Chapter 146 | A Taste of Relief

Chapter 146: 146 | A Taste of Relief

At exactly high noon, sunlight bathed Crimson Nimbus Sect in the strong Yang Qi of midday.

Within the private reception room of the Outer Sect Artifact Pavilion, the existing mid-grade isolation arrays kept the chamber quiet and shielded the conversation from outside Divine Sense. Aunt Lin had inspected them beforehand, ensuring they could contain normal spiritual fluctuations.

Lin Tian sat behind the polished spirit-wood table in his obsidian robes. The Abyssal Shadow Veil concealed his Peak Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, leaving only the restrained aura of a promising junior disciple.

The doors opened quietly.

A figure in a plain gray cloak entered and lowered her hood, revealing Elder Liu’s pale, composed face.

Lin Tian activated his Insight Eye. The Qi of her Verdant Flame Physique was uneven, while Pill Toxicity was deeply affecting her Yin meridians and aggravating the Phantom Burns. Her cultivation foundation remained stable.

Elder Liu walked forward calmly, but the Yang-rich environment eased the familiar cold ache in her chest.

"Elder Liu," Lin Tian said, gesturing toward the chair opposite him. "Please, sit."

He remained seated, neither disrespectful nor excessively deferential.

Elder Liu’s brows tightened slightly at his lack of formal junior-to-senior courtesy, but she soon sat opposite him and studied him carefully.

"Junior Disciple Lin Tian, I am here regarding a theoretical case involving unusual elemental toxicity. I was told that you possess an uncommon understanding of Qi circulation and structural resonance."

"Please describe the case."

Elder Liu continued, "Suppose a cultivator with a powerful fire-attribute physique has relied heavily on alchemical medicine for many years. Over time, impurities from repeated refinement accumulate within the Yin meridians and develop into persistent Pill Toxicity."

"The condition does not manifest as ordinary heat. Instead, the afflicted meridians suffer from Phantom Burns, producing a freezing sensation despite the cultivator’s fire attribute. Standard Yang-attribute herbs provide only temporary relief."

She paused before adding, "The cultivator’s condition also makes aggressive medicinal treatment dangerous. A powerful Yang-attribute pill might suppress the toxicity, but the resulting surge of medicinal Qi could place excessive strain on the afflicted meridians. How would your theory of structural resonance approach such a problem?"

Lin Tian leaned back slightly.

"I would not begin by forcing more Yang Qi into the affected pathways. If the toxicity has become entangled with the existing Qi circulation, a sudden surge may create greater resistance instead of clearing the obstruction."

"The more forcefully you push against an unstable pathway, the greater the risk of damaging the meridians you are trying to preserve."

"Then what would you do instead?"

"Observe the circulation first."

Lin Tian continued, "The problem is not simply a lack of Yang Qi. The toxic influence has become connected to the cultivator’s existing Qi flow. Treating it as something that can simply be burned away may damage the same pathways you need to preserve."

"First, determine how the remaining Qi moves around the obstruction. Then introduce a controlled stream of pure Yang Qi along that existing flow rather than directly against it. The goal is not to destroy the toxicity by force, but to weaken its hold while keeping the surrounding meridians stable."

Elder Liu’s eyes narrowed.

"The Yang Qi should follow the existing circulation instead of breaking through the obstruction."

"Exactly. Guide the useful Qi around the resistance, gradually reduce the obstruction’s influence, and restore natural circulation step by step."

"And if the obstruction has already become deeply rooted?"

"Then the process must become slower. The deeper the toxicity has settled, the more dangerous forceful treatment becomes. The circulation must be traced carefully, with each adjustment small enough for the meridians to adapt."

Elder Liu considered him before asking, "How would you know where to begin?"

"By identifying where the circulation first begins to deviate. The point where the symptoms become strongest is not necessarily the source. Trace the circulation backward and find where the imbalance first appears."

A faint change crossed Elder Liu’s eyes.

"You speak as though you have examined such a condition before."

"I have examined disrupted Qi circulation before. The principles of blockage, flow, and imbalance are not limited to one affliction."

Elder Liu remained composed, but his explanation matched a concern she had never been able to resolve. Her own methods could suppress the Phantom Burns, while stronger treatments risked provoking a dangerous reaction within the afflicted meridians.

Yet knowledge was not proof.

She was still a 4-Star Alchemist. Understanding the condition and successfully treating it were two different matters.

"Your explanation is interesting, Junior Disciple Lin Tian," Elder Liu said calmly. "But theory is still theory."

Lin Tian gave a faint nod.

"I expected you to say that."

