Chapter 621 - 621: Treating a Ghost

The foul blood from the Rune continued to ooze out for a little over three minutes before it finally stopped.

At this moment, Zhao Yuan activated his Thunder Aura, and arcs of electricity flickered between his fingers. He reached his hand toward the Rune, and as it touched the tree trunk, a bizarre scene unfolded.

The surface of the tree trunk rippled like water, and Zhao Yuan's hand passed right through it, reaching into the ancient tree's interior.

Immediately after, he gave a hard pull.

A dark red, ghostly figure was forcefully yanked out from within the ancient tree.

Upon closer inspection, the Evil Ghost's body was covered in a layer of foul, red gore!

This was its Heart Blood!

The Evil Ghost, dragged from the tree trunk by Zhao Yuan, became extremely agitated and furious. It shrieked hysterically in the Ghost Language, "I'll kill you! Kill you!"

Foul, red Ghost Qi immediately billowed from its body, transforming into countless sharp blades, arrows, and skeletal ghost-flames that hurtled toward Zhao Yuan.

"Trying to kill me? You're still too green." Zhao Yuan snorted coldly, raising his Wind and Thunder Whip and lashing out at the Evil Ghost's attack.

Bolts of lightning, imbued with Celestial Thunder Power, shot out from the Wind and Thunder Whip. Amidst a continuous series of explosions, they utterly destroyed all of the Evil Ghost's attacks! Not only that, but the powerful lightning also struck the Evil Ghost directly, causing it to scream in agony.

Just then, Zeng Rui floated out of the Ghost Residence and stopped him. "Don't harm its soul."

Zhao Yuan asked, confused, "Why?"

Zeng Rui replied, "I can sense that the true nature of this Ghost's soul is kind and pure. The only reason it became an Evil Ghost is because it was victimized by a villain and had its mind clouded by an Evil Technique. As long as we can dispel the Heart Blood on it, it can break free from the Evil Technique and return to its true self."

If possible, Zhao Yuan didn't want to land a killing blow either. Just as Zeng Rui had said, this Evil Ghost was not only a victim, but also a pitiable creature.

So he held back his fatal moves, simply pressing the Wind and Thunder Whip down onto the Evil Ghost.

The Wind and Thunder Whip, carrying a Celestial Thunder Aura, pinned the Evil Ghost firmly to the ground, completely immobilizing it.

Zhao Yuan turned his head and asked Zeng Rui, "How can I dispel the Heart Blood on it? Do I have to chant scriptures and incantations to deliver its soul, like a Daoist or a Monk?"

Zeng Rui shook her head. "You are neither a Daoist nor a Monk. You don't normally study scriptures or practice Curses. Trying to cram at the last minute won't have any effect."

"Then what should I do?" Zhao Yuan frowned.

In the medical records left by Wu Peng, most cases were about treating humans. There was very little content involving demons and ghosts, and no cases similar to the current situation. Of course, it wasn't that Wu Peng had never treated demons and ghosts; most likely, those case files were recorded in another book that hadn't been opened to Zhao Yuan yet.

Zeng Rui offered a suggestion: "You're a doctor. Naturally, you should think of a solution from the perspective of the Medical Dao."

Zhao Yuan gave a wry smile. "I am a doctor, that's true, but I specialize in treating humans. When it comes to treating Ghosts, I have no experience at all. Elder Zeng, you'll have to teach me."

Zeng Rui said, "To a doctor, whether human or Ghost, they are all patients. What you need to do is identify the cause and mechanism of the illness from a doctor's perspective, then formulate a treatment plan. For now, don't worry about whether it's a human or a Ghost."

"I see. I'll give it a try then."

Zhao Yuan began to ponder.

'The Heart Blood covering the Evil Ghost is the key to its corruption. From a medical standpoint, this is the primary "pathogenic factor".'

'This is an invasion of external evil. To treat it, the first step is to expel the external evil!'

