Chapter 24: The Divine Physician Enters the Formation to Probe Hidden Mysteries

Niu Yichen’s figure plunged into the halo of the formation, like a stone cast into a tranquil lake, sending ripples spreading outward.

Zhan Qingxue’s heart stirred in tandem, her eyes fixed tensely upon the glow.

"Brother Chen, you must come out safely..." she whispered a prayer, her palms slick with sweat.

Inside the formation, it was not the paradise Niu Yichen had imagined, but a void of chaos. Dense spiritual energy swirled like mist, yet it carried a suffocating pressure. Niu Yichen felt as though his body had been weighted with lead, every step an arduous struggle.

"Damn, this formation is no joke!" Niu Yichen muttered to himself, finding the sensation even more grueling than a looming deadline.

He glanced back; Zhan Qingxue’s figure was indistinct within the halo, like a hazy painting.

"Qingxue, stay close to me!" Niu Yichen shouted, his voice echoing through the formation with a faint, imperceptible tremor.

Zhan Qingxue gritted her teeth, following closely at his heels. She felt as though her body were being pierced by thousands of needles, the pain nearly unbearable.

"Brother Chen, I... I don't think I can hold on much longer..." Zhan Qingxue’s voice was laced with agony.

Niu Yichen halted and turned to look at her pale face, his heart tightening.

"Hold on, we’re almost at the eye of the formation!" he encouraged, his tone filled with unquestionable resolve.

However, at that very moment, a sudden shift occurred. The surrounding spiritual energy turned violent, like countless tiny vipers, frantically burrowing into their bodies. Niu Yichen and Zhan Qingxue groaned, their faces draining of color instantly.

"What... what is happening?" Zhan Qingxue’s voice trembled, her eyes filled with terror.

Niu Yichen’s brow furrowed deep; he could feel a formidable force attempting to tear his body apart.

"Not good! It’s a backlash from the formation!" Niu Yichen growled, "Qingxue, hold my hand tight!"

Zhan Qingxue gripped his hand firmly, finding a measure of solace in his warmth. Yet, the backlash intensified, their bodies feeling as if they were being seared over a fire, racked with unbearable pain.

"Brother Chen..." Zhan Qingxue’s voice grew fainter.

Niu Yichen looked at her pale face, overcome by a sense of helplessness. *Could it be... are we going to end it all here today?* he wondered.

Just then, he felt a surge of warmth emanate from deep within his Dantian.

"Qingxue, don't be afraid..." The warmth, like a ray of sunlight in winter, instantly dispelled the chill in his body.

*Damn, in a pinch, I still have to rely on my golden finger!* he thought.

The power of longevity surged through him, swiftly forming a thin protective film around himself and Zhan Qingxue, much like a tailor-made, invisible combat suit. The pain subsided significantly, but before Niu Yichen could breathe a sigh of relief, he noticed Zhan Qingxue was on the verge of fainting.

"Qingxue, stay with me!" He diverted a portion of his longevity energy into her, a process as convenient as wireless charging for a phone.

Zhan Qingxue felt the warm current flood her body, the pain receding and her consciousness sharpening.

"Brother Chen, thank you..." she said weakly, a wave of warmth rising in her heart. This was more than just charging; it was boyfriend-level super-fast charging!

***

However, the formation did not let them go. The surrounding mist churned, gradually coalescing into blurry figures. These shadows bore ferocious expressions, letting out guttural roars as they lunged toward them.

"Seriously? What kind of trick is this now?" Niu Yichen griped.

Upon closer inspection, these phantoms were actually enemies they had encountered in the past—from cunning, duplicitous business rivals to cold-blooded killers. Carrying the memories of their previous lives, they charged at him with twisted faces, as if to tear him to pieces.

Niu Yichen’s heart sank; the formation was playing mind games! He had to confront his inner fears to overcome these apparitions.

Zhan Qingxue, seeing the hideous figures, turned pale with fear and clutched Niu Yichen’s hand tightly. "Brother Chen, I'm scared..." she said, trembling.

Niu Yichen patted her hand to comfort her. "Don't be afraid; these are just illusions. I will protect you."

Yet, these phantoms were not mere illusions. They possessed the traits of past enemies, each with distinct attack patterns. A phantom assassin holding a dagger struck at Niu Yichen’s vitals from a tricky angle. Niu Yichen dodged to the side, only to feel a chill down his spine.

"Brother Chen, look out!" Zhan Qingxue exclaimed.

