Chapter 18: The Divine Doctor Seeks the Source of Qi Once More

Page (1/3)
Niu Yichen narrowed his eyes like a leopard sensing its prey, searching everywhere for the vanished mysterious aura.
“Strange, how did it just disappear like that? Playing hide and seek?” he muttered under his breath, unconsciously stroking his chin with the air of a seasoned official deep in thought.
Zhan Qingxue trailed closely behind him, watching Niu Yichen’s serious expression, a warm current swelling in her heart.
Though she didn’t understand what had happened, she knew that as long as Niu Yichen was there, everything would turn out well.
Silently, she tightened the coat he had handed her around herself.
The surrounding air began to grow cold, as if something was draining the heat from the environment.
Shivering, Zhan Qingxue’s teeth chattered uncontrollably.
“Brother Chen, it’s... so cold here...”
Noticing her discomfort, Niu Yichen didn’t hesitate; he took off his own coat and draped it over her.
“The cold is a good sign—it means we’re not far from the truth!” he said lightly, though inwardly he was growing increasingly alert.
This sudden chill was no ordinary cold.
They pressed on, the cold intensifying as if they had entered an ice cellar.
Zhan Qingxue’s complexion turned pale, her lips tinged with purple.
Grasping her hand, Niu Yichen slowly transferred his own vital energy into her body to shield her from the cold.
“Hold on, Little Snow, we’re about to find the source,” he comforted her, a barely perceptible tension in his voice.
Even he found this chill somewhat taxing.
Suddenly, Niu Yichen stopped, his gaze fixed intently ahead.
“Something’s off...” he whispered, “This cold seems to be emanating from beneath the ground...”
Zhan Qingxue sensed the anomaly too; clutching his hand, her eyes filled with fear.
“Brother Chen...”
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here,” Niu Yichen said firmly, pulling her into his embrace.
Abruptly, he looked up at the sky.
The once thick fog began to slowly dissipate, revealing a blood-red moon hanging high above.
“Blood Moon...” Niu Yichen murmured, his expression darkening with gravity.
“Brother Chen...” Zhan Qingxue’s voice trembled, “I... I’m so scared...”
He held her tightly, silent.
He knew that the real danger was only just beginning...
“Hold my hand tightly.”
No sooner had he spoken than the earth began to quake violently, as though some colossal beast was about to burst forth.
Zhan Qingxue gripped Niu Yichen’s arm in terror, her face as pale as paper.
“Brother Chen, what’s... what’s happening?” she stammered.
Frowning deeply, Niu Yichen’s eyes flickered with solemnity.

Page (2/3)
“Don’t be afraid, Little Snow, hold on to me!” he said, shielding Zhan Qingxue behind him as he vigilantly scanned their surroundings.
With a thunderous crack, the ground split open, and several enormous ice insects crawled out from beneath, radiating piercing cold.
These monstrous ice bugs were each larger than a truck, gaping with blood-red maws filled with sharp teeth, scuttling swiftly toward Niu Yichen and Zhan Qingxue.
Zhan Qingxue screamed in fright; the scene was more terrifying than any horror film.
“Brother Chen, what do we do? So many... such huge bugs!” she clung tightly to his arm, her heart pounding wildly.
Yet Niu Yichen remained remarkably calm. From his pocket, he produced several small vials containing vividly colored potions.
These were rare herbs he had collected and specially processed beforehand.
“Little Snow, don’t panic, watch this!” he said, hurling the potions toward the ice insects.
Upon contact, the potions sizzled, releasing white smoke.
The bodies of the ice insects began to melt rapidly, turning into puddles of icy water before vanishing completely.
Zhan Qingxue’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“Brother Chen, you’re... incredible!” she couldn’t believe what she was seeing—this was pure magic!
Niu Yichen smiled faintly, patting her hand reassuringly. “Little Snow, don’t be afraid. With me here, everything will be fine.”
However, the ground suddenly shook again, even more violently.
A heavy feeling of foreboding washed over Niu Yichen.
He looked up toward the distance, spotting a massive black silhouette slowly rising from beneath the earth...
“Hold my hand tightly, Little Snow,” Niu Yichen said gravely, his tone more serious than ever.
After the ice insects melted, the earth did not calm; the tremors intensified as if some immense creature was about to break through.
Niu Yichen squinted, thinking, “Could it be... a boss fight?”
Sure enough, an elderly man clad in a white robe slowly emerged from the ground.
The old man had snowy hair and an ageless face, exuding an ethereal aura, but his eyes were icy and piercing, capable of freezing everything.
“Young man, you have quite the audacity to destroy my ice insect legion!” the old man spoke in a deep voice tinged with anger.
Niu Yichen raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Sir, you’re accusing me unfairly? Those things look like oversized silkworms—I thought they were some kind of mutant species.”
The old man’s expression darkened further.
“You reckless fool!” he roared, waving his hands as countless ice spikes materialized out of thin air, raining down like a storm upon Niu Yichen and Zhan Qingxue.
“Brother Chen, watch out!” Zhan Qingxue cried, clutching his arm tightly.
Niu Yichen sneered coldly. “Child’s play.” He pulled Zhan Qingxue, their figures darting like phantoms, dodging the spikes that whizzed past and embedded themselves in the ground with sharp metallic clangs.
“Interesting,” the old man’s eyes flickered with surprise, then he intensified his spellcasting.
The ice spikes multiplied and accelerated, nearly sealing off all avenues of escape for Niu Yichen.
Dodging swiftly, Niu Yichen studied the old man’s movements carefully.
He noticed that after each spell, the old man paused briefly.
“Now’s the moment!” Niu Yichen’s eyes gleamed as he seized the opening, flicking several golden needles from his sleeve toward the old man’s face.

