I Can Devour Spirits

Artifact: Dirty Note Ancient Book

Artifact Spirit Tier: Two

Devouring Requirements: Host’s Spiritual Power Level 2 (Satisfied)

Devouring Effect: Mastery of medical theory, mastery of medicinal properties discussions

Duan Rong looked at the data panel that appeared before him, furrowing his brow, his eyes glinting.

He remembered, the last time he tried to read the Five Tigers and Sheep Blade Secret Manual given by Xiao Zongting, the devouring effect of that manual was blank, but this heirloom from Gu Suxiu’s grandfather contained a Tier Two Artifact Spirit.

Duan Rong’s thoughts churned, and then he understood the reason behind it.

The manual given by Xiao Zongting was transcribed by Xiao Baijiao. Xiao Baijiao originally didn’t understand any of the content in that manual; she merely copied it verbatim, and after writing, it was handed over to the apprentice escort master by Xiao Zongting.

These apprentice escort masters only referred to the manual when they encountered doubts during their martial arts practice, without making annotations, let alone spending decades flipping through it repeatedly.

However, the medical book heirloom from Gu Suxiu’s grandfather was different. Gu Suxiu’s grandfather had read this book for half his life and even was reading it on his deathbed, annotating it yearly, soaking much of his mind into it.

This is how the two Tier Two mastery artifact spirits in the book were born.

Duan Rong realized the reason, and his heart brightened with understanding. His eyes focused, and he silently said, ”Devour.”

As the data panel before him swayed and dissipated, Duan Rong closed the heirloom in his hand and returned it to Gu Suxiu. He shook his head, saying, ”The handwriting is completely different, and it also seems from the handwriting that there is no master-disciple legacy.”

Hearing this, Gu Suxiu’s eyes dimmed as he carefully took back his grandfather’s heirloom handed over by Duan Rong. He originally thought that if Duan Rong truly had ties with his Gu Family, he could extend some care, but now it seemed he may have thought too much.

Duan Rong handed the heirloom back to Gu Suxiu, when suddenly his eyes moved; he spotted a small wooden Buddha pendant inside the wooden box. It had previously been covered by the heirloom, so he hadn’t noticed it.

Duan Rong’s heart stirred, and he reached out to hold the Buddha pendant, then mentally said, ”Read Artifact Spirit.”

Another set of data appeared before Duan Rong’s eyes.

Artifact: Wooden Buddha Pendant (Damaged)

Artifact Spirit Tier: Three

Devouring Requirements: Host’s Spiritual Power Level 3 (Satisfied)

Devouring Effect: Mastery of difficult and complex illnesses (imperfect), moderate success in formulating decoctions (imperfect), moderate success in needle techniques (imperfect)

Duan Rong looked at the devouring effects before him, surprised at heart: two moderate successes and one mastery, but unfortunately, they were all imperfect.

It seemed that Gu Suxiu’s grandfather was indeed medically skilled, but unfortunately, the pendant was damaged, and all the artifact spirits were incomplete.

Duan Rong regretfully looked at the Buddha pendant in his hand, finding it quite intact with no obvious damage.

Duan Rong was momentarily puzzled.

Seeing Duan Rong curiously looking at the Buddha pendant, Gu Suxiu said, ”This was my grandfather’s personal item. I’ve kept it in this wooden box, but a few years ago, I accidentally discovered it was worm-eaten. So, every year after that, I’ve taken it out and smoked it with wormwood.”

”Worm-eaten?” Duan Rong finally saw a few tiny wormholes on the back of the Buddha pendant.

”Perhaps the worms hollowed out a lot of the inside of this Buddha...” Duan Rong thought to himself, then mentally said, ”Devour!”

Though the three devouring effects were all imperfect, they were after all two moderate successes and one mastery; it would be a pity not to devour them.

Duan Rong placed the Buddha pendant back into the wooden box. He then thought that earlier, when he entered, there was also a Buddha statue enshrined in the shrine at the side of the entrance, indicating that the Gu Family had a long tradition of believing in Buddhism.

