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nThank you to an anonymous reader for the Ko-fi!

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nEditor: Sahloknir

nShi Qing’s declaration didn’t just make the young cultivators locked up freeze, even the Steel Bones Sect disciples stared at him in disbelief.

nWhen did their Sect Master become a medical expert??

n“Look at you all. You have so many hidden injuries on your body despite coming from righteous immortal sects. Can your sects not afford to raise pharmacists or something?”

nThe disciples in the dungeons all stared at Shi Qing with a mixture of confusion and wariness.

nAfter glancing at each other for a few moments, a white-robed disciple stepped forward. After respectfully saluting Shi Qing with clasped fists, he asked, “Sect Master Shi, may I ask what a ‘pharmacist’ is?”

n“Yeah, me too. I’ve travelled all over, but I’ve never heard of ‘pharmacists’ before.”

n“Is it another term for physician?”

n“Maybe the Steel Bones Sect calls them a different name than us?”

nThe group of immortal sect disciples murmured amongst themselves, befuddled.

nThe Steel Bones Sect disciples didn’t know what ‘pharmacists’ were either.

nBut none of them dared to ask. They just looked down and played dead.

nLooking at these immortal sect disciples who quickly forgot they were locked up in a dungeon as they became more and more engaged in discussion, Shi Qing could see how they were truly inner sect disciples.

nNone of them wanted for food and water growing up. Their days were filled with cultivation and occasional trips down the mountain to uphold justice and explore secret realms.

nThey’ve been raised into a bunch of silly, naive little fools.

nShi Qing tilted his head towards a jittery Steel Bones Sect disciple who didn’t even dare to breathe. “Is that Gu Qiushu like them too?”

nThe Steel Bones Sect disciple didn’t know what Shi Qing was referring to. He could only try to make his answer vague. “He isn’t as talkative as the others. He’s been silently sitting cross-legged on the floor since he was brought in.”

nShi Qing nodded. “Not the talkative type, huh? That’s okay. I’ll just speak enough for the both of us.”

nWhen the disciple who just spoke overheard their words, his eyes lit up. He hastily closed the distance between them. “Sect Master Shi, is Shishu here too? Since Sect Master Shi bears us no ill will, can you let Shishu stay with us?”

nShi Qing sized this disciple up.

nThe people of immortal sects were all above average in terms of appearance, and this disciple was no different. His features were handsome, his brows thick with a sense of innocence. But that was to be expected given how naive his peers behind him were.

n“You’re from the Heavenly Derivation Sect? Since you call Gu Qiushu your shishu, are you a third generation disciple?”

nThe young cultivator hurriedly clasped his fist and saluted again. “This one is Lin Zeng, Lin Xingzhi. I am a third generation disciple of the Heavenly Derivation Sect.”

nAfter he introduced himself and his sect, he looked up again. “Since Sect Master Shi bears us no ill will, can you let us go?”

nShi Qing paid him no mind. He asked the Steel Bones Sect disciple next to him, “Which dungeon is Gu Qiushu in?”

n“The Heavenly Word Dungeon.”

nThe disciple hastily added, “Gu Qiushu is at the Spirit Separation stage, so he was imprisoned in the Heavenly Word Dungeon.”

nShi Qing nodded and waved his hand. “Let this Lin Xingzhi out so he can come with us to the Heavenly Word Dungeon. Doesn’t he want to see his Shishu? Who am I to say no to that?”

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nJoy appeared on Lin Xingzhi’s face. He quickly bowed in thanks and waited to be let out at the door.

nWhen the other Heavenly Derivation Sect disciples still inside saw him being taken out, they immediately panicked.

n“Shixiong&#k2014;”

n“Da-shixiong&#k2014;”

n“Settle down, you lot. Don’t make it sound like I’m going to do something nefarious to your Da-shixiong.”

nSeated in his personal chair, Shi Qing asked them with a smile on his face, “Do you really not know what a pharmacist is? And here I thought you were disciples from renowned sects.”

