Chapter 420: Healing Dao Injuries

In contrast, the Red Flower Army camp appeared quite plain, even simple.

The obstacles were ordinary, the camp gate was a huge wooden frame, the watchtowers were less than half the height of those in the White Jade Army camp, and even the military flags fluttering in the wind were faded, with blurred edges, seemingly ready to fall at any moment.

However, although the camp was dilapidated, the soldiers guarding every crucial point were dedicated and full of spirit.

Ning Zhuo walked directly towards the Red Flower Army camp.

This was because the Crippled Physician Zhang Zhongyi had joined this Red Flower camp, which had the worst conditions and the weakest general.

"Stop! This is an important military camp. Take another step, and you will be executed!" The cultivator guarding the gate shouted at Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo quickly stopped in place, a smile on his face, and explained his purpose.

After listening, the gate guard was impatient: "Hmph, another one looking for the esteemed Physician Zhang. Even if he hides in the military camp, he can't find peace."

Ning Zhuo smiled, secretly activating his abilities.

Divine Ability - Human Life String!

Magic Treasure - My Buddha's Demonic Heart Seal!

Combined with his words: "This young brother, I have no other choice. My dearest living relative is suffering from illness. It's more painful than being sick myself, my heart feels like it's being cut, and I'm burning with anxiety. Therefore, I have come desperately to beg for the mercy of Physician Zhang."

The gate guard's compassion was amplified to the extreme, he felt empathy, and his expression softened: "Go in, go in, sigh, you are also a person of misfortune. There's really nothing I can do with you!"

Ning Zhuo quickly cupped his hands in thanks. Just before entering the camp gate, he secretly took out a handful of spirit stones and stuffed them into the gate guard's hand: "A small token of my appreciation. You brothers work hard guarding the gate, please have some tea."

To his surprise, the gate guards reacted as if they had been burned, their expressions changed dramatically, and they shouted: "What are you doing? What are you doing! Don't think of bribing us."

"We are letting you in, not because we are greedy for this small token of appreciation, nor because we pity you. It's because General Mu is kind and benevolent and has already ordered a convenient door to be opened for those seeking medical help."

"Go in quickly, and leave immediately after the consultation is finished!"

Through the Human Life String and with the help of My Buddha's Demonic Heart Seal, Ning Zhuo felt the sincerity of this person's words and actions, with no falsehoods, and he was secretly surprised.

"I am a commoner, a commoner! I have underestimated you brothers, I am truly sorry." Ning Zhuo quickly cupped his hands and apologized.

The several gate guards were all quite young, and they looked displeased, feeling that Ning Zhuo had insulted them.

Human Life String!

My Buddha's Demonic Heart Seal!

Their expressions quickly softened, and they impatiently waved Ning Zhuo away: "Go, go!"

Ning Zhuo nodded in thanks and quickly walked into the military camp.

Before leaving, he withdrew all the Human Life Strings.

After the incidents with Linghu Jiu and the Demonic Heart Cave Master, he became even more cautious and decided not to use the Human Life String casually in the future.

After all, this was a military camp, with the two Zhu Nations' army attacking Qianfeng Forest. Who knew how many capable individuals and extraordinary people there would be? If the Human Life String was discovered, and then traced back to him, wouldn't that be terrible?

Ning Zhuo entered the military camp and found that although it was dilapidated, it was heavily guarded. Patrolling, sentries, training, etc., everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.

"It seems that although General Mu Lan is only at the Core Formation stage, she comes from a family of generals after all. Her military discipline is strict, she is popular with the troops, and she has a good system for managing the army," Sun Lingtong said to Ning Zhuo in the Myriad Miles Swimming Dragon after seeing this.

Ning Zhuo nodded slightly.

A cultivator immediately walked towards him from the front: "Are you here to see Physician Zhang?"

After Ning Zhuo's reply, the cultivator said: "Then come with me. This is an important military camp, not a place where outsiders like you can wander around freely. However, General Mu considered the suffering of you patients and also felt that Physician Zhang, having voluntarily joined, shouldn't have his medical reputation damaged, which is why she gave you this opportunity."

Ning Zhuo quickly thanked General Mu Lan, which immediately softened the cultivator's face, and his eyes held the meaning of "you are a sensible young man."

