Looking at the confusion on Zhou Hongsheng's face, Xu Ke suddenly changed the subject. "Do you know where this ring comes from?"

"I do," Zhou Hongsheng nodded, speaking frankly. "This object came from the Haojing Ancient Tomb. It's said to have been taken from an Ancient Imperial Mausoleum."

Xu Ke's eyebrows rose.

Indeed! Dragon Essence is born with the Jiuwu Sovereign, so it's only natural for such treasures to come from an imperial mausoleum. If I need to find more treasures with Dragon Essence in the future, I can explore the Haojing region.

"I won't hide it from you, Divine Doctor Xu," Zhou Hongsheng continued. "I am indeed somewhat superstitious. I'd heard the Wang Family also had a ring from an imperial mausoleum and that Wang Jiangnian used it to bolster his family's fortune. At first, I didn't believe it. But now, seeing the Wang Family prospering while the Zhou Family's future is uncertain, I had no choice but to believe... for the sake of the younger generations. That's why I purchased this ring."

Hearing this, Xu Ke could only give a bitter smile. "Elder Master, you've made a terrible mistake!"

"What?" Zhou Hongsheng was astonished.

"According to my master, this ring carries an aura called Dragon Essence," Xu Ke explained. "To be honest, this Dragon Essence is very useful to people like us, but it has no effect on ordinary people. Moreover, if a person's cultivation isn't strong enough, they can be invaded by it, which will consume their life force. Your current condition is a direct result of the Dragon Essence entering your body."

When he finished, Zhou Hongsheng's expression changed drastically. "Is that really the reason?"

He had never imagined that the Dragon Ring he bought to bolster his family's fortune would become the very culprit trying to kill him.

Xu Ke gave a bitter smile and nodded.

To him, Dragon Essence was an exceptionally precious treasure. The last time he'd attempted suicide, it was the Dragon Essence alone that had saved his life. Now, he even needed its aid to break through in his cultivation. But to ordinary people, it was nothing short of poison. Dragon Essence originated from the aura of a Jiuwu Sovereign—it was noble yet tyrannical. Those like him, who practiced the Heaven-Defying Fate Change Technique, contended with heaven and earth for their very survival. Since they feared neither, they certainly didn't fear Dragon Essence entering their bodies. In fact, it was precisely because the Dragon Essence was so domineering that it could help him resist the backlash from the Oath of the Medical Path. However, Zhou Hongsheng had built his legacy on medical arts, and his cultivation wasn't strong. How could he possibly withstand the Dragon Essence? Especially when wearing it every single day! Before Zhou Hongsheng, he knew of two others who possessed a Dragon Ring: Wang Jiangnian and Wong Qifu. He could understand how Wang Jiangnian could wear his without being affected. According to Wang Wu, Wang Jiangnian's cultivation was incredibly formidable, so preventing the Dragon Essence from invading his body was no problem at all. As for Wong Qifu, although she also had a Dragon Ring, she never carried it with her, except for the one time she had it on her by chance when they first met last year. Naturally, she hadn't been affected. Therefore, a situation like Zhou Hongsheng's, wearing it daily, was completely unheard of!

* * *

Zhou Hongsheng hastily pulled the ring off and set it aside, his face a mask of shock and doubt. "Divine Doctor Xu, isn't this all a bit too... fantastical?"

He had studied both Chinese and Western medicine his entire life, a firm believer in science. But now, in his old age, he was being told he was being invaded by some ethereal Dragon Essence? The idea was simply mind-boggling.

The bitterness in Xu Ke's smile deepened. "Isn't the notion of bolstering one's fortune with a ring also fantastical?"

Zhou Hongsheng faltered. That did seem to be the case.

"So, is this why you said I wasn't sick? If I just take off the ring, will I be fine?" Zhou Hongsheng asked, puzzled.

Xu Ke shook his head. "It's not that simple."

Zhou Hongsheng froze.

Xu Ke turned to retrieve his silver needles. "You've been wearing this ring for too long. Some of the Dragon Essence has already entered your body. I must help you draw it out."

Zhou Hongsheng's face paled slightly. "How will you draw it out?" He hadn't realized his condition was already so critical.

"I'll use a silver needle as a conduit," Xu Ke said, pulling one out.

"And where will the Dragon Essence go?"

"Into me," Xu Ke replied with a smile.

Water flows downward, and similarly, Dragon Essence is drawn to places with abundant vitality. Zhou Hongsheng was elderly, so with Xu Ke's guidance, the Dragon Essence would naturally be drawn out. Besides, this was the only method he had.

However... what he wasn't sure about was what would happen after he guided the Dragon Essence into his own body. The last time he'd absorbed it, he had been unconscious and in a near-death state. Technically, this would be his first time consciously absorbing Dragon Essence.

