Seeking Martial Dao in All Reborn Lives
Chapter 166 - 165: Diagnosis
Doumu Primordial Soul Needle.
Doumu is the mother of all stars in the heavens. Within the human body, the acupoints all over the body are the myriad stars in the sky.
The Primordial Soul, however, was even more miraculous, being intimately connected to the human brain and mind.
When applied to medicine, the Su Family’s Secret Transmission didn’t just heal the body. By stimulating the body’s own "starry sky" of acupoints, it sought to transform a person’s very spirit.
A person’s spirit governs their entire body. If the spirit is weak, a hundred ailments will plague them. But sometimes, if a patient’s spirit is strong, miracles can happen even in the face of terminal illnesses that even Immortals could not cure.
The supreme Profound Technique of the Doumu Primordial Soul Needle was not to heal the body, but to heal the soul.
However, the way of the Primordial Soul was far too profound. Even at Zhang Hongyun’s current level, he could only be described as feeling his way across the river by touching the stones. Furthermore, due to his family’s blood feud, his training had never focused on the medical arts, so he couldn’t make any guarantees.
"You guessed right. There are indeed some problems with my spirit and body. The Martial Arts Secret Transmission I practice is rather special. The first trial to master it is a brush with death. On the verge of dying, it was as if I lived another life entirely. I managed to escape the dangerous Illusion Realm in the end, and in reality, I was only unconscious for two days."
"After passing that life-and-death trial, my temperament changed somewhat due to that surreal experience. But I also developed a sense of unfamiliarity with my own body. I can vaguely feel that there seems to be another ’me’ preventing me from taking full control of this body. Through constant practice, I am gradually merging with my body, but the process is a bit slow. I never expected this to become a vulnerability."
"Can you treat this condition?"
Zhao Xuanqi asked, casually fabricating a reason. He didn’t, however, hide his actual symptoms. After all, he needed Zhang Hongyun to treat him, and hiding his condition could lead to unknown risks.
"The first trial of a Secret Transmission is a brush with death? You lived another life in a near-death Illusion Realm? There’s actually a Secret Transmission that dangerous?"
Zhao Xuanqi’s fabricated story left Zhang Hongyun completely stunned. To face such a terrifying life-and-death trial just to begin... what kind of Secret Transmission could be so perilous?
However, he wasn’t too suspicious. Zhao Xuanqi had displayed overwhelming, logic-defying strength today. And from what Zhang Hongyun knew, the man’s journey had been nothing short of a miracle. To reach his current level in less than two years was practically unheard of, which suggested that the Secret Transmission he practiced was incredibly powerful.
It was only natural for such a powerful Secret Transmission to be accompanied by immense risk.
"From your description, it seems to be a complex case involving a mix of various conditions, like Soul Detachment Syndrome and Split Soul Syndrome. This might be an inherent risk of the Secret Transmission you practice. The situation is a bit complicated. I’ll need to confirm it through pulse diagnosis, acupuncture, and other methods to be sure."
Zhang Hongyun said after a moment of contemplation.
"There’s still plenty of time tonight. My men have a car waiting outside. We can go to my place for the diagnosis."
Zhao Xuanqi said to Zhang Hongyun.
"Wait, look at the state I’m in. I can barely even stand. How am I supposed to perform a diagnosis? Let’s put this off for now. We’ll talk again in a couple of days after my injuries have healed."
Zhang Hongyun gestured to his current state, speaking to Zhao Xuanqi with some annoyance.
’So in the end, I brought this on myself?’
Zhao Xuanqi looked slightly speechless and muttered to himself, "As the senior brother, you’re this weak? You ended up like this after just three moves. Who’s to blame?"
Zhang Hongyun heard this muttering, and his face twitched. The words did even more damage than the previous three moves.
"Then let’s leave it at that for tonight. You know where I live, so come find me when you’ve recovered. By the way, can you walk on your own? I can give you a ride."
Zhao Xuanqi asked Zhang Hongyun.
"No need. An injury like this is nothing to me. The Secret Technique I inherited is Medical and Martial Arts Unity. As long as I’m not Undying, they’re all just minor injuries."
Zhang Hongyun said with a nonchalant expression.
"Oh. Well, get some good rest then. I’ll be on my way."
Hearing this, Zhao Xuanqi nodded. Without wasting any words, he turned and pushed off his feet. With a SWOOSH, his figure turned into a shadow and quickly disappeared into the darkness of the woods, leaving without a trace of hesitation.
"You..."
Zhang Hongyun watched Zhao Xuanqi’s back disappear without a trace the moment they disagreed, his mouth hanging open, utterly speechless.
’Couldn’t you have asked just one more time? Maybe I would have said yes! I’m your senior brother, for crying out loud! Don’t I need to save face?’
Zhang Hongyun took a deep breath to calm himself, closed his eyes, and began to regulate his breathing.
He didn’t fully recover his ability to move and leave the woods until several hours later, when the sky had completely brightened.
...
...
「Two days later.」
In the center of the spacious living room of the secluded courtyard Zhao Xuanqi used for his training.
Zhao Xuanqi and a fully recovered Zhang Hongyun were sitting cross-legged. Zhao Xuanqi was shirtless, revealing his powerful physique.
Zhang Hongyun was taking Zhao Xuanqi’s pulse. After finishing the diagnosis, he didn’t say much. Instead, he took out a packet of Silver Needles as fine as ox hair. He then had Zhao Xuanqi relax his skin and muscles, located the acupoints on his body, and, pinching a Silver Needle between his thumb and forefinger, inserted it into the Acupoints All Over Zhao Xuanqi’s Body.
This technique was different from ordinary acupuncture. The moment the hair-thin Silver Needle entered Zhao Xuanqi’s acupoint, a strong sensation like an electric shock shot through him, as if the needle itself carried a current. It seemed that during the insertion process, Zhang Hongyun had used some sort of Secret Technique to stimulate the body’s bioelectric currents.
Furthermore, after being inserted, the Silver Needle continued to vibrate faintly. This Vibration was transmitted into the acupoint, further activating it completely. Under the stimulation of the Vibration and current, multiple acupoints faintly formed connections, just like the stars in the sky sharing a mysterious link with one another.
This was a unique method of the Su’s Acupuncture Technique.
Afterward, Zhang Hongyun began asking Zhao Xuanqi about his sensations, and Zhao Xuanqi reported them all truthfully.
"The soul and body are not in harmony, and there’s an obstruction between them. There is definitely a problem."
Half an hour later, Zhang Hongyun gave his conclusion.
"Can it be cured?"
Zhao Xuanqi asked.
"Yes, but it will be dangerous. There are a few points I need to explain to you first. First, during the treatment, you must completely let down all your defenses, which is almost equivalent to putting your life in my hands. Second, I will need to apply needles to your head, which carries a certain amount of risk. Third, your willpower is very strong—stronger than mine, at least. This could lead to unpredictable consequences during the treatment process."
"I can only say it’s a fifty-fifty chance. Your condition is very complex. Logically, with a Spirit as powerful as yours, you shouldn’t have this kind of ailment, which further proves that your problem is unique. If you’re willing to take the risk, I can give it a try."
Zhang Hongyun said truthfully.
"Do it."
Zhao Xuanqi’s expression was calm, his voice as firm and resounding as striking metal against stone.
The situations he faced were becoming increasingly complex, so it was worth a try. If the treatment was effective, his strength would take another leap forward.
Even if something went wrong, he was confident he could suppress any abnormalities with his own willpower. After all, his condition was different from typical cases of similar illnesses.
As long as there was even a sliver of efficacy, it would be worth it for him.