2: Chapter 2 Forbidden Technique: Destruction and Reconstruction

"According to conventional treatment, it would take three years of nurturing..."

Li Changsheng calculated silently.

"But conventional treatments are for ordinary people."

He opened his eyes, a curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

Because he "saw" something else.

The golden mark that had been entrenched deep within his Soul since the moment he woke up was continuously emitting a faint trace of vitality.

That vitality was as thin as a thread, yet it was endless, seeping into and repairing the cracks in his Meridians bit by bit.

"Dao of Longevity..."

He murmured.

"So, you are at work."

At this rate, in three months, his injuries would automatically recover by thirty percent.

Thirty percent wasn't enough.

But combined with Sun Yan's medical skills, and then...

"Spirit Ape Standing Stake."

In his memory, the Li Family had a forbidden technique.

It was said to have been created a hundred years ago by an Old Ancestor who was proficient in medical theory, specifically to repair Meridian damage.

The principle was simple: first, seal the damaged Meridians using a special technique, then take potent medicine to force True Qi to surge through, washing away the fragmented Meridian pieces, and then use the medicinal power to stimulate new growth.

Simply put, it was to Break and Then Rebuild.

However, the cost was also simple: out of ten people who tried, nine would die during the process. The one who survived often ended up with lifelong hidden ailments due to incomplete Meridian reconstruction.

Therefore, this method was sealed away, known only to the Family Head and the Elders.

"But that's others."

Li Changsheng licked his lips.

"I have Sun Yan's twenty-five years of accumulated medical knowledge, and the Dao of Longevity as a safety net..."

At that moment, footsteps were heard outside the door.

"Young Master! You're awake?"

The servant in green, Li An, pushed the door open and entered, holding a bowl of medicine with a look of pure joy on his face.

"That's great! The Family Head and the Grand Elder were worried sick!"

Li Changsheng took the bowl and habitually brought it to his nose to smell it.

Angelica, Astragalus, Goji berries, Poria...

He frowned slightly.

"Who brewed this medicine?"

Li An was stunned.

"Old Wang from the kitchen. What's wrong, Young Master?"

"It was overcooked."

Li Changsheng put the bowl down.

"The Goji berries were added too early; the bitterness was cooked out, and at least twenty percent of the medicinal effect was lost."

Li An's mouth fell open.

"You... how do you know?"

Li Changsheng didn't answer but stared at Li An's face for three seconds.

"Have you been frequently experiencing bloating after meals, dry mouth in the middle of the night, and a thick tongue coating in the morning lately?"

Li An's eyes nearly popped out.

"How, how did you know?!"

"Sallow complexion, dark circles under the eyes, dark lip color, spleen deficiency with excessive dampness—a classic case of indigestion."

Li Changsheng picked up the bowl and downed the medicine in one gulp.

"Did you steal and eat all of my snacks?"

Li An fell to his knees with a thud.

"Young Master, spare me! I... I just tasted a piece of Osmanthus Cake..."

"Get up."

Li Changsheng was caught between laughter and tears.

"I'll give you a couple of acupuncture treatments later and write a prescription; you'll be fine in three days."

Li An scrambled up, his gaze toward Li Changsheng completely changed.

When did the Young Master learn to practice medicine?

But Li Changsheng didn't give him a chance to ask.

"What has happened in the Family while I was unconscious these past few days?"

Li An snapped back to his senses and lowered his voice.

"Over on the Third Elder's side... some rumors have started spreading."

"Speak."

"They say you suffered Qi Deviation and damaged your Foundation, making it difficult to progress further. They suggested temporarily transferring your cultivation resources to Young Master Li Changhu."

Li Changsheng's gaze sharpened.

Li Changhu, the Third Elder's grandson, fifteen years old this year, at the third level of the Houtian Realm, a Genius of this generation.

"What did the Family Head say?"

"The Family Head rejected it, saying it would be discussed after you recover from your injuries."

Li An paused, his voice dropping even lower.

"But I overheard the Grand Elder talking to the Family Head, saying that if your injuries don't show significant improvement within three months, I'm afraid..."

I'm afraid they won't be able to protect your status.

Li Changsheng leaned against the headboard, silent for three seconds.

"Three months."

Exactly the time it would take for the Dao of Longevity to automatically recover thirty percent.

"Thirty percent, was it enough?"

"Not enough."

With only thirty percent recovered, in the eyes of the Family, he would still be "crippled."

He had to produce results that would shut them up before then.

"I understand."

Li Changsheng waved his hand.

"You may leave."

Li An responded and quietly retreated.

