At that moment, Emperor Jing finally understood what Yiqin meant that day.
‘You will go and beg Qing Yi.’
Finally, he had truly been pushed to this point.
He never expected that the strongest Medical Cultivator in Shenzhou would be that little monster—the one he viewed as a thorn in his side, the one he truly hated the most.
And at this moment, she had become his only hope for survival.
Knowing that the countdown to the end of his life had begun, no matter how great the reluctance in his heart, he had to cast it aside. He had to force himself to do the one thing he was least willing to do.
Emperor Jing slumped in his chair, taking a long while before he managed to calm his state of mind.
“Activate the Celestial Monitoring Instrument,” Emperor Jing said in a low voice.
Dark clouds gathered in the sky. Lightning and the glow of spatial energy illuminated the entire Jiangdu City once again.
In the empty Jiangdu Arena, the Celestial Monitoring Instrument roared into operation. Thousands of energy streams gathered from beneath the earth, finally shooting toward the sky once more.
Emperor Jing’s expression was complex.
“Long time no see.”
***
The four members of the Bagpipe Squad stared blankly at the sky. When the anomaly appeared, they immediately wanted to rush up and head home for fear that the transmission channel might suddenly close again.
But Jiang Ke’er stopped them.
“Don’t rush.”
She looked at the transmission channel with a heavy gaze. From within the clouds, the situation on the other side of the channel gradually began to emerge.
“Start a live stream,” Jiang Ke’er said without hesitation when Emperor Jing’s face appeared.
Emperor Jing was choked with rage. He said, “Now is not the time for a live stream. Come back. Your Master has something to discuss with you.”
“Regardless of what it is, whatever you want to say next, start the live stream before we take another step. Otherwise, there is nothing to talk about,” Jiang Ke’er replied with absolute decisiveness.
“Do not push your luck!” The anger that Emperor Jing had finally suppressed flared up once again.
“I believe you are in quite a hurry right now,” Jiang Ke’er said, refusing to budge an inch. “I am in a hurry too, but if you do not start a live stream, we will just remain at this stalemate… A live stream, broadcast our conversation to every single Cultivator in Shenzhou. Right now, immediately!”
Emperor Jing could guess even with his eyes closed that Jiang Ke’er demanding a live stream at a time like this would lead to nothing good.
However, time was indeed pressing. He had no choice but to follow Jiang Ke’er’s instructions.
“The live stream is on,” Emperor Jing said.
Jiang Ke’er pulled out a Jade Crystal to check. The transmission channel could carry the signals from the other side. She turned on the crystal and nodded only after confirming that Emperor Jing was using the widest channel in Shenzhou for a real-time broadcast.
As the live stream began, the chaotic lands of Shenzhou temporarily grew quiet. Cultivators everywhere pulled out their Jade Crystals to watch this sudden broadcast.
At a time like this, for the Emperor to personally appear on a live stream… what exactly was he trying to say? Could it be related to this nameless strange poison?
“Since you were willing to come looking for me, it means the epidemic has already spread,” Jiang Ke’er said.
“Epidemic? Epidemic Poison? How do you know?” Emperor Jing could not understand. “Could it be that this poison was your—”
“I knew you were going to say that, which is why I insisted on the live stream,” Jiang Ke’er interrupted. “The epidemic comes from the Celestial Monitoring Instrument. It comes from the world outside of Shenzhou and has nothing to do with Medical Cultivators. I must make this clear here so you don’t take the opportunity to dump your problems onto the heads of Medical Cultivators.”
“Heh, so according to you, this Epidemic Poison is my fault?” Emperor Jing laughed from sheer anger. “I see you are the one making false accusations! What evidence do you have to prove the Epidemic Poison came from the Celestial Monitoring Instrument?”
“The first people infected should be the Vanguard you sent out. They were infected by a virus in the Different Space and brought it back to Shenzhou. It spreads from one person to ten, and ten to a hundred. If you can find the military doctors who first treated them, you can prove this point.”
Emperor Jing’s heart skipped a beat. He knew he was in trouble.