”After all, it’s an old object, and it’s made of wood, which attracts insects.” He said casually.

Gu Suxiu nodded, placed the heirloom back into the wooden box, and then put the wooden box back into the cupboard in the corner.

Just as Gu Suxiu put it away and was about to turn around, a deep male voice called from the front hall of the medical hall, ”Doctor Gu, Doctor Gu!”

The two of them left the back hall together and headed to the front medical hall.

They saw that a couple had arrived; the woman was heavily pregnant, walking with difficulty, supported by a lean man beside her.

At the sight of these two, Gu Suxiu said, ”Madam Xu, have the fetus-preserving medicines helped?”

”They’ve helped a bit, but she keeps waking up in the middle of the night!” said the lean man supporting his wife immediately.

Seeing Gu Suxiu attending to patients, Duan Rong excused himself and left.

Duan Rong walked on the street, feeling incredibly drowsy; in the past half-hour, he had devoured three artifact spirits in succession.

Two Tier Three artifact spirits, one Tier Two artifact spirit.

These were not Tree Spirits, which digest extremely slowly without any adverse reactions.

Actually, after cultivating the Fetal Concealment Scripture, Duan Rong could already adapt to the discomfort following an Artifact Spirit’s devouring; if he only devoured one Artifact Spirit, he could respond normally, even if he didn’t sleep.

However, now, having devoured three artifact spirits, he immediately felt as if his brain had been filled with lead...

Duan Rong, with heavy steps, walked back to Liu’s House, climbed onto the bed, and instantly fell into a deep, heavy sleep...

After nearly two hours of sleep, Duan Rong awoke slowly. He stretched, finding that the discomfort in his head had completely vanished. Feeling hungry, Duan Rong sprang out of bed, walked out of his room, washed his face, glanced at the sun above the willow branches, estimating it to be just the right time for lunch at the courtyard canteen, and headed briskly to the dining area to eat.

After eating, Duan Rong returned to Liu’s House, sat on a stone chair in the simple pavilion in the courtyard, and sat there for over an hour...

After sitting for an hour, Duan Rong suddenly stood up and began pacing back and forth in the courtyard...

He had digested and absorbed two Tier Three and one Tier Two artifact spirits, containing not only Gu Suxiu’s knowledge but also his grandfather’s. It could be said that his medical skills, including his understanding of medical theory and medicinal properties, had now far surpassed Gu Suxiu’s.

But Duan Rong found that these were no help in solving the problem he wanted to address.

Because, whether it was Gu Suxiu or his grandfather, their medical skills and theories were all about treating ordinary people’s diseases.

While what Duan Rong wanted to solve was the issue of medicinal supplementation for martial artists cultivating Inner Breath.

These are entirely different fields.

Although Duan Rong understood almost all medicinal properties, this understanding was based on medical theory related to illnesses.

And the effect of these medicinal properties on Inner Breath is actually another subject entirely.

Duan Rong suddenly understood that to solve his problem, he needed a person who cultivated both medical and martial arts but leaned towards medicine.

Because, if one doesn’t cultivate, how could one understand the relationship between medicinal properties and Inner Breath?

However, is there such a person in Xianggu County?

Duan Rong had never heard of one!

Duan Rong believed that there must be people who cultivate both medical and martial arts in this world; otherwise, where would those medicinal supplement prescriptions come from?

It’s just that Xianggu County is too isolated, lacking such rare talents.

Duan Rong couldn’t help but sigh; even though he had the ability to devour artifact spirits, without the resources, it’s like a clever woman cannot cook without rice. Xianggu County simply doesn’t have people who cultivate both medical and martial arts, so where could he go to devour them?

”It seems the problem of medicinal permeability is likely unsolvable for now.” Duan Rong sighed deeply and had to put this issue aside.

Now, he had no choice but to pursue cultivation frantically as this was the only perilous path he could take!

”If I don’t shed a layer of skin, I probably won’t make it!” A fierce light shone in Duan Rong’s eyes; he had already decided to resolutely focus on the Complete Round Pile Skill in the days to come.