Binyang City, inside an unremarkable traditional Chinese medicine clinic, Liang Fei was busy arranging a heap of herbs when a disheveled old man with tousled hair and tattered clothes staggered in.
The old man's face was ghastly pale, with boils all over his head. His right leg was tightly wrapped with torn cloth strips, revealing a swollen calf.
"Save… save me!"
Right after the elderly man stepped in, he merely spoke a word before collapsing on the ground.
"Old uncle…"
Liang Fei was startled. He hurriedly helped the elderly man up and took a closer look at his leg, feeling a sudden shock in his heart.
Because of poverty, Liang Fei had not finished middle school when he started his apprenticeship at this clinic. It had been three or four years now. Although he was not an expert in traditional Chinese medicine, he could tell that the man had been bitten by a highly venomous snake.
Luckily the old man had torn his clothes quickly to bandage the leg, otherwise, the venom reaching his heart would have left not even an immortal able to save him.
Time was of the essence in saving lives. Liang Fei didn't think too deeply. He quickly grabbed some Red Peony leaves from the medicine cabinet, chewed them to mush, and applied them to the wound, then carefully wrapped it in gauze.
The pain-relief effect of Red Peony was very profound. No sooner had the herb been applied than the old man's pain drastically eased, and his spirits much improved.
"Liang Fei, what's the matter with you, letting a beggar into the house?"
As Liang Fei was helping the old man sit on a chair, he saw Wu Liang, the clinic owner, with a gloomy expression on his face, entering from the outside.
"Uncle Wu, this old uncle has been bitten by a snake…"
Liang Fei tried to explain, but Wu Liang didn't want to listen and irritably yelled, "Enough of your nonsense, can a beggar afford the consultation fee? Hurry up and get him out, don't dirty my place!"
"But… Uncle Wu, this old uncle can't move his leg now. Let him rest a bit before he leaves."
Liang Fei furrowed his brows tightly. Although he knew Wu Liang was a greedy and unscrupulous man, he was still a doctor. Even the most unscrupulous doctor should uphold medical ethics!
"Rest my ass, he used up my medicine for nothing, and you still want him to rest here!" Wu Liang rolled his eyes and shouted harshly.
Liang Fei, forcefully suppressing his anger, murmured, "It's just a few leaves of Red Peony, not worth much money. If it's not okay, just deduct it from my salary.
Upon hearing this, Wu Liang became even angrier and barked, "Kid, you're quite generous, deducting from your salary? Last time your father needed medicine, your salary for this month was already drawn. No more talking, quickly get this beggar out of here! Otherwise, you can leave with him!"
"You…"
Wu Liang's cold heartlessness enraged Liang Fei.
But considering his father has been seriously ill in bed and his mother was also in poor health and the family was relying on his meager salary to survive, he had to suppress his anger and silently helped the elderly out.
Behind him, Wu Liang's cold laugh echoed, "Hmph, a pauper trying to play the good guy! If it weren't for the fact that we are from the same village, I would have thrown you out long ago!"
Ignoring Wu Liang, Liang Fei helped the old man out into the street, and noticing his hunger, he spent the last five yuan he had to buy the old man a steamed bun.
After wolfing down the bun, the old man patted his belly satisfyingly and thanked Liang Fei repeatedly.
"It's nothing, as long as you are not hurt!"
Liang Fei gave a bitter smile and shook his head, about to leave, when the old man stopped him.
"Young man, you're a good person. I want you to have this, I believe it will be of great help to you."
While speaking, the old man handed something to Liang Fei.
Upon closer inspection, Liang Fei saw that it was a thread-bound book handed to him by the old man.
The cover of the book was yellowing, obviously very old, and right in the middle of the cover were three boldly written characters: "Shennong Scripture"!
"This is…"
Liang Fei couldn't understand why the old man would just give him this book, and just as he was about to ask, he was surprised to find that the old man had disappeared!
"Old uncle…"
Shocked, Liang Fei looked around for the old man but couldn't find him anywhere, feeling more baffled.
Having no other option, Liang Fei opened the "Shennong Scripture" given to him by the old man.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he opened the book, a blinding light accompanied by an ancient and mystical aroma rushed towards Liang Fei.
Liang Fei's eyes couldn't bear the brightness and he immediately fainted.
...
When Liang Fei finally came to slowly, he was immediately stunned by the sight before him.
Firstly, in front of Liang Fei was a high mountain, and atop it stood a majestic temple.
Below the mountain was a vast and boundless lake, glittering under the light, creating a serene landscape.
Though surprised by how he came to find himself here, Liang Fei's curiosity was far outstripped by the allure of the wondrous sight before him. He couldn't resist walking up the mountain toward that temple.
The temple had nine levels, and hanging from its eaves was a gold shimmering plaque which read "Shennong Medical Immortal Temple" in large characters.
The doors of the temple were slightly ajar, and full of wonder, Liang Fei approached and pushed open the temple doors.
Squeak!
As the heavy temple door was pushed open, a ray of sunlight shone in, instantly revealing the solemn and majestic scene inside the temple to Liang Fei.
In the center of the main hall, a statue dressed in green leaves with antennae on its head was seated in a high position.
Liang Fei lifted his head to look at the statue, but was shocked to discover that this statue bore a striking resemblance to the old man he had just seen!
This…
"You have arrived!"
