Lin Qian covered her mouth with her hands. "Impossible! Preposterous!"
Lei Wen could only stare at Zhao Zhi, eyes wide, his mouth slightly open, looking utterly dumbfounded.
Xu Yun, ever the soft-hearted one, felt her eyes begin to glisten.
Xuan Tian clenched his jaw. He wanted to deny it, but the truth sat plainly before him. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice low.
Zhao Zhi exhaled, his own disbelief clear. "Like I said—it's just a theory. But unfortunately, I believe it's true."
He glanced at the pill again before continuing. "Look, we all know cultivation can be strengthened by absorbing cores—Immortal Cores, Celestial Cores, even Demon Cores. It was once common practice."
"In the Celestial Realm, it's been strictly banned since before The Great War—too cruel and immoral to justify. But we've all heard the rumors: in the Demon Realm, even after the war, they still do it. Harvesting other demons' cores."
Zhao Zhi continued, "We also know that among the three races, humans are the most complex. After the Great War, their powers diminished greatly. Their lifespans shortened. Celestials and Demons became nothing more than myths to them—stories told for entertainment, bedtime tales, or warnings to scare children into obedience."
He paused, gaze sweeping the group. "For humans, gaining powers like ours—some make it their life's ambition. Their greed and ambitions can be beyond comprehension."
Lin Qian shook her head. "Yes, I understand. But... killing their own kind out of greed and ambition? I can't believe that."
"We need to stop this," Xu Yun said quietly, her voice low but firm, eyes reflecting unwavering resolve.
"Let's say you're right," Lei Wen finally found his voice. "They're using Immortal Cores to make this damn pill. The process is long and complicated. And whoever's making it must have a cultivation level at least in the High Immortal realm—and an enormous amount of Spirit Energy." He shook his head. "It's impossible for humans to pull this off. And even if they could, where would they get the method? It's not like there are books, scrolls, or jade tokens with the recipe just lying around."
Zhao Zhi pressed on, "I said, it's a theory. I'm not sure how they pulled this off, and I don't believe it any more than the rest of you, but the faint pulse of energy I detected from the pill is unmistakable. It's there. I can't ignore it."
Lei Wen shook his head, stubbornness hardening his features. "No. I don't believe it. I can't. This is..." He trailed off, jaw tight.
Their disagreement quickly escalated, both men defending their perspectives with growing intensity, voices overlapping. Lin Qian and Xu Yun stepped in, attempting to diffuse the tension.
"Enough," Xuan Tian's voice cut through the room. He had been pacing silently, deep in thought. His gaze shifted toward the doctors. "There's something I need to inform you."
The room quieted instantly. Lin Qian and Xu Yun turned their attention to him, their earlier attempts at calming the argument forgotten.
Xuan Tian sighed, the weight of what he was about to reveal evident in his tone. "The main reason Tianjun sent me to escort you is because, over the past six months, the number of missing Celestials has increased significantly."
He paused to let that sink in before continuing. "Those missing Celestials were last seen crossing the Tianwei Barrier from Tianmen City."
"At first, the Court believed they chose to stay in the Human Realm voluntarily," he added, his gaze darkening, "but the Heavenly Records Pavilion reported that none of those Celestials have sent any news back. And... they cannot be contacted."
Lei Wen stared at Xuan Tian, disbelief tightening his features. "What—what are you saying, General? That those Celestials also had their cores harvested? That's even more ridiculous!"
Xuan Tian remained calm. "I'm just relaying the facts I've been given." He glanced at each of them, his tone even but grave. "Here's what we know: Missing Celestials. Missing humans. A newly discovered way to develop Immortal Cores. We found three victims with involuntarily formed cores, and I personally found over fifteen individuals with fully formed cores, all in a hypnotic state."
He paused, letting the weight of that settle before adding, "And lastly, we've recovered two unidentified pills containing secret ingredients. One of those pills has been proven to force humans to form Immortal Cores."
Zhao Zhi grimaced. "And don't forget the manpower and resources required for something like this. It's no small operation."
Xuan Tian nodded. "Exactly. Evidence also suggests that whoever's behind this has at least one High Immortal Stage Five cultivator, an entire group of Warriors, and enough resources to pull this off on a massive scale."
Xu Yun spoke up, her voice edged with concern. "This sounds more and more dangerous. Can we handle it alone?"
Xuan Tian shook his head. "We can, Doctor. Don't worry. Even though it sounds grim, the fact that this is all being done in secrecy means they're avoiding detection from the Immortal Sects and the human palace. I am certain there are others investigating this matter. We're not alone."
He paused before adding, "And if it comes to facing the High Immortal cultivator… I am more than enough."
His words weren't spoken out of arrogance—just a simple statement of fact. Xuan Tian's confidence was earned through countless battles, victories, and centuries of experience. His calm assurance settled some of the tension in the room, though the gravity of their situation still weighed heavily on them all.
"Moving forward," Xuan Tian said, his voice regaining its commanding edge, "here's what we're going to do." He glanced at Lin Qian and Lei Wen. "Dr. Lei, Dr. Lin—you two will remain here and monitor the patients. Inside my barrier is the safest place. It would take more than one Saint to break it." His tone brooked no argument.
Turning to Zhao Zhi and Xu Yun, he continued, "You both will continue working at the clinic. Stay low. If there's even the slightest sign of danger, drop everything and retreat into the barrier. Do not hesitate."
Zhao Zhi and Xu Yun exchanged a quick glance before nodding firmly.
"And you?" Xu Yun asked, concern flashing across her features.
Xuan Tian's gaze shifted toward the door. "I'm heading back to the Zhang Clinic. I won't leave my clone unattended for too long."
Lin Qian blinked. "Your clone?" she repeated, surprise coloring her voice.
"Yes," he replied matter-of-factly. "It's currently screaming its head off. Its core is forming, and the process isn't exactly subtle."
Zhao Zhi chuckled despite the tension in the room. "Impressive as always, General."