*Crack!*
Another fissure split open along the bone blade, and fragments sloughed away like irrelevant twigs pruned from a main branch, leaving the limpid edge ever more elusive.
It was growing. No, it was more like it was being nurtured, or rather smelted.
From within this intangible furnace woven of Sovereign Virtue, Vile Folly, life, death, hope, and despair, the power of Non-Offensive circulated soundlessly in the craftsman's hands, reforging the light of Mercy!
*Pop!*
The sound of a bursting bubble rang out once more. Amid broken wails, a mangled corpse was pulled from the churning flesh at the sound of Ji Jue's shout.
Even now, the broken figure's hand clutched a cloth soaked deep in blood, gripping it tightly, refusing to let go.
Dim eyes opened, as if weeping, and lips soundlessly parted and closed for an instant.
Like a plea.
"I know," Ji Jue said. "Leave it to me."
And so, the bones shattered, reduced to ashes. The faint light of spiritus scattered into the air, yet a single thread quietly melted into the blade in Ji Jue's hand.
It caused the fleeting edge to grow by an insignificant sliver once more.
Patient Number Two: cured!
Then came the third, the fourth, the fifth...
Ji Jue panted heavily, barely able to keep his footing, his lower half already submerged in writhing flesh. Yet his movements grew faster and faster, increasingly practiced.
Tong Hua struggled to keep up, flustered and overwhelmed.
"Tissue scissors."
"Retractor, pull harder."
"Don't lose heart. Again."
"Wipe sweat. My eyes."
"Give me pliers and a bone plate..."
Dizzy and disoriented, Tong Hua turned back in a daze, fumbling around the cart, but found nothing. Just as Ji Jue called out again and panic overtook her, she noticed a figure that had appeared beside her at some point without her realizing.
It was Xie Lan.
He patted Tong Hua on the shoulder, handing over the tools in her stead. Then, his other hand took the retractor she was still gripping, pulling the line taut to open the incision wide once more.
Taking her place as first assistant, he fulfilled a doctor's duty in this operation.
"Scan," Ji Jue said without looking back.
Tong Hua reached out again, channeling everything she perceived into Ji Jue's sight. The bone blade struck down and traced its path, slash after slash. Amid the tangled flesh, the merged mass of souls was divided once again beneath the ethereal edge.
Excising rot and contamination, severing fusion and aberration.
Once again, he pulled silent souls free from the putrid tumor.
"Thank you... thank you..." Faces whose contours could barely be distinguished twitched as if in tears, but soon stiffened completely and broke apart.
Reduced to ashes.
Death.
After lingering for so many years, death—like salvation—arrived in waves, amid the doctors' joyous songs and weeping!
One after another...
The sounds of fracturing were continuous, and fissures spread across the vault of heaven like spiderwebs.
As the tumor withered and broke apart, the projection of the White Manor swiftly dispersed. Yet the gazes cast from within seemed to multiply—mocking or contemptuous, yet none looking away.
Bound by the etiquette passed down from that ancient oath, they watched intently, bearing witness to it all.
Bearing witness to the arrival of salvation and death.
*
At this very moment, outside the Chrono Ruin, utter chaos reigned.
The instant the aura of the Abyssal Void emerged from the Chrono Ruin, the alarm across Yacheng had been raised to its highest level. Yet what followed soundlessly was Ascension.
The crest of Sovereign Virtue appeared within the vortex of the Chrono Ruin, manifesting blessings and quintessence.
And then, what descended was the White Manor.
Yet before long, the rekindled fire of Embers lit up from the gloom, illuminating everything.
Outside, the search-and-rescue teams and emergency departments, having only just completed mobilization, had fallen into complete disarray. Everyone was utterly baffled. Tong Shan already stood beneath the vortex, eyes wide, unwilling to miss the slightest detail.
"What's going on?"
Lu Shenzhou from Nanlu District had only just arrived, his bald head drenched in rain. Taking in the situation before him, he was completely at a loss. "So many auras of Sovereign Virtue and Vile Folly?"
"I'm starting to think Sovereign Virtue and the Nine Vices are holding a conference in there," Tong Ting joked from under an umbrella nearby, easing the rigid atmosphere at the scene slightly.
Beside him, Wen Wen, who stood with arms crossed, fingers tapping her arm, froze for an instant as if recalling something, incredulous.
"Mutual Transmutation of Virtue and Vice?"
She instinctively lowered her voice. "Weren't we told that it was al..."
"Shh!"
Tong Ting brought a finger to his lips.
Such topics were not to be discussed at all.
