From what Li Xu understood, the patient had been frail since childhood, suffering from a congenital heart condition and depression. Even if she wanted to cause trouble, she wouldn’t have had the energy.

Performing the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles on her wouldn’t create any negative karma.

Besides, there was no need to perform the entire Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles right now.

He only needed to use the "Sealing Technique" from the set, in conjunction with the An Gong Bezoar Pill and Sandalwood Fragrance, to firmly lock the patient’s life force in place.

This would buy him time to go to Guangxi and find the Ten Thousand Year Qi Nan Agarwood.

After breakfast, Li Xu immediately rushed to the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Inside the intensive care unit, the patient’s condition remained stable, but she had yet to regain consciousness.

While her complexion was no longer deathly pale, it had an unhealthy, ashen quality—a sign that her life force was slowly ebbing away.

Yamada and a few other specialists were gathered around the bed, frowning at a pile of data.

When he saw Li Xu come in, Yamada immediately rushed over. "Dr. Li, have you come up with a solution? We’ve managed to stabilize her for now, but if we don’t address the root cause, the backlash will be even more terrifying when the medicine wears off in three days."

"I have a solution," Li Xu said calmly.

The moment he spoke, the hospital room fell silent.

The patient’s parents shot up as if they had been shocked, rushing to Li Xu’s side. "Divine Physician Li, what is it? What do you need us to do?"

"I need to go to Guangxi," Li Xu said, looking the patient’s father straight in the eye. "I have to find a specific medicinal herb. Only it, combined with my needle technique, can provide a true solution."

"Guangxi?" The patient’s father was stunned for a moment. "Go now? Is there enough time?"

"There’s enough time, as long as I’m fast enough."

Li Xu said, "I need you to arrange the fastest possible travel for me. I’ll go alone, and I’ll return immediately after I get the medicine. If I’m not back within three days, there’s no need to panic."

As he spoke, Li Xu took a set of custom-made steel needles from his acupuncture kit.

These needles were slightly thicker than ordinary Silver Needles. Their shafts gleamed with a cold light, and their handles were engraved with intricate patterns.

He had found these yesterday.

It wasn’t his ancestral set of Golden Needles, but it would suffice.

"Before I leave, I’ll perform acupuncture on her to reinforce the seal."

Li Xu walked to the bedside and took a deep breath. His entire demeanor sharpened, becoming intensely focused.

"I’m going to use the ’Sealing Technique’ from the ’Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles’ to forcibly lock in her last shred of Primordial Qi."

When Yamada heard the name "Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles," his brow twitched violently.

He had seen the name in ancient Japanese texts, where it was referred to as the "Dark Acupuncture Skill."

"Sealing Technique? What kind of technique is that?"

Yamada couldn’t help but ask, "I’ve never heard of anyone using it in a clinical setting."

"It’s a long-lost Forbidden Technique."

Li Xu didn’t explain much, saying only, "Because it overdraws a person’s potential—it’s borrowing time from King Yama. But right now, we have no other choice."

With that said, Li Xu hesitated no longer.

He held his breath and focused, pressing his left hand on Zhao Qingya’s Renzhong Acupoint. With his right hand, he plunged the needle downward, swift and precise as a hawk striking a rabbit.

The first needle: Renzhong!

Anciently known as the Ghost Palace.

As the needle went in, Zhao Qingya, who had been completely unresponsive, let out an almost inaudible gurgle from her throat, as if something within her had been stirred.

Li Xu’s eyes narrowed, his hands never faltering.

The second needle: a deep insertion into Shao Shang!

Anciently known as the Ghost Letter.

The instant the needle pierced her fingertip, Zhao Qingya’s finger twitched.

The third needle: Yinbai!

Anciently known as the Ghost Fortress.

The fourth needle: Da Ling!

Anciently known as the Ghost Heart.

...

Li Xu’s movements were incredibly fast, as fluid as moving clouds and flowing water, yet they carried a suffocating intensity.

Each needle he inserted went extremely deep, far beyond the safety limits of conventional acupuncture.

With each insertion, his wrist would vibrate in an eerie, high-frequency motion.

It was an advanced, complex technique combining "penetratingly cool" and "Mountain-Burning Fire," using the high-frequency vibrations to force the needle’s energy deep into the acupoints.

As the steel needles were inserted one after another, the patient’s body began to change before their very eyes.

Her once-ashen complexion slowly began to radiate a faint, golden luster—a sign that her Primordial Qi was being forcibly drawn to the surface of her skin.

The readings on the medical monitor were even more shockingly stable.

Heart rate: a constant 85. Blood oxygen: 98%. Blood pressure: 110/70.

Did this look like a person on the brink of death?

She seemed healthier than a normal person.

But this was just an illusion, one forcibly held in place.

By the time he inserted the final needle, Li Xu’s forehead was beaded with sweat.

This technique was incredibly draining; each needle was a gamble against death itself.

"It’s done."

Li Xu pulled back his hands and wiped away the sweat. "Right now, she’s like she’s frozen in time. As long as I don’t remove the needles, her last breath won’t escape. But the thread is stretched taut, and it can only hold for five days at most. If I don’t return to remove the needles in five days, her life will be extinguished instantly."

"Five days is enough."

The patient’s father was ecstatic.

He walked to the side and made a phone call.

He quickly arranged for a plane.

...

「An hour later, at Feng City Airport.」

A streamlined Gulfstream G650 business jet was already parked on the runway, its engines roaring, ready for takeoff.

Li Xu, carrying a simple backpack, stood in front of the airstairs.

The patient’s father tightly gripped his hand: "Divine Physician Li, we’re counting on you. The plane will remain at the airport, and the crew will be on standby 24/7, waiting for your return."

Li Xu nodded. "Rest assured, I will bring the medicine back."

He turned and boarded the plane.

The cabin door closed, the plane taxied on the runway, and then like a silver sword, it shot straight into the clouds.

Sitting in the spacious, luxurious cabin, Li Xu watched Feng City shrink rapidly outside the window and couldn’t help but sigh internally.

’This is the power of influence.’

’Coordinating a flight path and dispatching a private jet in just one hour... that’s a level of difficulty money alone can’t solve.’

But Li Xu quickly began planning the rest of his trip.

He was going this time based on a tip, searching for Qi Nan Agarwood.

Agarwood is the dried, resin-impregnated heartwood found near the roots of certain Aquilaria trees, like *Aquilaria sinensis*.

Agarwood isn’t just a type of wood; it’s also a fragrant spice and can be used in medicine, making it a precious component of traditional Chinese remedies.

Anyone who appreciates Agarwood will inevitably bring up "Qi Nan" when the topic arises.

"Qi Nan" and "Agarwood" are not completely the same thing.

Qi Nan is a type of Agarwood.

In other words, all Qi Nan is definitely Agarwood, but not all Agarwood is Qi Nan.

Qi Nan Agarwood ≠ Agarwood.

Qi Nan Agarwood is called the "King of Agarwood."

Only the absolute finest grade of Agarwood can be called Qi Nan Agarwood.

The term "Qi Nan" originates from Sanskrit.

Sometimes Qi Nan Agarwood is also called *Dojialuo* Agarwood, *Galan* Agarwood, *Jianan* Agarwood, or *Qinan* Agarwood, among other names.

In terms of texture, Qi Nan is softer and more resinous than ordinary Agarwood.

Therefore, in ancient times, Qi Nan was also known as *Qiong Zhi*, or "Jade Grease."