Volume One, Chapter 10: The Tale of Hua Tuo, Part One

Yang Jian’s memories kept echoing in Chen Yan’s mind.

Chen Yan shook his head, deeply sympathizing with Yang Jian’s plight, yet lamenting the fate of such a being endowed with limitless potential, akin to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

In the past, Yang Jian, empowered by his divine strength and unparalleled talent, had surpassed even the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

But now, with Yang Jian’s spirit shattered, unless he could achieve a true restoration, his power would forever be capped at this level.

Thinking of this, Chen Yan couldn’t help but sigh with regret.

Gathering his thoughts, he set his sights on the next destination: Shentou Village.

Qiao County:

At that moment, a black-haired youth clad in white stood before a courtyard, gazing at the swirling dark clouds overhead. His calm face betrayed a trace of solemnity, as if speaking softly to himself or those nearby:

“You… have finally come, haven’t you?”

As he finished speaking, a flash of golden light suddenly appeared behind him, and the two figures instantly vanished into the courtyard.

Meanwhile, Chen Yan, traveling along the road, also looked up at the sky, sensing something.

“Please, don’t let anything go wrong. You are the most crucial link!” he silently prayed as his pace quickened.

But now, in his human form, even with the blessing of fate, it would still take him two days to arrive.

Yet the time he had might not even last an hour.

“Great Sage! Help me!” Chen Yan shouted, releasing a burst of golden light.

From within the light, the figure of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven emerged, taking on human form.

“Somersault Cloud!” the Sage called out.

A white cloud immediately floated forward, arriving before them in an instant.

Without explanation, Chen Yan jumped onto it and said,

“Great Sage, head east—we’re going to Shentou Village!”

No sooner had he spoken than their figures vanished, arriving at Shentou Village within minutes.

At the moment of arrival, Chen Yan couldn’t afford to hesitate. He leapt from the Somersault Cloud, the mere few hundred feet’ drop posing no threat.

But when he first laid eyes on Shentou Village, he was stunned.

What was once a harmonious and bustling village was now suffused with the stench of blood.

The stone road was strewn with decaying corpses, countless flies swarming over them, evidence that they had been dead for some time.

Chen Yan’s anxiety deepened into despair.

He slowly approached the youth’s courtyard, each step heavy with unwilling acceptance of the worst possible scene.

Just as he neared, a strong scent of medicinal herbs drifted from nearby.

Looking up, Chen Yan’s heart stirred with hope.

At the edge of the crimson bloodstains, a river of golden blood flowed, sharply contrasting with the human blood.

On the land soaked by this golden blood, countless herbs swayed in the breeze, drawing in the spiritual energy contained within the blood.

At the source of this golden blood lay dozens of piled bodies.

Chen Yan recognized them immediately—they wore the unique armor of the Heavenly Court.

Among them was a figure deeply familiar to Chen Yan: Malihong, one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

Standing atop these corpses was a youth, smiling politely, appearing refined and courteous. Were it not for the still-wet golden bloodstains on his face, one might mistake him for a frail scholar.

“I am Hua Tuo. I greet the Great Sage and the Human Emperor. May I ask the purpose of your visit?” Hua Tuo bowed slightly, motioning them into the courtyard.

Though shocked by this turn of events, Chen Yan quickly understood.

How could one who had mastered the transcendent medical arts bestowed by Heaven lack formidable power?

Those who could glimpse the heavens and seize their secrets were never ordinary; their transcendence often came at the expense of the gods’ very foundations.

Therefore, anyone who dared seek such power would face devastating retribution from the Heavenly Court.

This is why, throughout millennia, only a few have ever attained such transcendence.

Of course, if one’s strength was great enough to defy most heavenly laws, they could achieve this transcendent power.

The Great Sage Equal to Heaven was one such figure.

Unfortunately, his arrogance once led to a rebellion so fierce it required the combined forces of gods and Buddhas, aided by the Moral Heavenly Venerable—Taiyi Lao Jun—to bring it to an end.

Otherwise, with the Sage’s primordial chaos-born existence, his limitless potential would have been beyond the reach of any divine or Buddhist realm.

Chen Yan looked at Hua Tuo with satisfaction.

He waved his hand and said,

“There are more pressing matters now; this is no time for pleasantries. You must know why we came, don’t you?”

Hua Tuo smiled gently.

“Of course, I understand what the Human Emperor seeks. But I’m afraid I can no longer fight alongside him.”

He knelt down, letting the golden blood soak his white robes, gently touching the herbs on the ground, murmuring,

“My sins run too deep—I am no longer fit to fight for humanity.”

“Sins? What sins?” Chen Yan asked, puzzled.

Hua Tuo slowly rose, his smile unwavering.

“The past is best left unspoken. Look at this and you will understand.”

At once, Hua Tuo’s eyes turned blood-red, his face contorted into a terrifying, ruthless visage.

It was as if another person had taken his place; the murderous aura emanating from him made even the battle-hardened Great Sage shudder.

The Sage’s face grew serious as he asked,

“Boy, what exactly is this Hua Tuo? You’ve got even me a little on edge.”

Chen Yan was equally baffled.

In his memory, Hua Tuo was known only as a divine healer with transcendent medical skills—nothing more.

But this Hua Tuo before him shocked him; his strength rivaled the Great Sage’s, causing Chen Yan to question his own memories.

How could someone so powerful have been beheaded by Cao Cao? Had history been altered?

Before they could act, the murderous Hua Tuo suddenly clutched his head and fell to his knees, writhing in agony.

“Sorry! Sorry! No, it wasn’t me! I’m not the demon doctor—they weren’t killed by me!

No, it wasn’t me!”

His mind seemed on the verge of collapse.

Then his gaze fell upon the divine corpses on the ground, fury blazing in his eyes.

He swung his right hand, unleashing countless flying needles into the bodies.

In an instant, the corpses began to swell rapidly, bursting apart in mere moments.

“It’s you! You! You damn gods forced me to kill, forced me to grow stronger fast—it’s you! Die, die!”

His face twisted in madness, needles flying ceaselessly.

Every corpse struck exploded violently.

The needles that fell to the ground dissolved like water, seeping into the earth.

In that moment, the madness lifted, and before them stood once more the courteous Hua Tuo.

He looked at them and said,

“I trust you now understand the origin of this transcendent medical art. As for me, I have... lost the ability to fight for humanity.”