Inside the room, Yang Kai stepped forward and placed two fingers on Ling Taixu's wrist, closing his eyes to examine him.
His Divine Sense swept over the body, and Yang Kai's heart sank deeper and deeper.
Ling Taixu's internal organs had all shifted out of place, countless bones throughout his body were broken, his vitality was nearly gone, and his blood force flickered weakly, barely detectable.
The true yuan inside his body was wispy and faint, almost imperceptible. Countless meridians had ruptured, hindering the flow of true yuan and obstructing the circulation of his cultivation technique.
Beyond that, sinister energies lingered throughout his body, corroding his life force and devouring his true yuan. If not for a wisp of pure Yuan Qi protecting his heart meridians, Ling Taixu would have perished long ago.
The word "severe" was no longer adequate to describe his master-grandfather's injuries. He was hanging by a thread, liable to slip away at any moment.
That last wisp of Yuan Qi he clung to—he had likely held onto it only to wait for Yang Kai's safe return, after all. He had sent Yang Kai into the foreign land to train, and until now, there had been no word from him.
"Has he been given any medicine?" Yang Kai asked in a low voice.
The Elder gave a bitter smile. "In his current state, the Sect Leader can't withstand any medicine. He was given a few pills some time ago, but now we dare not give him anything at all."
Yang Kai nodded slightly. His master-grandfather's body was far too frail. Unless it was a pill capable of instantly reviving the dying, taking one would only drain that last wisp of Yuan Qi—and then there truly would be no saving him.
Thankfully, he had made it in time.
Yang Kai frowned in thought for a moment before speaking. "Elder, please step outside. I need to have a word with the Sect Leader."
The Lingxiao Pavilion Alchemist hesitated briefly, then rose and left. Though he didn't know the exact nature of Yang Kai's relationship with Ling Taixu, the Sect Leader had issued a clear instruction before losing consciousness—once Yang Kai returned, bring him immediately.
The Sect Leader valued Yang Kai so highly; their connection clearly ran deep.
Once the Elder had departed, Yang Kai quickly retrieved a portion of Myriad Medicine Spirit Paste from the Black Book's space.
He didn't dare take too much—only a piece half the size of a thumbnail.
He had no certainty that the Myriad Medicine Spirit Paste could bring someone back from the brink of death, but it was his only hope now. After all, this was the concentrated essence distilled from millions of pills over thousands of years.
There was water in the room. Yang Kai took a cup, placed the Spirit Paste inside, and poured hot water over it to dissolve it.
Then, holding the cup in one hand, he pinched open Ling Taixu's mouth with the other and slowly trickled the medicinal liquid inside.
Half a cup of hot water. It took a considerable effort before Ling Taixu managed to drink it all.
Without delay, Yang Kai pressed both hands against the vital acupoints on Ling Taixu's chest and slowly channeled true yuan inward, assisting the absorption of the medicine's effects.
At the same time, he extended his Divine Sense, carefully observing the changes within his master-grandfather's body.
As the Myriad Medicine Spirit Paste began to take effect, Yang Kai clearly sensed a flicker of vitality ignite within Ling Taixu's previously withered dantian. The flow of blood throughout his body gradually quickened, and the heartbeat in his chest grew just slightly stronger than before.
There was hope!
A look of joy crossed Yang Kai's face as he modestly increased the output of true yuan.
Heaven knew how great a worry had been weighing on him. Ling Taixu's body was far too weak—if it couldn't withstand the Spirit Paste's effects, or if the Paste failed to revive him, then he would effectively be the one to end Ling Taixu's life with his own hands.
The man before him was his own Fourth Master's master—his own master-grandfather. How could he not be anxious?
Fortunately, the Myriad Medicine Spirit Paste proved truly effective.
Moments later, a modest amount of true yuan slowly began to form within Ling Taixu's dantian. Guided by Yang Kai, it carried the medicine's efficacy through his meridians. The ruptured channels mended rapidly, every process clearly visible under the scrutiny of his Divine Sense. The displaced organs within Ling Taixu's body were swiftly returning to their proper positions.
His ashen complexion gradually regained its color, and Ling Taixu let out an unconscious soft breath, the pained expression on his face gradually easing.
Seeing this, Yang Kai worked with even greater focus.
The Myriad Medicine Spirit Paste truly possessed the power to bring the dying back to life.
A quarter of an hour later, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from beyond the door. Yang Kai's brow furrowed slightly, and he tilted his head to listen.
Moments later, the visitor arrived outside.
Su Xuanwu's voice came through: "I heard Yang Kai has returned?"
Su Yan answered, "Mm. He's inside right now."
Grand Elder Wei Xitong's voice followed immediately after: "What are you doing out here? Weren't you supposed to be by the Sect Leader's side at all times?"
He was addressing the Alchemist.
That man replied, "Junior Nephew Yang said he had words for the Sect Leader..."
"Nonsense!" Wei Xitong barked. "The Sect Leader is unconscious. What words could he possibly have?"
The Grand Elder had never understood why the Sect Leader placed such importance on Yang Kai. The only words he had uttered before falling unconscious were an instruction to bring Yang Kai to him immediately upon his return.
Yes, Yang Kai had defeated Bai Yunfeng of the Bai Family while at the first level of the Separation-Union Realm—but that alone hardly warranted such extraordinary regard from the Sect Leader. Could it be that the Sect Leader truly saw Yang Kai as the future helm of Lingxiao Pavilion?