Chapter 2177: Refining the Sword Technique

He had thought that the other's medical skills would surely be far inferior to his own, but now he realized that compared to the other's, his own medical skills were like a firefly compared to the blazing sun.

They were not even in the same league.

"Since I've admitted defeat, can I now obtain the right to use the Great Teleportation Array?"

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Of course, but don't rush. I admit defeat, but I still need to report this matter before I can issue the token to you. At the latest, by this afternoon, the token should be in your hands!"

Liao Xin explained.

Although the man before him had passed the assessment for the top thirty of the Divine King Potential List of one faction and had surpassed him in medical skills, the news still had to be reported to the Heavens, and the token had to be made before the teleportation could proceed. Otherwise, it would not be possible.

"Alright!"

Having already delayed so long, half a day didn't matter. Zhang Xuan nodded, said no more, and left with Qi Ling'er.

After they left, the room fell silent.

"Ao Hua, did he really... defeat you with just his physical body?" Liao Xin couldn't help but ask.

"Yes," Ao Hua nodded.

"His physical body surpasses yours, his alchemy has earned the admiration of Fu Jiangchen, and his medical skills are so profound that I am far inferior... Truly, there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers everywhere!"

Liao Xin sighed.

He had thought that this trip to the Netherworld Heaven would allow him to go on a killing spree, crushing the opposition and establishing an immortal reputation. He never dreamed that without even seeing the other side's Medical Master Guild, he would already be utterly defeated.

If even he was no match, the others were even less so; they would only lose more.

"Let's go back!" With his hands behind his back, Liao Xin looked somewhat dejected.

"What about the competition with the Netherworld Imperial City Medical Master Guild? We're not competing anymore?" Wang Fei was stunned.

"As long as this Physician Zhang is a member of the Netherworld Heaven, even if we win, it won't be honorable. Rather than that, it's better to be magnanimous!"

Liao Xin said.

The purpose of this trip to the Netherworld Heaven was simple: to make a name for the Cloud Serpent Heaven Medical Master Guild. But as it turned out, there was always a stronger opponent. Even if the other side's Medical Master Guild had no one stronger than them, what did it matter?

As long as this Zhang Xuan was there, they would still lose!

Rather than suffer such humiliation, it was better to call it quits.

"Alright..."

Understanding this reasoning, everyone agreed.

...

Netherworld Heaven Medical Master Guild.

"Congratulations, Physician Zhao Chong!"

After several rounds of medical competitions, the fifth and final member of the five-person team had finally been determined: Physician Zhao Chong!

Although he had not been well-known before, his medical skills were genuinely formidable, and his performance had earned the admiration of all.

"Physician Zhao Chong is naturally skilled; he's not comparable to that alchemist!"

"Indeed, I admit that Zhang Xuan is good at alchemy, but medical skills? Hah!"

"Every trade has its own specialty. It's a good thing we didn't let him compete; otherwise, he would have made a fool of himself..."

Seeing Zhao Chong's performance, everyone recalled that presumptuous Alchemist Zhang and laughed.

What use was being good at alchemy? The medical competition wasn't about alchemy!

It was a good thing they hadn't let that fellow participate; otherwise, wouldn't it make their Medical Master Guild look like they would send anyone to compete?

As they were marveling, they saw a middle-aged man rush in hurriedly.

President Sun Xuan frowned: "What's wrong?"

The middle-aged man said quickly: "The physicians from Cloud Serpent Heaven have all left..."

"Left? What do you mean? They're not competing anymore?" President Sun Xuan was stunned.

They had come with such aggression; why would they retreat before the competition even started?

"They said..." The middle-aged man swallowed his saliva: "They were outmatched, and staying would only make them a laughingstock. Rather than suffer humiliation, it was better to leave early..."

"Outmatched? What does that mean?"

Everyone was baffled.

Hadn't the competition not even started yet?

How could they be outmatched?

"Just now, a physician from our Netherworld Heaven went to their residence, easily defeated President Liao Xin, and impressed everyone else with his medical skills... So they voluntarily conceded defeat!"

The middle-aged man had already gathered the news and knew quite a bit.

"Someone challenged and defeated President Liao Xin?"

"President Liao Xin's medical skills are among the best in the Nine Heavens!"

"Indeed, his skills are unmatched; I am far inferior..."

"And he was easily defeated by a physician..."

A clamor arose. Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. After a moment, a physician couldn't help but ask: "All registered physicians in the imperial city are here, and none have left. Who... defeated him?"

"I just inquired about the news. It seems this physician is called..."

After thinking for a moment, the middle-aged man slapped his forehead: "Called... Zhang Xuan!"

"Zhang Xuan?"

"That... alchemist we drove away before?"

"We said he wasn't qualified to be a physician, but... he beat President Liao Xin in a medical contest?"

"This can't be real..."

Everyone was stunned at the same time, their faces as if they had been slapped several times.

They had just said an alchemist wanted to take the physician exam, never dreaming that his medical skills not only far surpassed everyone else's but also easily defeated President Liao Xin.

Sun Xuan's mouth twitched, wishing he could crawl into a crack in the ground.

