Chu Xue was startled, thinking that Zong Shou intended to end the woman’s suffering quickly. Only a moment later did she realize the sword blade had missed the heart. The angle of entry was also slightly skewed, and as Zong Shou pulled the Leiya Sword out again, a drop of pus-like blood appeared on the tip. It had also turned a purplish-black color, within which faint threads of purple-gold could be glimpsed. Zong Shou brought the sword tip close to his nose, sniffing lightly, which made him frown. A flash of lightning erupted from the blade, instantly vaporizing the drop of purplish-red pus-blood into dust. This poison could corrode weaponry, fortunately, Zong Shou’s sword could spontaneously activate a lightning barrier to counteract it. However, once the pus-blood was pulverized, an even more pungent stench assaulted the air. Chu Xue, standing nearby, immediately recoiled, nearly collapsing. Hu Zhongyuan, standing beside them, looked grave. Enduring the stench, he returned to Zong Shou’s side and hesitated before advising, “Young Master, this poison [Baidu Shenhuang Bar] is truly too dangerous. You are of noble blood; it would be best to keep your distance. If there is anything that needs doing, you can entrust it to me. Or perhaps that wolf cub behind you could handle it?”

Zong Yuan rolled his eyes, feeling a surge of impotent anger in his chest. Being controlled, unable to act of one's own volition—this was the result. Whether he was cannon fodder or being ordered to do dangerous things, as he was now. He had lost all interest anyway, clinging to the thought that an early death would bring a swifter rebirth. No matter how this mortal tormented him. Zong Shou merely waved his hand, signaling Chu Xue and Hu Zhongyuan to retreat fully. He then used a spiritual technique to summon a mass of liquid and forcefully poured several elixirs down the woman’s throat. He followed this by inserting exactly ten golden needles into the major pressure points across the woman’s body. He sighed inwardly, regretting that Duanmu Yiren was not present. She would undoubtedly have been far more capable than his own half-baked efforts. He only understood the body’s structures, meridians, and vessels so well due to his profound martial arts cultivation and extremely high level of Qi refining techniques in his previous life, coupled with extensive reading and vast knowledge. When it came to actual medical skill, he truly could not compare to Xuanyuan Yiren. Zong Shou then carefully examined the skin on the woman’s limbs. Like her face, they were now beginning to show purplish-red protrusions, mottled and hideous, too dreadful to behold. He pondered for a moment, “It must be correct. This poison is most likely the Seven-Decay Ghost Face. I wonder which Sun-Roaming Spirit Master inflicted this injury?”

Zong Yuan and Chu Xue did not grasp the significance, but Hu Zhongyuan, who was well-traveled, immediately turned pale: “Seven-Decay Ghost Face, is that from the Ghost Face Serpent?” Zong Shou nodded, glancing at Hu Zhongyuan with surprise. Not many in this world knew of this poison. Ghost Face Serpents are rare, mostly dwelling beneath the Sea of Clouds in desolate, abyssal places. However, they are often kept as mounts by Spirit Masters who can roam during the day. This serpent grows incredibly fast, starting as a third-tier spirit beast at birth. Given sufficient spirit crystals, venom, and food, it can grow into a seventh-tier spirit beast in about two hundred years. After that, reaching the eighth and ninth tiers happens even faster than with comparable beasts. Their combat ability is somewhat lacking, making them almost the weakest type. But the Seven-Decay Ghost Face venom contained in their fangs is nearly impossible to cure in this world. The higher the tier, the stronger the toxicity. They even have the potential to spawn mosquito-like offspring, which is why they are so favored by Spirit Masters. Once poisoned, the victim manifests this woman’s condition: the face first appears monstrous, followed by purplish-red protrusions and patterns appearing on the body and limbs. It progresses through seven stages, causing the internal organs, lungs, and blood meridians to fail one by one. Hu Zhongyuan’s expression shifted again, and then he bowed once more to persuade, “If this is the poison, Young Master, it would be best to end her life quickly! I heard this poison is insidious; unless treated with medicine specially prepared by a Spirit Master, it is almost impossible to cure. It can easily infect others; it is the most vicious poison there is.”

Zong Shou offered no comment, sitting where he was, carefully sifting through the memories in his mind, searching the vast sea of texts within. Because countless martial arts cultivation methods flowed out from various sects in later generations, even as spiritual energy waned, research into cultivation techniques and medicinal ingredients advanced daily. Coupled with the explosion of information, medical science gradually developed and reached its zenith. Many mysteries once considered difficult or forbidden arts from ancient times were solved in later eras. This included the ‘Seven-Decay Ghost Face,’ which was mostly deemed incurable. The library Zong Shou frequented was established by a kingdom; it contained not only an immense collection but also comprehensive knowledge. Zong Shou had spent a full ten years inside and read through the majority of its tomes, including records on the Seven-Decay Ghost Face. However, he vaguely recalled that the conditions for detoxification were extremely stringent. Not long after, a passage surfaced in his mind. A trace of relief immediately appeared in Zong Shou’s eyes. “Fortunately, it’s only a sixth-tier toxin; this woman can still be saved! However, the poison has entered the marrow, so removing it completely will take some time. All her blood will also need to be replaced…”