Li Changsheng's gaze fell upon the Spirit Ape Fist manual on the bedside table.

He picked it up and flipped to the last page.

"Spirit Ape Standing Stake"

Below was a diagram of the human Meridians, with seven Acupoints marked in red.

Seven Acupoints that must be sealed simultaneously.

Sealing these Acupoints was equivalent to placing one's life in the hands of the medicine's power.

If the medicinal power was potent enough, the Meridians would be reshaped; if not, the blood and Qi would flow backward, leading to instant death.

"Damn."

He cursed under his breath.

Betting his life on the very first day of Transmigration.

Just as he was thinking, a sudden commotion came from outside the door.

"Let me in! I want to see for myself if that trash has really woken up!"

A young man's voice, arrogant and domineering.

Li Changsheng frowned.

Li Changhu?

Immediately followed by Li An's panicked attempts to stop him.

"Young Master Changhu, Young Master Changsheng needs rest, you can't..."

"Get out of the way!"

The door was kicked open.

A young man in fine silk robes strode in, followed by two lackeys.

The boy was fifteen or sixteen, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, his chin held high, looking at Li Changsheng as if looking at an ant under his foot.

"Oh, you really are awake?"

Li Changhu walked to the bedside, looking down from above.

"Quite a tough life you have, not dying even after Qi Deviation."

Li Changsheng leaned against the headboard, unmoving.

"What, after becoming a cripple, you don't even know how to speak?"

Li Changhu sneered and turned to his lackeys.

"See that? This is the Li Changsheng who used to compete with me for resources? This is it?"

The two lackeys laughed in unison.

Li Changsheng slowly raised his head, looking at him with a calm gaze.

"Finished laughing?"

Li Changhu was taken aback.

This gaze... something was wrong.

Previously, when Li Changsheng saw him, he would either be resentful or evasive; he never had this kind of look.

Calm as if looking at a dead man.

"You—"

"That foot you just used to kick the door,"

Li Changsheng interrupted him.

"Is it feeling numb right now?"

Li Changhu looked down at his foot.

It was a bit numb.

He had kicked the door too hard just now, and his toes had hit the wooden panel.

"None of your damn business!"

"It wasn't from the impact."

Li Changsheng stared at his face.

"Have you been frequently feeling numbness in your left foot lately, and sometimes even cramps?"

Li Changhu's expression changed slightly.

"You... how do you know?"

Li Changsheng didn't answer and continued to ask.

"When you wake up in the morning, do you feel an aching back, especially around the tailbone?"

Li Changhu's face changed completely.

"Stop your damn tricks—"

"You're practicing 'Spirit Ape Plucking Peaches' from the third level of the Spirit Ape Fist, aren't you?"

Li Changsheng interrupted him again.

"That move requires twisting the waist and thrusting the hips, but your lower body is unstable. When you exert force, your center of gravity shifts to the left. Over time, this has compressed your Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian."

He paused, revealing a meaningful smile:

"Practice for another three months, and you'll be crippled."

The room fell silent for three seconds.

Li Changhu's face turned pale and then flushed with anger.

He wanted to retort, but he had every single symptom Li Changsheng mentioned.

And they had been getting worse lately.

He had come today originally to mock Li Changsheng and vent his frustration.

Instead, he was left with a chill running down his spine by a few words from the other party.

"You... stop your alarmist talk!"

He forced himself to say.

"I'm practicing just fine, how could anything be wrong?"

"Don't believe me?"

Li Changsheng pointed to the edge of his bed.

"Sit down. I'll give you one acupuncture needle, and within three breaths, your left foot will no longer be numb."

Li Changhu was stunned.

The lackeys were also stunned.

Li Changsheng just looked at him calmly, his eyes devoid of provocation or ridicule, containing only a sense of certainty.

That certainty made Li Changhu feel uneasy.

He gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

"Let's go!"

The two lackeys quickly followed.

As he reached the door, Li Changhu looked back at Li Changsheng, his eyes filled with suspicion and a hint of... fear.

The door was closed.

The room became quiet again.

Li Changsheng leaned against the headboard and let out a soft breath.

With those words just now, he was betting that Li Changhu's symptoms matched medical logic.

He won the bet.

But this was only a temporary deterrent; once Li Changhu went back and thought about it, he would surely become suspicious.

"I need to hurry."

He picked up the Spirit Ape Fist manual, his gaze falling on the Meridian diagram on the last page.

Seven Acupoints.

Three potent medicines.

One prescription.

Succeed, and he would break through and be rebuilt.

Fail, and his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.