Wandering Gods of Day and Night

"It's not about the Spiritual Communication Characteristic; it's my nose."

It turned out that after Miss Qiang finished marking the position of the Spiritual Communication Characteristic, Zhou Xuan felt bored—after all, what's so interesting about dissection? He had already seen plenty of those back at the shop—so he decided to go for a stroll outside the Weird Creature Research Institute while having a smoke...

...Definitely not to peek at the female students from Hui Feng Medical College; he was simply in the mood to clear his mind.

As he smoked, he noticed bloodstains on his cigarette. When he touched his nose, his fingers got smeared with droplets of blood.

"A nosebleed? I've been cultivating incense energy, yet I still get nosebleeds?"

Feeling it was odd, Zhou Xuan coincidentally saw a Bone Elder walking out of the research institute and went to ask about his nosebleed.

The Bone Elder glanced at him and chuckled, "Young Master, nosebleeds are quite normal in such dry weather."

"Even people who cultivate incense energy get nosebleeds?"

"Of course! I had one just the other day."

"Oh, thanks for clearing that up."

"You're too kind, no need to thank me."

After the exchange, Zhou Xuan walked away, but the more he thought about it, the less convinced he became. If it was due to dry weather, Ping Shui Prefecture was much drier than Mingjiang Prefecture.

He never got a nosebleed in Ping Shui, so why experience one now in Mingjiang?

Being naturally cautious, he entered the Secret Realm and consulted Miss Qiang.

"There are many reasons for nosebleeds. Even spicy, heat-inducing food can cause them. However, if you've never had nosebleeds before and suddenly start, this might be something to worry about."

"Then check my body for me, won't you?"

"I'm in your Secret Realm. Do you really need me to step outside to examine you?"

Miss Qiang explained to Zhou Xuan: "The Secret Realm reflects your physical condition. If you were gravely ill, the edges of the Realm would show signs of decay. But currently, your Secret Realm seems quite healthy... uh..."

Her voice abruptly trailed off because she noticed a tiny bloodstain at the edge of the Secret Realm.

A bloodstain in a Secret Realm is like a blade of grass sprouting between the cracks of a massive wall—nearly impossible to spot unless scrutinized closely.

"There's definitely something wrong with your Secret Realm. But with me around, there's nothing to fear," Miss Qiang declared, thumping her chest with conviction. "I am the Mother of Blood and Flesh. No matter how severe your condition is, I can cure you."

"The issue here isn't just about illness. I suspect that someone is plotting something against me."

When Zhou Xuan first got the nosebleed, a certain person and a certain item came to mind.

"Who and what?"

"The 'Willpower Tome'... and Bi Fang."

If Zhou Xuan had never heard of the Willpower Tome, a little nosebleed or a scratch on his hand wouldn't have caught his attention.

But now that he knew about the Willpower Tome, he couldn't help but become a little uneasy.

"Are you worried your affliction might be connected to that Tome?"

"Yes."

Zhou Xuan explained, "Bi Fang once wrote his desires into the Tome, sealing off the storyteller's disciple's path to advancement. If he didn't want me to live and inscribed my death into the Tome, wouldn't I eventually die as well once it took effect?"

"That does seem plausible. But it's also possible that your body's experiencing a minor issue. Humans eat grains and drink water; illnesses and ailments are inevitable. Try not to overthink it."

"Mr. Feng told me that wishes written in the Tome take time to manifest. Even if Bi Fang cursed me to die via the Tome, it would be a gradual process. My body would deteriorate step by step. I think I'll monitor myself for a while first."

With that, Zhou Xuan left the Secret Realm and continued exploring the campus.

As he strolled, Zhou Xuan mused aloud, "If Bi Fang cursed me to die using the Willpower Tome, I'll just refine one of my own and curse him to death."

The moment the thought emerged, Zhou Xuan couldn't help but laugh. What was this now? A duel of curses?

Let's see whose curse is stronger!

…

Hui Feng Medical College, though the flagship institution under the Bone Elder Association, primarily catered to non-cultivators.

Although the faculty were all Bone Elders, the students were trained as professional doctors.

Li Chengfeng had once told Zhou Xuan that about half of the students here would go on to work at Shan De Medical College, while the majority would join leading hospitals across the nine prefectures of Jing Country.

As the Bone Elder Association mastered the mysteries of blood and flesh, their students were naturally highly skilled professionals.

Shande Hospital in Mingdong District, located across from the pier, saw two to three ships dock daily, filled with patients seeking medical care.

Zhou Xuan, walking through Hui Feng Medical College, wasn't merely clearing his mind. He had also activated his Perception to gather Dragon Seeking Qi.

"The students here have a surprising amount of Dragon Qi."

In East Market Street, most pedestrians carried just one or two gold specks of Dragon Qi. A few exceptions had a bit more—but usually no more than four or five.

But here at Hui Feng Medical College, the students typically started with at least five specks, with some boasting over a dozen.

At this moment, Zhou Xuan, much like a gluttonous fiend, was using his fine Perception threads to repeatedly strike at those golden specks. The Dragon Scales in his Secret Realm were increasing at an astonishing pace.

"This is a fantastic place for cultivating Dragon Seeking Qi," Zhou Xuan remarked with admiration.

Not only was the Dragon Qi abundant, but the female students were also quite pleasing to the eye. In these times, attending elite medical colleges usually signified coming from wealth or nobility. Girls from affluent families prioritized self-care, dressed fashionably, and radiated youthful elegance.

"Girls, I just enjoy admiring girls from time to time,"

Zhou Xuan mused as he strolled through the college, soaking in the liveliness of the students. As he appreciated the vibrant atmosphere, he suddenly spotted someone familiar.

A young man with a transcendent air, dressed in a Daoist robe, stood nearby. He was holding a fragrant Compass in one hand while gently clasping a girl's soft hand with the other, seemingly reading her palm.