The Haojing racecourse, originally a training ground for Qian Dynasty's polo and military exercises, has now become a purgatory...

"Ah, let me die! Let me die!"

"It hurts so much!"

Due to the large number of people infected with the Gu Plague, the racecourse has been turned into a temporary medical center, with countless patients lying on bamboo beds and straw mats, while white-clothed Feathered Scholars move around.

Those who died on the spot have long been thrown into the Yin Fire Cave, while those lucky enough to survive are better off unconscious. Many regain consciousness only to find their bodies riddled with wounds.

Their limbs are bound as they scream in agony, while white-clothed Feathered Scholars use tweezers to pull out larvae poking through their skin like lotus seeds, leaving behind dense holes, a fate worse than death.

Elder Huayan walks among them, his face growing heavier as he observes such a tragic scene.

A few elderly Daoists accompany him, explaining the situation, "This illness seems like a Gu or a plague, we have named it 'Gu Plague.' It spreads fiercely but does not withstand extreme cold. If isolated in time, it should be able to be contained..."

Many in the Capital City have achieved success in cultivation and medicine, but only Elder Huayan among the National Guardian True Men, naturally making him the leader.

"Thank you, fellow Daoists, for your hard work."

Elder Huayan nods and says, "In these chaotic times, we must focus on eradicating the Plague Demon. If any of you fellow Daoists have difficulties, feel free to speak up."

An old man in a white robe strokes his beard and sighs, "Fortunately, the 'Gu Plague' only targets ordinary people. Common white-clothed Feathered Scholars can treat them without worry, but we are still understaffed."

The path of cultivation is perilous, relying on opportunity, timing, and talent. Those who achieve success are exceedingly rare, and most reach their limit right after achieving enlightenment.

With no hope for the future, these people seek worldly wealth. Most are then recruited by the Court and enter the Astronomical Bureau.

These white-clothed Feathered Scholars are equivalent to technical support personnel, steadily increasing over time.

But while this is manageable on ordinary days, a disaster of this magnitude is beyond their capacity.

Elder Huayan strokes his long beard, thinking,

"In that case, I will gather loose cultivators from various Daoist institutions and temples in the suburbs of the Capital City, and request the Court to open the Inner Treasury for Merit Silver exchanges, this should alleviate much of the burden."

"The most important thing is still the antidote!"

An old man with sparse hair frowns and shakes his head, "Gu Poison requires strong medicine to expel the worms, while the plague needs a gentle antidote. It's hard to do both for the frail ordinary people."

The group remains silent.

To be honest, is the research of a Pill Formula not the work of a day or two? For now, we can only expel the worms in serious cases and disperse the plague in mild ones.

But this method is clearly ineffective, with only one in ten surviving, and even then, they are doomed to a fate worse than death.

Seeing their spirits low, Elder Huayan shakes his head and encourages, "Fellow Daoists, do not lose heart. As all things are born, there must be a counterbalance between Yin and Yang. I will search the sect's ancient texts, perhaps finding some insights."

After giving some instructions, Elder Huayan immediately leads a group out of town while others go to gather more people. He heads towards the Jade Flower Temple on a crane.

The distance of several dozen miles is easily crossed. He sees steam rising above the alchemy cauldron in the back courtyard of the Jade Flower Temple, and his face instantly darkens, "What nonsense is this!"

The Jade Flower Temple's alchemy requires the concentration of Pill Qi, without dispersion, what is happening here!

Initially, he thought it was his disciple Bu Xu, but upon approaching, he realized it was his admiring junior Zhang Kui.

Elder Huayan couldn't help but shake his head, "This youngster is adept at demon slaying and exorcism, but it seems he lacks talent in alchemy."

After making a landing with a whistle, before Elder Huayan could speak, the Crane Immortal mocked first, "Zhang Kui, are you brewing porridge or cooking meat, do not ruin my home's pill furnace."

"Not at all, not at all..."

The black-faced Daoist Bu Xu bows excitedly, "Master, Taoist Friend Zhang is using the Water Refining Skill, it is truly eye-opening."

"Oh..."

Elder Huayan takes a look, only to see four clay basins placed on the ground, each filled with red, blue, black, and white powders, while Zhang Kui is carefully scraping yellow powder from the alchemy cauldron.

"What are you refining?"

Elder Huayan frowns and asks.

Zhang Kui shakes his head and bows, "Senior, a junior in my family has contracted Gu Poison, and it so happens that I have a Pill Formula that might be worth a try."

Elder Huayan's expression changes, "Is it the Gu Plague, what's the situation?"

After Zhang Kui explains the circumstances, Elder Huayan shakes his head and sighs, "He has indeed been implicated."

Then, taking an interest in Zhang Kui's medicine, "It is the first time I've seen the Water Refining Skill, why make it into powder form?"

"This 'Five Plagues Antidote Powder' is used both internally and in medicinal baths. Making it into a liquid allows it to be sprayed for disinfection, which is quite fitting."

As Zhang Kui speaks, he pulls a formula from his pocket and hands it over, "Senior, here is the formula, please advise."

