Zhang Daoqian was Zhang Daofeng's elder brother, and also Zhang Yang's great-grandfather from his previous life.

Zhang Daoqian sacrificed himself to save these anti-Japanese soldiers. At that time, his internal energy level was probably not high; he hadn't even married yet, likely only in the early or middle stages of the Second Tier. Back then, with caution, he could dodge bullets, but he couldn't survive a hail of gunfire.

These weapons posed much less of a threat to grandmasters above the Third Tier, but they remained fatal to those below it.

Elder Xie had been with Zhang Daoqian right up until his sacrifice. If there was anything Zhang Daoqian left behind for them, it was very possible that this was it.

"Elder, Mr. Zhang... what did Mr. Zhang leave behind?"

Zhang Yang calmed his mind. Since Elder Xie specifically mentioned it and said it might be useful to him, it definitely wasn't an ordinary item.

Elder Xie's expression turned solemn. "Before we discuss these things, first tell me, what exactly is your relationship with Mr. Zhang?"

Last time, Elder Xie had suspected a connection between Zhang Yang and Zhang Daoqian, but he didn't know the exact nature of that relationship.

"To be honest, my maternal grandfather's Mr. Zhang is a full brother to him!"

After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Yang quietly finished his sentence.

In his previous life, this was his great-grandfather, a direct relative. In this life, the identity had shifted slightly, but the connection was still very deep. As soon as he finished speaking, Elder Xie nodded with relief.

His maternal grandfather's full brother—that made him a grandfather figure too; the relationship was extremely close.

No wonder they shared the same techniques. At this point, Elder Xie had not a shred of doubt left.

"Come with me!"

Elder Xie stood up. Previously, he couldn't even walk on his own, but now that his illness was cured, he was completely self-sufficient in his daily life.

Elder Xie led Zhang Yang to the study. He took out a very old leather suitcase from a cabinet in the study; this suitcase was clearly not a modern creation.

The leather was aged, but the quality was excellent, still perfectly usable.

Elder Xie opened the suitcase and took out a simple, yellowed scroll, which was partially damaged.

Holding this half-scroll, Elder Xie's face showed a trace of nostalgia again. He murmured softly, "Mr. Zhang gave this to me back then. He never explained what it was for. I thought it was something valuable, but unfortunately, I couldn't understand it. After trying many people who couldn't translate it, I forgot about it. Not long ago, while tidying up, I rediscovered it and realized it might be useful to you, so I kept it!"

As Elder Xie spoke, he handed the tattered, yellowed scroll to Zhang Yang, his face now carrying a hint of guilt.

"When Mr. Zhang gave this to me, it was complete. After all these years, I don't know when it got damaged. This is the only thing Mr. Zhang left behind; I've failed him!"

Elder Xie spoke quietly, sounding deeply sentimental, as if transported back to those years engulfed in the flames of war.

Zhang Yang took the damaged scroll from Elder Xie's hand. The cover had no writing on it. Upon opening it, there was a vertical line of script.

Seeing these characters, Zhang Yang’s heart clenched abruptly. He recognized these brushstrokes; they were undeniably written by Zhang Daoqian himself.

In his past life, the family possessed several secret manuals copied by Zhang Daoqian, which is why Zhang Yang could recognize his handwriting.

After reading a couple of lines, Zhang Yang's brow furrowed slightly again.

This was neither traditional script nor modern simplified script, but an unknown typeface. However, Zhang Yang recognized this script: it was the specialized prescription script unique to their Zhang family.

Prescription script, also known as security script, was a type of writing specially created by medical families or internal energy families to prevent their crucial secrets from being leaked or learned by others. Each family's script was different.

The Zhang family's ancestral secret manuals were passed down only to males, and many formulas were priceless treasures. Years of protection naturally led to certain unique methods; the Zhang family's prescription script was one of them.

These characters differed from common script; even if they looked the same, their meaning was absolutely different. Someone who didn't understand them could never decipher the text.

The method for reading this script was passed down verbally within the Zhang family. Even if outsiders obtained these prescriptions, they would never understand them, thus effectively protecting the secret formulas from spreading.

Anything written in prescription script was certainly not simple; at the very least, it indicated that this was something strictly internal to the Zhang family, not meant for outsiders.

After thanking Elder Xie, Zhang Yang held the scroll and began examining it carefully.

Elder Xie watched Zhang Yang’s focused expression and smiled, nodding slightly.

This scroll had been in his hands for so many years, and he never knew what it contained. Otherwise, he wouldn't have forgotten it for so long until he rediscovered it while tidying up.

He didn't understand it, but that didn't mean he was unaware of the significance of these characters.

He had previously sought help from others, including other doctors, who informed him that this script was used for confidential prescriptions. Unless someone who understood the script translated it, no one could decipher what it said.

Zhang Yang examined it intently. Just by watching his serious demeanor, it was clear that Zhang Yang recognized the script.

If Zhang Yang understood it, then he definitely had a deep connection with Zhang Daoqian. Handing this scroll to Zhang Yang was the right decision; it had gone to the right person.

As he read the contents of the scroll, the astonishment in Zhang Yang's eyes grew deeper. In a short while, he finished flipping through the entire book. It wasn't thick to begin with, and being a handwritten copy, it was also incomplete. Zhang Yang had now finished reading all of it.

