Chapter 3: Do Not Underestimate the Water in a Tiny Pond

The young man's expression abruptly changed, his hand darting toward his waist with lightning speed—only to be stopped by a single glance from the old man. Though he sensed something unusual about the youth, he detected no malice. Moreover, he had confidence in his own abilities; not just anyone could harm him.

**"You're injured?"**

Qin Xuan's first words stunned both of them, especially the young man, whose face darkened instantly.

Even with the old man's warning, he couldn't suppress his anger. **"Watch your tone. Have you never heard of respecting your elders?"**

*Respecting elders?*

Qin Xuan almost laughed, sparing the young man only a dismissive glance.

In the face of the Green Emperor, who had reigned supreme in the immortal realm, what did "respecting elders" even mean? Those ancient cultivators who had trained for hundreds of thousands of years wouldn't dare lecture *him* about deference.

**"How did you know?"**

It was the old man who reacted differently—his heart jolted as he stared at Qin Xuan in disbelief.

The old man knew the extent of his injuries all too well—even top provincial hospitals had failed to diagnose them. It had taken an old friend versed in ancient Chinese medicine to identify the problem. Yet this young man before him had discerned it with just a glance?

His memory was sharp; he was certain they had never met before.

**"I saw it,"** Qin Xuan replied casually, as if stating the obvious. **"And I can heal you."**

With that, he reached out toward the old man, intending to examine him further.

**"How dare you!"**

The young man's face twisted in alarm. Given the elder's status, even the slightest risk was unacceptable—let alone allowing this suspicious stranger to lay hands on him. He immediately moved to block Qin Xuan.

**"Scram."**

Qin Xuan's gaze hardened. A flicker of cold disdain flashed in his eyes as the spiritual energy within him pulsed faintly.

In that instant, the young man felt as though his outstretched hand had slammed into solid steel. A terrifying recoil force sent him stumbling back several steps, his years of military-trained strength rendered utterly useless against this invisible power.

Xiao Yi!"

The old man's voice cut sharply through the tension, his eyes glinting with sudden intensity as he stopped the young man.

Xiao Yi's face twisted in pain, his entire arm trembling from the violent recoil. Only the old man understood—this youth was no ordinary person. Xiao Yi's combat skills stood no chance against him.

*This boy... is a martial artist?*

The old man was astonished. Qin Xuan couldn't be older than seventeen, his features still carrying youthful softness. Yet with just a faint tremor of energy, he had sent Xiao Yi stumbling back.

*"Could he already be on the verge of cultivating internal energy?"* The thought sent a shock through the old man's heart. For someone so young to approach that level—was this boy a hidden genius from one of Jingshui City's elite families?

Ignoring their reactions, Qin Xuan reached for the old man's arm with deliberate calm. His fingers closed around the elder's wrist, pressing against the pulse point with an air of indisputable authority. There was no request for permission, no hesitation—only the unspoken understanding that when the Green Emperor acted, none could oppose him.

To kill, none could stop him. To heal, who dared interfere?

This was the indomitable dominance Qin Xuan had honed over ten thousand years—how could it be easily shaken?

His spiritual energy flowed through the old man's meridians, tracing the root of the hidden injury before he finally smiled faintly.

Though this elder was indeed a practitioner, the energy within him was pathetically weak—compared to Qin Xuan's spiritual power, it was like a trickling stream measured against a raging river.

**"Several of your meridians are damaged, obstructing the flow of energy and causing frequent stabbing pains,"** Qin Xuan stated calmly. **"The stagnation has also affected your kidneys, where years of accumulated imbalances have bred chronic illness."**

With a subtle pulse of his spiritual energy, he gently nourished the injured meridians. **"I've done some preliminary repairs. Bring me the herbs listed in this prescription, and I'll refine medicinal pills for you. They'll restore your body to its original state."**

**"What?"**

The old man's mind reeled. Every word from this youth aligned perfectly with what his old friend—the master of ancient medicine—had once diagnosed.

But there was one critical difference:

Where his friend could only prescribe temporary relief, this young man spoke of a complete cure.

The gap between treating symptoms and eradicating the root cause was vast—so vast that even a man of the elder's stature found it hard to believe.

**"You… you're serious?"**

Would I bother lying to you?"** Qin Xuan countered, as if the question itself were absurd.

The old man was momentarily stunned by the youth's tone. How could someone so young speak with such unshakable arrogance? Yet Qin Xuan's actions lent him an air of credibility—especially that unfathomable energy that had just coursed through his meridians.

*Could this boy truly be an internal energy master?*

Drawing a deep breath of the cool night air, the elder unclipped an aged pen from his chest pocket and rasped, **"Xiao Yi, fetch some paper."**

**"Elder Mo, he's almost certainly a fraud! You mustn't—"** Xiao Yi's voice was frantic as his hand jerked toward his waist.

Qin Xuan's eyebrows lifted slightly. *A firearm?* This old man's attendant was armed—proof of the elder's extraordinary status.

But what did that matter to him?

He didn't even glance at the implied threat. Instead, a faint smile touched his lips.

*An informant with such connections… could there be a better option?*

Fetch the paper!"**

Elder Mo turned, his expression darkening when he saw Xiao Yi's movement. **"You will not disrespect this gentleman!"**

Though visibly reluctant, Xiao Yi immediately turned and strode toward the Audi parked beyond the lake.

Elder Mo studied Qin Xuan intently. No matter how young he appeared, the profound internal energy that had just coursed through his meridians was undeniable—enough to send shockwaves through the old man's mind. With a trace of reverence, he asked, **"Might I ask your name, sir?"**

**"Qin Xuan."**

The elder wracked his memory but found no prominent Qin family in Jingshui City. *Strange…*

Xiao Yi soon returned with paper. Qin Xuan jotted down a list of common herbs—ordinary in nature, but once refined by his hand, they would suffice to heal the old man's injuries.

**"Contact me after you've gathered the herbs."** After a pause, he added his phone number.

He had questions for this elder—answers that would help him gauge where his current strength stood among Earth's practitioners. With that, he prepared to leave.

**"At this hour, transportation will be scarce. Allow me to offer you a ride,"** Elder Mo said, a glint in his eyes.

**"Very well."**

Qin Xuan accepted without ceremony, calmly taking the elder's own seat in the car.