Lifting the curtain of the tent, Ning Zhuo stepped inside and finally saw the Crippled Physician Zhang Zhongyi.

He looked about fifty years old, tall and thin, with a high nose bridge, sunken eye sockets, and a strong jawline. Every inch of his skin seemed to have been sculpted by time, like iron and steel.

His eyebrows and temples were slightly white, revealing a sense of vicissitudes from enduring hardship.

The most striking feature was his heavy iron crutch.

According to the intelligence, he was once an imperial physician and was highly regarded and trusted by the sovereign of the two Zhu Nations due to his excellent medical skills.

One day, the prince fell seriously ill, and Zhang Zhongyi was ordered to treat him.

However, Zhang Zhongyi was unwilling, saying that this son of the sovereign had always been arrogant and domineering, relying on the sovereign's favor and bullying others, which had damaged the sovereign's reputation. Now that this son was suffering from illness, it was a heavenly punishment, and man should not interfere.

The sovereign was furious and forced Zhang Zhongyi to treat the illness.

Zhang Zhongyi was also furious, roaring in the royal palace, and was ordered to be beaten with a rod by the enraged sovereign.

Zhang Zhongyi said nothing, preferring to be beaten to death rather than compromise.

It was also his destiny not to die. At that time, the old General Mu returned to the court victorious. Seeing Zhang Zhongyi being beaten with a rod in front of the main hall, and having understood the reason, he pleaded for Zhang Zhongyi after paying homage to the sovereign and reporting back.

Only then did Zhang Zhongyi escape death. Even so, he was severely injured and became disabled despite his medical skills, only able to walk with a crutch.

More seriously, he was originally at the Nascent Soul stage, but he fell to the Core Formation stage and could never advance further in his lifetime.

Zhang Zhongyi was sitting on a bench at this time, looked up at Ning Zhuo, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes: "Although you are injured, you will recover on your own after a period of rest. What kind of illness are you seeing me for?"

Ning Zhuo cupped his hands: "Physician Zhang's insight is like a torch. The patient is not me, but my elder brother."

Saying this, Ning Zhuo patted the Mechanical Swimming Dragon at his waist.

Sun Lingtong leaped out of the Myriad Miles Swimming Dragon and cupped his hands to Zhang Zhongyi.

As soon as he raised his hand, Zhang Zhongyi saw the stone skin on his hands.

After such a long time, Sun Lingtong's hands were completely covered by stone skin. Before, it was only the edges of his palms, but now even his palms were changed, becoming stone.

Zhang Zhongyi's expression changed slightly: "This is a Dao injury."

Ning Zhuo's pupils immediately constricted, and his heart skipped a beat: "Dao injury?"

This was because his mother's injury was also a Dao injury.

Zhang Zhongyi's face was solemn, he nodded gently, and took out a bottle of ointment: "Don't say anything yet, apply this first."

Ning Zhuo was about to take it, but Zhang Zhongyi refused, looking at Sun Lingtong: "Apply it yourself. During the illness, don't get too close to other people or things. This Dao injury is easily transmitted."

Sun Lingtong then mobilized his mana, activated his divine sense, remotely controlled the medicine bottle to float in the air, dug out the ointment from it, and evenly applied it to his hands.

Foundation Establishment cultivators could already use their divine sense to manipulate objects. Sun Lingtong's main cultivation technique was particularly proficient in the Divine Sea.

Therefore, completing this action was effortless.

After applying the ointment, he immediately felt a cool sensation, which quickly penetrated from the surface of his palms inwards.

This cool sensation was very strong and was constantly eroding. The petrified state was instantly and completely suppressed.

Sun Lingtong's face immediately showed joy, and he looked at Ning Zhuo: "It's very effective!"

Ning Zhuo also showed joy: "That's great."

Zhang Zhongyi, however, shook his head: "This treats the symptoms, not the root cause. To truly cure it, you must start from the root cause to resolve the Dao injury."

Ning Zhuo's heart was already filled with strong curiosity, and he opened his mouth to inquire: "May I ask Physician Zhang, what exactly is a Dao injury? And how can it be fundamentally cured?"

He had already searched for this question in books and classics, and also asked many ancient wise ones and powerful figures in the Mirror of Reflection. This time, he asked Zhang Zhongyi again, mainly to hear the opinion of this medical expert.

