Chapter Seventy-One: Unexpected Changes

This medicinal fragrance was not overpowering or pungent; instead, those who inhaled it would only feel a sense of serenity and clarity.

As Chen Jiu and Su Jiu walked into the spacious grand hall, Steward Su merely stood at the entrance, his expression wooden and lifeless.

At the center of the hall was a caisson ceiling, and embedded in the carved stone pillars, each several zhang tall, were fist-sized moonstones.

The entire hall was brilliantly illuminated.

Chen Jiu was quietly astonished; such an arrangement was extravagantly luxurious. Moonstones were used by cultivators to light their abodes, while ordinary folk could only afford candles. A thumb-sized moonstone alone could light a modest cave dwelling, but its price was accordingly steep.

Crossing the hall, which spanned more than ten zhang in width, Chen Jiu arrived before a tall set of doors.

“This is my mother’s chamber,” Su Jiu said softly, gesturing toward the imposing doors.

After a moment’s hesitation, he resolutely pushed them open.

With a slow creak, the doors parted, revealing the room within.

What met the eye was not the spacious bed Chen Jiu had imagined, but a simple couch.

A bed made of precious nanmu wood stood at the center of the room, upon which a woman lay on her side, with only an ever-burning lamp beside her.

The sight was somewhat eerie.

The room was empty and dim, furnished only with that one couch and one lamp.

Chen Jiu frowned slightly.

Su Jiu, after considering a moment, explained, “Though it may seem bare, this is actually a formation my father laid, using the spiritual energy of the surrounding world to suppress the evil malady in my mother’s body…”

Hearing this, Chen Jiu felt even more apprehensive, for he perceived no trace of any restrictive aura in the room at all…

The one who set this formation must not only possess exceptional skill, but a cultivation far beyond his own.

“Since my mother fell ill, she has lain in an unending slumber, awakening only on occasion to cry out in pain. As her son, I would give anything to take her place…” Su Jiu let out a deep sigh, his eyes reddening.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiu asked, “With your family’s means, securing a few elixirs or spirit medicines should not be difficult, should it?”

A family of this stature should be a powerful cultivation clan; with the presence of celestial pills and rare treasures, what illness could possibly pose a threat…

Su Jiu understood the implication and gave a bitter smile. “My mother never cultivated; she has only a mortal body to fight the sickness… My father is an immortal, but over the past decade, he has infused her with countless waves of spiritual energy and fed her innumerable pills and rare herbs, yet nothing has brought improvement… The only thing that brought us hope was a medicinal prescription left by the ‘King of Medicine’ years ago, which proved somewhat effective.”

“However, the ingredients for that prescription are exceedingly rare, so the local Pacification Division dispatched many elites in search of them. They have been gone a long time, and who knows when they will return…”

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiu’s heart skipped a beat.

So that’s how it is…

No wonder the chief and deputies of the Pacification Division were absent from the county; they had gone in search of medicine.

No wonder, too, that when monsters plagued Qingcheng County, the Pacification Division never appeared—it seems they were simply overwhelmed.

“In that case, I shall do my utmost to ease madam’s suffering,” Chen Jiu said with a bow.

At the very least, he was confident he could rid her of this demonic poison.

“Thank you, Brother Chen!” Su Jiu bowed deeply.

Chen Jiu then stepped slowly to the nanmu couch and concentrated his gaze.

Lying there was a woman of fine features and graceful curves. Though dressed in a pure white robe and her hair loose upon a jade pillow, the unique allure of a mature woman seeped through.

Chen Jiu’s clear gaze noted the resemblance between Su Jiu and this woman.

He also noticed a dark patch beneath her snowy white neck…

Her beautiful face was occasionally twisted by pain, suggesting she endured constant torment.

“Mother, your son has brought a divine physician to you. I believe he can cure you,” Su Jiu said, bowing deeply to the beautiful woman on the couch.

Chen Jiu’s expression remained unchanged. He said, “Young Master, please prepare a bowl of clear water for me.”

Su Jiu was briefly stunned, but then nodded.

Soon, a delicate porcelain bowl was delivered to the doorway.

Standing outside, Su Jiu said, “I know this prescription is a treasured secret of yours, Brother Chen, and I would never spy on it. I shall await good news here outside.”

Hearing this, Chen Jiu gave a grateful nod, took up the porcelain bowl, and closed the doors.

He then cautiously released his spiritual sense to ensure there were no surveillance spells or artifacts nearby, before carefully summoning the Longevity Pearl.

With practiced ease, he soon produced a bowl of fragrant “Elixir of Longevity.”

But as he was about to stow away his life-bound artifact and call Su Jiu inside, a sudden change occurred!

The Longevity Pearl, as if possessed, darted madly into the beautiful woman’s body, completely beyond Chen Jiu’s control!

The shock nearly drained the color from his face.

Damn it! What was happening?

The Longevity Pearl seemed drawn by something within her. Although Chen Jiu could sense it, he could not summon it back!

Dread settled in his heart.

It’s over… My life is forfeit…

But just then, the beautiful woman’s face contorted in pain, and she let out a low, involuntary moan.

Though soft, the sound sent a shiver through his body…

But Chen Jiu was in no mood for such things—his mind raced with thoughts of how to retrieve the damnable pearl!

“Brother Chen? Not done yet?” Suddenly, Su Jiu’s voice called from outside.

Chen Jiu’s heart lurched, but his face betrayed nothing. “Please wait a moment, Young Master.”

“Of course, Brother Chen. Take your time.”

Chen Jiu was sweating profusely. Take his time? He could hardly wait.

Gritting his teeth, he opened his hand and placed his palm on the woman’s fair nape, attempting to use his spiritual sense to force the pearl out.

But as soon as his hand touched her delicate skin, he was struck with astonishment.

He saw the Longevity Pearl voraciously devouring a large mass of black substance within her body…

Though Chen Jiu didn’t know what it was, the sinister aura it emitted left no doubt that it was something evil…

Moreover, this dark substance had spread throughout her body, infesting every meridian and every bit of flesh.

Could this be the very malady tormenting her…? Chen Jiu wondered in surprise.

Could it be that his Longevity Pearl was capable of purifying even such unknown malevolent things?

He recalled how, when he himself was nearly consumed by demonic energy, it was the Longevity Pearl that had cleansed him of the invasive madness.