The "alchemist" he had looked down on actually possessed such medical skills... It was clearly a good opportunity to learn, and he had missed it...

...

Ignoring the depression and discomfort of the Ghost Emperor City Physician Guild, Zhang Xuan was now staring at a small token on the table, his eyes shining: "Is this the talisman for the Great Teleportation Array?"

Before afternoon, someone had delivered this item.

It was the size of a baby's palm, engraved with special runes, and contained a vast意念 that made one feel awed when looking at it for too long.

"This rune was personally carved by an Emperor-level expert, capable of withstanding the spatial storms in the Great Teleportation Array..."

Qi Ling'er looked envious and explained.

Even as a core member of the Qi family with great power, she was not qualified to obtain such a token.

With this item, entering other heavens would take only a few breaths; as long as one had enough money, one could freely roam within the Nine Heavens.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

A single glance told him these runes were not simple and should be related to an Emperor.

"Alright, continue arranging the sale of the Obstruction-Breaking Pill and Beauty Pill, expand their influence as much as possible, and have Sun Qiang take care of my parents. As long as it's for breaking through cultivation levels, don't be stingy with any resources!"

Zhang Xuan instructed.

Going to Lingyuan Heaven to find Luo Ruoxi might be dangerous, so he decided not to bring his parents along; they would stay here and cultivate diligently.

With the guidance of the Sword Hut experts, their understanding of swordsmanship grew stronger, and with this, their cultivation advanced rapidly. Coupled with Zhang Xuan's unlimited supply of resources—Obstruction-Breaking Pills and Beauty Pills eaten like candy—the two had successfully broken through to the Lower Deity realm!

In time, breaking through to even higher realms was not impossible.

After arranging everything, Zhang Xuan hesitated no longer. He confirmed the location of the Great Teleportation Array, boarded a flying divine beast, and flew there alone.

As long as the Qi family still mistakenly believed he was an "Emperor," they would surely do their utmost to protect his parents, Sun Qiang, and the others, ensuring they faced no danger.

On the contrary, following him would be more dangerous!

The efficacy and price of the Beauty Pill and Obstruction-Breaking Pill had surely already aroused the envy of countless people. If he didn't leave Ghost Emperor City, it would be fine, but once he left, countless eyes would be watching him.

Thus, although he would enter Lingyuan Heaven directly through the Great Teleportation Array, the journey would certainly not be as easy as imagined.

Sitting on the beast's back, eyes tightly shut, adjusting his state.

The Great Teleportation Array could teleport powerhouses from all heavens. Even though every user needed to pass an assessment, it was still fraught with danger. Therefore, this array was not located within the imperial city but was set up atop a mountain peak over a hundred li away from the city.

Heavily guarded.

In other words, to enter this teleportation array, one had to first leave the imperial city. This stretch of distance could easily become a place for others to ambush.

Controlling the Obstruction-Breaking Pill and the Beauty Pill meant controlling a huge moneybag, which would inevitably drive people crazy.

"There's still a quarter of an hour before leaving the town's range. Just enough time to study the sword techniques of the Divine Lord realm!"

He fell into deep thought.

It hadn't been long since he broke through to the Divine Lord realm. He had been busy inquiring about Luo Ruoxi and striving to improve his cultivation, with no time to comprehend sword techniques. Now that he had some free time, it was just right to give it a try.

To comprehend this sword technique that surpassed the Heavenly Dao, one had to be in the Divine Realm. That meant the Spring and Autumn Ceremony in the library, even with time accelerated ten thousand times, could not contribute even a bit to his comprehension.

"The 'If Heaven Has Feelings' technique: first level, master-servant bond. Sword technique: 'The heart is like a double-threaded net, with thousands of knots within.'"

"Second level, brotherly loyalty. 'Joyful brotherly love, diligent servant strength.' Sword technique: 'Not for the sake of admiring the sights, but to stir filial thoughts with passion...'"

"Third level, teacher-student bond. 'Fallen petals are not heartless things; they turn into spring mud to nurture flowers better.'"

Ever since he comprehended his own path of cultivation, the cultivation methods for each realm and the sword techniques surged and lingered in his mind.

Like a scroll slowly unfurling, it was marked with a vast history of emotions.

Some are exciting, some sweet, some terrifying, some heartbreaking...

A mix of flavors, all kinds of emotions, spurring people to constantly cultivate and move forward.

Liking, loving—these are emotions.

Disliking, loathing—these are emotions.

Happiness, pain—these are emotions.

...

As long as there is life, no one can escape the path of emotion; without life, the meaning of the Heavenly Dao would be lost.

Thus, if Heaven has emotions, Heaven too would grow old!

The Heavenly Dao may be destroyed, but emotions, as long as life exists, will surely exist.

The bond between teacher and student—they are kin, and also inheritors...

It stirs the heart, impossible to refuse.

"I understand..."

His heart stirred, a sudden insight appearing in his mind. Just as he was about to deduce the sword technique, he felt all the hairs on his body bristle, and he stomped hard with his foot.

Bang!

The flying beast beneath him suddenly exploded. Losing his mount, he immediately began to fall from the air.