Chapter 1

He is sturdy in build, and his hard work is not to the point of exhaustion. In any case, whether his soul has been taken by demons or whether he never had one to begin with, only Lu Ji knows. After she finished speaking, she stood up and rubbed the back of her neck, saying, "I just got out of bed and haven't even brushed my teeth. I thought I could make a fortune..." With a disappointed sigh, she turned and walked back to the courtyard.

The internal situation is not as it seems; the diagnosis is simply this: "That person is not even a ghost, not within the Three Realms. There is only an empty shell, solid on the inside; rather than being called a person, it is more appropriate to call it a puppet. However, who has ever seen such a fleshy puppet... He has a swollen groin and is constantly engaged in sexual activities, tsk!"

Her gaze followed her as she wandered, the healer's ankle adorned with a red cord tied to a silver bell, which jingled melodiously with each step, reminiscent of a high monk shaking the nine rings on his staff

A three-legged bird flew by, its wings stirring up a fierce wind that knocked down the withered grass by the roadside. In the haze, a ghostly lantern flickered into view, its bluish-gray light intermittent. As it gradually approached, the lantern's opening illuminated a delicate face, with finely crafted features and weary eyes. The figure was also graceful, but unlike a snake's bonelessness or a fox's allure, she was serious and purposeful. She exerted great effort to support the man beside her, stumbling on her feet, yet her eyes were fixed intently on the stone tablet. The figure was also graceful, but unlike a snake's bonelessness or a fox's allure, she was serious and purposeful. She exerted great effort to support the man beside her, stumbling on her feet, yet her eyes were fixed intently on the stone tablet

The ghostly light illuminated the man's face, revealing an overwhelming aura of death. Lu Ji was anxious and distressed, simultaneously knocking on the monument and pleading in a sorrowful voice: "Miss Yan, it is said in both realms that you possess the kindest heart. My beloved has suddenly fallen gravely ill, and no medicine can cure him. I implore you, Miss Yan, to show mercy and lend a helping hand. In the future, I will serve you as a slave or a maid to repay your great kindness."

Lu Ji indeed no longer cried, turning back to look at her beloved, slowly shaking her head

Lu Ji was taken aback, "How could he be soulless and spiritless? We have been together for three months; he is clearly alive." After a pause, seeming somewhat guilty, she noticed him fiddling with the Bodhi beads and hurriedly clasped his hands together in prayer towards her, "Please forgive me, Miss. Lu Ji is at her wit's end and has dared to come to you for help. Have you ever had someone you loved? Watching him die right before your eyes is truly too cruel."

However, spiritual healers are not always accessible at will. The spiritual healers of the realm can treat the demons and spirits within the three realms. Unlike earthly doctors who merely take a pulse and prescribe a couple of medicines without harming themselves, patients here are often spirits or entities, and sometimes the healing requires the assistance of spiritual power. The spiritual healer is a woman, and her cultivation has been depleted, requiring a period of time to recover. Therefore, there is usually a gap of half a month between two consultations.

There is no need for any elegance or subtlety, only intensity accompanied by sharpness. The red lips amidst the ethereal smoke leave a particularly deep impression, reminiscent of the demoness from the strange tales who bewitched the Buddha. In that moment, Lu Ji forgot to cry, and a thought flashed through her mind, believing that there should be no enchantress in the world who could surpass her. Both righteous and wicked, she exuded a fierce aura. It is unknown what she was transformed from, only that her name was aptly chosen—stunningly beautiful, indeed a peerless beauty.

The sun has set, and a thick crimson glow spreads across the sky. There is a glow on the horizon, and stars and the moon shine above. The night, with its tungsten-like soil, has always presented such a strange yet profound scene

She remained silent, rolling up her sleeves in an attempt to extract the essence, but to her surprise, her hands were empty.

Before I entered the barrier, I promised that if the young lady treated my ailments, I would dedicate my cultivation to her

Lùjī said she was not afraid, "I spent five hundred years cultivating into human form, and five hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye"

The spirit healer passed by her, like a wisp of smoke, gliding over the back of her hand. There was no fragrance, yet a strange power surged, unlike any demon or monster she had encountered before. She was momentarily stunned, unexpectedly missing the chance to see her face clearly, only catching a glimpse of her porcelain-like ear and graceful figure, resembling not a spirit healer who dealt with demons and monsters, but rather a celestial being dancing in a mural.

She expressed her gratitude profusely as she carried A Lang's body, but as she was about to leave, she hesitated. Wu Fang asked, "Is there anything else?"