In the end, he only whispered, "It can't happen in the mundane world, but Chrono Ruins and Border Realms exist independently beyond it. Who can say for sure? It might just be..."
In that split second, his words cut off abruptly.
He tilted his umbrella down slightly, as if trying to hide the shock in the corners of his eyes.
No one cared about his words or expression anymore. Everyone raised their heads in shock, looking up at the sky full of dark clouds and torrential rain...
And at the sudden flash of light piercing the gloomy curtain of rain.
Then came a second streak, a third...
Threads of dancing shimmer converged from all directions, surging like rivers—some swift as leopards, others steady as elephants, nimble as wings in flight, solemn as the song of great whales.
Those ten thousand distinct rivers of radiance converged with one another, the tributaries of life gathering and overlapping layer upon layer, until at last they transformed into a magnificent, endlessly circulating ring.
From that dazzling, surging flow where myriad tributaries converged, the silhouette of Sovereign Virtue manifested.
Ruler of Life and Death, Cycle of All Spirits.
—Sovereign Virtue: Vortex!
"What is this?"
Tong Shan threw his head back and blurted, "A Sovereign Virtue Conscription?"
The form of Sovereign Virtue reigned supreme over Yacheng at this moment.
Moreover, unlike its usual hidden, elusive nature, it had manifested openly and brazenly before everyone's eyes—a rare occurrence, happening once again after several months!
It was as if it was calling out to something!
Yet no one answered.
Amid the lonely rain, after a long silence, the shining light dispersed, and the presiding Sovereign Virtue turned and departed, never to reappear.
Only cries of shock and shouts of panic suddenly erupted from the temporary camp, voices clamoring. In midair, the near-collapsing vortex shuddered violently once more.
Finally, it fell apart completely!
Beams of searing light erupted from within, only to be contained by the secret rituals and barriers erected around the perimeter. Strong winds buffeted their faces, and the heavy rain gradually tapered off.
Everyone braced as if facing a mortal enemy.
Yet following the shattering of the Chrono Ruin, there was no eruption of corruption as expected, nor any lingering aura of evil vice.
Only at the end of the rumbling echoes and roaring did a single faint, lingering resonance sound.
Like a soft sigh of contentment and relief.
It drifted away with the wind, gone forever.
Then, out of the disturbed fragments of light, more than a dozen silhouettes emerged—some intact, some battered, disheveled or composed... The Celestial Chosen had returned!
Yet everyone's eyes were drawn to the figure at the very front.
A bloodstained white coat fluttered in the wind.
A badge swayed.
Carrying an iron box bound in layers of spiritus seals, Ji Jue walked straight ahead through the light rain, approaching Tong Shan beneath the gaze of the crowd.
"All the flesh infected with the Disease of Immortality is right here. Handing it over to the Security Bureau."
Before Tong Shan could speak, Ji Jue added, "Inspect it and dispose of it. It's nothing good—don't keep it around."
Tong Shan froze, glancing to his side. Immediately, personnel clad in hazmat suits rushed forward, took the iron box, and darted into a nearby isolation room.
Not long after, amidst the blare of alarms, several more rushed in.
Silence fell.
In the end, a single figure appeared behind the window, flashing a hand gesture toward Tong Shan.
*No risk of containment breach.*
Tong Shan finally let out a sigh of relief.
Glaring at Tong Hua, who was cowering behind Ji Jue, he refrained from making a scene here, merely asking, "What on earth happened?"
"Just an overly long training story. Couldn't make a light comedy out of it, and it was hardly family-friendly—just hospital life filled with blood, tears, and agony."
Ji Jue gave a slight shrug and said directly, "The mastermind was the Evil Transmutation Cult. What happened in Yacheng isn't an isolated case; the true scourge is in Quancheng. They've already penetrated deep into the Quancheng Catacombs, and there's definitely more than one of them... There's likely another large-scale operation coming.
"I hope the Security Bureau prepares early."
Hearing this, Tong Shan's newly stabilized composure broke again. The corners of his eyes twitched violently, his expression darkening further. "Are you sure?"
"Isn't there a chronicler right here?"
Ji Jue stepped aside, gesturing with his chin toward Tong Hua, who had witnessed the entire ordeal. "Ask her."
Tong Hua's eyes went wide in shock. She never expected that the moment they stepped out of the Chrono Ruin, her teammate would sell her out completely. But at this point, Section Chief Tong had no time for sibling sentiment. With a wave of his hand, subordinates promptly escorted Tong Hua away.
It looked just like an arrest scene for a prime suspect.
