Chapter 65: Did I Just… Hit the Jackpot?


    <em>What in the world is this?</em> I couldnt help but marvel at the staggering amount of qi coursing through Elder Gongs body as I ran my Heaven Defying Divine Art through the elderly mans meridians. The stagnant medicinal qi in his bloodstream surged in response to the technique, as if an abundance of untapped spiritual medicines had taken residence within him.


    <em>Has he been eating elixirs with every meal? Just by looking at his qi, one would think hes a peak master!</em>


    I already had some inkling that Elder Gong was somewhat proficient in both external and internal martial arts. His gait and subtle aura were dead giveaways. But this? This was beyond my wildest imagination. No, it was downright unbelievable. I sharpened my focus and meticulously examined his physique.


    <em>He has an abundance of qi, but only a fraction of it has been cultivated through proper inner arts techniques.</em>


    Even if one consumed numerous elixirs, not all of them would naturally transform into inner qi. Only through regr training and skillful maniption could these medicines be guided to the qi centers and converted into ones own inner qi. However, Elder Gongs training had been far from ideal.


    <em>Well, its not terrible, but its only slightly better than someone without martial arts training. The problem stems from the fact that not only is the amount of medicinal energy in his body overwhelming, but so is the amount of impure qi he has umted. The fact that they both exist at the same time feels like an enormous waste.</em>


    Suddenly, Elder Gong shuddered as my Heaven Defying Divine Art traveled within him. Shadow seemed like she wanted to stop me, but as long as I was channeling inner qi into Elder Gongs body, her intervention would only ce Elder Gong in more danger.


    Worried, she shot me a resentful re, shuffled her feet and mumbled worriedly, Old Man


    Why arent you reading this at ?


    I brushed her off. I needed to concentrate here.


    <em>Wait, something doesnt add up.</em>


    A typical martial artist would expel some impurities while practicing external arts, but the amount in Elder Gongs body was over tenfold that of an ordinary person. This was far from normal.


    <em>His condition isnt as bad as my Heavenly Yin Blocked Meridians, but isnt he still rtively active? How is this possible?</em>


    Poor dietary habits, excessive drinking and smoking, environmental factors, and psychological stress all contributed to the umtion of impurities in the body. The more impurities umted, the weaker ones health would be. Elder Gongs body contained significantly higher levels of impurities than other individuals of his age. However, he was surprisingly healthy.


    <em>Could it be? Is the medicinal qi in his body suppressing the impurities?</em>


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    A second examination of Elder Gongs body confirmed this. The impurities, akin to a corrosive poison, had been kept in check by the umted medicinal qi from elixirs, creating a delicate equilibrium. Thanks to this, Elder Gong had not only stayed healthy but had managed to stay alive.


    <em>Just who in the world is this man?</em>


    With that question lingering in my thoughts, I cautiously withdrew my qi and removed my hand from Elder Gongs back. I didnt believe his stamina would hold up for much longer. You can open your eyes now, I said.


    Hoo Elder Gong slowly opened his eyes, sweat forming on his brow. He then smiled meaningfully and asked, What do you think now that youve examined me more closely?


    <em>This damn old man knew everything all along but deliberately kept me in the dark. He was testing me! In that case, I cant hold back.</em>


    Now I understand why you offered me ten thousand silver without hesitation. Compared to whats inside you, that isnt much, is it? Anyway, its a miracle youre still alive. Did the Divine Physician help you stabilize your condition?


    !! Elder Gongs eyes widened, and he burst intoughter. Even though I was jesting about his life, he didnt appear to be in a bad mood at all. You figured it out already? Even the most renowned masters couldnt diagnose my condition in one try!


    Thats because Im not just any ordinary master.


    Of course not. Im starting to trust you more and more, Elder Gong retorted, smirking at my unabashed response.


    Shadow, standing by, clicked her tongue in distaste.


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    Elder Gong leaned in and whispered, So, apart from what youve disclosed, what else have you discovered? How talented am I in martial arts?


    Under his expectant gaze, I responded with a grave, serious countenance. Youre neither a genius nor a dunce. Id say youre average.


    Elder Gongs expression soured. Cant you justpliment someone for once?


    What if I did, and it went to your head?


    Tsk, youngsters these days


    Okay, enough with the banter. Lets get serious. I straightened my posture and locked eyes with Elder  wees you.


    The smile faded from his face. Go ahead.


    When my inner qi coursed through your body earlier, did you experience any difort? Do you feel any pain when you exercise and where is that pain? What medicines do you usually take? Give me all the details, so I can structure our training ordingly.


    Alright Elder Gong provided aprehensive ount of his physical condition. After he finished, he chuckled bitterly, I used to be quite robust in my youth. Over the decades, my health has gradually deteriorated.


    Well, at least you havent had any major health crises.


    The physician said it was just age-rted fatigue. Nothing to do but rest. At any rate, Im lucky to be able to go back to my hometown to recuperate, right? Elder Gongughed hollowly. So, Mr. Baek, whats the next step?


    As youre aware, your body harbors a considerable amount of impurities.


    I know, but I cant help it


    Im going to attempt to purge them.


    What? Elder Gong blinked several times as if hed misheard.


    Shadow, eavesdropping from the sidelines, disyed a simr reaction.