nThe young cultivators looked at each other again. But they still couldn’t recall even hearing that term before. They could only collectively clasp their fists in salute. “We do not know this term. Sect Master, please enlighten us.”

nShi Qing sighed, a helpless look on his face.

n“Alright. Since none of you know, this Sect Master will teach you all a good lesson.”

n“Pharmacists are masters of medicine. They can identify millions of spiritual medicines and poisons, and they can also drive off any beast that flys or walks. Pharmacists don’t need energy to cultivate. Just treating others is enough to advance their realm of cultivation.”

n“At their most powerful, pharmacists can summon clouds and clear away rain. They can save cultivators with cracked cores and even help others withstand heavenly lightning. That’s what a pharmacist is.”

nThe disciples’ eyes widened as they listened to Shi Qing’s brief description.

nCultivators with cracked cores, withstanding heavenly lightning…

nOMG!

nSo there are actually such accomplished cultivators in the world…

n“Sect Master Shi, I don’t understand why no one ever told us about pharmacists before. I’ve read my way through the entire collection of my sect, but I’ve never come across that term in the historical records, ah.”

nShi Qing let out a long sigh again. The astoundingly pretty face that had been nourished by various miraculous medicines for a lifetime was full of disappointment.

n“Actually, it’s not strange that none of you know about them.”

nThis act of his piqued the interest of all the disciples.

nJudging by the expression of the Steel Bones Sect Sect Master, there seems to be a story behind this?

nIs this a path founded in antiquity? Or did it fall out of favour after the cultivation world split 30,000 years ago?

nOr did it involve some tale full of passion, hate and mystery?

nWhile the crowd’s thoughts veered off topic, the young man lazily sprawled on the luxurious chair spoke once more.

n“After all, I’m the sole founder of the Pharmacy path. Of course you don’t know. I haven’t announced it to the world yet.”

nThe immortal sect disciples: “…”

nThe Steel Bones Sect disciples: “…”

nAfter a beat of silence, Lin Xingzhi couldn’t help but ask from his side, “Sect Master…you created this path?”

n“Yep. Is there a rule saying I can’t?”

nShi Qing shook his sleeves out and spoke righteously, “Since my dad could found the Steel Bones Sect and the Puppet path, isn’t it normal for me, his son, to found the Pharmacy path?”

nLin Xingzhi politely reminded him, “But Sect Master Shi, you don’t have a spiritual root…”

n“I thought that meant you couldn’t cultivate?”

n“Are you sure?”

nA disciple in the dungeons replied to Shi Qing’s rhetorical question, “Everyone knows that only those with a spiritual root can embark on the path of cultivation.”

n“Bingo.” Shi Qing nodded. “That’s why the Pharmacy path I founded doesn’t require a spiritual root. Is there a problem?”

nEveryone: “…”

nOf course there’s a problem! How can you cultivate without a spiritual root??

nWithout a spiritual root, you can’t store spiritual energy in your body. Therefore, you can’t practise refining energy or cultivate!

nThen your realm would stagnate and your lifespan would continue to deplete.

nKnowing that, none of the people here could believe that someone without a spiritual root can cultivate.

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nShi Qing narrowed his eyes slightly at their expressions of disbelief. “You doubt this Sect Master’s word?”

n—Thud.

nThe Steel Bones Sect disciples who were still standing just now couldn’t help but kneel as soon as they picked up on his tone.

n“No, no. We believe you! Of course we disciples believe you, Sect Master!”

nShi Qing then turned to Lin Xingzhi, who was by his side. “What about you, Little Lin?”

nLin Xingzhi frowned slightly. He decided to stick to his convictions. “Sect Master Shi, I have never heard of cultivating without a spiritual root. I’m afraid I…”

n“Alright. I get what you’re saying.”

nShi Qing waved his hand and lazily ordered, “Send him back. There’s no need to take him to see Gu Qiushu anymore.”

nLin Xingzhi: “…”

nWhen he saw the Steel Bones Sect disciples actually coming to grab him, he hastily dodged and changed his tune. “I believe you, I believe you!!”

