Chapter 2150 — No Easy Fix

Other kinds of energy Wei Zhao could not convert—he lacked Zhang Naipao's particular knack, the ability to turn any true qi into his own. But the pure, unadulterated spiritual energy of heaven and earth he could absorb, refine, and make his own.

This was also why Wei Zhao had once been able to drain true qi from General Weiwu and the Heavenly Thunder Boar.

And when Wei Zhao channeled true qi into others to help them advance, though the transfer traveled through the meridians of their wrists, what he sent was true qi that the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art had automatically converted, according to the recipient's own inner-energy method, into exactly the kind of qi they required—delivered straight into their bodies, sparing them the whole process of drawing it in through the qi-sea acupoint and converting it themselves.

At a moment like this, of course, Wei Zhao would never lift a finger to help the Hidden Pi Family. Quite apart from the grudge he already bore them, even without one he would have had no interest in meddling in their affairs.

Old Master Zhao, seeing that no one else stirred, heaved a sigh and resignedly went over himself. He was the host; by sentiment and by reason alike, he could not simply stand by. Yet before taking the matter up, he had to weigh whether it was worth taking up at all—and whether it could be taken up.

As Old Master Zhao approached, Old Master Pi was seized with gratitude. "Old Master Zhao, I thank you!"

"Think nothing of it. Whether I can heal him, I cannot say." Old Master Zhao waved a hand, refusing to commit himself. He merely reached out and pressed his fingers to Pi Zhihai's meridian to examine him—and at the touch, his brows knit deeply.

Old Master Pi's heart lurched, yet he dared not speak and disturb them.

Master Wo shook his head. He knew the Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast had taken offense—and that it had not simply slapped Pi Zhihai dead on the spot was already a courtesy. This was an ancient spirit beast with the bloodline of a divine beast; how could it possibly obey every command of Master Wo?

It was not Master Wo's contracted spirit beast. For it to administer a mild rebuke to a tactless fellow like Pi Zhihai was only to be expected.

"No easy fix. This true qi is indeed the pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth, but I cannot absorb and refine it," Old Master Zhao said. "If I were to force it in slowly and try to refine it within my body, I would have no confidence of success at all. I am sorry—I fear I am powerless. The quantity of true qi inside your grandson is simply too great."

"This…" Hearing Old Master Zhao's words, Old Master Pi's heart sank. "I… I… Old Master Zhao, tell me how my grandson can be saved, and I will pay whatever price is required!"

Old Master Zhao shook his head. Such a thing was not easily done, and the reward not easily earned. If he drew the qi into himself and could not refine it, he would then have to find a way to force it back out—and that drawing in and forcing out would cost him dearly. If he lost control and his cultivation ran astray, the loss would far outweigh any gain.

Old Masters Yu, You, and Tang, veteran Heaven-rank experts all, had naturally encountered such cases many a time. People had come begging to them, and they had tried—always in vain. Never mind the considerable true qi inside Pi Zhihai; even a single thread of it was exceedingly difficult to draw out and then force away.

So they had not the slightest inclination even to attempt it. This was a task no amount of money could persuade them to undertake—it would damage their own cultivation.

"There is nothing I can do. As I see it, we had best let the Medicine King of our Zhao family take a look. If he too is helpless, then I truly am powerless," Old Master Zhao said with a shake of his head. In truth, he no longer held out any hope.

"Very well—my thanks to you!" Old Master Pi, who did not know this, thought hope of any kind better than none. He hurriedly gathered Pi Zhihai in his arms and, together with the disciple Old Master Zhao had arranged, went off to seek the Medicine King's diagnosis and treatment…

The next to enter the arena was a disciple of the Fire Wolf Gang. As for the sorry state Pi Zhihai had been beaten into, An Mingyue seemed utterly unmoved—not a trace of worry, neither joy nor sorrow—and sent his own disciple in as before.

"First match: disciple of the Hidden Pi Family, time endured, seven minutes and forty-nine seconds. Second match: disciple of the Fire Wolf Gang, make ready!" Old Master Zhao announced the result.

Seeing the Fire Wolf Gang disciple come forward, Master Wo opened the gate of the cage and let him enter.

Once inside, the Fire Wolf Gang disciple seemed not even to see the Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast. He simply stood there like a fool and did nothing at all. This gave the beast pause—what was wrong with this fellow, standing there dumbly?

No wariness, no attempt to hide? So the Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast made a tentative charge at the Fire Wolf Gang disciple, meaning to toy with him—only to find the man paid it no heed whatsoever, still standing there like an idiot, as though whatever the beast did had nothing to do with him.

At this the Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast grew rather irritated. It lunged at him experimentally—yet the Fire Wolf Gang disciple remained utterly unmoved.

Now the beast lost its temper. It swung a paw and sent the Fire Wolf Gang disciple sprawling head over heels.

But this Fire Wolf Gang disciple was made of sterner stuff than Pi Zhihai. Knocked to the ground, he did not beg for mercy; after a moment he staggered back to his feet and stood there again, motionless.

"?" The Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast was truly baffled. What manner of man was this? Beaten, and yet as though nothing had happened? Was the fellow deranged?

Still, since the man had taken a blow and remained where he was without fleeing, the beast had no reason to spare him. It walked over and dealt another slap, sending the Fire Wolf Gang disciple crashing to the ground.

This time the Fire Wolf Gang disciple did not rise so quickly. The old masters watching from outside shook their heads. They all knew there was something strange about the Fire Wolf Gang's disciples—fearless of blows, fearless of death—but surely a hit like that was the end of it?

"Fire Wolf Gang disciple, are you alive or dead? If you do not rise again, you lose!" Old Master Zhao asked after a moment's thought. After all, if the man died on the spot, it could not count as a match result.

Yet scarcely had Old Master Zhao's words fallen than the Fire Wolf Gang disciple stirred, and once more clambered swaying to his feet. This time his movements were plainly much slower than before, and once upright he coughed up several great mouthfuls of blood—yet still he stood there without moving, his gaze vacant.

For the fastest updates, please read without pop-ups.