Eternal Life Begins with Learning

Night fell, and the snowstorm gradually subsided.

Chu Mu had arrived at Mingxin Hall. He sat to the side with a medical text in hand, occasionally voicing his questions for Elder Li to answer.

Elder Li leaned back in his chair, leisurely sipping hot tea. In response to Chu Mu’s questions, he was often a man of few words, but his replies were always piercingly accurate.

In Chu Mu’s eyes, the saying "old and cunning as a demon" perfectly described the silver-haired Elder Li.

What Chu Mu didn’t know was that the seemingly relaxed Elder Li couldn’t help but be startled every time he taught him.

Or rather, anyone would be startled when faced with a genius who defied common sense.

What took a normal person months to learn, a genius could grasp in just a few days—and to a greater depth.

And in the eyes of others, Chu Mu was undoubtedly such a genius.

This was certainly true in Elder Li’s eyes as well.

From the basics of Qi Blood to his current deep dive into Medical Skill, their repeated interactions over the past one or two months had made this an undeniable fact.

"The path of medicine is one of healing the sick and aiding the world. Reading medical texts is not enough; one must also apply them in practice."

"Only by treating the sick, saving lives, and helping the world can one truly probe the mysteries of the medical path."

"Brother Mu, if you wish to dedicate yourself to medicine, you must remember this."

In a pause between questions and answers, Elder Li spoke slowly.

Chu Mu looked up at the impassive Elder Li, suddenly unable to grasp the true meaning behind his words.

He was well aware that Elder Li was displeased with the Inspector for treating human lives like grass.

But ever since he started learning medicine, Elder Li had always taught him impartially, never saying anything beyond answering his questions.

Chu Mu tried to guess his intentions. ’To say something like this now...’ But after speaking, Elder Li said no more. With his eyes half-closed, his true meaning was impossible to discern.

Chu Mu could only feign ignorance and nod in acknowledgment.

Though it was just an acknowledgment, Elder Li’s words sparked an idea in Chu Mu’s mind.

Previously, whenever he thought a situation was hopeless, his first instinct was to flee without a second thought, believing that the world was vast and there would always be a place for him.

Now, after studying medicine for over half a month, he had some basic knowledge. If things truly became impossible again, he might be able to use his Medical Skill to make a living after escaping.

He could find a secluded place to study medicine, practice medicine, and train in martial arts...

Slowly build his foundation, strengthen himself, and then seek an opportunity to glimpse that higher level of the Extraordinary.

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Chu Mu felt an inexplicable stirring. Such a life seemed far better than his current one, where he was often a puppet to circumstances and his life was constantly in danger!

But he quickly suppressed this sudden impulse.

’It sounds good, but... I have to hold on to some hope, even if it’s just a sliver of it.’

And Nanshan Town had it.

The desiccated corpse still hung high, and the mine was still a place of cruelty.

Even if he himself was unwilling to face it, even if he wished he could just live this routine life forever...

Chu Mu pressed his lips together, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down. The pages of the book began to turn once more.

Late at night, the closed doors of Mingxin Hall finally creaked open, and Chu Mu’s figure appeared on the dimly lit street.

’Where are the patrolmen?’

Chu Mu frowned as he looked at the empty, dark street. ’The town’s Inspectors have been on Guardian duty for over half a month and have long since lost their initial vigilance, but it can’t be that there isn’t even a single patrolman in sight, can it?’

As he scanned his surroundings, a sense of vigilance rose in Chu Mu’s heart. His hand slowly moved to the hilt of his blade as he started to walk.

Inside Mingxin Hall, Elder Li had already stood up. He watched Chu Mu’s cautious departure with a complex expression in his eyes.

And then, a man in green robes abruptly appeared in the shop. If Chu Mu had turned back, he would have been utterly horrified.

Having studied medicine at Mingxin Hall for over half a month, he knew very well that none of Elder Li’s apprentices stayed overnight. At night, Elder Li was the only one in Mingxin Hall.

Furthermore, Chu Mu had been studying in the shop for nearly two hours, and he hadn’t seen a single trace of anyone else.

Yet now, with the man in green robes standing right beside him, Elder Li showed no surprise at all. He seemed to know him and looked over at him.

The man in green robes stood beside the chair where Chu Mu had been sitting. With a wave of his hand, a small stone shimmering with a faint white light suddenly emerged from the chair and floated into his palm.

Then, the man in green robes flipped his hand, and the faintly glowing stone vanished. He looked at Elder Li and said coolly, "A Four Element Pseudo Spirit Root. There’s no need to cultivate him."

"What a pity."

Elder Li shook his head and sighed. "This child’s comprehension is the greatest I have ever seen in my life!"

"There’s nothing to pity."

The man in green robes said coldly, "Spirit Root Talent is determined by fate. This talk of comprehension is too vague and ethereal. Just because he has an aptitude for your Medical Skill doesn’t mean he has the same aptitude for other things."

"We are not some great power. We cannot possibly waste so many resources cultivating a Pseudo Spirit Root, gambling on his future."

At this, the man in green robes paused. His gaze seemed to pierce through the walls, and a playful smirk touched his lips. "A few little mice have arrived."

"There’s the scent of Blood Qi... hmm... and a Resentful Soul. Interesting..."

Elder Li sighed softly. "That must be those poor souls from Qili Village..."

"Oh?"

The man in green robes was a little curious.

"You know the inside story?"

Elder Li slowly began to explain. "You just arrived today, so of course you wouldn’t know. It’s..."

The man in green robes’s eyes lit up. "Are you saying these little mice have a True Inheritor among them?"

"I examined that corpse. It did not decay after death, and its bones were like jade. In life, he must have walked the path of Body Refining and likely reached a level above the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation."

The man in green robes looked at Elder Li with suspicion. "Tsk tsk, an expert above the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation... He must have had quite a fortune. Old Li, you didn’t make a move?"

Elder Li shook his head. "They are all wretched people. Why must we make things difficult for one another?"

"Have you treated so many mortals that you’ve made yourself stupid?"

The man in green robes was dismissive, his gaze fixed on the wall. "With the scent of Blood Qi and a Resentful Soul, those ’wretched people’ you speak of are no saints themselves!"

Elder Li fell silent.

"Still, it’s an unexpected gain..."

The man in green robes was eager to act.

"Don’t be rash!"

Elder Li immediately stopped him. "That man from the Nanshan Li Family is in town! The moment you make a move, he’ll surely discover you!"

The man in green robes looked unwilling, but in the end, he didn’t move. Instead, he looked at Elder Li and sneered.

"If I wait until these little mice are out of town before I act, I won’t draw any attention, will I?"

"Do as you wish!"

Anger crossed Elder Li’s face. "The orders from above are very clear anyway. Our target is the Cold Blood Ore!"

"Our superiors have already found out. This time, Li Chang has kept the news of the Cold Blood Ore to himself and hasn’t notified the Li Family. He’s mining it secretly!"

"Even if we steal it, he won’t dare make a big deal out of it. He’ll even have to cover for us!"

"Li Chang has had his eye on these little guys for a while now; he just hasn’t had the time to deal with them."

"If you mess things up for some petty gain..."

...