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**Chapter 129: Qian Renxue's Troubles**
Sun Zhongjing was unaware of Qian Renxue's inner turmoil at this moment; he was focused on expelling the poison for Emperor Xueye. After all, extracting all the poison without injuring his fragile body was quite challenging.
Due to years of corrosion from a chronic poison, the emperor's body was as fragile as a centenarian's. If he hadn't possessed soul power, anyone else would have long since kicked the bucket.
Even worse, because so much time had passed, the poisons had become deeply entangled with his body, even becoming part of the mechanisms supporting his bodily functions.
Therefore, what Sun Zhongjing had to do was not just extract the toxins; he also had to help condition the emperor's body, using other parts to compensate for the areas left deficient after the potent poison was removed—a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Of course, with the medical standards of this world, no one could comprehend such microscopic operations on a physical level. And no one would ever know how perfunctory this treatment truly was.
If Sun Zhongjing had truly wanted to cure Emperor Xueye, he could have utilized the power of the "Plague God" to skillfully convert the potent poison in his body into harmless probiotic viruses, just like the symbiotic bacteria naturally present in the human body. This would have turned the originally fatal toxins into his allies, allowing his body to recover.
The reason he didn't do this was purely out of laziness. Coupled with his natural dislike for feudal emperors, he simply gave him a perfunctory treatment. After all, they wouldn't be able to see through his little tricks.
To the onlookers, the scene was entirely different.
Emperor Xueye floated in mid-air, emitting a faint white glow, while Sun Zhongjing, with a grave expression, continuously waved his hands in the void, releasing wisps of greyish mist that flowed into various parts of the emperor's body. It seemed he was performing an extremely delicate operation.
Slowly, as Emperor Xueye remained suspended in mid-air, his pale complexion gradually turned ruddy, and his weak aura steadily grew stronger. Finally, with a soft shout from Sun Zhongjing, he struck from a distance!
*Bang!*
It sounded like an exploding balloon.
A colorful mist surged from Emperor Xueye's chest. As this strange mist emerged, he exhaled a long breath, his expression one of extreme comfort. It was as if the toxins accumulated in his body for years had flowed away with the mist. He felt a great sense of relief.
This colorful mist, which had emerged from his chest, seemed to possess a unique intelligence, swirling and converging into a fist-sized ball.
The ball of colorful mist slowly descended onto Sun Zhongjing's open palm. Simultaneously, the nine oppressive red soul rings around his body vanished, returning him to his normal state. Then, with a clench of his fist, the ball of mist dissipated with a puff. It was unclear whether it was absorbed into his body or casually destroyed.
Emperor Xueye also slowly floated back down onto the soft, large bed.
At this moment, his eyes were closed, his complexion ruddy, and his breathing steady and strong. There was no longer any trace of his formerly critically ill, overindulged appearance that resembled an addict.
Slowly opening his eyes, Emperor Xueye felt utterly reborn. Not only was his breathing smooth, but even the air seemed incomparably sweet.
He sat up abruptly.
"This feeling… I've broken through to level 70!" Emperor Xueye exclaimed, his face filled with pleasant surprise.
He felt a lightness in his body, as if he had grown decades younger. The most wonderful thing was that he could feel his soul power had actually broken through a level. He knew that due to his aptitude, his soul power level had not improved for over a decade.
Originally, he was at level 69 soul power, but due to his limited aptitude, he had never been able to break through that crucial level, no matter what method he tried. He was firmly stuck at the peak of the Soul Emperor realm, just one level away from becoming a Soul Saint. Yet, that single level was like a heavenly chasm, blocking him firmly from the gates of the Soul Saint realm.
He had thought he had no hope of a breakthrough in this lifetime, but who would have imagined that a simple detoxification would allow him to overcome this crucial hurdle. His current level was now 70. He could acquire a soul ring at any time and become a powerful high-level Soul Master!
"Congratulations, Your Majesty," Sun Zhongjing said with a smile, seeing his dazed expression and naturally knowing the reason for it.
