Chapter Twenty-Three: The Legendary Needle Technique

More than ten members of the expert group crowded into the hospital room, with Qin Tian and Sun Simin faintly at the forefront. Many among them felt puzzled, noticing that Sun Simin seemed to hold the young man in high regard. They had all been outside earlier and were unaware that Qin Tian had just passed on the art of the Eighteen Sealing Dragon Needles to Sun Simin; had they known, they would have been utterly astonished.

"Senior Sun, what is your opinion?" asked Zhang Xuecheng, another titan of the medical world, though his expertise lay in Western medicine.

"If we rely on gradual recuperation, I can prescribe additional medicines to boost the body's immune functions and nurture the patient back to health," he replied. "After all, the human body possesses its own restorative abilities. But this virus spreads rapidly. If we just nurture the patient, it might take several months. During those months, any contact with others risks further transmission."

"Therefore, I want to hear your thoughts. Traditional medicine could serve as a safety net," Sun Simin said, after a moment's reflection. He knew that Chinese medicine could indeed cure this virus, thanks to certain rare herbs capable of stimulating the body's potential to devour and destroy the virus. But from his observations, it would still require several months to heal with the current remedies. Developing new, specialized medicines could take just as long, given the repeated trials required.

Admittedly, most Chinese medicine research lags behind Western medicine, which is faster both in efficacy and development.

"I'll take the extracted virus back to the lab. I can't say when we'll have a counteracting drug, but it will certainly take at least half a month. Senior Sun, you'll have to hold the line during this period," said Zhang Xuecheng.

"With Qin Tian here, my help may not be needed," Sun Simin replied.

Zhang Xuecheng and the others were quietly astonished. Why did Sun Simin esteem Qin Tian so highly?

Qin Tian scratched his head and smiled, as Sun Simin had let slip his feelings a bit too openly.

"I'm heading back to the lab now. I'll leave matters here in your capable hands," Zhang Xuecheng said, departing with five colleagues, leaving behind only Sun Simin's students.

Of course, these students were renowned master physicians themselves wherever they went; yet, before Sun Simin, their status paled.

Suddenly—

Zhang Xuecheng had barely left when, from the hospital bed, the patient let out a cry of pain and vomited a mouthful of black, foul blood. The inky blood trickled down his lips, staining the pillow dark. Simultaneously, the patient convulsed uncontrollably, his limbs stiffening, eyes wide open; the whites gradually engulfed his pupils.

"This is bad! The patient can't hold on any longer!" Sun Simin shouted, immediately leading his students and the gathered experts to administer emergency care.

Qin Tian frowned, quickly grasping the root of the problem—it had been blocked for too long. The Eighteen Sealing Dragon Needles had sealed the virus, but the virus continued to multiply within the body. Once its numbers doubled, the needles' efficacy would inevitably wane, requiring another application.

"Senior Sun, use the Eighteen Sealing Dragon Needles," Qin Tian said.

"Should I? Am I ready?" Sun Simin hesitated, having only learned the technique once and fearing his skills were insufficient.

"Go ahead," Qin Tian nodded.

Sun Simin drew a deep breath and took out his silver needles, understanding that Qin Tian was helping him solidify his grasp of the newly learned art. A faint sense of gratitude stirred within him—such young talents were exceedingly rare these days, almost like endangered creatures.

After a round of the Eighteen Sealing Dragon Needles, the patient's condition stabilized, but the area occupied by the dark masses had doubled.

"This..." Sun Simin looked at Qin Tian.

"There’s nothing else for it. We can only restrict the virus's activity to a confined area, sealing it in place. But it will keep multiplying regardless; this is merely buying time," Qin Tian replied. "Let’s hope Dr. Zhang can develop the new medicine quickly."

In truth, the ancient text recorded another method, but it was far too risky—if it failed, the patient would die instantly. Qin Tian would not dare take that chance; it was a matter of responsibility both to himself and the patient. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never attempt it.

He would drag things out as long as possible. If the new medicine could be developed before the virus erupted fully, that would be best.

Yet reality seldom cooperates. Not long after the virus was sealed, the patient suffered a second bout of convulsions, and the virus multiplied again.

This time, Qin Tian and Sun Simin swiftly joined forces to seal the virus once more, but the dark masses had grown to four times their original size.

"This can't go on," Qin Tian muttered, pacing back and forth in the room, pondering the feasibility of the alternative method.

Barely five minutes had passed before the virus erupted yet again.

"It seems we can't suppress it anymore!" Sun Simin exclaimed, pale with shock—the Eighteen Sealing Dragon Needles had reached their limit.

"Senior Sun, please have everyone leave. Stay and assist me," Qin Tian said, finally gritting his teeth and deciding to take a gamble.

Sun Simin quickly understood; Qin Tian must be about to perform some extraordinary formation. Excitement welled up within him.

Once the others had left, Sun Simin locked the door, then stood quietly at Qin Tian's side like a devoted apprentice, awaiting his instructions.

Qin Tian inhaled deeply, applied another round of the Eighteen Sealing Dragon Needles, then removed all of the patient's clothing.

Placing both hands on the patient’s chest, he pressed downward to the abdomen, then upward to the jaw.

Watching Qin Tian's techniques, Sun Simin’s pupils widened in incredulity. This was uncanny—it resembled the long-lost method of Qi Propagation Through the Palaces!

Suppressing his excitement and awe, Sun Simin resolved to ask Qin Tian about it when he was finished.

"This is indeed Qi Propagation Through the Palaces, and an upgraded version at that. I’ll teach it to you later," Qin Tian said, anticipating Sun Simin’s question.

Sun Simin nodded heavily. His greatest gain today was meeting such an exceptional young man as Qin Tian.

"Next comes the Nine Palaces Revival Needle. Whether we succeed depends entirely on this," Qin Tian continued.

"The Nine Palaces Revival Needle? The legendary needle technique that can bring someone back from the brink of death, as long as they still draw breath?" Sun Simin’s eyes widened in disbelief. The Nine Palaces Revival Needle existed only in myth—a miraculous needlework defying the heavens.

And Qin Tian could perform it!

Heavens! This world was truly mad. Who exactly was Qin Tian?