n“As I thought. What a good boy you are.”

nShi Qing nodded in satisfaction. He smiled at the other immortal sect disciple and asked good naturedly, “And what do you guys think? Do you believe me?”

nThe young cultivators looked at each other.

nThey weren’t Shi Qing’s subordinates, and they had no intentions of seeing Gu Qiushu either. Why would they be afraid of Shi Qing?

n“We don’t believe you!”

nShi Qing turned to the Steel Bones Sect members and ordered, “When you bring them food later, make sure it’s chock full of protein. Oh, but replace all the salt with sugar. Make it extra sweet.”

nThe young cultivators in the dungeon who heard his words clearly: “…”

nThe Steel Bones Sect disciples: “…”

nWas it really okay for the Sect Master of a major sect to be so petty???

nBut Shi Qing couldn’t care less what they thought of him. After all, he had three Ascension stage puppets backing him up.

nHe yawned and lazily leaned back in his chair. “We’re done here. I’m too lazy to walk all the way there, so carry this Sect Master over.”

nThe Steel Bones Sect disciples quickly picked up the chair and walked steadily towards the Heavenly Word Dungeon. Lin Xingzhi hurriedly followed him.

n“Sect Master Shi, if you want to cultivate the Pharmacy path, then why did you capture us?”

nShi Qing, “Who captured you? How many times does this Sect Master have to say it, all of you admired my medical expertise and begged to come back to the Steel Bones Sect with me.”

nLin Xingzhi: “…”

nHe decided to just go with it. “In that case, may I ask if Sect Master Shi has informed our sects that we are visiting you?”

nShi Qing: “That’s not my job. Report the news yourself.”

nLin Xingzhi: “In that case, please allow me to send word to my Sect.”

nLin Xingzhi hesitantly glanced at Shi Qing. When the Sect Master remained lax, he took out a messenger talisman from his lapels and tried injecting his spiritual power.

nAs he expected, his spiritual power recovered once he left the dungeons.

nSo the dungeons really do suppress one’s spiritual power!

nHe quickly scrawled a message on the talisman before throwing it into the air.

nThe talisman exploded once it reached the wall.

nA disciple of the Steel Bones Sect spoke up, “The use of messenger talismans is forbidden in the dungeons.

nLin Xingzhi: “…”

nShi Qing glanced at him and offered some reassurance. “It’s alright. I’ll pay you back later.”

n“I’ve always been a fair and honest person. I would never do such a shameless thing.”

nWith his reassurance, Lin Xingzhi relaxed a little bit.

nThey just happened to arrive at the Heavenly Word Dungeon then.

nShi Qing got down from his chair and straightened his robes. He ordered someone to open the door.

nInside, there was a man also completely dressed in white, sitting cross legged on the ground. His eyes slowly opened in response to all the commotion. They were laced with ice, complimenting the glacier-like look on his face.

nBut even if he was an iceberg, he was a good-looking iceberg.

nWhen Lin Xingzhi saw him, he was instantly overcome with relief. He wanted nothing more than to run up to the man. “Shishu!

nBut Shi Qing grabbed him by the shoulder and signalled his puppet to hold him in place. He raised an eyebrow at Gu Qiushu who was looking at him coldly

n“Gu Qiushu, your shizhi is in my hands. If you don’t want him to die, you’d better listen to me.”

nLin Xingzhi: “…”

nHe looked at Shi Qing incredulously. “Sect Master Shi, you just said that you were a fair and honest person.”

n“Yep. That’s what I said.”

nShi Qing patted him on the shoulder. His words were particularly righteous.

n“I’m being honest about using you to threaten your shishu, aren’t I?”

n“Since I even threaten people so honestly, I doubt there’s a person more fair and honest than me in the whole world.”

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nAuthor’s Corner

nI’m dying… Begging for nutrient fluid…

nPlease take pity on me…

nWithout nutrient fluid, this writer…

nShe will have to continue begging next time!

nRandomly sending out red pockets!

nNight night everyone~

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