Chapter 1210 — The Qihuang Sacred Hall
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 3
" The Alchemist was stunned. Then, keenly, he sensed that Shen Mu's heavenly palace of the Medical Dao was taking shape of itself—Shen Mu's spirit-fetus primordial spirit was driving his other heavenly palaces and the yin-yang taiji diagram, refining the remaining medicinal power and turning true essence into the heavenly palace of the Medical Dao.
"Pff—" Another mouthful of blood.
Shen Mu hurriedly raised his hand and struck point after point, sealing the qi and blood that ran backwards in the old man's body; then, supporting him down to a seat, he laughed. "Grandpa Alchemist, do you see now what comes of having no cultivation?
" The Alchemist raised a trembling finger and pointed at him. Shen Mu pressed the hand down and spoke with weight and feeling: "A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. If I had not kept a few parts of my cultivation in reserve for a rainy day, would you not have worked yourself to death?
" "You could refine the medicinal power yourself," the Alchemist quavered, "and still you let me cough up blood with the labor. . .
" "Grandpa Alchemist has cheated me often enough in the past.
I only follow the example I was taught. " Shen Mu swiftly brought out spirit medicines, matched the ingredients, and refined a spirit elixir to nourish the old man's vital essence and blood, all the while laughing: "If I do not frighten you this once, sooner or later you will suffer for it. Knowing your error now, you will work hard at cultivation hereafter and strive to be as strong as I am.
" "Unfilial wretch—" He had barely got the words out when Shen Mu shoved a handful of spirit elixirs into his mouth. "I won't take it—" Shen Mu extended one finger and drew it lightly across his throat, and the Alchemist swallowed the elixir willy-nilly. His fingers dancing like wind, Shen Mu struck point after point across the old man's chest and belly to help him refine the medicine, saying, "Do not throw a child's tantrum.
True, I schemed against you this time.
But what if one day I truly face a situation in which I am doomed to die, and you have not the strength to dissolve the medicine and save me?
Of course, being as strong as I am, I will never meet such a situation—but what of the Village Head? He is not as strong as I am. " He knew the Alchemist was closest of all to the Village Head, and so he led him on, step by step: "If the Village Head were gravely wounded and at death's door, and you had the medicine to save him but not the magic power to speed its working, would you not have to watch him die before your eyes?
" The Alchemist had recovered a little spirit.
"You curse the Village Head," he panted.
"You are unfilial; how it would wound the Village Head.
. . " Shen Mu stirred his own cultivation and refined off the surplus medicinal power in his body, laughing: "I was only making a comparison, not cursing him. Do not talk nonsense. " "The Village Head will run you through with his sword—" Shen Mu rose in haste.
"I have business elsewhere. I must leave the Ancestral Court for a time. Grandpa Alchemist, stay here and heal your hurts by degrees, and work hard at cultivation to raise your strength.
I will go on ahead! " He hurried away, overjoyed at heart: "Another heavenly palace of the Medical Dao, and I am that much closer to the Yaochi realm.
Grandpa Alchemist will work hard at his cultivation too, and raise his strength. Mm—of the Nine Elders of Yincan Village, only Lame Grandpa and Lord Huo remain, the two who will not strive.
How am I to temper them.
. .