Sunflare Empire, Greenwood City.
A torrential downpour lashed the city, lightning flashed, and thunder roared as the rain poured down in sheets.
Gu Heng stood at the entrance of his Medicine Hall, listening to the crisp sound of raindrops the size of beans hitting the eaves. A trace of restlessness surfaced in his heart.
Such weather was not conducive to people coming for consultations. But this thunderstorm was beyond the control of even cultivators, let alone an ordinary transmigrator like him.
He had transmigrated to this so-called "Mysterious Heaven Realm" twenty years ago.
This was a world where strength was revered.
Initially, Gu Heng also wanted to become a cultivator, but he couldn't cultivate. His body couldn't absorb any spiritual energy, so in this world where being a cultivator was a badge of honor, he didn't even have the qualifications to stand at the starting line. Original content can be found at NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Just a complete waste.
He did have a system, but it didn't help him cultivate. Instead, it helped him develop some rather niche hobbies. Painting and medicine were common enough, but he also dabbled in more obscure skills like "forging," "health maintenance," and "fortune-telling."
With no patients visiting, Gu Heng yawned out of boredom and opened his "system" panel.
"Host: Gu Heng."
"Cultivation Level: Not Started."
Gu Heng pursed his lips, not caring much about this anymore, and swiped it away.
As he scrolled down the panel, he could see the proficiency of his skills that were of no help in cultivation.
Painting, calligraphy, medicine, forging, fortune-telling, and "body refining"—the latter was essentially some health techniques given by the system for him to practice casually. After much practice, his body became sturdier, but that was about it.
All skills were maxed out at "Mastery."
Gu Heng felt the system was deceiving him.
Because the prerequisite for "Mastery" was having cultivation.
For example, painting—those cultivators who entered the Dao through painting could casually create landscapes imbued with Daoist intent. Calligraphy masters could form true meaning with each stroke. Those who could see through the mysteries of heaven could predict past and future, understand the mysteries of life and death. Medical experts could concoct elixirs that could bring the dead back to life.
These were too distant for mortals.
Only cultivators could achieve them, and he couldn't.
Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Elemental Infant, Out-of-Body, Divided Spirit, Body Fusion, Tribulation Crossing, Great Ascension, Supreme Saint.
The ten stages of cultivation, with Supreme Saint being the strongest and Qi Refining the weakest.
Since awakening the system, he had initially wanted to cultivate, but after a long time, he didn't even reach the first stage of Qi Refining. Eventually, he became disheartened and resigned, maxing out all other skills.
These skills were useless because even the most ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator could do what mortals could do a million times better.
So, among these "Mastery" skills, Gu Heng chose medicine to make a living.
Mortals also needed medical treatment, and Gu Heng earned money from them. It wasn't much, but it was enough. After all, Gu Heng had come to terms with the fact that he might never be able to cultivate, so he had to make do.
However... even on a rainy day, the festive atmosphere in Greenwood City was unmistakable.
Gu Heng looked outside, where spiritual lights floated in the sky, and lanterns and decorations were everywhere, creating a grand wedding scene.
"Heh, getting married on a rainy day, aren't they afraid of bad luck?"
Gu Heng sneered.
"Doctor Gu, did you also receive the Marriage Proposal Scroll?"
The speaker was a vendor from the grocery store next to Gu Heng's Medicine Hall.
"Yes, I received it."
Gu Heng pulled out a blue and red invitation from his robe.
The groom was from the Mo Family, the most prominent family in Greenwood City. The Mo Family wielded immense power in the city, and the wedding of their eldest young master was naturally a grand affair. The "Marriage Proposal Scroll" was an invitation for some mortals to join the feast.
The bride's family, the Bai Family, was several times larger than the Mo Family.
Gu Heng found it quite strange because this marriage was not a match of equals. It was more like selling off their daughter cheaply.
"Tonight is the Mo Family's grand wedding. If you have time, Doctor Gu, why don't we go together for a good meal?"
The vendor waved his Marriage Proposal Scroll.
"Forget it. It's a cultivator's wedding. What business do we mortals have there? You go ahead."
Gu Heng wasn't interested in such matters.
"...Hmm?"
Gu Heng prided himself on his sharp eyesight.
Amidst the torrential rain that seemed to drown the earth, there was a solitary, desolate figure, like a walking corpse.
Upon closer inspection, it was a woman with delicate features and a cold demeanor.
***
The woman walked alone on the rain-drenched streets, her expression dazed, unsure of where to go.
She was Bai Fei'er, once the Bai Family's most proud genius girl, a once-in-a-millennium cultivation prodigy, deeply loved by her clan. Countless young talents bowed to her, and many admired or envied her...
But now, she had been sold off to Greenwood City, betrothed to the Mo Family's eldest young master.
Bai Fei'er hung her head low, letting her tears mix with the rain as they fell.
It all began three months ago when she was poisoned by an evil cultivator while exploring the empire's great secret realm.
After being poisoned, although her family sought many renowned doctors and she consumed numerous spiritual elixirs, the "Devouring True Demon Gu" was removed, but her Dao root was completely destroyed, and the remaining toxins continued to erode her cultivation.