As a result, Zhang Zhongyi's answer was almost the same as those before: "Dao injury, as the name suggests, is an injury caused by Dao and principle."

"When a person lifts a heavy object, fails to support it, and gets crushed, they are injured by the principle of weight."

"When a person covers fire with their hand and gets burned, they are injured by the principle of fire."

"Your little child's hands are being eroded by a certain principle of the earth element. To cure it, you need to understand the details and use corresponding methods to absorb or dispel the principle."

"Therefore, you must first find this answer, otherwise I cannot provide medical treatment."

After a pause, Zhang Zhongyi continued: "Once you have the answer, come back to me. This illness is indeed quite troublesome. Firstly, you need to ensure the answer is correct. If the root is wrong, no matter how good my medical skills are, it will be difficult to be effective, and it may even cause harm."

"Secondly, even if you find the correct answer, you still need to find an expert in the earth element, who must be at least at the Grandmaster realm in the earth element to understand the essence of the earth element's principles and create targeted techniques based on the illness."

"Thirdly, as you can see, I have already joined the army and serve as the military physician of the Red Flower camp. We may be ordered to the front lines at any time. And once we are at the front lines, the military camp will not be as accessible as it is now."

"So, you need to hurry!"

Sun Lingtong looked at Ning Zhuo, casting a questioning gaze.

Ning Zhuo immediately understood what Sun Lingtong was asking him.

Their previous strategy was correct. Although they took excessive risks in the process, they had already discovered the answer - the Stone-Cast Earth Treasure.

But this matter was actually very important.

Why?

Because it involved the existence of the Stone Old Monster at the Nascent Soul level.

From the perspective of the attacking army, the Stone Old Monster was also an enemy they had to take seriously, and indeed did.

But as of now, neither the two Zhu Nations' army nor the Qianfeng Forest side were aware of this.

Neither Sun nor Ning wanted to expose this secret.

Although Sun Lingtong was injured, he was holding back a breath. He had stumbled on the stone ball and desperately wanted to get back up from where he fell.

Ning Zhuo's demands were simpler. The stone ball at the bottom of the cave was the body of the Stone Old Monster who had failed to transform into a deity, and also the entire wealth of this ten-thousand-year-old earth spirit. This was a considerable amount of wealth!

As long as he could resolve the Dao injury, his current financial difficulties would be completely resolved. For a long time to come, he would not have such hidden dangers.

Furthermore, Ning Zhuo also had a vague feeling that the death of the Stone Old Monster seemed to be of great use.

Sun Lingtong did not speak, he wanted Ning Zhuo to decide.

Ning Zhuo had considered it thoroughly in a few breaths and cupped his hands to Zhang Zhongyi: "Physician Zhang, what is the consultation fee for this time?"

Zhang Zhongyi laughed: "That is difficult to calculate. It depends on what principle your little child has been affected by. Only by prescribing the right medicine can we determine the exact medicinal materials needed."

"And hiring a cultivator at the Grandmaster realm in the earth element is often quite expensive."

"In short, it is always right to prepare more for the consultation fee."

Ning Zhuo thought for a moment: "If we could directly invite a Grandmaster in the earth element, could this Dao injury be directly resolved?"

Zhang Zhongyi glanced at Ning Zhuo in surprise. Although his cultivation had fallen, he was still a Core Formation cultivator. The two people in front of him looked young, but he did not know their true age. They were only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and their words sounded as if they could invite someone at the Grandmaster realm in the earth element.

This was not easy.

Anyone who reached the Grandmaster level could establish their own sect.

Zhang Zhongyi shook his head: "Even if you invite a Grandmaster in the earth element, you still need to follow my diagnostic method to design the techniques."

Thinking that the other party might have an unusual background, he added an explanation: "The Dao injury is within the human body. Many techniques can target the Dao injury, but they can also harm the human body."

"From what I can see, the little child does not have many signs of body refining. If the Dao injury is forcibly removed, his small body may not be able to withstand it."

Ning Zhuo nodded, indicating understanding.

He continued to inquire: "I am worried that after inviting an expert at the Grandmaster realm in the earth element, Physician Zhang will go to the front lines with the military camp. I would like to ask, if I find a Grandmaster in the earth element and ask ordinary physicians for assistance, how likely is it that the Dao injury can be safely resolved?"

