Mad Blood Blade could not hide her shock and quickly retreated.
This ti, Mountain-Breaking Iron Mace swung his massive mace and charged at Eternal Divine Physician.
"Mountain-Breaking Strike!"
The mace sliced through the air, creating a violent gust.
Instead of dodging, Eternal Divine Physician pressed the acupuncture box in his hand against the descending mace.
KWAANG!
There was a thunderous roar as mace and acupuncture box collided.
Eternal Divine Physician was pushed backward, but the force of the mace was neutralized by the internal energy channeled through the box.
"Black Palm Frenzy!"
Now, the Demonic Wind Fiend unleashed a flurry of poisonous palms, targeting the Eternal Divine Physician's blind spot.
Eternal Divine Physician spun-nimbly, deflecting each toxic palm.
Then, with a flick, he jabbed a needle into the Demonic Wind Fiend's shoulder.
"Gah!"
The Demonic Wind Fiend scread and staggered back. His shoulder was already paralyzed and could no longer move.
"teor Chase!"
A man wielding the teor Hamr targeted Eternal Divine Physician's back.
But with minimal movent, Eternal Divine Physician evaded the teor Hamr.
Then he thrust a needle into the man's chest.
"Keuk!"
The man instantly coughed up blood and collapsed. His body was already poisoned.
"All together now! Attack together!"
At Mad Blood Blade's urgent shout, the remaining unorthodox experts released their ultimate moves at once upon Eternal Divine Physician.
But Eternal Divine Physician continued to evade with composure, dodging each deadly strike.
He empowered each needle with the internal power of a supre peak expert, subduing the unorthodox masters one by one.
His acupuncture—ant to save lives—beca a killing art as well.
* * *
At that mont.
Deep within the cave, inside a stone chamber, Jaseong was still in the midst of treatnt.
KWAAAA—
The dicinal bath in the stone tub enveloped Jaseong's body.
The amalgamated energy of many dissolved elixirs flowed along his ridians, restoring his depleted vitality.
'My body is definitely in better condition than before... At this rate, I should be able to use the Celestial Gate Opening Art again.'
Jaseong checked his physical condition.
Most of his scattered vital energy had recovered, and his ridians were steady once more.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.
'What would happen if I recited the Heaven Evading Celestial Formula in this state?'
The Heaven Evading Celestial Formula was the Celestial Realm cultivation thod that had been passed down by Sword Immortal Lü Dongbin.
Previously, when he gained insight into All Streams Return to the Source at the Secret Vault of Peerless Arts, Jaseong had only managed to perform a portion of the Heaven Evading Celestial Formula.
'Let's try it once more.'
Jaseong closed his eyes and began to recite the Heaven Evading Celestial Formula.
"Heaven's Mandate Cultivation, Star Cycle Steel, enter the Void and ditation, Everlasting Immortal Spirit, Dao Soul Return..."
The mnemonic formula of the Heaven Evading Celestial Formula flowed from Jaseong's lips. At first, nothing seed to happen.
But after about half a shijin of reciting the formula and circulating his true ki—
KWA-AA-AA-AM!!!
Suddenly, the green dicinal bath in the stone tub turned golden as it swirled wildly.
Like a vortex, the water rotated, and the surrounding external ki began to perate Jaseong's entire body.
'Wh-what is this...?!'
Jaseong could not hide his astonishnt.
External ki from all around surged fiercely toward his heart and began forming a new vortex at that spot.
KWAKWAKWAKWA!
His entire body radiated with a golden light. Under his skin, golden veins bulged forth, and his hair danced as if caught in a whirlwind.
How much ti passed like that?
'This power...?!'
When the vortex within the stone tub subsided, there was not only a core of strength beneath his navel at his lower dantian, but now a second center of power had also ford near his heart.
The middle dantian.
Only an extrely rare handful of experts in the martial world had ever ford a second dantian.
Had Eternal Divine Physician seen this, he would have doubted his own eyes.
Jaseong had already gained internal energy equivalent to an entire 60-year cycle just from the Millennium Blood Ganoderma, but now he had ford a middle dantian as well.
Jaseong wanted to imdiately tell Eternal Divine Physician of this news.