As for detoxification... it was impossible.
Her body had almost merged with the poison, and removing it would be tantamount to taking her life.
The poison, known as "Devouring True Demon Gu," could rapidly drain one's cultivation, destroy the foundation of cultivation, and ultimately render one a cripple.
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Yes, this poison didn't kill, but it was far more malicious than murder.
"Since you've become a cripple, make some contributions to the family."
This was the last thing Bai Fei'er heard from her father.
This marriage was a complete farce... As they say, when a prodigy falls, there are countless who clap and cheer. Ironically, the Mo Family was worlds apart from the Bai Family in terms of power, yet the Bai Family even had to pay to have the Mo Family accept this "cheaply sold crippled girl" marriage contract.
Upon reaching the Mo Family, the eldest young master, who was merely at the second stage of Core Formation, such a mediocre playboy, even looked down on her with utter disdain!
Truly, times had changed.
At eighteen, she had reached the fifth stage of Elemental Infant, with only three or four people in the entire Sunflare Empire who could match her. But now, she had been knocked off her pedestal, her cultivation plummeting to the eighth stage of Qi Refining in just three months, and it continued to decline...
Even being caught in the rain now made her shiver, the weakness growing more severe.
Three months ago, she could have easily sliced through the rain with a single sword stroke!
She clutched her soft sword tightly, but she was almost too weak to draw it.
"Damn heavens, why are you toying with me like this!
I refuse... I won't accept this!"
Bai Fei'er looked up at the gray sky, lamenting, but her voice was quickly drowned out by the rain.
In her daze, death suddenly seemed less terrifying.
Perhaps, she should end her life here?
Rather than being sold off to the Mo Family's playboy, it would be better...
She lowered her head, looking at the sword in her hand, her gaze gradually turning cold. Her fingers trembled slightly as she slowly drew the sword.
However, at that moment, a voice sounded behind her: "Miss, why are you walking alone in the rain?"
Bai Fei'er turned around abruptly to see a young man standing before her. His eyes were beautiful, dark and clear like a pool of autumn water, warm and pure. He held a paper umbrella, temporarily shielding her from the rain.
"You..."
At first, she was startled because no man had ever been this close to her. But then she thought, in this heavy rain, someone had appeared out of nowhere to hold an umbrella for her. This person... was interesting.
"Sir, thank you."
Bai Fei'er quietly sheathed the half-drawn sword.
"It was nothing, no need to thank me," Gu Heng said. "The rain is heavy. Please come to my Medicine Hall to take shelter."
Bai Fei'er hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
The two walked side by side into the Medicine Hall, which was simply furnished but clean and tidy.
While Gu Heng brewed tea, Bai Fei'er observed him. He was just a mortal, without a trace of spiritual energy. In the past, Bai Fei'er wouldn't have spared a glance at a mortal because they were ants.
But now, she was almost an ant herself.
"Here, have some hot tea to warm up."
Gu Heng returned with the brewed tea and placed it in front of Bai Fei'er. He studied her face, which was quite beautiful. Bai Fei'er noticed his gaze and felt a bit annoyed, thinking his eyes were rather bold. But then Gu Heng suddenly asked, "Miss... are you unwell?"
Hearing his question, Bai Fei'er was taken aback, then showed a bitter smile, "Yes, I have a serious illness."
Even a mere mortal could see that the poison had penetrated her bones, and her condition was terminal. She truly was in a pitiful state.
"Hmm... this condition has persisted for some time, hasn't it?"
He moved closer to observe, even placing his hand on Bai Fei'er's wrist to check her pulse. This action made her a bit resistant, but she thought of his benevolent heart and endured it.
Compared to the arrogant eldest young master of the Mo Family, this mortal before her was quite gentlemanly and upright.
"I have some medicine here. If you take it, you'll get better."
Gu Heng immediately went to the counter, grabbed a few handfuls, and then went to the back room to prepare the medicine.
Bai Fei'er found it laughable. How could a mere mortal understand her problem? It was an issue that even the empire's most elite medical experts couldn't cure.
Although she knew mortal medicine was useless, Bai Fei'er thought it wouldn't hurt to accept his goodwill. When the decoction was ready and handed to her, she picked up the steaming bowl and took a gentle sip.
Then, her expression turned to astonishment.
Because the seemingly ordinary decoction, upon entering her mouth, quickly transformed into a pure and powerful medicinal force, coursing through her entire body... All the remaining poison within her was instantly eradicated, and her previously weak and powerless body gradually returned to normal.
"Huh..."
In that moment, Bai Fei'er seemed to see hope, yet she couldn't quite believe it. She stared blankly at the bowl of brown decoction, murmuring, "Did... did it really work?"
Then, the cultivation she had lost for so long quickly returned. In the span of a few breaths, she broke through Foundation Establishment, re-entered Core Formation, and reached the seventh stage of Elemental Infant!
She had broken through!
All because of a small sip of this decoction!
Bai Fei'er sat dazed in the chair, her eyes misty as she gazed out at the pouring rain, the shock in her eyes indescribable.
What kind of medicine was this?!