A business rival in a suit pulled out a Desert Eagle and unleashed a barrage of gunfire at Niu Yichen. Niu Yichen’s eye twitched. *What is even happening?*

He scrambled to dodge, muttering, "Seriously? Playing this dirty? This is illegal!" Zhan Qingxue was stunned as well; high-society infighting was common, but pulling out a gun... this was too intense!

The phantoms surged like a tide, and the pair found themselves overwhelmed. Niu Yichen’s golden needles flew like lightning, precisely striking the acupuncture points of several phantoms and pinning them in place.

"Qingxue, use the formation’s energy to attack them!" Niu Yichen shouted.

Zhan Qingxue did not hesitate, channeling the surrounding formation energy into beams of light that shattered the frozen phantoms. However, the shadows were like weeds; cut one down, and another grew in its place. The battle reached a stalemate.

"This can't go on!" Niu Yichen observed the formation's shifts while dodging attacks. Suddenly, he realized the energy source for these phantoms converged on a core node—a sphere emitting a ghostly blue light, the "heart" of the formation.

"Qingxue, cover me!" Niu Yichen bellowed, charging recklessly toward the core node. The phantoms blocked his path frantically, but he moved like an eel, nimbly evading their strikes. Zhan Qingxue cooperated fully, using the formation's energy to clear a path for him.

Finally, Niu Yichen reached the core. He took a deep breath, concentrated his longevity energy into his palm, and slammed it into the node.

"BOOM!" With a thunderous noise, the ghostly blue light extinguished instantly, and all the phantoms vanished like bubbles.

Zhan Qingxue looked at Niu Yichen’s back, her eyes filled with adoration. "Brother Chen, you’re amazing!" This move was simply cool beyond words.

***

Niu Yichen wiped the sweat from his forehead, thinking, *Good thing I have my golden finger, or I would have really met my end here today.* He turned to Zhan Qingxue and smiled faintly. "Let's go, let's keep exploring."

However, just then, Niu Yichen sensed a strange energy fluctuation emanating from deep within the formation. "This feeling is..." He looked at Zhan Qingxue, his eyes filled with doubt.

After the core node was destroyed, the surrounding scenery underwent a dramatic transformation. The chaos dissipated, replaced by a valley filled with singing birds and fragrant flowers. The spiritual energy was so abundant it felt almost liquid, and a faint medicinal scent permeated the air.

"Wow, the art style shifted way too fast! From hell to heaven in a second?" Niu Yichen couldn't help but complain.

Zhan Qingxue was also stunned by the sudden change. She took a deep breath, feeling rejuvenated, the previous exhaustion vanishing instantly.

"Brother Chen, it’s... so comfortable here!" she exclaimed.

"Indeed, this is practically a sacred ground for cultivation!" Niu Yichen agreed. He keenly sensed that the spiritual energy here was highly beneficial to his power of longevity.

The two ventured deeper into the valley. With his perception of longevity, Niu Yichen acted as if he had a "wall-hack," easily avoiding traps hidden in the flower beds and even discovering hidden treasures. Some of these treasures emitted a soft, lustrous glow, while others appeared plain, but all contained potent energy.

"Damn, this is a huge profit!" Niu Yichen excitedly collected the treasures and shared a portion with Zhan Qingxue. "Qingxue, these will benefit your cultivation too, take them!"

Zhan Qingxue accepted the items, deeply moved. She knew these treasures were worth a fortune, yet Niu Yichen had shared half without a second thought. "Brother Chen, thank you!"

As they continued forward, their bond grew closer through their shared experiences. Niu Yichen would occasionally crack a cold joke, making Zhan Qingxue giggle. This was no longer an expedition; it felt like a romantic getaway.

Just as they thought they were about to uncover the secret of the formation, a towering barrier appeared before them, blocking their path. The barrier was etched with ancient runes, exuding a mysterious aura.

Niu Yichen stared at the barrier, his brow furrowed. He attempted to strike it with his longevity energy, but it felt like casting a stone into the sea—it had no effect at all.

"This thing... is a bit tricky..."

Zhan Qingxue stepped forward to examine the runes. "Brother Chen, these runes... I feel like I've seen them somewhere before..." she murmured. Suddenly, as if realizing something, her face turned pale. "Brother Chen, these runes... they are an ancient forbidden curse!"

Niu Yichen’s heart sank. "An ancient forbidden curse? What is that?"

Zhan Qingxue’s expression was grave. "Legend says that ancient forbidden curses possess the power to destroy heaven and earth. Once triggered, the consequences are unimaginable..."

Niu Yichen: "..." He stared at the rune-covered barrier, swallowed hard, and spoke slowly: "Qingxue..."