"Playing god and tricking ghosts! At your tender age, I'm afraid you haven't even mastered the basics of 'inspection, listening, inquiring, and palpation' in Chinese medicine, yet you dare to court death by treating illnesses with silver needles—utterly overestimating yourself! Just wait until your treatment fails and instead worsens Mr. Cheng's condition, leading to his demise!" Seeing Zhang Xiaohao's actions, Divine Doctor Mo stroked his beard, scoffing disdainfully.
"You're simply incompetent! Don't look at others with eyes full of envy! I advise you to speak less and save yourself the embarrassment later when you won't have any face left to show!" Zhang Xiaohao mocked in return.
What he detested the most were those who were full of themselves, who, despite their own weakness, insist on boasting as if they're the best in the world, and as if the world couldn't function without them.
He collected his thoughts and seriously took a silver needle from the cloth made of Heavenly Silkworm silk, activated the Shennong Battle Sky Technique, and True Qi of a golden hue flowed between his fingers. Holding the silver needle, his palm moved like lightning, aiming and inserting it into Mr. Cheng's Bai Hui Acupoint.
This needle was known as 'Bringing the Dead Back to Life!' It was the first of the Heaven-defying Twelve Needles recorded in the Shennong Medical Scripture. Even if one were dead, this needle could bring about a rekindling of life, allowing one to briefly impart their last words.
The originally motionless Mr. Cheng on the bed suddenly shook violently.
A powerful surge of vitality emanated from within him, and even Cheng Tianxue, who knew nothing about medicine, felt the change happening in her grandfather's body at this moment.
Of everyone present, who was the most shocked?
Naturally, it was Divine Doctor Mo. Compared to Zhang Xiaohao, although his own medical skills were not refined, his foundational knowledge was extremely solid. He had a broad perspective, having read many ancient medical texts.
As Zhang Xiaohao executed this needle technique, he immediately recognized the name of the technique being used.
His body trembling and with a trace of excitement, Divine Doctor Mo said, "It's the long-lost Ancient Number One Needle—the Heaven-defying Twelve Needles!"
The heavens have been kind to this old man! To think I would have the fortune to witness the Ancient Number One Needle in my later years. Even if I were to die now, my life would have been worth it.
At the same time, Divine Doctor Mo completely understood that as soon as Zhang Xiaohao executed this Ancient Number One Needle technique, he had lost completely, utterly defeated without the slightest chance to counter.
If you consider 'inspection, listening, inquiring, and palpation' as the four-character foundation of Chinese medicine, mastering these basics would make one a Divine Doctor coveted by others, with a reputation spreading throughout the entire medical community and the qualification to establish one's own school—this is the first step in the path of medicine.
To go further and achieve the effects of mending flesh and resurrecting the dead, to become a Divine Doctor whose fame endures for centuries like the Ancient Hua Tuo, one must integrate the essence of hundreds of medical skills to create their own path in medicine—this is the second step in the path of medicine.
And for someone like Zhang Xiaohao, to step out of the rigid rules of medical practice, and with a mere gesture or lift of the hand, to carry a hint of Taoist skill and execute the Ancient Number One Needle, that is the third step in the path of medicine.
Scholars are distinguished not by order of age but by the extent of their abilities.
Right now, Zhang Xiaohao's level in medicine far surpassed his own by too much; they weren't even in the same league.
In front of Zhang Xiaohao, Divine Doctor Mo only had complete admiration in his heart!
If it were not for Zhang Xiaohao being in the middle of treating Mr. Cheng, Divine Doctor Mo would have already rushed forward, willingly begging to be taken as a disciple.
Even without the previous wager, Divine Doctor Mo would have done the same.
It was this very open-mindedness that allowed Divine Doctor Mo to grow from an ordinary villager, through diligent study and perseverance, into the towering figure he was in the medical community today!
However, this towering figure was immediately humbled upon meeting a true senior, casting him back to his origins.