It was quite easy to understand why Emperor Xueye could break through a level of soul power. His prolonged inability to advance wasn't due to insufficient soul power, but primarily because certain Meridians and Acupoints were blocked, causing poor circulation. When Sun Zhongjing had been conditioning his body earlier, he had incidentally smoothed out these Meridians.
Now, breaking through to level 70 was a matter of course.
However, clearing his Meridians couldn't transform him into some peerless genius. The Soul Saint realm was already the limit Emperor Xueye's Martial Soul aptitude could achieve through "normal cultivation."
To break the limitations of his aptitude, he would need to acquire an immortal herb to improve it. Alternatively, he could use other methods, such as fusing with a high-quality Soul Bone that was highly compatible with his Martial Soul, which might offer a chance to defy the heavens and change his fate. Otherwise, he could just forget about it.
Furthermore, during the recent treatment, the act of "robbing Peter to pay Paul" had damaged his foundation. So, although Emperor Xueye's body was currently very healthy, his lifespan had actually been significantly reduced.
Originally, Sun Zhongjing estimated his normal lifespan to be around ninety-six years. Now, he would at most live to his early seventies before rapidly aging and dying within a short period. Only if he could break through to the Titled Douluo realm would it be possible to significantly extend his lifespan, but this was clearly an impossible feat.
"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your help!"
Emperor Xueye snapped out of his daze, then looked at Sun Zhongjing, got out of bed, and bowed deeply.
Sun Zhongjing did not dodge or evade, accepting the bow calmly. Although he had been perfunctory in his treatment, Emperor Xueye would have died within three months given his condition if not for him. Therefore, on this point alone, he had a clear conscience.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!" The middle-aged man beside him also quickly offered his blessings.
"Congratulations, Imperial Father, on achieving your wish." Qian Renxue composed herself and put on a happy face for him. However, deep down, she was extraordinarily troubled. She also felt a hint of fear.
She had a persistent feeling that this elder, who already had one foot in the divine realm, had probably seen through her disguise long ago. For some unknown reason, he simply chose not to expose it.
This made Qian Renxue feel very agitated, as if things were slipping out of her control. It was a dreadful feeling.
(end of chapter)
Sun Zhongjing was unaware of Qian Renxue's inner turmoil at this moment; he was focused on expelling the poison for Emperor Xueye. After all, extracting all the poison without injuring his fragile body was quite challenging.
Due to years of corrosion from a chronic poison, the emperor's body was as fragile as a centenarian's. If he hadn't possessed soul power, anyone else would have long since kicked the bucket.
Even worse, because so much time had passed, the poisons had become deeply entangled with his body, even becoming part of the mechanisms supporting his bodily functions.
Therefore, what Sun Zhongjing had to do was not just extract the toxins; he also had to help condition the emperor's body, using other parts to compensate for the areas left deficient after the potent poison was removed—a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Of course, with the medical standards of this world, no one could comprehend such microscopic operations on a physical level. And no one would ever know how perfunctory this treatment truly was.
If Sun Zhongjing had truly wanted to cure Emperor Xueye, he could have utilized the power of the "Plague God" to skillfully convert the potent poison in his body into harmless probiotic viruses, just like the symbiotic bacteria naturally present in the human body. This would have turned the originally fatal toxins into his allies, allowing his body to recover.
The reason he didn't do this was purely out of laziness. Coupled with his natural dislike for feudal emperors, he simply gave him a perfunctory treatment. After all, they wouldn't be able to see through his little tricks.
To the onlookers, the scene was entirely different.
Emperor Xueye floated in mid-air, emitting a faint white glow, while Sun Zhongjing, with a grave expression, continuously waved his hands in the void, releasing wisps of greyish mist that flowed into various parts of the emperor's body. It seemed he was performing an extremely delicate operation.
Slowly, as Emperor Xueye remained suspended in mid-air, his pale complexion gradually turned ruddy, and his weak aura steadily grew stronger. Finally, with a soft shout from Sun Zhongjing, he struck from a distance!
*Bang!*
It sounded like an exploding balloon.
A colorful mist surged from Emperor Xueye's chest. As this strange mist emerged, he exhaled a long breath, his expression one of extreme comfort. It was as if the toxins accumulated in his body for years had flowed away with the mist. He felt a great sense of relief.
