"The main purpose of a Crystal Core is to be embedded into a weapon?" Ling Xiao's memories contained little information about Crystal Cores. This was because the original Ling Xiao, having no future in the Martial Dao, had never paid such matters much mind.
Wang Chao shot Ling Xiao a strange look. 'It's truly strange.' In some ways, this young man was as shrewd as a worldly old man, but in others, he was like a blank slate. Hearing his question, Wang Chao nodded. "You have to understand, only those at the Great Sword Master level or higher can release Sword Qi, because all the meridians in their bodies have been opened. In other words, whether you're practicing a Divine-level Technique or a Human-level Technique, you can only train your skills before you become a Great Sword Master. You can't practice Sword Qi. Therefore, if anyone below the Great Sword Master level wants to release a skill through their weapon, they have to rely on a Magical Beast's Crystal Core. The higher the Crystal Core's grade, the more Magic Power it can store. And the higher its grade, the more powerful the sword skill it can unleash!"
Ling Xiao nodded, looking enlightened. He wouldn't have understood any of this if Wang Chao hadn't explained it. 'I'm really grateful to him.' Ling Xiao calculated that enough time had passed.
'In the Cultivation Realm, Wang Chao's injury wouldn't even be considered a problem. It's just a minor meridian blockage from his wound. That's completely different from opening up every meridian in the body—all I need to do is use the Golden Needles to clear a few acupoints.'
'But since Wang Chao has been injured for so long, the Golden Needle treatment needs to take a little more time.'
"That should do it." As he spoke, Ling Xiao swiftly plucked the Golden Needles from Wang Chao's left arm. "Alright, you can give it a try, but don't overdo it. Your injury is an old one, after all. You'll still need another month or so of rest to make a full recovery..."
In truth, Ling Xiao didn't need to say a word. The very instant the Golden Needles left his arm, Wang Chao felt a long-lost, surging power course through his meridians like a raging river.
Wang Chao couldn't help but let out a long cry. A powerful, invisible force blasted Ling Xiao away, slamming him against the hard wall of the inn room with a THUD. Ling Xiao nearly blacked out, struggling to catch his breath. 'So this is the power of a Demon Swordsman? It really is something else!'
The others, who had been waiting anxiously outside, burst through the door. They all stared, dumbfounded, at Wang Chao, who was radiating a powerful aura, and at a miserable-looking Ling Xiao rubbing his back.
Wang Chao finally snapped out of it and rushed over, grabbing Ling Xiao's hands. The eyes of the steady, forty-something-year-old man reddened as he spoke in a deep voice, "I'm so sorry. I got carried away. Are you hurt? Brother Ling, I owe you a debt I can never repay. From this day forward, if you'll have me, you are my sworn brother, Wang Chao's sworn brother!"
Tang Ming and Gaia had followed Wang Chao for many years and shared a deep bond with him. Seeing their leader's strength finally restored, their faces lit up with excitement. Anya, who had been undertaking quests with them for over a year, was also thrilled. But more than that, she was completely stunned by Ling Xiao's abilities.
'A problem that even a Tier Five Alchemist was helpless to solve... a Demon Swordsman who had been given a "death sentence" by the Imperial Physicians... was actually healed by a teenager? What does this mean?' Anya suddenly had a thought. 'This boy, despite his lack of strength, is a walking gold mine!'
'How many people like Wang Chao does the Empire lose to injury every year? How many powerful experts are forced into quiet retirement for the very same reason? Heavens!' Anya dared not think further. The gaze she fixed on Ling Xiao was no longer one of disdain, but of fiery intensity.
Ling Xiao, for his part, didn't seem to realize he had just done something extraordinary. Hearing Wang Chao's words, he just smiled. "It was nothing, Captain Wang. Please, don't be so formal."
"Still calling me Captain Wang? Call me 'Big Brother'!" His strength restored, Wang Chao instantly regained his confidence. He was back to his old, hearty self, and he let out a booming laugh.
