To treat someone in the Innate Realm, one did not need to be as cautious as when treating Xiao Jie or the unconscious girl on the mountain. Besides, he wanted to resolve the issue with Duan Chongfeng's True Qi. Therefore, Xu Ke had to channel True Qi into the needles to help his patient's own True Qi surge and return to its peak state.

"Okay." Duan Chongfeng nodded.

As his True Qi stirred, it immediately formed a simple protective barrier around his heart meridian. He appeared rather indifferent. It wasn't that he looked down on Xu Ke for having killed Ouyang Shuang.

But what harm could a Houtian Middle Stage practitioner possibly do to an Innate Realm expert like me, even if I lie here completely defenseless? No mental preparation is necessary. A simple barrier will suffice!

Seeing this, Xu Ke said nothing more.

"The atrium, too," Xu Ke added.

Duan Chongfeng complied.

"Please remove your Inner Armor," Xu Ke requested.

Duan Chongfeng nodded. As the owner of the Dapeng Trade Society, a protective Inner Armor was essential. After removing it, Duan Chongfeng lost a potent layer of defense. But at this moment, he didn't feel vulnerable; instead, he was filled with joy!

"I'm starting," Xu Ke announced. He took out a Silver Needle and walked to Duan Chongfeng's side. Then, he circulated his True Qi. A vast and powerful True Qi surged within his body like a roaring tide.

After the medicinal bath, even though Xu Ke hadn't broken through to the next stage, the quality of his True Qi had become extremely formidable, far surpassing that of an ordinary Houtian Middle Stage practitioner.

Upon sensing Xu Ke's True Qi, Duan Chongfeng's expression changed instantly.

Is this the quality of True Qi a Houtian Middle Stage practitioner should have? It's far too powerful! If he uses True Qi like that to drive the needle into my body, won't I pass out from the pain?!

Just then, Duan Chongfeng saw Xu Ke already raising the Silver Needle. His face turned pale with shock as he cried out, "Wait a moment!"

"What's wrong?" Xu Ke asked, a puzzled look on his face, though he was laughing inwardly.

"I... I'm a bit uncomfortable lying like this. Let me adjust my position," Duan Chongfeng said, his expression slightly unnatural. He didn't want to admit he had just underestimated Xu Ke's True Qi, so he had to find an excuse.

Who knew a Houtian Middle Stage practitioner could be this formidable?!

"All right," Xu Ke nodded, showing no sign of suspicion.

Afterward, Duan Chongfeng used all his might to form a powerful defense around his heart meridian and atrium, only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Now it's absolutely foolproof! The needle won't kill me, but it's still going to be damn painful.

"Okay, I'm ready," Duan Chongfeng nodded.

"Good," Xu Ke replied.

Then, Xu Ke's gaze sharpened as he raised the Silver Needle, his entire demeanor changing in an instant.

Seeing this, Duan Chongfeng felt even more embarrassed.

So Xu Ke already saw that I was looking down on his power. That earlier move with the needle must have been a bluff. After all, Xu Ke didn't have this astonishing aura back then...

At this thought, Duan Chongfeng felt both surprised and grateful.

I'm surprised that Xu Ke, a mere Houtian Middle Stage practitioner, could tell at a glance that the defenses around my heart meridian and atrium were not strong enough. What terrifying perception! And I'm grateful... that Xu Ke hadn't exposed me.

At that moment, Xu Ke shouted, "Focus! Circulate your True Qi."

This guy is still getting distracted.

Duan Chongfeng jolted, quickly closing his eyes and circulating his True Qi.

BOOM.

Xu Ke could almost hear the True Qi inside Duan Chongfeng's body roaring like a fierce storm. Then, his gaze sharpened. His finger, pressed against Duan Chongfeng's heart meridian, felt a series of unnatural fluctuations in the flowing True Qi. This was how Xu Ke was determining the primary location of the stagnation.

Xu Ke knew the sluggish pulse indicated that the area near the atrium was likely where Duan Chongfeng had been injured when he consumed the Blood Jade Monarch. Now that he had pinpointed the general area, finding the core of the problem became much simpler. Xu Ke gradually narrowed the range.

In the next moment, the most severe stagnation was felt from the left side of Duan Chongfeng's atrium.

"Stop!" Xu Ke shouted, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. He was going to halt Duan Chongfeng's True Qi right there!

The next instant, as if obeying a command, all the True Qi in Xu Ke's body surged toward the Silver Needle in his hand as it descended upon the left side of Duan Chongfeng's atrium.

SHLICK.

The Silver Needle pierced mercilessly into Duan Chongfeng's body. His closed eyes suddenly snapped open.

Holy crap?!

His eyeballs felt like they were about to pop out of their sockets.

This is too painful!

He immediately discarded his previous thought.

What foolproof?! This is going to kill me!

He desperately wanted to tell Xu Ke that the bed was uncomfortable and he needed to adjust his position again. But Xu Ke, having already inserted one needle, gave him no such opportunity.

He roared again, "Again! Stop!"

The next moment, Xu Ke placed another needle at an acupoint one inch below the previous one.

SHLICK.

Duan Chongfeng's eyeballs bulged out completely...

I resent this so much! Why didn't I use my full strength to create the barrier? This is nowhere near enough!

"The final needle! Stop!" Xu Ke roared, landing the needle to the left of Duan Chongfeng's heart meridian.

The Silver Needle fell, piercing deep!

Duan Chongfeng squeezed his eyes shut.

I'm going to die!

...

After Xu Ke pinpointed the location of the blockage in Duan Chongfeng's True Qi, the rest of the treatment became simple. By halting the flow of True Qi, Xu Ke was able to use the Resurrection Acupuncture Method to regulate his patient's blood and qi. Roughly half an hour later, Duan Chongfeng had returned to a normal state.

However, the simplicity of the process was relative to Xu Ke. For Duan Chongfeng, that half-hour had been an absolute nightmare.

To stir Duan Chongfeng's Innate True Qi, Xu Ke had to put all his might into every single needle. For Duan Chongfeng, this was tantamount to being stabbed to within an inch of his life, over and over again. The pain was so excruciating he wanted to die.

"Alright, Boss Duan, how do you feel?" Xu Ke asked. There were beads of sweat on his forehead, and his face was slightly pale. However, compared to the three needles of the Heaven-Defying Fate Change Technique, this was a trivial matter. Even with his own injuries not fully healed, performing acupuncture on Duan Chongfeng was still well within his capabilities.

"I'm... I'm all right..." Duan Chongfeng lay limply on the bed, his face drenched in sweat. His eyes were lifeless. He looked as if he had lost the will to live.

If I'd known Xu Ke was this incredible, I would have been on full guard from the very beginning. I wouldn't have ended up being stabbed into this pathetic state!

"Sigh. I'm still not in peak condition," Xu Ke said. "If I were fully recovered, I could have increased the force of the needles even more. Then you wouldn't have had to suffer for a full half-hour, Boss Duan."

Upon hearing this, Duan Chongfeng's eyes widened in shock.

What the hell? Your needling is already that brutal, and you're telling me you could increase the force even more?!

Thinking of this, Duan Chongfeng suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, thank goodness! It's a good thing Xu Ke hasn't fully recovered. Otherwise, wouldn't the pain I just went through have been doubled? My condition is cured now. I'll never have to suffer like that again.

Just then, as Xu Ke was packing away his Silver Needles, he spoke without turning around. "Boss Duan, by the time I come over for your final treatment, my own injuries should be fully healed..."

"By then, you should be able to end this painful process rather quickly."

As his words fell, the color drained from Duan Chongfeng's face...

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