Zhang Zhongyi stroked his beard and smiled proudly: "Even Nascent Soul level physicians mostly do not have such certainty."

"My situation is special. My experience as an imperial physician in the past has forged my vision and talent."

"At least, within the entire two Zhu Nations, I do not believe there is a second physician who can cure this type of illness."

Ning Zhuo understood and immediately praised Zhang Zhongyi: "In that case, we are truly fortunate to have Physician Zhang provide treatment!"

"Sir, I have another Dao injury here, please take a look."

Ning Zhuo hesitated for a moment, but finally took out the Buddhist Physician Meng Yao Yin.

"Core Formation level mechanical puppet?" Zhang Zhongyi's eyelids twitched slightly when he saw the Buddhist Physician Meng Yao Yin, and he re-examined Ning Zhuo.

He remained calm, but upon careful examination, he found purple light traces of spirituality.

He finally couldn't hide it and was very moved.

"This is a mechanism with spirituality!"

"Such deep spirituality. Despite suffering such a Dao injury, it can actually resist it and last for a considerable time."

"Young friend, is this a protective object given to you by your elder?"

Ning Zhuo nodded, couldn't help but swallow, and stared intently at Zhang Zhongyi: "I wonder, Physician Zhang, can such a Dao injury be cured?"

Zhang Zhongyi first frowned deeply, then slowly shook his head: "It's too severe. Its Dao injury is too severe, I'm afraid the old man is powerless."

"Ah?" Ning Zhuo's face turned slightly pale.

Zhang Zhongyi explained: "This Dao mark is related to the Night Rain Dynasty. The Night Rain Dynasty has two major unorthodox paths, one is the Ghost Dao and the other is the Bizarre Dao."

"It is precisely because of the Ghost Dao that the underworld is prosperous and there are countless ghosts. After death, there is a great destination."

"The Bizarre Dao is the most absurd and strange, extremely difficult to understand."

"Unfortunately, this Dao injury comes from the Bizarre Dao."

"This is not something I can resolve. Even if I find a Grandmaster of the Bizarre Dao, I cannot cooperate with him. Because I cannot use normal thinking to understand the principles within."

Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, remained silent for a long time, and finally spoke with difficulty: "So that's how it is."

Zhang Zhongyi smiled slightly: "Where does Young Friend Ning come from?"

Ning Zhuo replied: "This junior comes from the Ning family of Fire Persimmon Immortal City. In the past, my clan migrated south from the North Wind Kingdom and was betrayed by the Six Caves Sect. The latter broke their promise and almost killed my entire clan."

"This time, I am traveling outside, roaming the four directions, and I saw the great army attacking Qianfeng Forest. It happened to be an opportunity, and I really want to participate and contribute to the great cause of conquest."

"However, currently my friend is suffering from a strange injury, and time is of the essence. I must heal him before considering anything else."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhongyi's eyes lit up slightly: "So that's how it is."

"If Young Friend invites a Grandmaster in the earth element, you might as well come directly to me. As for the consultation fee, I have a good suggestion."

"How about you join the army, enlist in the Red Flower camp, and use military merit to offset the consultation fee. This way, you can heal your friend faster and also avenge your family."

"Now is the best time for revenge."

"Under the iron hooves of our nation's great army, even if the Six Caves Sect is a local power, it will surely be crushed."

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, shaking his head inwardly, while outwardly showing a thoughtful expression: "Senior Zhang, I am worried about my friend and cannot think about the distant future. Let me find a Grandmaster first, and then I will consider this matter carefully."

Zhang Zhongyi stroked his beard: "Very well, very well."

After the conversation, he first gave Ning Zhuo a token, then called a boy to escort Sun Ning out of the tent.

Although it concerned his life and death, Sun Lingtong remained silent, cooperating tacitly with Ning Zhuo and watching him handle the situation.

Before leaving the tent, he re-entered the Mechanical Swimming Dragon.

After completely leaving the Red Flower Army camp, Sun Lingtong finally contacted Ning Zhuo and asked about his plan.

Ning Zhuo said: "To heal your injury, Boss, we must use Zhang Zhongyi's power."

"But the Red Flower Army camp is not a good place."

"Following Zhang Zhongyi's path makes us too passive. We need to turn passivity into initiative."

Sun Lingtong pressed: "How do we turn passivity into initiative?"

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly: "We still have to join the army!"