Chapter 682 - 286: Old Ghost
"My master is injured. Can anyone in the sect help heal him?"
For now, Chu Lingguang ignored Jiang Ruhong.
He spotted the young-looking Steward Zhou standing before a cave residence up ahead and hurried over to ask for help.
The two young men in black beside Steward Zhou couldn’t help but sneer.
Chu Lingguang had just joined the Profound Celestial Sect and had no status or standing, yet he dared to approach Steward Zhou directly.
"Go to the Spirit Valley over there and find a Pharmacist. Whether or not he’s willing to heal your master will depend on your own abilities."
However, to the two young men’s surprise, Steward Zhou didn’t rebuke Chu Lingguang. Instead, he pointed him in the right direction.
"Thank you."
Chu Lingguang bowed, then hoisted Guo Wei onto his back and headed for the Spirit Valley Steward Zhou had pointed out.
The Spirit Valley was suffused with dense Spiritual Qi.
Spirit Herbs and Medicines covered the hills and fields.
"Halt."
A Spirit Child blocked Chu Lingguang’s path.
He looked about the same age as Steward Zhou, but his aura was faint. This was clearly not a Great Power who had regained his youth, but a real child.
But anyone guarding the Spirit Valley was not someone Chu Lingguang could afford to slight.
He cupped his hands. "My master is injured. I’m hoping to ask a Pharmacist in the valley for treatment."
"The masters in the Spirit Valley have no time to bother with common folk. This is no place for you," the Spirit Child said arrogantly.
"My master and I passed the assessment. We are now Outer Disciples of the Profound Celestial Sect. It was Steward Zhou himself who directed me to the Spirit Valley to find a Pharmacist for my master."
"So, was Steward Zhou lying to me, or are you?"
Chu Lingguang said after a moment’s thought.
’The one blocking my path is just a child, after all, merely borrowing authority that isn’t his.’
He’d already heard from others about Steward Zhou. The man was a Foundation Establishment expert in charge of the Outer Disciples. The Spirit Child might not recognize him, but there was no way he wouldn’t know Steward Zhou.
"This..."
The Spirit Child’s expression stiffened.
"What ’this’?" Chu Lingguang snorted. "Hurry up and take us inside. Or do you need Steward Zhou to come and personally invite you?"
"Then... follow me!"
Seeing Chu Lingguang’s powerful aura, the Spirit Child was immediately cowed. In the entire Profound Celestial Sect, few Outer Disciples would dare to bluff using Steward Zhou’s name.
"Mr. Liu."
"Steward Zhou sent them to see you."
The Spirit Child led Chu Lingguang and Guo Wei into a courtyard thick with the aroma of herbs.
Many other Spirit Children were busy at work in the courtyard.
Some were sorting herbs, others were washing them, and still others were drying them over fires.
No one was idle.
The Spirit Child led them to an old man sitting by a medicinal furnace. The man was watching the flames and inhaling the aroma from within.
Mr. Liu.
Chu Lingguang silently committed the name to memory.
The Spirit Child made his report and left.
Chu Lingguang gently set Guo Wei down and said respectfully, "Mr. Liu, my master is injured. I beg you to treat him."
"Everyone else might give Zhou Changqing face, but not me, Old Liu. Find someone more capable!"
Mr. Liu said without turning his head.
"Steward Zhou only told me to find a physician in the Spirit Valley. I was the one who tricked the Spirit Child into bringing me to you."
"Please, Mr. Liu, help us. I would be eternally grateful."
Chu Lingguang pleaded.
Guo Wei’s injuries weren’t fatal, but without a physician’s aid, recovery would take a very long time. Seeing him so weak, gasping for every breath, his face contorted in pain—Chu Lingguang couldn’t stand the thought of letting his master suffer through a long, slow recovery.
"He’s your master?"
Old Liu asked, finally turning his head.
Chu Lingguang had dared to use Steward Zhou’s name just to get his master treated; he was clearly a loyal and devoted person. ’It’s rare these days,’ Old Liu thought, ’to see a master and disciple enter the Profound Celestial Sect to cultivate together.’
"Yes."
"Everything I have today is thanks to my master."
Chu Lingguang nodded.
"Elder."
Guo Wei gave a weak salute.
A wave of Spiritual Sense Fluctuation washed over them.
It swept toward Chu Lingguang and Guo Wei.
"The power of a Purple Gold Vine."
"You’re not cultivators from Great Qin?"
"You’re from... the Celestial Sea?"
Old Liu asked in surprise.
Both Chu Lingguang’s and Guo Wei’s Spirit Root Attributes had been enhanced by a Tree Vine Demon. Old Liu’s Spiritual Power was terrifyingly potent, allowing him to instantly detect the lingering traces of the demon’s own Spiritual Power on them.
"Your perception is incredible, Elder," Guo Wei said. "My disciple and I came here with Loose Cultivators from Great Qin, crossing the ocean to reach the Profound Celestial Sect. We were blessed by the heavens to be accepted as disciples."
’So that Tree Vine Demon from under Great Yuan is called a Purple Gold Vine,’ Chu Lingguang made a mental note.
’Old Liu is a Pharmacist of the Profound Celestial Sect; he knows Spirit Herbs and Medicines like the back of his hand. The ’Celestial Sea’ he mentioned must be the Great Yuan territory. It’s probably what cultivators from Great Qin call that region.’
’But one thing is strange,’ Chu Lingguang wondered. ’Why didn’t Old Liu go to the Great Yuan territory during the reincarnation event? Wasn’t the Purple Gold Vine attractive to someone like him?’
"The Spiritual Qi in the Celestial Sea is thin. It’s a blessing that you two were able to enter the Profound Celestial Sect."
"Ah, well."
"Out of respect for your deep bond as master and disciple, I have a flawed Elixir Pill here. Take it."
Old Liu casually took out a pitted, lumpy Elixir Pill and tossed it to Guo Wei.
"Many thanks, Elder Liu."
Guo Wei caught it and, without a moment’s hesitation, swallowed it down.
The next moment, his cheeks puffed out.
He felt a surge of power erupt within his body.
"PTOO!"
Guo Wei couldn’t help but spray out a mouthful of dark blood.
His entire body began to convulse violently.
"Master!"
Chu Lingguang cried out in alarm, thinking the Elixir Pill was poison.
Knowing his disciple was worried, Guo Wei grabbed his wrist. He kept his eyes shut tight as his pained expression slowly smoothed out, and color gradually returned to his face.
Guo Wei took a deep breath, rose to his feet, and bowed deeply to Old Liu. "Thank you for saving my life, Mr. Liu."
"Thank you, Mr. Liu, for saving my master."