But unfortunately, his master had no leisure to look after him at the mont.
* * *
At that sa ti.
Beads of sweat dotted Eternal Divine Physician's face, and his breath was ragged.
Before him, a dozen supre experts of the unorthodox faction lay defeated.
"Ugh..."
Mad Blood Blade, Hyeol Mu-yeon, clutched her chest and spat blood.
"T-to think the martial arts of the Eternal Divine Physician were at this level..."
Mountain-Breaking Iron Mace had dropped his mace and now knelt. His entire body was paralyzed.
The Demonic Wind Fiend, along with the Deathly Pursuer, lay collapsed, foaming at the mouth from poison.
Of the Five Ghosts of Chongqing, two had been killed instantly with needles to the chest; the other three also lay collapsed, vomiting blood.
All eyes were fixed on Eternal Divine Physician in utter shock.
One of the Ten Great Experts of the orthodox factions—no one had imagined his might would be so overwhelming.
"Huff..."
Eternal Divine Physician let out a long exhale.
Though his gaze was still clear, the fatigue behind it was impossible to conceal.
'So, this body has grown old after all.'
He was an ancient body that had lived over a hundred years.
No matter how great an expert, even a supre master's inner power beca depleted after consecutive battles.
But at that mont—
GOOOOO!!
Suddenly, a trendous energy shook Mount Zhongnan.
It was a monstrous presence, the sa one Jaseong's group had sensed once before.
Eternal Divine Physician's eyes sharpened instantly.
'This energy...?!'
SWIIISH—
Zhongnan sect leader, Xuanxu Sword Immortal Zhong Yeob, appeared. But unlike before, he now wore a sword at his waist.
The Seven Stars Sword.
A legendary sword handed down through generations of Zhongnan sect leaders, its blade engraved with seven star-shaped patterns glimring blue.
Eternal Divine Physician spoke coldly.
"Sect Leader of Zhongnan. How prompt. You show yourself only after all the unorthodox have been dealt with."
Zhong Yeob did not reply. Instead, sothing wholly unexpected occurred.
Srrng—
Zhong Yeob suddenly drew the Seven Stars Sword. Eternal Divine Physician's eyes grew even colder.
"What are you doing right now?"
Zhong Yeob leveled the Seven Stars Sword and responded.
"Eternal Divine Physician. I'm here to hear your answer to my prior proposal."
"Hah..."
"Will you stand with us, or will you side with the Murong Clan? Give your answer."
Eternal Divine Physician let out a hollow laugh.
'He appears now, when I'm exhausted from fighting the unorthodox masters... This was his plan all along.'
Zhong Yeob's intentions were clear. The conflict between Zhongnan and the Murong Clan had escalated into a struggle between the Nine Major Sects and the Five Great Clans.
Eternal Divine Physician had remained neutral but had condemned the Zhongnan sect for killing disciples of minor orthodox sects.
Thus, when war finally broke out, it was likely Eternal Divine Physician would side with the Five Great Clans.
And if a figure like him—one of the Ten Great Experts—beca their enemy, it would be disastrous for Zhongnan.
Therefore, to eliminate him now, when no one was watching and he was worn out from battling the unorthodox, was the optimal strategy.
Zhong Yeob believed it was the best course not only for Zhongnan, but for the entirety of the orthodox world.
Finally, Eternal Divine Physician stopped laughing, his eyes burning with anger.
"Do you know why I severed ties with the Murim alliance leader and left the alliance behind, Sect Leader of Zhongnan?"
"?"
"It was exactly because of hypocritical acts like yours!"
Fury blazing in his eyes, Eternal Divine Physician drew forth his internal power.
The explosive ki of a supre peak expert, enough to fill an entire 60-year cycle, shook the very forest.
KWA-AA-AA—
All his life, Eternal Divine Physician had practiced dicine, embodying righteousness and chivalry as an orthodox martial artist.
He could not tolerate such hypocrisy from the leader of the Nine Major Sects.
'I have always wished to strike down the villains cloaked as orthodoxy. But I thought myself too weak, so I never dared. But now... I will no longer retreat!'
Eternal Divine Physician's resolve hardened. At that mont, Zhong Yeob, too, steeled his resolve.