If not for the wrong setting, Tong Hua would have reported him on the spot to earn merit: *I was just an accomplice! That dog Ji Jue was the mastermind!*
*He's the one who blew up the hospital!*
*He blew up every single intact thing in that Chrono Ruin! Aside from these few Celestial Chosen, he slaughtered everything that moved!*
*Hurry up and arrest him already!*
After sending Tong Hua off, Tong Shan turned back, his expression replaced by a warm demeanor. "How about resting at the Security Bureau tonight? If you have any injuries, they can be treated early as well.
"Just standard procedure. Don't worry, I promise there won't be any trouble."
"As it should be. Thank you for your trouble," Ji Jue nodded.
Immediately afterward, Wen Wen—who had been suppressing her temper—pinched his cheek and dragged him aside. With Xiao An in tow, she gave him a thorough inspection from head to toe. Only after confirming he had no injuries or lingering afflictions did she finally breathe easy. Taking advantage of a moment alone to share a smoke, she suddenly asked, "Sure there are no issues?"
"None. Everything's normal."
Ji Jue nodded in assurance. He understood Wen Wen's meaning and concern, and he had left no traceable traces or clues behind.
Don't ask—if you do, it's just the cheats Teacher gave me! If you ask, the Soul-Calling Bell is just that awesome! Oh? How did you know I summoned a Sage's projection? I fought tooth and nail in that Chrono Ruin and came out alive entirely through my own skill and hard work!
Once Sister Wen let out a sigh of relief, patted his shoulder, and walked off, he turned back to scan the crowd.
Finally, his gaze settled on a corner.
A withered, bald old man wearing an undershirt and slippers had his hands stuffed in his pockets, chatting lazily with the juniors beside him.
On stretchers nearby, several half-dead Celestial Chosen test subjects were still shedding tears, glaring indignantly at Xie Lan while shouting about filing complaints, though no one paid them any mind.
Noticing Ji Jue's gaze, Xie Lan gave a slight nod before saying goodbye to Lao Zhang. "You two talk. I'll take my leave. Haven't done rounds at the sanatorium today."
"Go on, go on."
Lao Zhang waved him off carelessly, signaling the barrier to open and let Xie Lan depart.
When he turned back, he saw the record tome Ji Jue was holding out, along with a small box containing a bone fragment peeled from the scalpel.
"What's this?"
Lao Zhang took it curiously, flipped through the record tome, and his expression shifted immediately. "This absurd? Are you sure?"
"Theoretically possible, and practically sound. It's reproducible,"
Ji Jue nodded. "By fusing corruption with the power of Sovereign Virtue, the Disease of Immortality can be excised, and the patient's soul can be divided once more... It hardly counts as a cure; it's simply an effective way to kill the patient.
"Even a novice like me could do it, so others should be able to manage with a bit of practice.
"Still, after thinking it over, I couldn't find anyone else suitable... So I have to trouble you to hand this over to someone truly dependable."
Lao Zhang pondered for a long time, pulled reading glasses from his pocket, and carefully examined the record tome Tong Hua had compiled. After a long silence, he sighed softly. "Who... researched this?"
"Doctors, of course,"
Ji Jue answered without hesitation, telling him, "The best doctors in the world."
Lao Zhang fell silent, put away the record tome and the box, and slipped them solemnly into his pocket.
"Leave it to me," he promised. "I'll have a good talk with a few lunatics I know."
Ji Jue nodded and said nothing more.
In this long, drawn-out night, he leaned against the wall, quietly feeling the cold wind blowing from afar, narrowing his eyes.
On his chest, the bloodstained badge fluttered in the breeze.
Like a dance.
After a long time, the wind died down. The sparse rain drifted away with the dark clouds, and beneath the reflection of distant neon lights, the starry sky shone brilliant.
He raised his head, looking toward the celestial vault.
He seemed to see specks of light rising from the night sky, merging into that dazzling sea of stars until they were indistinguishable from one another.
Looking back toward the mortal realm, seeing Ji Jue gazing up at them, they shone all the brighter.
As if winking.
Ji Jue raised his hand and gave them a wave.
He smiled.
*I swear by Apollo the Physician, by Asclepius, and by all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, according to my ability and judgment, this oath and this indenture: To hold him who taught me this art equally dear to me as my parents, to live in common with him and if necessary to share my goods with him; to look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art, if they wish to learn it, without fee or condition; by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by an indenture and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none other.*
*I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing. Neither will I administer a poison to anybody when asked to do so, nor will I suggest such a course. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. But I will keep pure and holy both my life and my art. I will not cut persons laboring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work.*
*Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further, from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves. Whatever, in connection with my professional practice or not, in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot!*
—*The Hippocratic Oath*
Chapter 173