The essence of the vine tree is clean and pure, emanating the fragrance of vegetation. A green halo envelops the essence, and based on its size, it is estimated to be around seven to eight hundred years old

However, these five hundred years will be fraught with trials and tribulations; if one is unfortunate enough to be executed, this life will come to an end

It is almost here, Alang, you must hold on.

The inner elixir of the vine tree is different from that of the beasts and birds; others are crimson, while hers is green. The floating beads shimmer with brilliance, and the halo spreading around is even brighter than the ghost lanterns. She set down A-lang and lifted it with both hands, saying, "Lu Ji, a minor spirit, possesses nothing of value, only this elixir has some use. I implore the beautiful lady to save me."

The face is slightly square, and because of its striking beauty, it appears particularly stern when expressionless. "This is the integrity of a healer; you need not worry."

Turning around to seek the spirit healer, preparing to weep and express gratitude. The name of the spirit healer had long spread outwards from the center of the sacred land, reaching all directions. Many demons spoke of her unparalleled beauty, yet she truly could not imagine how beautiful she could be. Having grown accustomed to the transformations of foxes and deer into human forms, what kind of appearance could astonish the demons?

A narrow path hangs down from the top of the hill, illuminated by the sunlight, which dyes it into a colorful ribbon. The ribbon winds its way down towards the foot of the mountain, where there is a memorial pavilion with a yellow earth-covered roof, resembling a solitary grave in the wilderness

She said: "Regarding our visit to the doctor today, in case someone asks, please have Miss Yan conceal it on our behalf"

Lu Ji cautiously asked, "Miss Yan, is there hope for my beloved?"

Lu Ji immediately slumped down upon hearing this, "The young lady is the most skilled spiritual healer in Shatu..."

The vine demon took her beloved and left, and Qu Ru sent them out of the barrier before flying back. Upon landing, she transformed into a young girl with pointed ears and hair that almost reached the ground

Wufang opened his eyes, "Without the inner elixir, you are just an ordinary vine, everything must start anew"

Wufang coughed once, and a three-legged bird seemed to understand a bit more.

Qu looked at her with a sidelong glance, "In just a moment, the master has checked so thoroughly!"

Ultimately, it may not be good! Lu Ji stared at her in a daze, her expression difficult to decipher. After a long while, she shook her head and said, "I cannot save him; you should take him back."

She extended a slender finger, the tip a fierce crimson. With a gentle flick, the inner elixir rolled towards Luji.

"I saw them crossing the Ten-Zhang Mountain. When they reached the top, that person even spoke a few words with the vine demon. How could there be no soul?" She pressed on, asking Wufang, "What Master refers to as having no soul or spirit, is it not explained in depth? Is there some underlying reason?"

Sometimes, there is only a thin line separating a doctor from a coroner. If you unfortunately find yourself lying there, being touched all over by others, is that not quite normal

Beloved person? Yan Wufang thought for a moment and realized that she had never experienced this, so she could not understand the feelings of this vine demon

All the flattering words yield no results. There are too many people seeking medical help, and no one curses the heavens or the earth when they arrive. Flattering words merely roll off the ears of the divine healer, failing to penetrate her heart. Lu Ji is at a loss, while the three-legged bird perches atop the monument, the strange person's face devoid of expression, only a pair of large eyes staring intently at her, implying that she should continue.

With a dignified posture, I sit upright, "I am a doctor and cannot afford to overlook any details"

The lantern of the ghost light led the way, stopping at the middle section of the stele, which bore no inscriptions. She looked up at the swirling figure of Qu Ru in the air; Qu Ru was the guide of the spirit doctors of the realm. As long as it was present, the spirit doctors would not be far away.

She waited and waited, gently touching the man's face, and softly said: "Alang, you promised me that you would hold on. We have arrived at the tungsten gold soil, and as long as we see the spiritual healer, you will get better."

Her voice echoed across the boundless wilderness, the stone tablet remained motionless, not to mention the spirit healer, not even a single insect was present

For Lu Ji, this is undoubtedly the best possible outcome. The spiritual healer's refusal to accept consultation fees is not due to her being unwilling to pay, nor does she fear being ridiculed by the world in the future.

Qu Ru began to ponder, "So tell me, could this person have worked themselves to death?"

Then the figure flashed and moved away, and Lu Ji continued to cry, without a word of comfort. Those overwhelmed by sorrow are generally reluctant to easily accept reality. Lu Ji crawled over and prostrated herself, pleading: "Miss Yan, you must have a way, I beg you to save him."

Regardless, saving a life is of utmost importance. She gently rubbed her forehead against Alang's, whispering "You must live," as she helped him onto the bamboo couch in the examination room

"The person was already dead before stepping into my medical abode, and I did not provide any rescue, so I cannot accept your consultation fee. Moreover, one is a corpse, and the other has turned into a vine, requiring me to expend effort on transplantation and aftermath, which is quite laborious." With a playful glance from her flowing eyes, she added, "The medical matter has concluded, and I cannot keep you any longer. Please, miss, do take your leave."

