Adding the third update from yesterday,

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Qin Fang was slightly surprised when his acupuncture skill improved to Intermediate, as Elder Ma's few words of guidance didn't seem to contain anything too substantial.

The Ma Family's acupuncture techniques were not something to be casually imparted; otherwise, Elder Ma wouldn't be struggling with the dilemma of whom to pass his mantle to. He had many disciples, and quite a few were already very famous doctors. Even among the disciples he currently mentored, many were quite talented and there was no lack of successors.

Qin Fang was naturally very pleased about this, but it seemed his happiness came a bit prematurely, as there was another notification that arrived after a considerable delay.

"Grandmaster guidance, skill improvement to Intermediate level, eligible for system reward — a random acupuncture technique."

Upon hearing this notification, Qin Fang was taken aback.

"System reward? A random acupuncture technique?"

This was the first time such a thing had happened to Qin Fang since he gained this ability. Of course, it was also the first time he encountered grandmaster guidance. Not only did his skill level up to Intermediate, but it also came with a random award.

Acupuncture techniques were obviously meant to complement the acupuncture skill. In his mind, something resembling a roulette wheel appeared, blurry and indistinct, making it impossible to see what was on it. However, Qin Fang assumed it was filled with various acupuncture techniques, and his task now was to draw one at random.

Without any hesitation, Qin Fang chose to start, and saw the needle on the wheel spin rapidly, blurring his vision with its speed. After a moment, it began to slow down, eventually coming to a gentle stop.

"Random draw complete, acquired the lost acupuncture technique — The Nine Revival Needles."

Almost simultaneously with the completion of the random draw, Qin Fang felt his head buzz as something seemed to enter his mind, making it feel heavy and dizzy. However, this sensation quickly disappeared, and his memory now contained some additional information, or rather, an acupuncture technique.

"The Nine Revival Needles?"

Qin Fang quietly repeated the name, "Why isn't it the Nine Needles of Stealing Heaven?"

Just now, Elder Ma mentioned the name of a technique used by the most famous legendary doctors in history, which included Bian Que's Nine Needles of Stealing Heaven. Yet, what Qin Fang drew was The Nine Revival Needles, a name that differed by only one character, which rendered Qin Fang rather speechless.

"The Nine Revival Needles, a formation used by the famous Eastern Han physician Huangfu Mi, function: reviving and extending life."

Even though he felt somewhat disappointed, Qin Fang still opened the skill panel and found the description for The Nine Revival Needles under the acupuncture skill, revealing such a brief introduction.

"Elder Ma, may I ask a small question? Was there a renowned physician named Huangfu Mi during the Eastern Han period?"

Qin Fang hesitated for a moment. His knowledge of medical arts, especially ancient medical arts, was not extensive. The few names Elder Ma mentioned earlier were familiar, but Huangfu Mi was unheard of to him. However, as a grandmaster of the medical arts, Elder Ma was well-informed about many ancient physicians, so Qin Fang casually asked the question.

"Hmm? It seems that Xiao Qin has quite an understanding of medical arts. Huangfu Mi from the Eastern Han dynasty is indeed one of the very distinguished legendary doctors in history. Although his fame is not as widespread, his status in the history of Chinese medicine is no less than that of Bian Que, Hua Tuo, or Sun Simiao. His ""Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion"" has profoundly influenced the transmission of acupuncture techniques in later generations. It could be said that many later acupuncture techniques are derived from the ""Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion""..."

When Elder Ma heard Qin Fang, an outsider, mention Huangfu Mi's name, he was momentarily surprised. Even his granddaughter Ma Yunzhi had only heard of the ""Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion""; she wasn't very clear about the name Huangfu Mi.

"Then, the acupuncture techniques used by Huangfu Mi..."

Qin Fang immediately became excited. He really didn't expect Huangfu Mi to be so famous, and now he held great expectations for The Nine Revival Needles as well.

"I'm not sure about that. Huangfu Mi's 'Acupuncture Jia Yi Classic' has been passed down, but there are not many records about him in the historical texts. However, they must also be very potent acupuncture techniques..."

But Elder Ma shook his head as he spoke, indicating that although Huangfu Mi was well-known and recognized by the medical community, there were very few records regarding him.

"Xiao Qin, why do you ask this question?"

Elder Ma was not easily fooled. Despite being over eighty years old with a still robust body, his mind was very clear. He didn't pay much attention initially, but upon rethinking the situation, he realized there might be more to it.

"This..."

Qin Fang hesitated, glancing over at Cai Pingyuan.

"When I was very young, I met an old man who was an itinerant doctor. He stayed near my home for some time. It was a difficult period, and I had always been unwell, but he cured me and also passed on an acupuncture technique, claiming it descended from the Eastern Han medical sage Huangfu Mi, called The Nine Revival Needles..."

The story had to be concocted, or else it would be hard to explain the sudden appearance of The Nine Revival Needles. As for whether or not the old man existed, only heaven knew.