"So, this is your answer."
"......."
"The Murim alliance leader said the sa. He said, 'Bring your head. Only then can we subdue the rampaging unorthodox and restore peace to the Central Plains.' I accept that request now."
With those words, Zhongnan Sect Leader Zhong Yeob struck first.
SWISH!
His sword sliced through the air. From the blade of the Seven Stars Sword, a fierce blue sword aura erupted.
The first form of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Sword Art: Mountain Overwhelms the Summit!
A crushing pressure, like a massive mountain descending, pressed down upon Eternal Divine Physician.
Slow and weighty, without a single opening—this was the sword art distilled from Zhongnan's eight hundred-year heritage.
In response, Eternal Divine Physician swept his hand.
SWIISH! PAPAPAT!
First Form of the Heavenly Physician's Needle Technique: Thousand Needles Sword Dance!
Dozens of energy-forged needles stretched out in the air, transforming into swords.
Blue needle-swords clashed against Zhong Yeob's blade.
KAAAANG!!
With a boom, the reverberations of energy swept in all directions. Trees were uprooted, and boulders shattered.
"Hmpf!"
Zhong Yeob stepped back and slashed again, his gaze full of wariness toward Eternal Divine Physician's might.
The third form of Thirty-Six Heavenly Sword Art: Splitting Light, shattering Shadows!
A ray of sword light split into a dozen streams, surrounding Eternal Divine Physician.
Like fluttering blue petals—beautiful, but brimming with lethal killing intent.
Eternal Divine Physician flicked his fingers.
PAPAPAT!
The interconnected needles scattered like hidden weapons in every direction.
Third Form of the Heavenly Physician's Needle Technique: Flowers of Heaven, ten Thousand Needles!
KWAKWAKWAKWAAANG!!!!
The clash between the two supre peak experts could have redrawn an entire village's map.
Zhong Yeob's sword aura carved sword marks thirty zhang long into the earth.
The force from Eternal Divine Physician burst forth, shattering all the rocks in a ten-zhang radius.
Every collision in the air caused the mountain's midpoint to explode and collapse.
Centuries-old trees were uprooted and hurled skyward, massive boulders crumbled to dust.
As the two exchanged tens of thousands of blows over this fierce battle, its conclusion gradually beca clear.
The one being pushed back—unfortunately—was Eternal Divine Physician.
'Damn...! I spent far too much of my power fighting off the unorthodox...!'
Eternal Divine Physician had already expended the majority of his inner power against the unorthodox warriors.
anwhile, Zhong Yeob remained at his peak.
Even after ten thousand exchanges, Zhong Yeob's strength had not faltered in the least.
As a result—
PUPUPOONG!
"Keuk!"
At so point, a blade of sword aura grazed Eternal Divine Physician's chest. Blood spurted out.
Clenching his teeth, Eternal Divine Physician launched a counterattack. He succeeded in slicing Zhong Yeob's flank.
But in exchange, he suffered an even worse wound—this ti, a fountain of blood erupted from his right shoulder.
'So I fall like this, in the end...'
As the battle dragged on, blood dripped over Eternal Divine Physician's eyelids. The situation was slipping toward his defeat.
In truth, this was inevitable.
Even among the Ten Great Orthodox Experts, Zhong Yeob was a tier above Eternal Divine Physician.
He vied for the upper ranks among the Ten Great Experts, was known as the greatest master in Zhongnan's history, and had even felled one of the Five Great Evil Ones in less than a shijin.
"Cough!"
In the end, Eternal Divine Physician spat blood and sank to his knees.
His face was sared with sweat and blood.
Of course, Zhong Yeob wasn't unscathed either.
Blood seeped from his left flank and shoulder—the result of Eternal Divine Physician's Heavenly Physician's Needle Technique.
His own internal energy was also more than half depleted.
"Hah... Hah..."
Zhong Yeob caught his breath and looked down at Eternal Divine Physician.
"Go to the afterlife now, Eternal Divine Physician. Only with your death will the unorthodox settle down and the Central Plains find peace once more."
He raised the Seven Stars Sword, eyes glittering with the arrogance of victory—and a tinge of bitterness.
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