Elder Huayan is taken aback, giving Zhang Kui a deep look before taking the pill formula.

Zhang Kui remains indifferent, continuing his work.

Of course he knew the preciousness of the pill formula, but even if it's just a first-level formula, what of it if it were more valuable?

Cultivation is about refining one's heart; if one cannot control their desires for external objects, how can one's heart be as clear as a mirror to illuminate the path ahead?

Zhang Kui glanced at the gradually setting sun in the west, with only the final step remaining, he should make it in time.

He mixed the five-colored medicinal powder together and, using the Ghost Head Mushroom liquid, melted and simmered them again. This time with a fierce martial flame, it quickly formed a transparent crystal-clear powder.

"Good, marvelous!"

Holding the "Five Plagues Antidote Powder" formula, Elder Huayan suddenly praised, "Using the five poisons as the main medicine, supplemented by intense heat and cold medicines, with the Water Refining Skill to temper the properties, it's amazing to see such transformation, truly marvelous!"

However, he immediately frowned and shook his head,

"But using this to cure the Gu Plague might not be enough."

Zhang Kui chuckled and carefully packed the medicinal powder, "I naturally have other means."

Elder Huayan was delighted, "I certainly want to see it, perhaps the opportunity to resolve this disaster lies with you."

Subsequently, the two of them immediately returned to Iron Blood Manor.

Zhang Kui continued using the Qi Prohibition Skill, using internal medicine baths of the "Five Plagues Antidote Powder" to alleviate the virulence of the Gu poison in Dong'Er's body, supplemented by the "Ume Gu-Expelling Soup."

In the view of the Cave Abyss Skill, the green Qi mechanism within Dong'Er was gradually dissolved and vanished, and the Gu poison was completely eradicated by the latter half of the night, allowing for deep sleep.

Seeing Old Liu finally relax, Zhang Kui remarked with a smile, "Alright, after a few days of nursing, everything will be fine, and the insect scar on the back will slowly heal as well."

Elder Huayan shook his head watching from the side,

"Ordinary people have no chance to use a method like yours. Fortunately, this 'Five Plagues Antidote Powder' provided some direction, but large-scale refining will inevitably leak the formula and your Water Refining Skill."

Zhang Kui laughed heartily,

"If you find it useful, senior, feel free to take it; don't make me seem like a petty person."

Elder Huayan also chuckled,

"It can't be given away for free, or I'd be a fool. Rest assured, if it succeeds, you'll certainly benefit."

With that, he left, riding a crane towards the Capital City...

...

For a period thereafter, Zhang Kui didn't wander around.

He no longer dared to underestimate the realm's cultivation foundation, as many surpass his medical and alchemy skills; both the Water Refining Skill and the 'Five Plagues Antidote Powder' merely serve as inspiration for others.

Sure enough, news gradually came from the Capital City: the antidote had been successfully developed, and after a month of large-scale refining, the epidemic had been brought under control.

Simultaneously, investigations began to find the mastermind behind it.

The whole affair reeked of conspiracy; if not for timely action, the entire Central State might have fallen, and the Qian Court, having suffered such a loss, could not let it go easily.

A large-scale search by the Astronomical Bureau within the Capital City failed to find the culprit but did solve several old murder cases.

The prime suspect, the Ghost Rong Kingdom, did not fare well either; the Court severed trade relations, and as winter approached, without the supply of materials from the Central State, who knows how many would perish on the grasslands.

It's said that the envoy sent by the Ghost Rong Kingdom's Golden Tent was nearing the Capital City.

And Zhang Kui, after the unsealing of the Capital City, also rode his Fatty Tiger to the city gates.

Due to his contribution to the formula, the Court awarded him much Merit Silver, with which he could exchange for items in the Inner Treasury, and there was also an unclaimed reward for an Ancient Artifact from the development of the Ting Mountain Ancient Secret Realm.

The north wind howled, and the snow that had stopped for several days started falling again. Despite just experiencing a major epidemic, the Capital City had returned to its former bustling state as the year-end approached.

Zhang Kui had just arrived at the city gates on his Fatty Tiger when he saw a luxurious procession lining up to exit the gates, with riders on horseback all in gleaming armor and banners flying high.

The surrounding citizens were discussing it in whispers.

"The Foreign Affairs Bureau, where are they going?"

"I heard they're going to greet the envoy from the Ghost Rong Kingdom."

"What, they spread the plague, why should we greet them!"

"I heard that it wasn't them, and the Golden Tent even sent the Saintess of Shamanism to offer treasures and plead."

"Really, they say that woman is the Pearl of the Grassland…"

Zhang Kui shook his head, uninterested in these matters, and after the procession departed, he slowly rode his Fatty Tiger into the city gates.

Meanwhile, inside a carriage in the departing reception procession, someone fiddled with an infant skull with horns, murmuring softly to themselves:

"It seems the Qian still has a thread of fate; no rush, take it slow. Bleed the fields red, and the wolves shall wear crowns; this taste you must all experience..."

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