This colorful mist, which had emerged from his chest, seemed to possess a unique intelligence, swirling and converging into a fist-sized ball.
The ball of colorful mist slowly descended onto Sun Zhongjing's open palm. Simultaneously, the nine oppressive red soul rings around his body vanished, returning him to his normal state. Then, with a clench of his fist, the ball of mist dissipated with a puff. It was unclear whether it was absorbed into his body or casually destroyed.
Emperor Xueye also slowly floated back down onto the soft, large bed.
At this moment, his eyes were closed, his complexion ruddy, and his breathing steady and strong. There was no longer any trace of his formerly critically ill, overindulged appearance that resembled an addict.
Slowly opening his eyes, Emperor Xueye felt utterly reborn. Not only was his breathing smooth, but even the air seemed incomparably sweet.
He sat up abruptly.
"This feeling… I've broken through to level 70!" Emperor Xueye exclaimed, his face filled with pleasant surprise.
He felt a lightness in his body, as if he had grown decades younger. The most wonderful thing was that he could feel his soul power had actually broken through a level. He knew that due to his aptitude, his soul power level had not improved for over a decade.
Originally, he was at level 69 soul power, but due to his limited aptitude, he had never been able to break through that crucial level, no matter what method he tried. He was firmly stuck at the peak of the Soul Emperor realm, just one level away from becoming a Soul Saint. Yet, that single level was like a heavenly chasm, blocking him firmly from the gates of the Soul Saint realm.
He had thought he had no hope of a breakthrough in this lifetime, but who would have imagined that a simple detoxification would allow him to overcome this crucial hurdle. His current level was now 70. He could acquire a soul ring at any time and become a powerful high-level Soul Master!
"Congratulations, Your Majesty," Sun Zhongjing said with a smile, seeing his dazed expression and naturally knowing the reason for it.
It was quite easy to understand why Emperor Xueye could break through a level of soul power. His prolonged inability to advance wasn't due to insufficient soul power, but primarily because certain Meridians and Acupoints were blocked, causing poor circulation. When Sun Zhongjing had been conditioning his body earlier, he had incidentally smoothed out these Meridians.
Now, breaking through to level 70 was a matter of course.
However, clearing his Meridians couldn't transform him into some peerless genius. The Soul Saint realm was already the limit Emperor Xueye's Martial Soul aptitude could achieve through "normal cultivation."
To break the limitations of his aptitude, he would need to acquire an immortal herb to improve it. Alternatively, he could use other methods, such as fusing with a high-quality Soul Bone that was highly compatible with his Martial Soul, which might offer a chance to defy the heavens and change his fate. Otherwise, he could just forget about it.
Furthermore, during the recent treatment, the act of "robbing Peter to pay Paul" had damaged his foundation. So, although Emperor Xueye's body was currently very healthy, his lifespan had actually been significantly reduced.
Originally, Sun Zhongjing estimated his normal lifespan to be around ninety-six years. Now, he would at most live to his early seventies before rapidly aging and dying within a short period. Only if he could break through to the Titled Douluo realm would it be possible to significantly extend his lifespan, but this was clearly an impossible feat.
"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your help!"
Emperor Xueye snapped out of his daze, then looked at Sun Zhongjing, got out of bed, and bowed deeply.
Sun Zhongjing did not dodge or evade, accepting the bow calmly. Although he had been perfunctory in his treatment, Emperor Xueye would have died within three months given his condition if not for him. Therefore, on this point alone, he had a clear conscience.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!" The middle-aged man beside him also quickly offered his blessings.
"Congratulations, Imperial Father, on achieving your wish." Qian Renxue composed herself and put on a happy face for him. However, deep down, she was extraordinarily troubled. She also felt a hint of fear.
She had a persistent feeling that this elder, who already had one foot in the divine realm, had probably seen through her disguise long ago. For some unknown reason, he simply chose not to expose it.
This made Qian Renxue feel very agitated, as if things were slipping out of her control. It was a dreadful feeling.
(end of chapter)