He forced the woman’s jaws open again and used the Leiya Sword to make a small incision on her tongue, which had also turned purplish-black. Ignoring the foul pus-blood, Zong Shou leaned down and sucked vigorously at the tip of the woman’s tongue. Chu Xue and Hu Zhongyuan immediately gasped in horror. The latter tried to stop him but was too late, worrying silently. Chu Xue’s face turned deathly pale. She stood only three feet away, watching Zong Shou’s lips lock with the ugly girl’s, gripped by intense fear. This poison was so bizarre; would their Young Master be infected? Even if he had to save her, this method was unnecessary. The Young Master cared too little for his own life. Zong Shou sucked for a moment, then raised his head and spat a mouthful of bloody saliva forcefully toward the nearby grass. Instantly, a puff of light smoke rose. When afflicted by the Seven-Decay Ghost Face poison, two areas are most severely affected: the tip of the tongue and the heart—both reservoirs of vital essence blood. To save the person, these two sites must be treated first. After sucking several times until the purplish-red color on the tongue faded, Zong Shou moved to her left chest and sucked there too. After five or six more times, he finally stopped. Then, Zong Shou felt a wave of faintness wash over his own mind. Fortunately, the Spiral True Qi within him had a miraculous effect on neutralizing toxins; it could either freeze them instantly, scorch them with fire, or, failing that, use a blast of purple lightning to expel them. He did not ask Hu Zhongyuan to help for this very reason. While the three of them had decent cultivation, in terms of detoxification, they were far inferior to him. After extracting this vital essence blood, Zong Shou performed a hand seal, chanted an incantation, and projected a spiritual technique onto a wound on the woman’s body. This was to identify her blood type. After a moment, small specks of pale gold gradually emerged within the purplish-red, thick blood. Zong Shou paused, stunned, upon seeing this: “What a coincidence. I was just thinking of finding someone nearby to draw some fresh human blood, but unexpectedly, this woman’s blood type matches exactly what I need!”

As early as the ancient Cloud Desolation period, people had attempted blood exchange to cure various illnesses and injuries. There were some successful cases, but mostly they failed, with death occurring within twelve hours. It wasn't until four thousand years later that it was discovered that human blood types could be generally divided into three categories and could not be exchanged arbitrarily. Following this, this spiritual technique was invented to identify blood types, categorized as gold, silver, and bronze. Subsequently, many diseases and injuries previously considered incurable in ancient times were easily resolved. This girl’s blood type was gold, the same as his own—this saved him countless efforts. He cut open the woman’s wrist vein and began to let the poisonous blood drain. An immediate wave of foul odor assailed them again. Dripped onto the grass, the surrounding withered vegetation instantly spread further. But this time, neither Chu Xue nor Hu Zhongyuan retreated; they stood firm, enduring it. Even Zong Yuan only covered his nose but remained standing. When no more toxic blood flowed out, Zong Shou inserted the thickest golden needle he had—three inches long and hollow—near the girl’s heart. He then cut his own wrist vein. Threads of bright red blood, guided by spiritual power, flowed into the golden needle and slowly into the woman’s body. In only about half an hour, a trace of rosiness appeared on the woman’s face. Although the hideous patterns and protrusions had not receded, a semblance of vitality had returned. Hu Zhongyuan watched in utter astonishment, thinking how this poison, reputedly incurable by anyone, had been resolved so easily? He had heard of the blood exchange method before, but most subjects died within a few hours. The Young Master’s medical skills were truly miraculous. His spiritual cultivation and martial arts were already freakishly powerful; to find his medical skill so strong as well! Chu Xue paid no attention to this, only noticing that Zong Shou’s complexion was turning ashen, and anxiously she extended her fair, tender wrist before him: “Young Master, perhaps I could exchange? Xue’er is also a girl, so it should work.”

Zong Shou chuckled wryly. Blood type had nothing to do with gender. Even if the types matched, it couldn't compare to the Thunder Phoenix essence within his own body. He estimated the volume of blood to be output, stopping the wound just before his own vital energy would be critically damaged. Since the Seven-Decay Ghost Face had already entered the marrow, his five viscera and six bowels were naturally saturated. This blood exchange method is wonderfully effective at the initial stage of poisoning, but at this stage, without fifty or sixty exchanges, it would be impossible to completely eradicate it. He needed to conserve vital energy to prepare for the next transfusion soon. Just as he was about to remove the golden needles one by one, Zong Shou suddenly stirred and looked at her face. He saw that the woman had awakened. Her eyes were clear, gazing at him. Zong Shou’s heart skipped a beat. With a pale face, he smiled and asked, “Are you Ruoshui?” The girl seemed to find speaking extremely difficult; she opened her mouth to speak but stopped, nodding slightly. Then she raised one hand, weakly caressing Zong Shou’s face with faint joy and relief, until her pupils dilated again, and she fell unconscious. At this moment, Zong Shou glanced at the sky. Judging by the time, it was certainly impossible to search for a spiritual nexus now.

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