Chapter 781: Severely Injured, Can Only Wait for Death

Besides, Yang Chan had sent over a large number of Recovery Spirit Pills before, so he was well aware of the situation.

Top Quality Recovery Spirit Pills were very precious, but this young Genius Pharmacist had a large supply of them.

Thanks to their relationship with Yang Chan, Chiyu Peak had obtained quite a few.

Most of those who entered the Demon Cave had one on them.

Chiyu Peak had suffered heavy losses when fighting in the Demon Cave previously. Consequently, far fewer people were sent this time, so not as many Recovery Spirit Pills were needed.

Even so, the Chiyu Peak members inside the Demon Cave were not in good shape.

Inside the Demon Cave, the Merak Sacred Land had also suffered heavy losses, and Chiyu Peak was no exception.

A Recovery Spirit Pill could heal injuries, but only if the person wasn’t dead. Once someone died, even the best Healing Elixir was useless.

For someone with insufficient Martial Arts Cultivation, an injury like Gu An’s would have been an immediate death sentence.

“Peak Master, Elder Hua is back!”

Outside, a Chiyu Peak disciple hurried over to report.

“Quick, bring Elder Hua in!”

Upon hearing this, Liu Xuan quickly spoke and went out to greet him.

At this point, his only hope lay with the two Advanced Pharmacists, Elder Hua and Yang Chan.

Even as a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster, he was powerless when it came to healing. All he could do was watch, as he knew nothing about medicinal arts.

Martial Arts Experts rarely got injured, but when they did, it was always serious.

Their powerful physiques allowed them to recover from minor wounds so quickly that they hardly counted as injuries at all.

A true injury was one the body couldn’t heal on its own, requiring a Pharmacist’s intervention—just like Gu An’s current state.

“Peak Master, I have returned!”

“Let me see Hall Master Gu’s condition first.”

Elder Hua had been at the Merak Sacred Land for some time, yet he looked even more wizened.

His Martial Arts Cultivation had never broken through to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster Realm. Instead, his advanced age caused him to grow frail more quickly with each passing year.

Beside him were several successors he had found on Chiyu Peak. They had already begun to receive his true teachings, but how far they would progress ultimately depended on their own efforts.

Elder Hua’s greatest regret was not agreeing when Gu An had suggested taking Yang Chan as a disciple. By the time he realized Yang Chan’s potential, the young man had already matured and no longer needed a master. ‘What a pity,’ he thought.

After all, if he had taken someone as exceptionally talented as Yang Chan for a disciple, the boy would surely have mastered all of his teachings. He might have even surpassed his master, ensuring his legacy would be carried on.

And now, it went without saying that Yang Chan’s Alchemy Ability had long since surpassed his own.

Some opportunities, once missed, were gone forever.

“Elder Hua, this way, please!”

Liu Xuan quickly led Elder Hua into the room.

“Hall Master Gu’s condition is much worse than I thought!”

Elder Hua looked at Gu An’s pale, unconscious form, his body covered in wounds. He found the situation especially tricky, seeing how the injuries had spread to the Five Viscera and Six Viscera.

For an ordinary person, this condition would be a death sentence.

However, the powerful life force emanating from the elixir within Gu An’s body was keeping him alive.

“Elder Hua, can you treat him?”

Liu Xuan didn’t ask if he could be *cured*, but if he could be *treated*. The difference between the two questions showed how much he had lowered his expectations.

This was due to the influence of the previous Pharmacist.

After all, the last Pharmacist had said the injuries were too severe and that he had no confidence, which basically meant it was hopeless.

“It’s difficult. Very difficult.”

“Hall Master Gu is being kept alive by the Medicinal Power of the Recovery Spirit Pill. But since he’s unconscious, the power is only instinctively protecting his vitals, it’s not having much of a healing effect.”

“If we want to cure Hall Master Gu, we must first wake him from his coma. Only then is it possible.”

“Otherwise, no amount of healing techniques will be very effective.”

“Even a Top Quality Recovery Spirit Pill is having this limited effect. Other elixirs won’t be much better than the one already in his system.”

Elder Hua’s brow furrowed. After examining Gu An’s condition, he realized it was even worse than he had anticipated.

