Chapter 99: The Celestial Master of Orthodox Unity

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Zhou Yi’s legs suddenly gave way, and Fu Gege quickly stepped forward to support him. But Zhou Yi’s frail body was beyond Fu Gege’s strength; he grasped her arm recklessly, pulling her down with him as they both collapsed to the ground.

Fu Gege lay atop Zhou Yi, her face filled with disbelief. She could not accept that the man before her was the same Zhou Yi from the Forbidden City—the one who was charming, gallant, and handsome. This man had white hair and a face marked by suffering.

Her heart was torn. Could this man still help her now? Recalling the image of him soaring through the air in the Forbidden City, she resolutely decided to stake everything on him, to bet on a future.

“Is Master Zhou available now?” Yuan Tingyu asked from outside the door.

Fu Gege hurriedly helped Zhou Yi to his feet. After a moment to compose himself, Zhou Yi finally spoke, “Master Yuan, please come in.”

Yuan Tingyu pushed the door open and let the doctor behind him enter first. “Please, Master Zhang,” he said. The healer Mu Chen had summoned was Zhang Xiaochu, a Master of the Zhengyi Sect and the teacher of Zuo Zhi.

“Master Yuan, please go ahead,” Zhang Xiaochu gestured, and the two walked side by side into the room.

“Master Zhang, this man has great merits to our Maoshan Sect. His internal and external injuries have healed, but his body is weak and does not respond to tonic medicines. What do you think?” Yuan Tingyu spoke straightforwardly upon entering. Zhou Yi’s condition was indeed the top priority.

Zhang Xiaochu studied Zhou Yi intently. The deeper his scrutiny, the more his brows furrowed and his expression darkened.

“Master Zhang, you’ve traveled far to treat me. I am humbled,” Zhou Yi said, mistaking the grave look for displeasure and clasping his fists in respect.

“I must ask you—have you seen my disciple Zuo Zhi?” Zhang Xiaochu asked directly.

Though Zhang Xiaochu’s divinations had been off, the moment he saw Zhou Yi, he sensed a connection between him and Zuo Zhi. Such spiritual intuition was the mysterious instinct of cultivators.

Hearing the question about Zuo Zhi, Zhou Yi’s heart trembled. Zuo Zhi had died by his hand, and now it was Zuo Zhi’s master who was here to heal him. What was he to do?

“I met him once in Changbai Mountain.”

“Where is he now?” Zhang Xiaochu’s brow tightened further. The previous day’s divinations had failed, and he had sent a spirit summons seeking Zuo Zhi, but there was no trace.

Zhou Yi shook his head. “It’s been over a month since we parted. I do not know where Master Zuo is now.” He needed Zhang Xiaochu’s help to heal him, but revealing the truth risked death or worse. There was no way the master would aid him if he knew.

Zhang Xiaochu sighed deeply upon hearing this. “My disciple has been missing for over a month. That is why I ask. You need not take offense. Sit cross-legged and gather your qi; I will investigate the root of your illness.”

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Without delay, Zhou Yi seated himself cross-legged, attuning to the spiritual energy of the world.

After a moment, the faint spiritual energy in the air gradually entered his body. Yet his absorption was painfully slow—slower even than a novice.

Yuan Tingyu and Zhang Xiaochu exchanged glances, then released their own spiritual energy into the air. Though the ambient energy increased, Zhou Yi’s rate of absorption remained unchanged.

“Wondrous Immortal, please wait outside. I need to examine the cause carefully before prescribing,” Zhang Xiaochu instructed Fu Gege and Baozi, who bowed and left the room.

“Master Yuan, to be frank, this young man’s innate spiritual energy is depleted. If he continues cultivation as is, even ten years will be futile,” Zhang Xiaochu said after Fu Gege and Baozi had exited.

Yuan Tingyu clearly already knew of Zhou Yi’s condition and nodded. “That is why we have summoned you—to refine a Qi-supplementing elixir to replenish his innate energy.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaochu’s brows furrowed deeper. “Refining elixirs to restore innate energy is defying heaven’s will. The spiritual materials are scarce, and success is rare. Have you considered this thoroughly?”

A resolute light flashed in Yuan Tingyu’s eyes as he bowed. “This man has done great favors for Maoshan. Without him, Maoshan would be a laughingstock among the Japanese. It is my failure to protect my benefactor. If there is hope, I cannot let it slip away. I will not be ungrateful.”

As he spoke, Yuan Tingyu glanced at Zhou Yi, who sat cross-legged gathering qi, a look of guilt etched on his face.

“Many elixirs exist to supplement spiritual energy. Does Maoshan have a formula?”

Yuan Tingyu stroked his beard and paused before speaking. “The Heavenly Supplement Pill.”

Zhang Xiaochu’s eyes widened in alarm, his identity forgotten in shock. “You want to refine the Heavenly Supplement Pill?”

Yuan Tingyu nodded firmly. “Yes. Ordinary elixirs are useless. Only the Heavenly Supplement Pill can restore his lost innate energy.”

“But the Heavenly Supplement Pill is a supreme elixir. Its refinement always triggers a pill tribulation. Have you forgotten how my master died?”

“Wondrous Immortal, my predecessor perished in a pill tribulation during refinement,” Yuan Tingyu lowered his head in respect, revealing the cause of the former master’s death.

“If you insist, Master Yuan, I regret I cannot help you.”

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By this point, Zhou Yi had awakened from his meditation, his body showing no improvement. Grasping the edge of the bed, he stood and bowed to the two. “Master Yuan, no need to trouble yourselves. I shall return to the Northeast.”

Baozi, who had lingered outside, overhearing their conversation, pushed the door open and entered.

“Brother Yi, I will take you home.” She bent down, ready to carry him.

“That Xu Hua is still waiting at the mountain foot. If you two descend now, he will surely seize you and bring you to Wutai Mountain. The abbot Huiming is fiercely protective. If you go to Wutai, your fate will be grim.”

From Yuan Tingyu’s tone, it was clear he held no affection for Abbot Huiming of Wutai Mountain. After a pause, he continued.

“Moreover, if you leave Maoshan like this, what would I be? Rest assured, if Master Zhang refuses to help, I will refine the Heavenly Supplement Pill myself.”

“Thank you, Master Yuan. I know a little about elixir refinement and can assist,” Zhou Yi replied. He understood the risk of defying heaven, but cultivators who seek immortality must dare to challenge fate.

“No, during refinement, toxic fumes are released. Without spiritual energy to shield you...” Yuan Tingyu warned, but Zhou Yi interrupted.

“Master Yuan, no need to worry. Though I have lost my spiritual energy, I possess methods to avoid poison.” Refining elixirs is taxing and takes days or even months. He wanted to witness the birth of the pill himself, not wait anxiously outside.

Yuan Tingyu nodded, agreeing.

Turning to Zhang Xiaochu, he said, “Master Zhang, your journey to Maoshan has been arduous. I heard your teachings in Shanghai met with little success. This is a token of Maoshan’s respect; please do not refuse.”

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