"The Nine Revival Needles?"

Elder Ma's eyes suddenly bulged as if they were about to pop out, and his entire demeanor seemed to have been struck with sudden madness, "The Nine Revival Needles, I never imagined that The Nine Revival Needles truly existed..."

"Grandpa..."

"Elder Ma..."

"Elder Ma..."

This truly frightened Ma Yunzhi, Cai Pingyuan, and Qin Fang.

Just a short sentence, a story, had managed to spook a legendary medical sage like this, filling Qin Fang with trepidation. He also worried that Elder Ma might accidentally become over-stimulated and develop complications, which would be a grave sin on his part.

"I'm fine, I'm fine..."

Fortunately, Elder Ma quickly regained his composure, but he was still extremely agitated. As a grandmaster of the medical arts, he certainly knew what The Nine Revival Needles represented.

The Ma Family also had their ancestral acupuncture technique, named the Jia Yi Acupuncture Technique, which was derived from the "Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion" by the Ma Family ancestors. Even though the "Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion" had been supplemented and edited over a thousand years, its essence and framework still originated from Huangfu Mi.

In other words, Huangfu Mi could also be considered a patriarch of the Ma Family, although this was something the Ma Family had never acknowledged, as they always prided themselves that their ancestors' medical skills were comparable to those of the divine healers.

"Xiao Qin, tell me the truth, does The Nine Revival Needles really exist?"

Having somewhat calmed his emotions, Elder Ma looked at Qin Fang very seriously and earnestly.

"I'm not sure if it's real or not, but that's what the old man told me back then. Although I learned it, I've never practiced the method of Inner Breath, so I never paid much attention to it... Just now, when I saw Yun Zhi practicing acupuncture, I recalled The Nine Revival Needles and thought I'd learn a bit from her."

Having made up the story, Qin Fang had no choice but to continue fabricating, considering it was a matter from over a decade ago, and no one could verify the truth. Qin Fang was not afraid of being exposed, especially since he actually possessed The Nine Revival Needles.

However... it was clearly stated that The Nine Revival Needles had been lost, obviously no longer passed down in the world.

"Unbelievable, unbelievable..."

Elder Ma was extremely excited and his gaze towards Qin Fang became quite ambiguous, "Xiao Qin, do you still remember how to use it?"

Qin Fang was taken aback and looked at Elder Ma in surprise.

"Don't misunderstand, I mean no harm; I just want to witness whether this needle technique is..." Seeing Qin Fang's expression, Elder Ma immediately waved his hands to explain.

The Ma Family treasured the Jia Yi Acupuncture Technique as a closely-guarded secret, let alone The Nine Revival Needles, which was a superior needle technique. Elder Ma immediately felt embarrassed to ask.

"I... I might not be good at using it!"

Qin Fang hesitated. He had already mastered the technique, and under intermediate acupuncture, he should have considerable skill. The story he had just concocted also allowed Qin Fang room to maneuver, freeing him from much of his worry.

Walking up to the acupuncture bronze man, it was clear that it had been around for a while—a replica of the Song Dynasty Acupuncture Bronze Man made during the late Qing Dynasty, prepared by the Ma Family for their descendants to practice on. Its acupoints were sealed with wax, and one could only insert needles accurately if they hit the exact location. As for mastering the correct force, it was judged by the flow of mercury inside.

Of course, whether The Nine Revival Needles truly existed couldn't be tested on this bronze man. It would have to be used on a real person.

However, Qin Fang was not a doctor, and Elder Ma wouldn't go so far as to find a patient for Qin Fang to experiment on.

But this didn't mean there was no solution at all. After a moment of reflection, Qin Fang's mind churned like waves at sea, quickly coming to a conclusion.

"Elder Ma, I'm about to apply the needles... Although The Nine Revival Needles is known for its life-reviving effects, it also has the capacity to end life, such as... if I were to needle the Baihui, Yamen, Zhongting, Fengchi, and other fatal acupoints!"

As he spoke, Qin Fang paused, his wrist flicked slightly, and the silver needle in his hand swiftly pierced the Fengchi acupoint on the bronze man.

Hum~~

Everyone heard a dull sound coming from the acupuncture bronze man, followed by the sight of mercury breaking through the wax from several acupoints on the head of the bronze man, giving the impression of blood running from seven orifices.

Everyone, including Qin Fang, were stunned. Never since the existence of the acupuncture bronze man had anyone heard of a needle causing the bronze man to "bleed from seven orifices."

Just now, when Qin Fang performed The Nine Revival Needles, he had indeed coordinated it with the circulation of Inner Breath within his body, giving him a feeling of a divine touch. His movements were incredibly smooth, without a trace of clumsiness, as if he had been born with The Nine Revival Needles, already deeply ingrained in his skill set. (To be continued. To find out what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com. More chapters are available, and your support for the author and legitimate reading is appreciated!)

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