Chapter 51: The Year Lingsha Was Still Called Danzhu (Patreon)

【With the Vidyadhara Elders giving you the green light the entire way, your path was unobstructed. You rose through the ranks, eventually replacing Yunhua to become the new Commission Head of the Alchemy Commission.】

【During your ascent, you weren't impatient for quick success. Instead, you proceeded methodically, rising at a normal pace.】

【In the eyes of the uninformed, you were a humble, gentle, and refined physician with a wide network and great popularity.】

【Your promotion speed was perfectly normal. Most people would only remark that your path to promotion was remarkably smooth.】

【However, considering your kind nature and excellent interpersonal skills, with nearly everyone praising you as a good person, it was hardly strange.】

【Without arousing anyone's suspicion, you successfully took the throne as the Commission Head of the Luofu's Alchemy Commission.】

【Due to the Imbibitor Lunae Sedition, the Vidyadhara suffered heavy losses, souring their relationship with the Xianzhou natives. Compounded by Jing Yuan having just taken office and various other reasons, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, within the Luofu Alchemy Commission—originally the private domain of the Vidyadhara—resurged from the ashes.】

【With your deliberate indulgence, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus rapidly grew in power and influence.】

【However, the current chieftain of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus either had something wrong with his brain or had deluded himself along with his followers. He foolishly came to persuade you, attempting to make you join the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.】

【“Your Excellency is a person who has delved deep into the art of medicine. You should know that medicine is but a minor path. The more one studies it, the more one perceives its limits. Only by believing in the Merciful Medicus can one cure the stubborn malady known as ‘short life’ and enjoy eternal existence, free from illness and disaster.”】

【You glanced at the cup of tea he had already half-drained, and your expressionless face suddenly broke into a smile.】

【“Has anyone ever told you that your speech is terrible?”】

【The chieftain was taken aback for a moment, then flew into a rage. “You!”】

【You looked at him with an indifferent expression and said, “In this month alone, the Ground-Balance Commission has already sent three teams to secretly investigate the Alchemy Commission. If I hadn't blocked them for you, you would have been exposed long ago! You idiot!”】

【“You really are a clueless idiot,” you sneered.】

【Your words made the chieftain's face turn pale, then flush with anger.】

【Before he could retort, you continued, “What I want is for the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus to be my dog, not for me to be a dog for the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus!”】

【“You! How arrogant! You're not worthy—!” The chieftain shot to his feet, pointing a finger at your nose.】

【Just as he was about to unleash a torrent of curses, the poison you had placed in his tea took effect. He immediately began rolling on the ground, scratching at an unbearable itch.】

【As he writhed on the floor, he screamed, “Impossible! I am blessed by the Merciful Medicus, how can I be poisoned!?”】

【Hearing this, you couldn't help but find it amusing. On your list of research subjects, the most numerous were the Followers of Abundance from various species, followed by the Vidyadhara.】

【No one understood the weaknesses of the Followers of Abundance better than you.】

【You rose gracefully to your feet, looking down on him from above.】

【“Am I worthy now?”】

【The fool walked right into your trap, allowing you to seize control of the Luofu's Disciples of Sanctus Medicus from the shadows with utmost ease.】

【Now, from the Alchemy Commission to Scalegorge Waterscape, the private domain of the Luofu Vidyadhara has fallen completely under your control.】

【You have become the underground emperor of the Vidyadhara.】

【And so, you finally began the next phase of your plan: to study the Luofu's greatest taboo, the divine miracle of Abundance sealed deep within Scalegorge Waterscape—the Ambrosial Arbor.】

Only after taking complete control of the Vidyadhara and creating a sufficiently sealed-off intelligence barrier did he begin his research on the Ambrosial Arbor.

Methodical, cautious, and step-by-step, with a strong sense of purpose. Victor could only exclaim that he had learned a lesson he could never apply.

The Ambrosial Arbor has always been there. Did the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus not make a move on this divine miracle of Abundance because they didn't want to?

Of course not. It was because the Luofu, even in its most chaotic and perilous moments, maintained a strict guard over the Ambrosial Arbor, giving the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus no opportunity.

It would only be in the future, when the Luofu's internal strength was greatly diminished and a power vacuum had formed, with the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus stirring up trouble, the Vidyadhara Elders cooperating, and the Lord of Annihilation, Phantylia, watching menacingly from the outside.

Only under the extreme conditions of internal and external threats did the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus finally succeed.

This shows just how difficult it is to make a move on the Ambrosial Arbor.

As for why his simulated self went to such great lengths, it was, of course, for the power of Abundance within the Ambrosial Arbor.

【Although you had made ample preparations, the might of an Aeon is not so easily controlled. Despite your extraordinary talent in the medical arts, you hit a wall when faced with the power of Abundance, and your research progressed at a snail's pace.】

【However, you were not anxious. You had plenty of patience and time. Even if you only made a tiny bit of progress each time, you firmly believed that you would eventually succeed.】

【The long days of research were tedious and dull. Moreover, as the Commission Head of the Alchemy Commission, you could not disappear from public view for long.】

【So, you researched the Ambrosial Arbor in secret while maintaining your public persona: a humble, gentle, and refined good old man, devoted to the art of medicine.】

【A little girl named Danzhu thus barged into your life.】

【She was of the new generation of Vidyadhara and had shown unparalleled medical talent from a young age. Everyone praised her as a genius, the future Commission Head of the Alchemy Commission.】

【She was sent to the Alchemy Commission and became your disciple.】

【In your eyes, she was just a somewhat troublesome brat.】

【In order not to expose your secrets, you constantly maintained the persona of a gentle and kind old man in her presence.】

【You just didn't expect this little one to be exceptionally lively, constantly circling around you, and seemingly having an endless stream of questions.】

Most children are rather hyperactive. This isn't just due to personality; to a large extent, it's to attract their parents' attention.

The Vidyadhara are even more special. Born from Vidyadhara eggs, they are innately parentless. The teachers responsible for their instruction thus take on the role of parents.

【In order to maintain your persona, you could only patiently answer her questions.】

【Who would have thought that the little one, as if encouraged, would become even more attached and clingy.】

【Even when raising a pet, feelings can develop over time, let alone with a person.】

【Danzhu's appearance brought a splash of vibrant color to your dull life, and you gradually grew accustomed to having her around.】

【As the days turned into years, Danzhu slowly grew up, and you noticed she was becoming more and more like a little snake.】

【Now, not only did she like to cling to you, but she also enjoyed sniffing you all over.】

【To cover your tracks and prevent any clues from being revealed, you had to meticulously clean yourself after every research session and then perform an operation you had never done before: using incense.】

【The very first day you used incense, the exceptionally keen-nosed Danzhu discovered it, and then this little clinger began her performance.】