Chapter 18: Seven Encounters, Two Vanishings

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Seven bronze lamps, arranged in the shape of a ladle. Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, and blue flames flickered in sequence, matching the arrangement in the Astronomical Office, but the purple lamp remained unlit.

Stepping into the exclusive chamber of Chief Physician Chao, Ling Xuan was momentarily stunned and quickly inquired, "Lord Chao, this lamp isn’t lit—could it be out of oil?"

Twisting his long beard, Chief Physician Chao smiled and replied, "Would the Astronomical Office or the Medical Department ever run out of lamp oil?"

"The Astronomical Office? Does this lamp have something to do with them?"

Ling Xuan suddenly realized, "No wonder it looks so familiar. I think I’ve seen it before."

"The Seven Star Shikigami Lamp," explained Chief Physician Chao. "The purple light is unlit because the Great Shikigami has not yet fully returned; the seven-star Great Shikigami has not yet appeared. When all seven points of the Great Shikigami’s star shine, it forms the shape of the Big Dipper, no longer just seven stars in a row."

"Lord Chao, before all seven star points light up, is it impossible to identify the Great Shikigami from the stars?" Ling Xuan respectfully asked.

"Each Great Shikigami has its own concealment abilities," Chief Physician Chao nodded slowly. "To discover the twelve Great Shikigami hosts, besides the Astronomical Office’s celestial observations, the Medical Department’s research on demonic souls is crucial—using the four diagnostic techniques: inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and palpation."

His fingers brushed over the rosewood relief of the Divine Farmer tasting herbs on the medical decree. Suddenly, a surge of heat emanated from the coiled serpent and crescent moon design, and a crimson star flickered in the pupil of the single eye, reflecting the Divine Farmer’s gaze.

In Ling Xuan’s mind, seven colors—red, orange, green-black, blue, purple—interwove continuously, triggering the Qi observation technique.

The yin and yang energies within him began to circulate. Ling Xuan was stunned. "What... is happening?"

Hadn’t Chief Physician Chao said that this technique required opening the Qi Sea or the Shikigami star to reach four stars before it could be comprehended? Why was it manifesting now?

The yin-yang energies condensed in his eyes, forming a yin-yang vortex. To Ling Xuan’s surprise, this vortex drifted toward the crescent birthmark of the coiled serpent and moon, concentrating within the crimson star’s glow.

"This..."

Ling Xuan was confused—was it himself cultivating the Qi observation technique, or was the coiled serpent and moon doing so?

A soft hissing sound came as a small white snake leapt onto his shoulder, its body coiling and triangular head held high.

Chief Physician Chao seemed unaware. "Young Prince, as you head to Zhuo Commandery, be sure to carefully observe the demonic souls controlled by Goguryeo. Though you haven’t yet cultivated the Qi observation technique, if you can activate the White Chi bloodline in the little white snake, it will greatly assist you."

"Lord Chao, is the Qi observation technique related to the Shikigami?" Ling Xuan hurriedly asked.

Chao nodded slightly and continued, "Shikigami originate from demonic souls. Diseases and parasites are actually manifestations of demonic soul infestation. The seven points of the Shikigami’s star correspond to the demonic soul’s rank."

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"Lord, must one open the Qi Sea or reach the Spirit rank of the Shikigami to comprehend the Qi observation technique?" Ling Xuan wondered. If so, what had he just comprehended?

"When a Shikigami is refined, the essence of the demonic soul gathers in the eyes, forming star points. The demonic soul flows through the body over time, shifting position. Acupuncture with silver needles aims to pierce that concentrated demonic soul essence."

Chief Physician Chao pointed to the Seven Star Shikigami Lamp. "These seven colors represent ranks. The corpse worm has reached the cyan glow stage. Your silver needle can force it out but cannot pierce it; this is why."

That wasn’t exactly a direct answer.

Ling Xuan was slightly taken aback but began to understand why the Taiji Wuji technique required transformation through seven colors—it corresponded to the seven stages of demonic souls.

He felt relieved. Had the few strands of demonic soul from Uncle Gou not been red-black, he might really have been overwhelmed and fallen victim to some curse.

Even with Ye Ziyan by his side, her Purple Phoenix required Ling Xuan’s own coiled serpent and moon star to advance before it could unleash its true power.

Chief Physician Chao paused briefly, then continued, "When a Shikigami reaches Spirit rank and comprehends the four diagnostic techniques, it is because Spirit rank brings spiritual awareness. Shikigami need Qi to nourish them; opening the Qi Sea allows one to condense the Qi required by the Shikigami. To comprehend this technique prematurely, one must possess a Great Shikigami."

Ling Xuan’s heart leapt with joy. What he had just comprehended was indeed genuine Qi observation technique. He feigned ignorance and asked, "Why can a Great Shikigami comprehend it early?"

"A Great Shikigami is just that—great," Chief Physician Chao said slowly. "There is no mortal rank for it. Even a single-star red glow can suppress a three-star yellow Shikigami. But to reach Spirit rank requires the corresponding star glow."