Zhang Xiaohao took a deep breath, unleashing the Heaven-defying First Needle, and the True Qi within his body was already greatly depleted. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his complexion had a touch of ghastly pallor.
Once again, he forcefully circulated the Shennong True Qi inside him, his right fingertip shimmering with golden True Qi that flowed continuously, as he applied the Heavenly Reversal Second Needle, stabbing it into Mr. Cheng's life and death acupoint above his heart.
Hmm!
A soft grunt suddenly emitted from Mr. Cheng's mouth. Originally, Mr. Cheng's face was colorless with pallor, but as the Heavenly Reversal Second Needle was administered, his face filled with a rosy flush, and had he not been asleep, his appearance wouldn't have seemed fitting for an elderly man of his age.
Suppressing the surge of rebellious energy and blood within him, Zhang Xiaohao forced a wry smile inside, inwardly noting this ordeal was costing him dearly. After this, he wouldn't be able to recover to optimum mental condition without several days of rest.
Setting aside the distracting thoughts within his heart, Zhang Xiaohao focused intently and took out another silver needle, employing the Heavenly Reversal Third Needle, fiercely stabbing it into Mr. Cheng's Tianling acupoint.
"Ah!" A sharp nerve pain prompted Mr. Cheng to cry out, finally opening his tightly shut eyes.
Seeing this, Zhang Xiaohao let out a wry smile. With his current level of cultivation, he could only execute up to the third needle, but fortunately, Mr. Cheng had at last awakened.
With a swift grab, he lightning-fast pulled out the three silver needles from Mr. Cheng's body.
Thanks to Zhang Xiaohao's life-saving needles this time, Mr. Cheng's life would be worry-free for at least the next ten years.
Moreover, the Shennong True Qi that Zhang Xiaohao had transferred into his body would silently strengthen it, enhancing his immunity to various diseases once again.
"Miracle! A miracle indeed! I really did not anticipate that in my lifetime, I would see the ancient number one needle, and even witness the predecessor perform three needles. Even if I die now, I will have no regrets in this life!" Divine Doctor Mo exclaimed.
"Grandpa, are you alright? How do you feel now? You gave me such a fright just now!" Cheng Tianxue rushed forward excitedly, hugging Mr. Cheng as she spoke.
"Silly child, Grandpa is fine. What are you crying for? By the way, who is this young man who saved me?" Mr. Cheng asked, pointing at Zhang Xiaohao.
"He, his name is Zhang Xiaohao!" Cheng Tianxue, wiping away the tears of emotion that had spilled from the corners of her eyes, said with a flushed face.
"What? He is Zhang Xiaohao? Indeed, a young hero, so full of talent. Xiaohao, come here and let Grandpa have a good look at you," Mr. Cheng said joyfully.
"Grandpa is well!" Zhang Xiaohao said with a smile, walking over.
"Good! Good! Good! With you looking after Xiao Xue, Grandpa can rest assured." As he spoke, Mr. Cheng glanced at the other two people. Seeing Divine Doctor Mo as well, he smiled and greeted, "You've had a hard time, Divine Doctor Mo!"
After speaking, his gaze lingered on Zhou Pengfei, his expression turning cold as he snapped, "What are you doing here? Get out! Our Cheng Family doesn't welcome you!"
"Grandpa, he is the one who brought Divine Doctor Mo here," Cheng Tianxue said.
"Whatever the reason, as long as I'm around, the Cheng Family's doors won't permit him to step inside. What are you waiting for? Do I need to personally throw you out?" Mr. Cheng barked angrily.
"Mr. Cheng, don't get agitated. You've just woken up, and it wouldn't be worth it if you upset yourself sick. Tianxue, since your grandfather doesn't welcome me, I'll take my leave," Zhou Pengfei politely said, then turned to leave, his eyes glinting with a growing coldness, his heart burning with rage, and he silently vowed—Old man, you just wait, I will make sure your Cheng Family meets its doom!
...