"Big Brother." Ling Xiao felt a little awkward. 'I've never called anyone 'brother' before. To think I'd call an outsider that before my own actual brother...' Still, Ling Xiao had no regrets about making a friend like this. For him, the one thing he needed most right now was a powerful guide, just like Wang Chao. 'With his help, my chances of finding the Vantia Holy Fruit should be much better.'
Wu Liang finally snapped out of his shock. A complex, unreadable emotion flickered in his eyes as he looked at Ling Xiao. He walked over with a fawning smile. "Congratulations, Big Brother!"
"Congratulations, Big Brother," the others echoed, all smiling excitedly. With their captain's strength back, they could all feel much more at ease during future quests.
Gaia scratched his head, laughing sheepishly. "Hehe, with young brother Ling Xiao around, we won't have to be afraid of getting hurt anymore!"
"Gaia, don't jinx us! Are you hoping someone gets hurt?" Anya said, shooting Gaia a glare.
"Uh... of course not," Gaia said, scratching his head innocently.
"Actually, what Gaia said just reminded me of something," Wang Chao said, his expression turning solemn. "What happened here today stays in this room. If anyone breathes a word of this, don't blame me for forgetting our years of friendship!"
Everyone present understood the gravity of Wang Chao's words. They all nodded, promising not to breathe a word. The way they looked at Ling Xiao was now filled with a fervent heat.
Ling Xiao, however, was a little puzzled. 'Didn't I just use some Golden Needles to clear his acupoints? Why is everyone being so serious about it?'
Seeing Ling Xiao's nonchalant expression, Wang Chao said gravely, "Brother Ling, now that I have the honor of being your elder brother, I must make you understand. If His Majesty the King were to learn of your medical skills, you could easily trade them for the title of Hereditary Marquis! Perhaps even a Duke! Do you still think it's no big deal?"
Ling Xiao's brow furrowed slightly. 'Coming from a family of high officials, and having no concept of these things in my past life, I don't really care about titles and nobility. But that doesn't mean I don't understand what a Hereditary Marquis represents.' His own father had already reached the pinnacle of personal glory. His title of Duke had been earned through countless bloody battles, paid for with the lives of innumerable comrades-in-arms. As long as General Ling Tianxiao stood guard, the Empire's western flank would remain secure. Without Ling Tianxiao's deterrent presence, the Zichuan Empire would have made its move long ago.
'So for a commoner to receive a title like Ling Tianxiao's is a true anomaly—a talent like him might not appear once in a thousand years. After all, personal strength is one thing, but one must also be a master of strategy. Mere martial prowess is not enough.'
'For a commoner, becoming a noble is incredibly difficult. To put it simply, among the Empire's nobility, even a country Viscount acts like a petty king, holding absolute authority within his own fief.'
So when Wang Chao claimed Ling Xiao's skill with the Golden Needles could earn him the title of a Hereditary Marquis, everyone in the room was stunned into silence. Their breathing grew quiet as all eyes fell on Ling Xiao.
They all knew Ling Xiao's ability was valuable, but they had never imagined it could be *this* valuable. No one doubted Wang Chao's words. He was, after all, the former Commander of the Royal Guard. He had only left the military after making a small mistake; otherwise, by now, even if he couldn't compare to General Ling Tianxiao, he would at the very least be a titled nobleman himself.
Ling Xiao pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow. Then, he said, "Tempting, I'll admit. But I'm not really interested. Heh."
WHOOSH. Everyone in the room, Wang Chao included, let out a collective sigh of relief. They had been genuinely afraid that Ling Xiao might take the offer and leave them. Even Wu Liang, despite looking down on Ling Xiao's low cultivation level, understood the importance of having someone like him on the team. They brought Anya, a mere Tier Four Sword Master, along on their quests, but Ling Xiao's value was on a completely different level.