"If it goes into you, won't you be harmed as well?" Zhou Hongsheng asked, astonished, his expression shifting in alarm. Was Xu Ke planning to sacrifice himself for him?

"Rest assured, Elder Master Zhou. I can handle this Dragon Essence."

Although he was uncertain, he couldn't let Zhou Hongsheng worry, so he had to sound confident.

Hearing this, hesitation flickered across Zhou Hongsheng's face. But in that moment of hesitation, his face turned pale once more, and he broke into a violent coughing fit.

Seeing this, Xu Ke held his breath. "Elder Master Zhou, we can't delay any longer. Let's begin. You can rest assured, the Dragon Essence will be of great benefit to me."

Covering his mouth as he coughed, Zhou Hongsheng finally nodded heavily. He then turned to the old man standing beside him. "Remember to stand guard for us."

"Yes, Master," the old man replied with a nod.

* * *

Xu Ke moved swiftly. He had Zhou Hongsheng lie flat and remove his shirt, baring his chest. His fingers pressed down, inch by inch, across Zhou Hongsheng's almost skeletal skin. As a practitioner of the Heaven-Defying Fate Change Technique, he possessed the ability to sense Dragon Essence. Based on this, he could feel its location.

Soon, Xu Ke found the first concentration: one inch below the heart.

"Elder Master Zhou, please cooperate fully and tell me immediately if anything feels wrong." This was different from treating Duan Chongfeng. Last time he could be reckless, but this time he had to be exceedingly careful.

"Yes!" Zhou Hongsheng said, taking a deep breath and nodding.

Xu Ke raised the silver needle and slowly brought it down. The needle pierced the skin. Instantly, Xu Ke felt a small, serpentine wisp of energy surge into the needle. The next moment, the energy shot into his fingers with unbelievable speed and tunneled into his meridians. He felt his cultivation, which had been stuck at a bottleneck, begin to loosen.

This is going so smoothly? Xu Ke was taken aback.

Zhou Hongsheng's eyes flew open, his face alight with pleasant surprise. "I... I think I feel a bit lighter?"

Xu Ke nodded with a smile. "Then let's continue."

"Good!" Zhou Hongsheng said with a grin.

Xu Ke continued his search, moving inch by inch across the skin. One wisp... two wisps...

Zhou Hongsheng's expression gradually relaxed, but Xu Ke's grew more and more solemn, a sheen of fine sweat appearing on his forehead. On one hand, he had to monitor Zhou Hongsheng's condition, forcing him to be fully focused and extremely careful with the needles. On the other hand, the Dragon Essence that had just entered his body was already growing restless. What made his heart sink was the feeling that this external Dragon Essence was agitating the Dragon Essence he had absorbed from the Wang Family's Dragon Ring.

The two streams of energy were like mortal enemies meeting, their eyes red with fury, ready to tear each other apart. Consequently, Xu Ke now had to divide his attention, using his cultivation to suppress the internal conflict. The pressure was immense!

This is bad, Xu Ke cursed inwardly. If I'd known from the start that this external Dragon Essence would clash with the one already in my body, I wouldn't have been so reckless with the needling.

But now, Zhou Hongsheng's treatment had reached its final stage. To Xu Ke's complete surprise, the Dragon Essence inside Zhou Hongsheng, having been disturbed, had somehow begun surging toward his heart.

Xu Ke's face fell. Why is the Dragon Essence moving on its own?

He had no time to ponder the question. He only knew that if it entered the heart, the situation would become dire. He couldn't stop!

Xu Ke took a deep breath, preparing to insert the final needle. But the duel between the streams of Dragon Essence in his body made his arm waver slightly... He couldn't control it.

Damn it... he cursed silently. Even the fingers touching Zhou Hongsheng's chest to track the Dragon Essence's path were now trembling.

"Divine Doctor Xu, perhaps you should rest for a moment?" Zhou Hongsheng asked, noticing Xu Ke's pale face and sensing something was wrong.

Xu Ke shook his head. "It's alright. This last needle must go in."

As Zhou Hongsheng was about to speak again, Xu Ke's next action made his pupils constrict. He watched as Xu Ke grabbed a nearby silver needle and forcefully stabbed it into one of his own acupoints. Instantly, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

The bright red blood was startling. Both Zhou Hongsheng and the old man were shocked by Xu Ke's sudden move. To complete the acupuncture, Xu Ke was pushing himself to such an extreme!

Xu Ke was stimulating his own True Qi, hoping to use its surge to suppress the interference from the external Dragon Essence and stabilize his control over his body. As the needle slid in, his True Qi was bolstered and successfully quelled the rampaging Dragon Essence. His arm instantly stopped shaking.

"This is..." Zhou Hongsheng's expression changed dramatically. He's using a method to stimulate his own potential! This is complete overexertion!

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