For several breaths, neither spoke. Elder Liu studied him across the table, her interest no longer hidden behind polite curiosity. Her curiosity was now impossible to conceal.

"Words are easy to weave, Junior Disciple," Elder Liu said, her suspicion clear in her measured tone. "To align external Yang essence with a damaged Yin meridian requires a level of control beyond what most cultivators can achieve. How can you prove that your method is actually functional?"

Lin Tian did not argue. He extended his right hand, palm upward on the polished spirit-wood table.

"Extend your wrist, Elder. I will demonstrate the principle of structural alignment. Treat it as nothing more than a theoretical test."

Elder Liu hesitated. Her instincts urged caution, yet the familiar pain in her chest contrasted sharply with the gentle warmth coming from his hand. After a brief pause, she reached across the table and placed her pale wrist in his palm.

The moment they touched, Lin Tian activated his Insight Eye and examined the Qi circulation through her arm. He did not invoke Primordial Yin-Yang Synergy or send his full strength into her Dantian.

Instead, he guided a fine strand of pure Yang Qi through the affected circulation, carefully following its existing flow and easing the obstruction rather than forcing through it.

A soft hum passed through the room.

Elder Liu’s eyes widened as the freezing pain in her right arm suddenly eased. The change was gentle, without forceful suppression; the disturbed circulation simply became smoother, allowing the surrounding Qi to move with far less resistance.

"Ah..." A soft, involuntary breath escaped her lips as the relief spread through her arm. Her shoulders relaxed before she realized it, and for the first time in weeks, the constant discomfort became bearable.

Lin Tian maintained the alignment briefly, long enough for her to understand what he had done, then withdrew his hand.

The stabilizing flow vanished, and the Qi in her arm returned to its previous disturbed state. The Phantom Burns flared again with painful sharpness, and a strained gasp escaped Elder Liu as the brief relief disappeared.

Her fingers tightened around her wrist as she fought to steady her breathing.

"As you can see, Elder," Lin Tian said calmly, "the principle works. The afflicted circulation can be stabilized temporarily by guiding pure Yang Qi along its existing flow rather than forcing through the obstruction."

Elder Liu stared at his hand, then at him.

She had expected another theoretical explanation. Instead, he had demonstrated the principle directly without relying on an alchemical pill or overwhelming medicinal force.

The experience left one fact undeniable.

His understanding was real.

"Then..." Her voice remained controlled, though the pain had made it rougher. "How can this become a lasting solution?"

"A lasting solution would require prolonged correction of the affected Qi circulation," Lin Tian replied. "A brief alignment can reduce the symptoms, but it cannot permanently resolve the toxic obstruction. The deeper the toxicity has settled, the more carefully the affected pathways must be corrected."

Elder Liu listened closely.

"It would require a sufficiently pure Yang source under precise control, combined with a detailed understanding of your circulation. The goal would be to separate the toxic influence without damaging the surrounding meridians and gradually restore their natural flow."

He withdrew his Yang aura, restoring the distance between them.

"But as you said earlier, this is still a theoretical discussion. I trust the demonstration was useful for your research."

Elder Liu clenched her teeth.

Her pride urged her to dismiss the entire matter and leave, yet the evidence was already before her. She had felt the difference herself, and no explanation could erase that experience.

Still, a temporary demonstration was not enough.

She would not place her cultivation in the hands of a junior disciple merely because his method had produced brief relief. There had to be another way to verify his theory, perhaps by understanding the circulation adjustment well enough to reproduce it herself.

"It was... an enlightening demonstration, Junior Disciple Lin Tian," Elder Liu said after a pause. She pulled her gray cloak tighter and rose from her chair. "I will return to Alchemy Peak and examine the method further."

Lin Tian inclined his head.

"Take your time, Elder."

She gave him one final look before turning toward the doors. Her expression was composed again, though the returning pain reminded her of what she had just experienced.

Elder Liu left without another word.

The doors closed behind her, and the reception room fell silent once more.

A faint system notification appeared in Lin Tian’s vision.

[System Notification: Target — Elder Liu]

[Obsession Level: 10%]

[Status: Fascination Increased]

Lin Tian’s expression remained calm.

The number reflected only the change in her interest. It did not mean she trusted him, and it certainly did not mean she had accepted him as her solution.

He had not promised a cure, nor had he forced her to accept anything. He had simply shown her that the principle he described could produce real results.

That was enough for now.

Elder Liu had something she could no longer dismiss as rumor. She had felt the method work inside her own body, and whatever she chose to do next would depend on how she interpreted that experience.

Lin Tian leaned back in his chair.

For now, he had no reason to pursue her.

The demonstration had served its purpose.