Ian Song fell silent again, this time to give the five vice deans space to think.
After a while, Harvey Huangpu spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, "A martial artist's physical strength mainly comes from the Body-Refinement stage. Beyond that, in the Qi-Refining stage, the body is nourished by true qi and does grow stronger, but only to a limited extent."
Once you step into the Grandmaster stage, you begin the process of borrowing heaven-and-earth power. The body's growth becomes even more limited, and in fact, the act of borrowing that power starts to damage the body.
After that, Great Grandmasters focus on refining the soul, and the body's strength hardly increases any further.
As for Martial Saints, even though they fuse soul and domain to expand the amount of heaven-and-earth power they can borrow, their physical strength barely grows. Instead, hidden injuries accumulate in the body over time.
Take the five of us, for example. We're Martial Saint-level experts, but each of us has hidden injuries left behind from borrowing heaven-and-earth energy. That's why every tiny step forward in cultivation must be taken with extreme caution—we fear our bodies might collapse if we push too hard."
"It's really that serious?"
Ian was a bit surprised.
Harvey Huangpu gave a wry smile and shook his head. "It's worse than you imagine."
Hearing this, Ian couldn’t help showing a thoughtful expression. He had five missions in this world; the fourth was to lead the Human Race to defeat the Demon Race, and the fifth was to defeat the Devil Race.
He knew he couldn't do it alone, so he had to cultivate a group of Martial Saints for the Human Race—and also make sure to keep them.
The people in front of him were all leaders of major sects. If he could heal their hidden injuries and later teach them body-strengthening arts, their cultivation would surely advance even further—and they'd likely become his loyal supporters.
With this thought, Ian made up his mind. He stood up and said, "Senior Huangpu, I know a bit about medicine. May I examine your body?"
Harvey Huangpu was a little taken aback by Ian's request, but then he just smiled, unconcerned. "Some of my injuries are from battle, but most are backlash from borrowing heaven-and-earth power. Medical means rarely work, but if you want to try, go ahead!"
"Thank you, Senior Huangpu!"
Ian walked over to Harvey Huangpu, gestured for him to extend his wrist, and began to take his pulse. With Eastern Medicine Mastery and the Golden Needle Method, Ian's medical skills were top-notch—and with Radiance of Life, there wasn't a single injury in this world he couldn't heal.
"Senior Huangpu, could you please extend your other hand as well?"
"Sure!" Harvey Huangpu smiled and extended his other hand.
While taking his pulse, Ian activated Clairvoyant Vision and scanned Harvey Huangpu from head to toe. With both methods combined, he found that Harvey's hidden injuries really were extremely severe—if not for his powerful true qi suppressing the damage, he'd probably be bedridden by now.
"Well?" Harvey Huangpu asked as Ian withdrew his hands.
"It's very serious," Ian said solemnly. "But I can cure it."
"What?"
Huangpu Huoming almost thought he was hearing things. The other four all looked shocked and skeptical.
At their level, martial artists know their bodies extremely well. After years of self-care, they've all picked up considerable medical skill, but even so, they're helpless against their own hidden injuries. Now, a junior Grandmaster was telling them he could cure those wounds.
They really couldn't accept it—mostly, they just couldn't believe it.
"Are you serious?" Huangpu Huoming looked at Ian, his expression calm.
Ian nodded.
"Alright then, I'll leave my body to you. Whenever you think it's appropriate, just go ahead and treat me." Huangpu Huoming smiled again.
"Actually, I can start right now!" Ian grinned. "It won't take long."
The group was stunned again.
"Alright then, let's do it!" Huangpu Huoming laughed freely, but inside, he was actually full of hope. After reaching late-stage Martial Saint, he could barely improve anymore, mostly because of the hidden injuries in his body.
As for Dean Xuanyuan Wuwu, his cultivation was even higher, but his injuries were worse.
He hadn't fought anyone for years, all to nurse his wounds.
With a thought, Ian produced a box of golden needles and said to Huangpu Huoming, "Senior Huangpu, just sit still. I'll perform acupuncture. Oh, and while I'm needling you, please don't use your true qi to resist!"
"Alright, you're the doctor—I'll do whatever you say." Huangpu Huoming agreed without hesitation.
Ian nodded, picked out three golden needles from the box, and swiftly inserted them into three major acupoints on Huangpu Huoming's chest.
The other four watched, faces serious.
"Senior Huangpu, how do you feel?" Ian asked.
"Haha, I feel a warm current surging inside me, rushing all over the place!"
"Really?"
Ian smiled, picked out three more golden needles and inserted them. Then he circled behind Huangpu Huoming and slapped his back.
"Burp! Burp! Burp!"
With one slap, Huangpu Huoming let out three loud burps, foul-smelling beyond belief.
The Melody Empress and the other four immediately pinched their noses.
"Sorry about that, I just couldn't hold it in!" Huangpu Huoming said, embarrassed.
"No need to worry, Senior Huangpu. I just forced out your stagnant qi. It usually seems harmless, but if your mind or spirit is damaged, it will make things much worse!" Ian explained from the side.
"Mm! That's true. After those three burps, I feel a lot lighter!" Huangpu Huoming nodded seriously, trusting Ian even more.
Ian continued needling, and in just a moment, Huangpu Huoming had golden needles all over his body—even on his head.
He also noticed streams of warm current pouring out of his acupoints, slowly repairing his hidden injuries.
With just Eastern Medicine Mastery and the Golden Needle Method, it would take Ian several months to fully heal Huangpu Huoming's injuries—time he didn't have. The needles were mostly a cover; his true method was Radiance of Life.
So after a short while, Ian removed all the needles, then tapped Huangpu Huoming's body rapidly, ending with a subtle strike that sent a thread of Radiance of Life into him.
Immersed in the healing of Radiance of Life, Huangpu Huoming felt indescribably comfortable, so much so that he even squinted his eyes in enjoyment.
After a while, he suddenly opened his eyes, light flashing within—his hidden injuries were completely healed.
"How is it, Huangpu?"
The other four watched him expectantly.
Huangpu Huoming couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter. "Haha, it's done! All my hidden injuries are gone!"
"Really?"
Even hearing Huangpu Huoming say his injuries were healed, the Melody Empress and the other four still found it hard to believe.
"If you don't mind, seniors, I can treat you as well!" Ian said with a smile.
"Me first!"
Venerable Dragon Sword impatiently pushed Huangpu Huoming aside and sat down in front of Ian.