“I can prove it!” Before Emperor Jing could argue, the Alchemy Immortal, Yellow Coward, hurriedly stepped forward. “I am Yellow Coward, a Grand Elder of the Bright Sun Sect! By imperial decree, I went to the military camp to examine Noble Consort Liu’s nephew! Noble Consort Liu’s nephew was a member of the Celestial Monitoring Instrument’s Vanguard, and his poisoning symptoms are identical to the Epidemic Poison currently prevalent in Shenzhou!”
It was over.
Emperor Jing covered his face.
It was completely over.
“And the timing?” Jiang Ke’er continued to ask.
“Six days ago!” Yellow Coward answered immediately.
Shenzhou fell into an uproar.
Emperor Jing could already see the light of countless Flying Swords rushing toward him from the distance. Angry, infected Cultivators were cursing, charging toward him with a rage that demanded he be torn into ten thousand pieces.
“Preliminary epidemic prevention work can be done through dialogue. I won’t go back yet; I need to continue clarifying the situation.” Jiang Ke’er clenched her fist and continued, “After the outbreak, what measures did you take? And when did you take them?”
“We just started closing the markets. The Shenzhou Cup will be held tomorrow,” Yellow Coward answered on behalf of Emperor Jing.
Jiang Ke’er was stunned, nearly driven mad with anger. Her face flushed as she roared, “Since things have reached such a desperate point that this foolish ruler forced himself to find me, then my Master must have detected the existence of the Epidemic Poison long ago! How could you only be taking measures now?! And the Shenzhou Cup? The Epidemic Poison spreads from one to ten, and ten to a hundred! Do you have feces in your brains?!”
“Yesterday, the Medical Cultivator Yiqin risked her life to enter the palace and advise the Emperor. She requested the closure of markets and the lockdown of Sects to stop the movement and gathering of people, but she was imprisoned by Emperor Jing,” Yellow Coward blurted out.
“SHUT UP!!!” Emperor Jing roared in fury.
How did this guy dare to say everything?
Once this matter was over, he would definitely kill Yellow Coward!
But before that, everything happening in this live stream was no different from a public execution for him.
He felt the hateful gazes from all around him in despair. Whether it was the commoners, the court officials, or the soldiers, everyone pointed their blades at him following the words of Jiang Ke’er and Yellow Coward.
“What a move. Shenzhou is likely to fall at your hands,” Jiang Ke’er sighed deeply. But she knew there was no time for sentiment, so she immediately continued, “Now, all Cultivators watching the live stream, listen carefully.”
Jiang Ke’er looked toward the sky, trying to make her voice sound reliable. “I am the Medical Cultivator Qing Yi, the personal Disciple of the Lingyin Valley Master, Yiqin. No matter what you are doing right now, please act according to my instructions immediately!”
“Enough! End this!”
Emperor Jing suddenly wanted to shut down the Celestial Monitoring Instrument hysterically. But this time, the official in charge of the instrument suddenly dodged Emperor Jing, hiding directly behind Yellow Coward and looking at the Emperor coldly.
Emperor Jing’s hand froze in midair.
“Everyone, your lives and the entirety of Shenzhou have reached a critical moment of life and death. The situation is far more serious than the most terrifying scenes you have ever witnessed… But do not panic, and do not listen to the lies of unscrupulous merchants and waste your Magic Crystals. If you want to live, please remember my words firmly. I will do my utmost to help everyone survive, whether you are human or of the Demon Race!”
Jiang Ke’er’s voice was somewhat crisp and youthful, yet at this moment, contrasted against Emperor Jing’s pale and ugly face, it was incredibly reassuring.
“But, why?” someone cried out in grief, questioning Jiang Ke’er in confusion. “You are a demonic talent! I don’t trust you!”
Jiang Ke’er gave a bitter smile but did not blame the person.
She took off her Protective Suit, revealing her plain and clean robes. Showing the Peach Blossom Talisman on her sleeve, her voice was firm and proud.
“Because I come from the Taiming Sect’s Lingyin Valley!”
“Saving the dying and healing the wounded was the Sworn Oath I made the day I entered the valley!”
“I AM A MEDICAL CULTIVATOR!”