Chapter 169 - Four Pillars and Nine Questions

"On that note, she also stays on White Lotus Peak. Two prodigies on the same peak, that’s quite the coincidence," the Grand Elder chuckled.

"Talents attract each other. In recent years, prodigies have emerged everywhere. When dragons and phoenixes gather in such numbers, it is an indication that a storm is coming, and the world is about to change."

"Hah! What change will there ever be?" Grand Elder Gu snorted. "The heavenly calamity has already severed any hope for immortal ascension in this world. Nothing short of a miracle can change our current situation."

"Then we can do nothing but wait for that miracle to happen," she sighed.

"It is almost time for Ancestor Sky Sovereign to return to his duties as well," the Grand Elder sighed. "Let’s hope the world changes soon enough, while these old bones are still alive to see it."

"What about Xinghe? I have not heard anything about him for so long," she asked.

Few in the sect dared speak of Gu Xinghe so casually. But decades ago, when Gu Xinghe’s dormant lightning physique awakened prematurely and nearly tore his meridians, it was Grandmaster Yao who spent days and nights drawing the wild lightning back under control, pulling the boy back from the brink of death.

The Gu clan had never forgotten that debt. Nor had Grand Elder Gu.

Grand Elder Gu chuckled. "You know him. He isn’t one to stay in the sect for long."

"What a shame," Grandmaster Yao shook her head. "The Holy Son should be here in the sect leading the younger generation, not wandering the four corners of the world."

He paused, adding quietly, "Well, as long as we are talking about personal affairs, why not let go of that old grudge and take the Saint rank title and a direct disciple? Who in this sect would even dare to oppose that?"

Grandmaster Yao turned her head, giving him a cold look. "Focus on the examination."

***

As the announcement from the Master Physicians continued, Su Ming looked toward Lu Feng.

’So this is the fellow she mentioned.’

Su Ming was only familiar with him from what he had heard from Bai Qingxian.

Recently, rumors had spread across the sect about this young physician from Green Cloud Peak, one of the largest outer peaks primarily in charge of gathering and cultivating herbs for the sect.

This Lu Feng had supposedly healed an injured elder, after which that elder recruited him to Green Cloud Peak.

Bai Qingxian had called him an annoying frog in a well who relied on a wood type healing technique. He had even tried to make subtle advances toward her.

Only because of her request not to intervene, Su Ming had refrained from investigating him. But he wondered if this Lu Feng was another heaven’s chosen, quickly rising from nothing through lucky encounters. Now that he could see him in person, he would not hold back.

Looking deeper with Essence Sight, Su Ming noticed something hidden beneath the surface. Deep within Lu Feng’s body, ancient emerald patterns pulsed quietly.

’That’s...’ Su Ming’s eyes narrowed as he recognized them immediately.

’A rare Wood Spirit Constitution.’

Special constitutions and physiques were already rare, but an innate spirit constitution was even rarer.

’To possess such a talent without making it known publicly, he is certainly not normal.’

He wondered if Lu Feng was going to be another troublesome son of destiny like Lin Fan.

’Speaking of Lin Fan... I wonder how he is doing. It has been a long time since I saw him. Since then, I have encountered a few cultivators who fit the theme of heaven’s chosen, but they were only minor sons and daughters of destiny, compared to Lin Fan.’

He wondered if Lin Fan was even alive, or if Lu Feng was simply a lucky cultivator who had stumbled upon a fortunate encounter.

As Su Ming pondered this, a loud iron bell rang through the hall, interrupting his thoughts.

***

On the central elevated stone platform sat the four presiding Master Physicians of the Medicine Hall.

Master Lu Song, a strict elder in deep green robes, held the foremost authority in pulse diagnostics. Beside him sat Master Gu He, renowned for his expertise in poison and counter toxin techniques, followed by Master Yan Zhen, who oversaw spiritual herbs and botanical medicine, and Master Su Wen, the veteran master of medicinal pill refinement.

Master Lu Song stepped to the edge of the stone platform. "The path of a Master Physician rests upon Four Pillars.

Meridian Pulse Diagnostics, Poison Path, Spiritual Herbs Medicine, and Alchemy.

A true master cannot rely on a single craft. To test your breadth and depth, we have prepared nine questions covering every pillar."

He swept a strict gaze across the five candidates. "This trial follows the ancient tradition of Medical Dialectic. We shall present the clinical dilemmas, and you shall debate your treatments in the open court. Any candidate may step forward to offer a solution, challenge another physician’s proposed method, or defend their craft. We will judge not only the speed of your cure, but your insight, your restraint, and whether your method protects the patient’s foundation."

As the candidates cupped their hands and bowed in acknowledgement, the first question materialized in glowing script before them.

Master Gu He leaned forward, his voice carrying across the floor.

"A patient suffers from Scorching Demonic Fire poison, and Nether Bone-Freezing rot trapped together within his body. Purging the fire poison causes the frost rot to freeze the meridians. Warming the bone freezing poison triggers the demonic flame to incinerate the meridians. Direct treatment inside the body risks immediate foundation collapse. How do you treat this?"

***

The candidates focused on the glowing script.

Lu Feng was the first to step forward, his eyes bright with excitement.

"I have a solution! I would deploy the Wood Qi Bridging Technique. Wood sits between water and fire in the Five Elements cycle. Wood absorbs the cold while feeding the flame. By channeling pure wood vitality through the Qimen point, one can weave fine living qi threads between the two poisons like a root sponge. The wood qi neutralizes the clash, absorbing the rot and steadying the flame. Once complete, the toxin wastes are drawn out through the fingertip points and discarded."