.
Another energy wave swept through the players—
【You are affected by “Power-Enhancing Divine Pill Art”: Max HP +100, Max MP +100, Strength +20, Agility +20, Spirit +20, Will +20】
Such a massive buff!
Another skill that affected hundreds simultaneously!
Continuous mass healing, powerful buffs, and strong control abilities—
He was beyond incredible!
Was this really just a Miracle Doctor?
He was practically the strongest support unit in history!
Of course, Zhang Zhongjing wasn’t done yet!
Now the players finally understood why every major family in New Wan City had been searching for Zhang Zhongjing. Even without his medical or alchemical expertise, just his cultivation level alone was equivalent to an entire army.
This man—
Had to be brought back to the territory!
With him in Luoshui Main City, it would be like adding wings to a tiger!
At that moment, Midnight Pig Slayer had already transformed into a fat Dragon-Lizard using his Transformation Spell. After killing his first Black-Scaled Dragon Horse and watching his wounds heal—
He shouted excitedly, “Holy crap! This is like a dream! If I could inherit Doctor Zhang’s legacy, I’d gladly trade away 108 hemorrhoids and thirty years of bachelorhood!”
This battle was expected to be fierce.
The Calamity Army had estimated that even with victory, they’d lose about a quarter of their troops.
But with Zhang Zhongjing’s god-tier support, they only lost fewer than twenty players while defeating a whopping thirty-nine powerful Black-Scaled Dragon Horses.
These were Tier-Three Elites!
And most players were only Tier-Two!
Such a glorious victory was almost unimaginable.
Hang Yu nodded repeatedly behind the scenes. With Zhang Zhongjing assisting, this mission could definitely be cleared in one go. As expected of a Tier-Three Commander—his value was immeasurable!
The players quickly cleaned up the battlefield.
They looted the drops—
【You looted: Abyssal Essence +26000, Abyssal Magic Stone +425, Black-Scaled Dragon Horse Meat +88, Blood +28, Scales +42, Bones +32, Essence Soul +1!】
Though both were Tier-Three Elites—
The Black-Scaled Dragon Horse’s drop rate was lower than the Thousand-Eyed Centipede.
They did drop Dragon-type Essence and Bones, but not in large quantities. Thankfully, the sheer number of monsters made up for it.
From a pure market value standpoint—
The Thousand-Eyed Centipede was more profitable per kill due to gemstone drops. But for Hang Yu, the situation was different.
Yes, in direct value—
The Black-Scaled Dragon Horse was inferior.
But the materials it dropped were crucial for territory industries. After seed cultivation and alchemy processing, their added value could increase tenfold.
Moreover, the Black-Scaled Dragon Horse didn’t drop gemstones but instead a rare item called Black-Scaled Dragon Horse Essence Soul.
According to what Hang Yu learned at the Lord Academy—
This essence-type material was ten to a hundred times rarer than Essence or Bone materials. It could be used to craft special pills or forge unique equipment—
For example, equipment with Summoning Skills!
Given the Dragon Horse’s high mobility and mount value—
If Hang Yu could create summon gear for them, he’d essentially be introducing a powerful mount to his entire territory!
Which meant—
Aside from the Spirit Horses in the stables—
Hang Yu could craft a batch of exclusive high-end mounts. These Dragon Horses weren’t just flashy—they were powerful enough to make players flock to them and go crazy spending!
He could even—
Export the Black-Scaled Dragon Horse mounts.
He believed that even Lords would be interested in such mounts, possibly making them a rarer and more prized commodity than Attribute Pills.
As Hang Yu was making plans—
The players finished cleaning up the area.
Zhang Zhongjing felt deep guilt over the fallen Calamity soldiers.
Yet strangely, the others didn’t seem sad at all—in fact, they were celebrating the victory.
Were these Calamity soldiers heartless?
That couldn’t be right!
Throughout the journey, Zhang Zhongjing had watched closely.
They supported one another, got along well, and even shielded each other in battle. Their camaraderie was so strong it bordered on life-and-death bonds.
So why were they so unfazed by the deaths of their comrades?
Zhang Zhongjing struggled to imagine a world where people could be so calm about death.
Before he could dwell on it further—
The unit moved out once more.
They soon arrived at the fissure grounds.
As the players approached this unique area, all felt a powerful presence sweeping over them.
【You are affected by “Abyssal Dragon’s Might”: Max HP -100, All Attributes -30】
“What the hell?!”
“My stats just got nerfed!”
“Look! What is that?!”
“……”
Before the players could react, someone pointed ahead with a shout—eyes wide with awe and fervor.
Ye Li Meng followed the gaze—
There lay a creature thirty to forty zhang long, massive in form, covered in black scales and pitch-dark mane that absorbed surrounding light like the night.
It stood with noble majesty, possessing four limbs and a huge horn. It had three heads—one large, two smaller—with the largest head bearing a giant singular horn.
The beast coiled atop a massive boulder, cloaked in lightning and storm, its form 60–70% resembling the legendary Jiao Dragon.
After seeing so many grotesquely twisted flesh monsters—
This less-mutated, less-distorted creature was a refreshing sight. Every player found it overwhelmingly majestic and cool.
【Three-Headed Evil Dragon: Shadowstep】
Level 23 Commander Unit…
Description: Once a sentient divine steed, it revived under the gaze of the Will of the Abyss. Over 120 years of reincarnation, it gradually awakened its Abyssal Dragon bloodline. Though still in its early stage, it possesses tremendous potential.
Hang Yu was shocked at the sight of Shadowstep.
He had fought the Thousand-Legged Dragon King before—but that was no true Abyssal Dragon.
Shadowstep was different.
It might not even be a dragon beast anymore—
But a rare Abyssal Dragon Race creature.
Whether in the Starsea or the Abyss, “dragon” was more a concept of physique and talent—
Unlike traditional dragons, Abyssal Dragons were mutated by abyssal chaos and could take on endless forms with no fixed appearance or race.
Shadowstep, in particular, resembled the Jiao Dragons of Chinese mythology, which made it appear especially regal and awe-inspiring.
“This thing is Shadowstep?!”
“Wasn’t Shadowstep supposed to be a horse?!”
“Why is there a dragon here?!”
All the players were stunned at the sight of this Abyssal Creature.
Its body was smaller than the Thousand-Legged Dragon King, but its oppressive aura was far greater. The Dragon King looked fierce, but still like a centipede more than a dragon—this thing was pure dragon.
To the people of Huaxia—
Dragons carry divinity.
To hunt such a creature—
Was almost like trying to slay a god!
Which only made the challenge and excitement even more intense.