Page (3/3)
Yet the old man merely waved his sleeve lightly, effortlessly blocking all the needles.
“Childish tricks, daring to show off before a master!” he sneered, launching another wave of attacks.
The ice spikes came down like a tempest, forcing Niu Yichen and Zhan Qingxue to weave dangerously left and right.
Zhan Qingxue shut her eyes tightly, feeling like she was on a thrilling roller coaster about to be thrown off at any moment.
Niu Yichen furrowed his brows, thinking, “This old fellow’s magic packs quite a punch—it’s time to get serious.” He took a deep breath, gripping Zhan Qingxue’s hand firmly. “Little Snow, hold on tight.”
Zhan Qingxue opened her eyes and, meeting his resolute gaze, felt a wave of calm wash over her.
“Mm!” she nodded firmly, clutching his hand tightly.
A faint confident smile curved Niu Yichen’s lips.
“Old man, the game’s over now...” He grinned devilishly and whispered, “Enough playing around; it’s my turn.”
Suddenly, a golden light flashed from his body as a powerful life-force erupted, forming a shimmering golden shield around him and Zhan Qingxue.
The old man’s tempest of ice spikes crashed against the golden barrier like eggshells against stone, shattering instantly into sparkling ice crystals that twinkled like dreams in the air.
“That’s it?” Niu Yichen taunted, looking at the old man with disdain.
He was no ordinary healer—he was a reclusive divine doctor blessed with the power of longevity!
The old man’s face shifted; evidently, he hadn’t expected this.
He roared in fury, pouring even more magic into his assault, trying to break through Niu Yichen’s defense.
Yet Niu Yichen was prepared.
Seizing a moment when the old man faltered, he flicked his fingers, silently shooting several hair-thin golden needles into the old man’s body.
These needles were no ordinary weapons; they were specially crafted and infused with Niu Yichen’s unique healing qi.
Once inside, the needles began to disrupt the old man’s internal energy flow, interfering with his spellcasting abilities.
The old man felt his blood churn and his true energy thrown into chaos, as if countless ants were gnawing at his meridians, causing unbearable pain.
“What... what have you done to me?” the old man asked, pale and trembling.
Niu Yichen sneered coldly. “Just a little welcoming gift. No need to thank me.” He flexed his wrist, ready to deliver a final blow to end this farce.
At that moment, the atmosphere twisted abruptly.
Mysterious runes appeared out of thin air, glowing with eerie light, encircling Niu Yichen and Zhan Qingxue tightly.
Niu Yichen’s expression changed drastically. “Not good!” The runes radiated ancient and formidable power, filling him with grave danger.
He quickly shielded Zhan Qingxue behind him, vigilantly studying the runes, seeking their pattern and a way to break them.
“Brother Chen, what are these things?” Zhan Qingxue held his arm tightly, fear evident in her eyes.
Niu Yichen said nothing, his brows furrowed deeply as he fixed his gaze on the runes, his face grave.
“Looks like this is more complicated than I thought...” he murmured.
Suddenly, the runes began to spin faster and faster, forming a massive vortex that sucked Niu Yichen and Zhan Qingxue inside...
“Hold on to me!” Niu Yichen shouted.