'Heart Blood is originally yang in nature, but under the effect of the Evil Technique, it has transformed into something yin and malevolent. To expel it, I must use something with a yang nature! However, this patient is a Ghost, not a human. Ordinary medicines will be useless. I must use a different method of treatment.'

After much thought, Zhao Yuan decided that, based on the skills he currently possessed, Acupuncture was the best option!

Of course, things like Golden Needles and Silver Needles would be useless. This was because the Evil Ghost had not yet condensed a physical form; it was just an illusory Soul Body.

Zhao Yuan mused, 'I've got it. I'll use Thunder Needle Transformation! The Celestial Thunder Aura within the Thunder Aura has a miraculous effect in expelling cold evils, and it can also pierce the Evil Ghost's body. The only problem is whether the Evil Ghost can withstand the Thunder Aura. It would be terrible if it was annihilated by the Thunder Aura before the Heart Blood was even dispelled.'

Although this treatment method had its drawbacks, Zhao Yuan decided to try it anyway.

He couldn't think of a better way for now. After all, he hadn't yet learned the skills to treat Ghosts.

Having formulated a treatment plan, Zhao Yuan stepped forward and lifted the Wind and Thunder Whip that was pinning the Evil Ghost.

Freed, the Evil Ghost immediately sprang up with a roar, pouncing toward Zhao Yuan with bared fangs and claws, wanting to tear him to shreds.

Zhao Yuan commanded, "Bai Mei, restrain it for me!"

The Bone Woman immediately rushed over, pinning the Evil Ghost from behind. Arcs of lightning erupted from her body, blasting the Evil Ghost and making it shriek wildly, unable—and not daring—to move.

Zhao Yuan seized the opportunity to use Thunder Needle Transformation, piercing the Evil Ghost's Neiguan, Shuigou, Taichong, Hegu, and Fengchi acupoints.

For a moment, Thunder Aura flickered across the Evil Ghost's body, as if countless tiny snakes of lightning were burrowing into it.

The Evil Ghost's screams were even more bloodcurdling than before. It wanted to struggle and resist, but the Bone Woman held it in a death grip, making it impossible for it to move at all.

Zhao Yuan's hands never stopped, moving swiftly as he inserted and manipulated the needles on the Evil Ghost's body.

CRACKLE! POP! A continuous sound of explosions emanated from the Evil Ghost's body, accompanied by dazzling flashes of electricity.

"It's working!"

Suddenly, Zhao Yuan's eyes lit up. He saw that the foul blood covering the Evil Ghost was rapidly diminishing. This proved his treatment plan was actually working! Now it was just a matter of whether the Evil Ghost could hold on until the Heart Blood was completely dispelled!

One minute passed. The Evil Ghost had become very weak, and half of the Heart Blood on its body had been dispelled. Two minutes passed. The Evil Ghost was now extremely weak, and its Spirit Body was even showing signs of dissipating, yet only two-thirds of the Heart Blood had been dispelled.

Zhao Yuan's expression darkened. 'This is bad. I'm afraid this Evil Ghost won't be able to hold on until the Heart Blood is completely dispelled!'

At the critical moment, Zeng Rui took action.

She transferred a stream of Ghost Qi to the Evil Ghost. Although this also strengthened the Heart Blood somewhat, it greatly stabilized the Evil Ghost's condition.

Finally, after four minutes, the Heart Blood covering the Evil Ghost was completely dispelled. The ferocious Evil Ghost, in turn, transformed into a hazy, indistinct phantom.

"Let it go," Zhao Yuan instructed the Bone Woman. "It has returned to its true self now. It won't cause any more harm."

"Yes." The Bone Woman released her grip as instructed.

The phantom swirled and shifted, finally taking the form of an incredibly cute, well-behaved little girl who looked to be five or six years old, with rosy lips and pearly white teeth.

She blinked her big eyes, staring at Zhao Yuan for a long while before suddenly calling out, "Daddy!"