“How exactly did Hall Master Gu get injured?”

Elder Hua asked, hoping that knowing the circumstances of the injury might reveal another solution.

“Hall Master Gu was ambushed by a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster-level Earth Demon while scouting for the Merak Saintess and her party. His quick reaction saved him from a fatal blow to the heart, but the Earth Demon was incredibly strong and still managed to inflict a grievous wound.”

“The Saintess arranged for him to be sent back here, which brings us to the current situation.”

Liu Xuan gave a simple explanation. He had already asked for the details when he first learned of Gu An’s severe injuries.

Knowing the full story made him appreciate the risks Gu An had taken. He had chosen the most dangerous path, and in the eyes of the Merak Saintess, his performance had been outstanding.

The Merak Saintess and her group were still in the Demon Cave, but she had sent a trusted subordinate to bring Gu An out and give him a chance to be treated.

Yet his current condition was far from optimistic.

“Do you have a solution, Elder Hua?”

Liu Xuan asked urgently.

He naturally had far more confidence in Elder Hua than in the previous Pharmacist. After all, Elder Hua was a veteran Advanced Pharmacist with well-rounded, exceptional abilities.

“I have an acupuncture technique. I can try to see if it can stimulate Hall Master Gu’s consciousness and wake him from his coma.”

“As long as he wakes up, there’s a good chance he can be cured.”

“However, the ultimate outcome still depends on Hall Master Gu himself.”

As Elder Hua spoke, one of his attendants behind him presented an acupuncture kit, its compartments filled with neatly arranged Silver Needles.

He had, of course, come prepared with many supplies to treat Gu An.

“Excellent! Please, Elder Hua, give it a try!”

A look of joy appeared on Liu Xuan’s face.

His greatest fear was being completely powerless. The fact that Elder Hua still had a technique to try was a huge relief.

Having a plan was infinitely better than having none.

After all, simply waiting to die was no solution at all.

“You all watch my needling technique closely. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to perform it in the future.”

Elder Hua glanced at the successors he had taken under his wing. This was an excellent learning opportunity for them.

He was getting old, and his energy would only continue to decline. Soon, even performing acupuncture would be a challenge. He wanted to teach these disciples, but the spirit was willing while the flesh was weak.

“Yes, Master!”

Upon hearing his words, each of them watched intently as Elder Hua began the procedure.

One by one, Elder Hua placed the Silver Needles into Gu An’s body. The wounds didn’t hinder his work. As a veteran Pharmacist, he was intimately familiar with the body’s acupoints. Each insertion was remarkably steady, a stark contrast to his frail, aged appearance.

As he worked, a bit of color returned to the still-unconscious Gu An’s face, though he had yet to awaken.

After placing the final Silver Needle, Elder Hua let out a long sigh a moment later.

“It’s still not enough.”

“Hall Master Gu’s consciousness has not been roused.”

A look of exhaustion crossed Elder Hua’s face, but more than that, there was a sense of pity.

The full course of acupuncture had restored some color to Gu An’s face, but it was merely a superficial change.

He had hoped to create the illusion of recovery, tricking Gu An’s consciousness into awakening, but he had fallen just short.

The fact that Gu An hadn’t woken up meant his condition was even more severe than anticipated.

If only he could have acquired something more potent, there might have been a chance. This was what Elder Hua found so regrettable.

After waiting for a quarter of an hour with still no sign of Gu An waking, Elder Hua’s heart sank even further.

The acupuncture was meant to provide a brief stimulus. Since he hadn’t woken up after all this time, it had essentially failed.

“Remove the needles.”

Elder Hua said, shaking his head.

Leaving the Silver Needles in any longer would be useless. In fact, it would only rapidly consume what little life force Gu An had left. ‘All we can do is see if Yang Chan has any other ideas.’

‘Though,’ he thought, ‘that seems unlikely.’ He knew Yang Chan’s Alchemy Ability was formidable, but that was because he had dedicated most of his energy to it.

‘In Alchemy, I am no match for Yang Chan. But when it comes to healing techniques, he shouldn’t be my equal.’

For Gu An, it seemed all they could do now was wait for death.