"Is that so?" Ling Xuan was surprised. Even Qiu Rui of Changping and Yang Xuangan didn’t know this secret. Could this be the Medical Department’s research into demonic souls?

Nodding slowly, Chief Physician Chao pointed to the vast map of the Great Sui territory. "Young Prince, what does the Demon Suppression Abyss look like to you?"

The Demon Suppression Abyss, centered on Luoyang, extends north to Zhuo Commandery and south to Yuhang. Ling Xuan didn’t immediately understand and asked, "Lord Chao, what do you mean?"

"The divine capital is where heaven and man unite. The Demon Suppression Abyss is like the Ren and Du meridians. When practicing acupuncture, especially Taiji needle technique, understanding its underlying principles is essential."

Twisting his long beard, Chief Physician Chao looked solemn. "The highest physician heals the nation, the middle heals the people, the lowest heals the illness. Young Prince, now that you have been granted the title of heir apparent and blessed by the nation’s fortune, you must grasp this principle."

Heir apparent blessed by the nation’s fortune?

Could this be why Qiu Rui, the King of Changping, risked betraying the emperor to secure the divine emperor’s appointment of Ling Xuan as heir?

Ye Ziyan, former Princess Chen, whose Purple Phoenix was bound by the Ice Evil Curse—could this also relate to the nation’s fortune?

Ling Xuan paused, a smile rising at the corner of his lips. "Lord Chao, I must quickly advance the crimson one-eyed little snake, or else when I go to Zhuo Commandery, I won’t stand a chance against the orange glow demonic souls. That would be ungrateful to the divine emperor’s great favor."

"Young Prince is wise," Chief Physician Chao nodded with a smile. "But do not be too impatient. Shikigami advancement also requires cultivation level improvement."

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"Lord Chao, if Shikigami and demonic souls must be equivalent, what then is the relationship with cultivation level?" Taking the opportunity, Ling Xuan voiced his confusion.

Chief Physician Chao was slightly surprised. Considering Ling Xuan had just been found by Qiu Rui, King of Changping—a mere rustic farmer—being able to learn Taiji needle technique was indeed a stroke of fate.

With a soft sigh, he drew out a thread-bound book. "This matter is hard to explain briefly. Young Prince, you may study the Medical Department’s years of research, 'Treatise on the Origins and Manifestations of Demonic Souls,' to gain some understanding."

Ling Xuan quickly took it and tucked it into his bosom, a smile playing on his lips. "Lord Chao, I will study it diligently."

Chief Physician Chao pondered briefly. Yang Xuangan, the King of Yue, had advised several times to grant Ling Xuan more freedom rather than bind him with Medical Department rules.

He smiled. "The King of Yue has given you two weeks to prepare. The Young Princess just opened her Qi Sea and needs time to consolidate. You may return first to care for her."

"Lord Chao truly understands me," Ling Xuan smiled gratefully. "When the King returns, I will be sure to thank you properly."

Laughing heartily, Chief Physician Chao reminded him, "During this time, study the 'Treatise on the Origins and Manifestations of Demonic Souls' as it will surely aid your journey to Zhuo Commandery. If the Medical Department needs anything, I will send Sun Tianxin to find you."

"Thank you, Lord Chao," Ling Xuan hurried to take his leave. Since Chao said this, it surely held deeper meaning; otherwise, he would not be so insistent.

Seeing Ling Xuan leave joyfully, Chief Physician Cui muttered to himself. Those who come to seek fame don’t know why Lord Chao values him so much. But as the chief physician, heading to Zhuo Commandery—let’s see how you manage.

At the Changping Royal Residence, Ye Ziyan looked up at the sky. Her crystal violet eyes shimmered with a faint purple halo. Noticing the darkening sky and the absence of the gray falcon, she leapt gracefully into the Astronomical Office just beyond the wall.

The Astronomical Office has twenty-eight rooms arranged according to the twenty-eight lunar mansions, but most important are seven small buildings connected to form the shape of the Big Dipper ladle.

Each of the seven buildings is topped with a bronze lamp, corresponding to the seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple.

Ye Ziyan’s aim was clear: to investigate the purple bronze lamp on the roof, the only one unlit, whose truth remained impenetrable. There seemed to be an invisible barrier obstructing her view.

A purple glow flickered in her eyes. Inside the barrier, an orange light flashed. Ye Ziyan’s breath quickened. "Could it be the Orange Needle?"

Drawing near the cluster of seven bronze-lamp buildings, she suddenly felt an invisible force surge forth, weighing her down as if bearing a thousand pounds, sinking into a sticky mire that slowed her movements. Her mind tensed. "How could this be?"

Purple markings appeared on her neck, her violet eyes blazing bright. She realized this invisible force was intimately connected to two unremarkable small buildings nearby. Her vision blurred. "Seven visible, two hidden—could the Astronomical Director of the Divine Dynasty be connected to our Great Chen?"