The Demon Race army was fearless in the face of death.
The rebellion was temporarily suppressed, and every Medical Hall was strictly protected.
Sun Shizhang was not skilled in commanding armies or war strategy, so he handed those matters over to Li Lao’er and the General of the Right Tuen Guard, Yu Wenhua Ji, while he began to immerse himself in the study of Immune Awakening Therapy.
“Three days!” Sun Shizhang spoke solemnly to Li Lao’er and Yu Wenhua Ji before leaving.
“Please hold out for three days, Generals. Three days from now, it will be clear whether we live or die.”
“How will it be clear?” Yu Wenhua Ji asked.
“Three days is the limit for how long the current life-support equipment can last,” Sun Shizhang replied.
“If a treatment method to control the epidemic poison is not developed by then, less than one in ten of the infected will survive. Either the Cultivators of Shenzhou will all die three days from now, or peace will return to the world and order will be restored… Victory or defeat hinges on that one day!”
Yu Wenhua Ji nodded to show he understood. He then said with righteous determination, “This general will go all out to protect Immortal Sun and the Medical Cultivators! Please focus on your research, Immortal Sun!”
Sun Shizhang nodded slightly and led the 100s of top Medical Cultivators from Shenzhou into the research campsite.
The eyes of the entire world were now focused on them; they were the last hope for the living beings of Shenzhou.
The burden of commanding the army fell entirely on Li Lao’er and Yu Wenhua Ji, who were responsible for leading the Demon Race and Human Clan armies, respectively.
However, the two races had always disliked each other, so the atmosphere between them was naturally unpleasant.
As soon as Sun Shizhang left, Yu Wenhua Ji dropped his mask of a righteous general and entered his tent with a cold snort.
After returning to his tent, he posted about his sudden appointment to command the three armies to his Xiushiquan.
He even included a handsome selfie of himself wearing a red robe and golden armor. In the picture, he wore a very sunny and reassuring smile.
[Do not be afraid, everyone. I, Yu Wenhua Ji, will certainly do my best to fulfill my mission and protect the Great Sima Nation!]
However, all expression suddenly vanished from his face after he finished the post.
He pulled out a strangely shaped Communication Stone—the exact same model as the one belonging to the Bloodpill Ancestor.
“I have successfully obtained the military tallies for the three armies as planned,” Yu Wenhua Ji said.
[Contact Blue Shadow. It is time to act.] the voice on the other side replied.
Time felt incredibly long during the panic.
The first day.
The rebellions in various places were temporarily suppressed, but more flags of revolt were raised every second.
Heroes from all sides were seizing territory to crown themselves kings, and the Great Sima Nation seemed like it would be carved into small pieces.
Most of these rebels were uninfected Cultivators.
Li Lao’er understood that they were gambling—gambling that this epidemic poison could never be cured.
As long as the poison remained uncured, the top combat forces of the Great Sima Nation could not be mobilized for suppression.
Once those who were meant to die had perished, the survivors—who possessed resources and remained uninfected—would be the founders of a new era.
They could then take their time to research an antidote.
They did not believe that a cure would never be found; Cultivators had long lifespans and no shortage of time.
Even if the poison were cured, by the time the Great Sima Nation restored order and vitality, they would have already captured their desired cities and established their own countries, reshaping the power map of Shenzhou.
Even if the Great Sima Nation wanted to take back the territory then, there would be rebel flags everywhere. Could they handle it all? Besides, it was uncertain how many people would even be left alive in the Great Sima Nation by then.
Moreover, they would do everything in their power to obstruct the progress of the antidote to exhaust the strength of the other Cultivator sects and the Great Sima Nation as much as possible.
They did not care how many people died. The Cultivator Realm was always full of killing for cultivation resources; the more people were killed, the more resources would be left behind.
That had always been the nature of the Cultivator Realm.
While resources were being snatched up outside, Sun Shizhang was frantic due to the scarcity of research materials.
In one day, no progress had been made on the antidote, and the materials had been completely depleted.
If the situation were not so urgent and he had no energy to spare for a tantrum, he would have definitely gone out to scream and curse.
It was bad enough that protective suits were scarce, leaving many Medical Cultivators on the front lines to risk their lives treating patients without protection. They had staked their lives on Sun Shizhang’s research group.
But there was even a shortage of materials! Unscrupulous Danxiu were snatching up materials everywhere to refine useless Dan medicines to sell at high prices! It had reached the point where he could not even get the supplies needed to research the antidote!
“A disciple from Lingyin Valley is outside asking for an audience,” a guard reported.
Sun Shizhang frowned. ‘I don’t want to argue with the people from Lingyin Valley about treatment methods right now…’
“She said she came to deliver something.”
“?!”
Sun Shizhang was startled and immediately felt a bit ashamed. “Quickly, please invite them in.”
The visitor was as beautiful and elegant as all the women of Lingyin Valley, but this one was not as gentle and refined as her sisters.
“200,000 protective suits, 13,620 types of lower-grade materials, 3,000 types of mid-grade materials, 800 types of upper-grade materials, and 300 types of extremely rare materials. This is almost the entire inventory of Lingyin Valley. Qing Yi asked me to deliver them,” Mushuang stated simply and directly.
“The medicinal herb fields in the valley have been almost completely stripped bare, and these protective suits are the last of our stock. If you don’t manage to research something useful, I’ll bash your head in!”
Sun Shizhang was stunned. When he regained his senses, his face flushed with excitement. “So many resources… Truly?!”
“Qing Yi said her research doesn’t need these things. What she needs are things you’ve never even heard of. So, these medicines can fully support your research. She only kept a little bit of each for herself.”
Hearing Mushuang’s words, Sun Shizhang’s eyes filled with tears, moved beyond words.
He had taken her authority and caused her to lose face in front of the world, yet she held no grudge and assisted his research with all her might.
This noble character made him admire her to his very core in an instant.
“Lingyin Valley takes the salvation of all living beings as its duty. From top to bottom, not one person is selfish… This old man… is truly humbled!”
“If you’re so impressed, come visit the Taiming Sect more often in the future. I often hear my Master mention you; she says you’re the only decent Medical Cultivator outside of Lingyin Valley,” Mushuang said briskly.
“The Medicine King of Mount Bai, the True Person of Miraculous Response, Sun Shizhang… You have so many titles. Come to the valley to exchange ideas more often in the future. I’m leaving now; I won’t waste any more of your time.”
“If we can survive this crisis, this old man wouldn’t mind joining the Taiming Sect!”
“Alright, I’ll be waiting for you.” Mushuang smiled and turned to leave.
She came quickly and left just as fast.
The epidemic poison was also a war, and she was currently a soldier fighting on the front lines. She had to hurry back to the battlefield.
With the transfer of materials complete, Sun Shizhang ordered the other Medical Cultivators to continue testing pills while he called for General Yuwen and Li Lao’er.
“Here are 200,000 protective suits. Please escort them to the Medical Cultivators in various regions, Generals. They must be delivered as quickly as possible. We must not let their spirits be crushed.”
“Leave them all to me,” Yu Wenhua Ji said with a beaming smile, volunteering himself.
“Supplies are of great importance; it might not be safe to leave them only to you,” Li Lao’er narrowed his eyes.
“Besides, the conduct of Human Cultivators is currently untrustworthy.”
“Don’t worry, brother. I am now the commander of the three armies of the Great Sima Nation. How could I pocket them for myself?” Yu Wenhua Ji still smiled in a very convincing manner.
“At most, I will personally escort them to ensure they reach the hands of the front-line Medical Cultivators!”
“Half each.”
“Impossible.”