    I said Im going to eliminate the impurities in your body.


    I dont understand Is that even possible? Elder Gongs eyes widened in shock. <em>To remove impurities from my body Even the Divine Physician who tended to me deemed it impossible.</em>


    Youre being nonsensical again


    Needless to say, their astonishment was justified. Although umting impurities in the body was a natural part of life, eliminating them was difficult. Throughout history, masters had practiced meditation, controlled their diet, and honed their martial arts skills to prevent the umtion of impurities and gradually expel them from their bodies.


    Why arent you reading this at ?


    However, Elder Gong was neither a devout ascetic nor a particrly skilled martial artist, so it was obvious that he couldnt do it himself. Therefore, someone else would have to do it for him. However, if it was challenging to remove impurities with ones own abilities, it was even harder to extract it from someone elses body.


    <em>The Divine Physician could probably do it, but the elderly mans physical stamina likely wouldnt have endured the process,</em> I thought, but I refrained from vocalizing it. If the Divine Physician thought he could seed, Elder Gong wouldnt be here right now.


    Anyway, the point was that only I, a person who had defied conventional wisdom by learning the Heavenly Divine Art while suffering from the Heavenly Yin Blocked Meridians, could do what the Divine Physician couldnt.


    Didnt I mention something like this yesterday?


    You did?


    Why arent you reading this at ?


    I told you that you were lucky to meet me, right?


    Dumbfounded, Elder Gong stared nkly at me for a moment, then broke intoughter.


    Close your eyes and take a deep breath.


    Elder Gongplied, lying down on the bed and closing his eyes.


    Shadow gnawed her fingernails anxiously, her eyes darting between Elder Gong and me. If anything happens to him


    If I make a mistake because you stressed me out, will you take responsibility?


    What?!


    Shadow, youre a nervous wreck, so kindly step outside.


    S-Sir, please, I implore you to reconsider. How can you entrust your life to such a man


    Are you going to make me repeat myself?


    This is a non-profit trantion. Ads? What ads?


    Im sorry, Shadow apologized. She then meekly left the room, although she couldnt resist giving me a scrutinizing once-over before closing the door.


    I chuckled, Your bodyguard seems to dislike me quite a bit, wouldnt you say?


    Well, you dont exactly have a very pleasant personality.


    Are you sure you want to ce your life in the hands of an unpleasant individual like me then? What if I fail and undo the Divine Physicians work?


    Well how much longer do you think I have to live in my current state? If I was lucky to meet you like you said, then Ill dly take a gamble with my life.


    Still, I could be an assassin, for all you know?


    Elder Gongughed dryly. Ive encountered many life-threatening situations, and I can confidently say that youre far too talkative to be an assassin.


    By the way, the treatment is going to hurt a little.


    Are you doing this on


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    No, I didnt say that because you hurt my feelings.


    I ced my hands on Elder Gongs qi center and forehead and activated the Heaven Defying Divine Art.


    <em>This is somewhat reminiscent of Wiji Cheons case, except Elder Gongs mind is clear.</em>


    I had previously removed contaminated qi from Wiji Cheon, who had experienced qi deviation while practicing the fake Unlimited Sword. The circumstances differed, but the technique of using the Heaven Defying Divine Art to funnel impure qi into my qi center was simr.


    <em>Perhaps its because Ive done it before, but it seems easier this time.</em>


    Elder Gongs body was rife with impurities. Decades of umtion had hampered his progress in mastering martial arts. Consequently, he could only focus on basic exercises and meditation.


    <em>This is why it is rmended to start learning martial arts at a young age. If I want to ensure that this sixty-five year old man passes the Azure Dragon Academy entrance exam, Ill have to first purify his insides and prepare a clean te for learning martial arts.</em>


    Ugh Elder Gong groaned, breaking out in a cold sweat. He shivered, a chill coursing down his spine as the umted impurities slowly left his body.


    Old man! Shadow shouted, barging through the door. As I was still in the middle of the treatment, however, she could not intervene.


    <em>I suppose this is enough for today. Elder Gongs stamina is likely nearing its limit, too.</em> I ceased employing the inner arts of the Heaven Defying Divine Art, intending to withdraw.


    Why arent you reading this at ?


    ROAAAAAAR!


    <em>Huh? Whats happening?</em>


    Suddenly, the medicinal qi that had been suppressing the impure qi within Elder Gongs body unexpectedly began gravitating toward me, along with the impurities.


    <em>Since when could I absorb qi? The Heaven Defying Divine Art doesnt have such a technique Wait, is this possible because its not Elder Gongs inner qi, but an extraneous energy?</em>


    For the longest time, the medicinal qi in Elder Gongs body had stayed dormant, doing nothing except suppressing the impurities. In other words, since Elder Gong hadnt digested it properly, it wasnt really his, per se.


    Still, even though the medicinal qi was beneficial, it was inextricably intertwined with the poisonous impure qi. Thebination would only harm an ordinary martial artist.


    <em>However, Im not an ordinary martial artist, am I? To me, isnt this the equivalent of a potent elixir?</em>


    <em>Did I just hit the jackpot?</em><hr>


    <strong>Proofreaders Note:</strong> Happy New Year! Double release to celebrate. Hope all of you have a great year ahead!