Ning Zhuo clasped his hands together, "Imperial Physician, your insight is profound. The patient is not me but my elder brother."
He then slapped the Mechanical Dragon on his waist.
Sun Lingtong leaped out from the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon and clasped his hands toward Zhang Zhongyi.
As he lifted his hand, Zhang Zhongyi saw the Stone Skin on his hands.
After so long, Sun Lingtong's hands were completely covered with Stone Skin. Previously, it was just the edges of his palms, but now even the center of the palms had transformed into stone material.
Zhang Zhongyi's complexion slightly changed, "This is a Dao Injury."
Ning Zhuo's pupils shrank suddenly, and his heart skipped a beat, "Dao Injury?"
Because his own mother's injury was also a Dao Injury.
Zhang Zhongyi's expression was solemn; he nodded slightly and took out a jar of ointment, "Don't say anything for now, apply this first."
Ning Zhuo was about to take it, but Zhang Zhongyi refused, looking at Sun Lingtong, "You apply it yourself. During the period of your illness, don't come too close to other people or objects; this Dao Injury is contagious."
Sun Lingtong then stimulated his Mana, maneuvered his Divine Sense, and remotely controlled the medicine bottle to float mid-air, dug out the ointment, and evenly applied it to his hands.
A Foundation Establishment Cultivator already had the ability to manipulate objects with Divine Sense, and Sun Lingtong's main Cultivation Technique was particularly proficient in the Divine Sea.
Thus, completing this action was a breeze.
After the ointment was applied, he instantly felt a sense of coolness that quickly penetrated from the surface of his palms to the inside.
This feeling of coolness was very intense, continuously eroding, and the process of petrification was immediately and completely curtailed.
Sun Lingtong immediately showed a joyful expression, looking at Ning Zhuo, "It's very effective!"
Ning Zhuo also showed a joyful expression, "That's wonderful."
But Zhang Zhongyi shook his head, "This treats the symptoms but not the root cause. To cure it entirely, we must start from the root to address the Dao Injury."
Ning Zhuo, already building up intense curiosity, eagerly asked, "May I ask Lord Zhang, what exactly is a Dao Injury, and how can it be fundamentally cured?"
He had searched for this answer in books and from the sages in the Luminous Mirror, and now asked Zhang Zhongyi because he wanted to hear the perspective of this talented physician.
The answer Zhang Zhongyi gave was almost the same as the others, "Dao Injury, as the name suggests, is being hurt by the principle of Dao."
"When a person lifts something heavy and cannot support it, getting injured, it is being hurt by the principle of heaviness.
"When a person covers fire with his hands and gets burned, it is being injured by the principle of fire."
"Your boy's hands are eroded by some principle of the Earth Element. To cure it, you need to understand the details and use corresponding methods to absorb or resolve the principle."
"So, first, you need to unearth the answer; otherwise, I cannot start the treatment."
Pausing, Zhang Zhongyi continued, "Once you have the answer, seek me out. This illness is indeed quite troublesome. First, you need to be sure the answer is correct. If the foundation is wrong, no matter how good my medical skills, the results won't show, and it might even worsen the situation."
"Secondly, once you have the correct answer, you need to find an Earth Element Grandmaster, someone skilled in the Earth Element Realm who knows the essential principles of the Earth Element. Only then can a treatment specific to the disease be devised."
"Thirdly, as you see, I have joined the army, serving as the military physician in Red Flower Camp. Who knows when an order will come from above, and we will be deployed to the front lines. Once at the front lines, it won't be like it is now, allowing freedom to come and go."
"So, you must hurry!"
Sun Lingtong then looked at Ning Zhuo, casting a questioning glance.
Ning Zhuo immediately understood what Sun Lingtong was asking.
Their previous strategy was correct, although it was risky along the way, they had already explored the answer—Stone Cast Earth Treasure.
But this matter was actually very important.
Why?
Because it involved the Nascent Soul Level being, the Old Monster in Stone.
From the perspective of the expedition army, the Old Monster in Stone was someone they must, and indeed very much, pay attention to.
But as of now, neither the Liangzhu Country Army nor the Thousand Peak Forest side had any knowledge of this.
Both Sun Ning and Sun Lingtong didn't want to reveal this secret.
Sun Lingtong, though injured, was holding back his frustration. He had stumbled on the Stone Ball and wanted to get up exactly where he had fallen.
Ning Zhuo's desire was somewhat more straightforward. The Stone Ball at the bottom of the cave was the body of the Old Monster in Stone who had failed in the Divinity Transformation, and it was also the entire fortune of this Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Earth Essence—a substantial wealth!
As long as he could resolve the Dao Injury, the presently dire financial difficulties would be completely alleviated. For a long time to come, there wouldn't be such hidden risks anymore.
Moreover, Ning Zhuo faintly felt: the death of the Old Monster in Stone seemed to have significant potential use.
Sun Lingtong did not speak; he wanted Ning Zhuo to make the decision.
Within a few breaths, Ning Zhuo had thought it through and clasped his hands to Zhang Zhongyi, "Lord Zhang, may I ask how much is the consultation fee this time?"
Zhang Zhongyi laughed, "That's difficult to calculate, it depends on what principle your young one has encountered. Treatment must be based on the diagnosis, and only then can the necessary medications be determined."
"And hiring an Earth Element Grandmaster often comes with a steep price."
"All in all, preparing ample consultation fees is always advisable."
Ning Zhuo thought for a moment, "If we could directly seek the help of an Earth Element Grandmaster, could we directly solve this Dao Injury?"
Zhang Zhongyi looked at Ning Zhuo in surprise. Though he had lost his earlier cultivation level, he was still a Golden Core Cultivator, seeing these two young-looking individuals, not knowing their real age, with only Foundation Establishment cultivation. Hearing their words, it seemed as though they could invite an Earth Element Grandmaster.