What was written in this book was actually the formula for a spirit medicine, a very rare one at that.

This spirit medicine was called the Blood Fox Pill. Unfortunately, the book was damaged; only the preparation method for the Blood Fox Pill was present in the initial section, but the function of the Blood Fox Pill was missing—effectively leaving only half the content.

A spirit medicine whose effect was unknown—even if he could prepare it, Zhang Yang dared not consume it randomly.

"Elder Xie, is there any of the missing part?"

After finishing, Zhang Yang looked up and asked Elder Xie, his eyes still holding a trace of hope.

Everyone has curiosity. Zhang Yang had never even heard of the Blood Fox Pill before; he was certain it wasn't among the ancient and secret formulas he had studied. Now, suddenly encountering such a spirit medicine with a preparation method but unknown efficacy made Zhang Yang's heart intensely eager.

The most crucial aspect of a spirit medicine is its effect. Every spirit medicine has a unique property that requires targeted use.

In the internal energy cultivation world, because spirit medicines are scarce and many have the effect of enhancing internal energy, some people mistakenly believe that all spirit medicines are simply beneficial for boosting internal energy.

This is not the case. For instance, the Bigu Pill does not enhance internal energy; it merely maintains bodily functions. Similarly, the Maiden Pill is only for breakthroughs and cannot boost internal energy, nor can it maintain physical functions.

Furthermore, some spirit medicines have other effects, and some are even poisonous—medicines that could instantly kill a Fourth Tier expert.

Therefore, Zhang Yang intensely hoped to find the missing part so he could see the efficacy of this mysterious Blood Fox Pill.

Elder Xie looked somewhat embarrassed. "No, I'm afraid not. It’s all my fault for poor safekeeping. After the latter part was lost, it could never be found again!"

The only thing his benefactor left behind had been damaged by him; he felt truly distressed about it now.

"I understand, thank you. This thing is indeed very useful to me!"

Zhang Yang nodded lightly. Although he held onto hope, he also understood the high probability that the missing section was gone forever. If it existed, Elder Xie wouldn't have given him only this half.

"Zhang Yang, what exactly is written on this?"

Elder Xie asked softly. Even he harbored deep curiosity. Having kept something for his entire life without knowing its contents, he couldn't help but inquire now that Zhang Yang could read it.

"It's a formula, the prescription for an uncommon medicine!"

Zhang Yang smiled faintly. He did not hide the fact that it was a prescription, but he didn't elaborate on what kind of formula it was. Even if he disclosed it, it would be of no use.

The main ingredient for the Blood Fox Pill is the blood of a Blood Fox. The Blood Fox is a spiritual beast of Heaven and Earth—a creature Zhang Yang had never even heard of, nor did he know where one could be found. Even he might not be able to prepare the Blood Fox Pill.

A formula like this would be useless to ordinary people if they knew about it; it was better left unsaid.

"I see. Thank you, Zhang Yang!"

Elder Xie nodded and did not press further. Since Zhang Yang chose not to reveal the formula, it must be something that required secrecy.

He had long known it was prescription script, so learning it was a medicinal formula wasn't surprising. Every family has its secrets, and Zhang Yang's ability to read those characters was proof enough of his profound and close relationship with his benefactor.

That was enough for him. His benefactor left this item for him without explaining its contents, perhaps intending for him to pass it on to other members of the family.

Now that he had entrusted the item to Zhang Yang, he felt he had fulfilled his benefactor's commission.

"No, I should be thanking you. This is extremely useful to me. Thank you very much. May I take this?"

Zhang Yang chuckled and proactively requested the handwritten scroll from Elder Xie.

This was an artifact left by Zhang Daoqian; Zhang Yang had the right to claim it. Moreover, since it was written in the Zhang family's prescription script, it was unsuitable for being circulated outside indefinitely.

"Take it. Giving this item to you is like returning it to its rightful owner, and I can rest easy now!"

Elder Xie immediately agreed. His intention in bringing it out was, in fact, to hand it over to Zhang Yang, and incidentally, to verify if Zhang Yang truly had ties to his benefactor.

That connection was now fully confirmed. Keeping this incomprehensible item served no further purpose for him.

"Grandpa, Zhang Yang, where are you?"

A voice suddenly called from outside. Xie Hui had returned and wanted to inform them that he had arranged for a lavish lunch, hoping they could all dine together.

Having come here, Zhang Yang had no intention of leaving early, so staying for lunch was natural.

In the afternoon, after declining the invitations from both Elder Xie and Xie Hui, Zhang Yang and Mi Xue left the Xie residence together. Only when they were in a secluded spot did they mount onto Zhuifeng’s back and quickly return to Lieshan County.

After dinner, Zhang Yang returned to his room alone. He took out Zhang Daoqian's formula for the Blood Fox Pill, and his brow couldn't help but furrow again.

Spirit medicine formulas were not rare in the Zhang family; they possessed over a hundred formulas for various spirit medicines, some extremely rare and difficult to compound.

This particular formula, however, gave Zhang Yang an unusual, strange sensation. There were many elements in this prescription that he could not understand.

Less than fifty votes away, would he be disappointed again?