Startled by the scene, Liang Fei was greatly alarmed. Just then, next to Wenqing's ear, the old man's voice suddenly rang out…
Under these circumstances, hearing the old man's voice was truly too eerie!
Liang Fei forcefully suppressed the shock in his heart, turned around following the voice, and found the old man smiling warmly as he walked toward him.
"Uncle, how are you here?" Liang Fei looked at the old man in astonishment and asked doubtfully.
"Let me introduce myself, I am the Shennong Medical Immortal. This great hall is where people worship me at the Shennong Temple!"
The old man smiled kindly and said indifferently.
"Shennong Medical Immortal…"
Suddenly hearing the old man's introduction, Liang Fei was so shocked that his mouth fell open, and he asked in disbelief, "Uncle… are you the Shennong Yan Emperor?"
Having apprenticed at the traditional Chinese medicine clinic for so many years, Liang Fei was naturally familiar with the famous doctors throughout the ages. This old man claiming to be Shennong Medical Immortal, could it be Huaxia's founder of medicine and agriculture: the Shennong Yan Emperor?
"Correct, I am the Shennong Yan Emperor!"
The Shennong Medical Immortal nodded and looked at Liang Fei with eyes full of admiration, and said, "Young man, to be honest, I came to the mortal world to find a successor across generations, to inherit my mantle.
Alas, I have observed for a long time and all I've seen is the coldness of worldly affairs and the ancientness of people's hearts. Only you have met my standards!"
Upon hearing the words of the Shennong Medical Immortal, Liang Fei was so astonished that he was speechless.
All of this was simply too incredible. He could never have dreamed that he would be chosen by the Shennong Medical Immortal to be the successor across generations, inheriting his unparalleled mastery of medicine and agricultural techniques!
"The 'Shennong Scripture', is a compilation I wrote that integrates traditional medicine, agricultural techniques, and Ancient Martial Arts. I have already stored it in your mind, and you need to diligently practice cultivation in order to achieve true results."
While Liang Fei was still in shock, the Shennong Medical Immortal continued, "This place, I have specifically created as a cultivation space for you, and my Shennong Temple is also left here for you to meditate in peace.
The Shennong Temple has nine levels, corresponding to the nine chapters of the Shennong Scripture. As you complete the cultivation of each chapter, the Shennong Temple will unlock a level of restriction for you, until you complete the cultivation of the last chapter. When your achievement is fulfilled, I will return to the mortal world and lead you to the Immortal Realm.
At the foot of the mountain, the Immortal Lake, connected to the Heavenly River Divine Vein, has water that is clear and can cure diseases, cleanse myriad entities, and you may use this water to heal and save people, as well as develop agriculture.
The path of cultivation is as difficult as ascending to heaven, and you must always maintain your initial intentions and devoid yourself of evil thoughts to achieve the great path. I now teach you two magical skills, one is 'Eyes of Insight' and the other is 'Gold Turning Hand,' and hope you will use them cautiously in the future to promote the righteous path in the mortal world!"
The words of the Shennong Medical Immortal rang like a great bell in Liang Fei's ears.
At that moment, Liang Fei suddenly felt a bright light shoot into his eyes. Then, at the locations of his eight extraordinary meridians, it felt as if a high-energy current rushed through rapidly.
The force of this electric current was too strong; Liang Fei simply could not withstand it, and he immediately passed out…
When Liang Fei woke up again, there was neither divine temple nor great lake in front of him; clearly, he was back in reality.
Still, the memory of that scene remained vividly echoing in his mind, unable to be erased.
And what astounded Liang Fei even more was that as he meditated intently, he actually found a book really did exist within his mind.
The 'Shennong Scripture'!
Without a doubt, lying quietly in his mind at this time was indeed the 'Shennong Scripture' gifted to him by the Shennong Medical Immortal.
What was going on? Could it be that everything he had just experienced was not a dream, but had actually happened?
Thinking this, Liang Fei suppressed his excited emotions, concentrated deeply, and as a faint light flashed, the scene in front of him suddenly changed, and he returned to the cultivation space.
Entering the Shennong Temple, without overthinking, Liang Fei started to diligently cultivate the first chapter of the 'Shennong Scripture,' the 'Initial Chapter.'
The 'Shennong Scripture' was profound and extensive, gathering Shennong Medical Immortal's unique insights into traditional medicine, agriculture, and Ancient Martial Arts. It contained many unconventional prescriptions for treating complex diseases and secret techniques for improving the quality of various agricultural plants, along with a complete set of internal and external Martial Arts Heart Methods.
After a period of concentrated and devoted cultivation, Liang Fei finally had a general grasp of the 'Initial Chapter.'
After finishing the cultivation, Liang Fei suddenly felt completely rejuvenated, both physically and mentally, especially in his understanding of traditional medicine and agricultural techniques, which reached an unprecedented level.
Even the Ancient Martial Arts techniques he had never encountered before, he also had deep insights...
Walking out of the Shennong Temple, when Liang Fei stood by the bank of the Immortal Lake and recalled the Shennong Medical Immortal mentioned the miraculous effects of the Immortal Lake water, he was moved and squatted down to take a sip.
Indeed, the Immortal Lake water, connected to the Heavenly River, was worthy of being called divine water; it was sweet to taste and had a distinctly unusual flavor.
Great water!
Liang Fei didn't hesitate further; he quickly took out a small mineral water bottle from his pocket to carry with him, just in case.
After packing the water, Liang Fei then activated the Body of Intent and returned to reality.