The man could no longer stand and began to slide down. Lu Ji struck the stone tablet with greater force, causing her palms to ache. "Miss Yan, please open the door. Lu Ji is willing to offer her inner elixir for your use, and I implore you to grant this request."

Since there was no need for treatment, the transaction was terminated. Lu Ji saw her close her eyes again, and the golden incense in the furnace swirled around her fingertips, forming a small vortex. Losing a lover did not make Lu Ji sad for long; the life of a demon is very long, and if one can escape the heavenly tribulation, one might even live endlessly. The longer one lives, the more experiences of love and desire one encounters, and the quicker one can withdraw. However, the feelings during their existence are absolutely sincere, which is why she is willing to use her inner elixir to save someone. The longer one lives, the more experiences of love and desire one encounters, and the quicker one can withdraw. However, the feelings during their existence are absolutely sincere, which is why she is willing to use her inner elixir to save someone. But if it is truly beyond saving, having done her best is enough to honor the deceased, after all, love is often just a seasoning, serving no other purpose than to embellish the dull and desolate life.

She has practiced medicine in Tungsten Gold for over a hundred years, treating various beings, solely to accumulate some merit. Being able to save them is certainly good, regardless of whether they are demons or spirits; helping them escape suffering fulfills her original intention. If she cannot save them, there is no regret, as every life has its own fate and destiny, and she does not act against the natural order.

Wu Fang smiled slightly, for demons are always very pragmatic; appearances are secondary. The only thing that can engage in love and affection is the soul. Without the three souls and seven spirits, leaving behind merely a shell is of no use.

Lu Ji felt somewhat perplexed, but for the moment, she set aside other thoughts, steadied her mind, and anxiously rubbed her hands together. Amid her worries, she also felt a sense of trepidation; what if the spiritual physician discovered some private ailments, such as excessive indulgence leading to the depletion of her primordial spirit? That would be quite awkward

She turned her head to look at Lu Ji and said, "I told you, your beloved is soulless and spiritless. The current him is no different from a vase or a stone. If you want him to live, it is not impossible; you could easily find a wandering soul to fill his shell, and you could save him yourself. But then he would no longer be the original him. He would not recognize you and in the future, he would pair with someone else. Are you willing to accept that?"

Crossing that barrier felt as if one had entered another world. Here, there are no red clouds or earthly lights, but a moon as large as a cauldron. A long stone path, with a lantern every ten steps, leads to three cleverly constructed houses at the end of the road, topped with lotus flowers and adorned with flowing white silk... Lu Ji felt as if she had seen this scene in a painting before, but the time was too distant, and she could no longer recall it.

Since it needs to be concealed, it must be something that cannot be exposed. Such secrecy suggests that the demon realm is quite chaotic now

She held onto the person beside her with one hand and struck the stone tablet with the other, "Yinshan Lujiji, I seek an audience with the spirit healer, Miss Yan."

Such a direct and unpretentious approach finally moved the spiritual healer, and the space beside the stone tablet began to ripple, creating a slender opening through which light spilled out. Lu Ji was overjoyed, carried her beloved, and quickly squeezed into the narrow passage.

The spiritual healer sat in front of a bronze furnace, adjusting her breath, as the fragrant smoke curled around, draping a veil over her stunning face. It was only then that Lu Ji could see clearly; under the lamp, the beauty was breathtaking, magnificent enough to shake the heavens and the earth.

A light gaze was cast over, carrying the flavor of cold observation. The voice of the spiritual healer was icy as she said: "I only save living beings; anyone with spiritual awareness, even if their soul has departed, I can bring them back. But the person you brought has only a human form, devoid of soul and spirit. If I cannot save him, it will violate my principles and tarnish my reputation"

The inner elixir is the essence of monsters, a crystallization of a lifetime of cultivation. No matter how much one vows to toil like an ox or horse, it cannot compare to such a tangible transaction. When pushed to that extent, one must show sincerity to seek help. No one knows how many years the Spirit Doctor of the Shatu has lived. Being old and a seasoned veteran, he does not act without seeing results. Facing the moon, Lu Ji felt the damp wind blowing from the boundless sea. She opened her mouth in the wind and expelled the inner elixir she had nurtured within her.

The inner elixir was forced out of the body, and Lu Ji raised her hand to push it away. "Although Lang Zi could not survive, I am already immensely grateful that the young lady is willing to meet. Even demons have their principles; promises made must be kept. Please accept this consultation fee, young lady."