Library of Heaven’s Path

Chapter 872: The Bodhi Saint Tree Is Dying!

Translator: StarveCleric Editor: Millman97

”Indeed, itʼs the Hu Po Recuperation Art!” Lu Cheng nodded. ”Do you know its effects?”

”According to what I know, this secret art doesnʼt really treat oneʼs injuries. Instead, it aims to trigger the potential of oneʼs body, suppressing oneʼs injuries so as to draw oneʼs fighting prowess to the peak temporarily. This is an emergency maneuver that we combat masters only use under desperate circumstances on the battlefield,” Wu Xu replied.

Just as Zhang Xuan had guessed, they were combat masters. As the warriors of the Master Teacher Pavilion, it was inevitable that they would have to face deadly battles frequently.

On the battlefield, losing the ability to fight meant that one was just moments away from death.

As such, an elder of the Combat Master Hall, Hu Po, created such a secret art aimed not to heal oneʼs injuries, but to trigger the potential harnessed within the body to grant one the ability to disregard oneʼs injuries and continue fighting.

This secret art had managed to save many combat masters from desperate circumstances.

Eager to obtain the Scarlet Firefly Fruit earlier, he had ended up using this secret art as well.

”Youʼre right. Then, do you know the flaw of this secret art?” Lu Cheng asked.

Wu Xu nodded. ”The flaw is… as soon as the effects end, oneʼs injuries will worsen.”

”Thatʼs right, oneʼs injuries will worsen, and there is a chance that oneʼs cultivation might plummet as well…” Lu Cheng said grimly. ”Zhang shi seemed to know the condition I was in, so he went easy on me from the very first move, and he chose to avoid the places where I was injured previously. Otherwise… I wouldnʼt have survived three moves, let alone a hundred!”

”This…” Wu Xu still found the matter a little inconceivable, thinking that Brother Lu was just overthinking it.

”You donʼt believe me?” Lu Cheng shook his head. ”The Hu Po Recuperation Art suppresses oneʼs injuries by forcing it into a few acupoints. For me, it is the Hongmen and Zhanghui acupoints. If the other party had struck either of these two points, I would have suffered severe backlash from my injuries.”

Wu Xu nodded in agreement.

The essence of the secret art lay in manipulating oneʼs zhenqi to seal oneʼs injuries, and the mingmen of these seals would be located on certain acupoints, depending on the cultivator themself.

”Take a look at this…” With a bitter smile, Lu Cheng pointed to his clothes.

Wu Xu hurriedly took a look, and his eyes immediately narrowed in astonishment.

On the area of the clothes corresponding to where Brother Luʼs Hongmen and Zhanghui acupoints were located, there were small holes reminiscent of a thin needle; it would have been hard to notice them if one didnʼt take a closer look.

”These were… left by him?” Wu Xuʼs voice quavered in fear as he spoke.

”Indeed. From the very first move, he had already noticed my weakness and swept his foxtail grass at those two points. Back then, I hadnʼt realized it yet, thinking that he might just not have sufficient power to complete the attack. However, the next moment, in order to avoid hurting me, he forcefully diverted his attack to my Shanzhong acupoint on my chest…”

As Lu Cheng spoke, a hint of deference surfaced in his eyes. ”In truth, if it had been a life-and-death duel, he could have killed me in the very first blow. However, he chose to go easy on me. It was just that I wasnʼt aware of it then…”

”T-this…” Wu Xuʼs face paled as it dawned on him what kind of figure he had just crossed earlier.

To be able to go easy on his opponent in such an intense battle, was he still human?

That was way too fearsome!

”Even I can hardly gauge the true prowess of Zhang shi. He is truly like an unfathomable enigma. By no means should we ever make an enemy out of him again,” Lu Cheng said grimly.

”Yes!” Wu Xu nodded.

Since even Brother Lu wasnʼt a match for Zhang shi, there was no way he would dare to provoke the other party once more.

”Alright, you should hurry up and recuperate from your wounds; then you can attempt a breakthrough to Half-Saint. Once you succeed, you will be able to follow us to the Four Great Academies to participate in the selection of new members and accomplish that mission. Otherwise, it will be an extremely long time before you get another chance!” Lu Cheng said.

”Donʼt worry, Brother Lu. I will surely succeed this time around!” Wu Xu said with great determination.

…

On the journey back, Hu Yaoyao and the others spent most of their time reinforcing their Half-Saint cultivation, and Zhang Xuan also used this time to reinforce his Chrysalis realm cultivation as well.

It was a silent half-day journey back to the Hongyuan City.

From their departure to their return, they had only taken slightly more than a day. When the sun started rising from the horizon once more, Hongyuan City was already in sight.

A moment later, as Zhang Xuan glanced downward, he was completely stunned.

Is that… my manor?

What had been rubble when he last saw it had transformed into an exquisite manor that didnʼt pale in comparison even with the royal palace.

On top of that, he could vaguely feel a handful of grade-6 formations that not only gathered spiritual energy in the area but wielded astounding offensive and defensive capabilities as well.

What has happened? Zhang Xuan was unable to understand what had happened during his absence.

School Head Zhao and the others had said that they would send someone to repair his manor for him, but did they really have to make it so extravagant?

Outsiders might just think that this was the royal palace itself!

”Letʼs head down to take a look!”

After bidding Hu Yaoyao and the others farewell, Zhang Xuan had the Byzantium Helios Beast descend to the courtyard of the manor.

As soon as they landed, Sun Qiang immediately rushed up to greet him.

”What happened?” Zhang Xuan asked in bewilderment.

”Itʼs the Hongyuan royal family! I tried to stop them, but they insisted on fixing the manor. In the end, I could only watch helplessly as they made this,” Sun Qiang said indignantly.

In truth, he was also completely dumbfounded by the happenings as well.

He could still understand it if the Master Teacher Academy had dispatched some men to fix their manor, but for the royal palace to get involved as well, and to go such great lengths at that… Just what were they up to?

”The royal palace?” Zhang Xuan blinked blankly.

He had been kicked out of the royal palace by the emperor himself two nights ago. Why would the other party offer to fix his manor all of the sudden?

”Thatʼs right. Not only so, Emperor Shen Yuqing has also visited three times in your absence, requesting to meet you…” Sun Qiang said.

”He wants to meet me?” Zhang Xuanʼs bewilderment deepened.

Were all emperors as unpredictable as that? It was as if they suffered from severe mood swings!

But just as Zhang Xuan was confused by the situation before him, one of the manor servants abruptly rushed in to report that Emperor Yu Shenqing had turned up once again!

”Invite him in.” Zhang Xuan waved his hands.

Even though he had no idea what the other party was up to, it happened that he needed the other partyʼs Bodhi Saint Tree. This was a good opportunity to ask about it.

”Yes!” Sun Qiang headed out.

A moment later, Zhang Xuan met Emperor Yu Shenqing in the main hall. The latter clasped his fist upon meeting him and greeted, ”Zhang shi!”

Zhang Xuan gestured for him to take a seat before asking, ”Your Majesty, I am thankful that you sent your men to fix my manor, but may I know the reason behind it?”

”We had some misunderstanding the other night, so I hope that we can reconcile our differences through this,” Yu Shenqing quickly replied.

”Misunderstanding?” Zhang Xuan shook his head. ”Donʼt worry about it, itʼs really nothing much.”

He hadnʼt really taken the matter that night to heart.

After all, he was also at fault for destroying the other partyʼs main hall and ruining the banquet.

Seeing that there wasnʼt any hint of unhappiness on the other partyʼs face, Yu Shenqing heaved a sigh of relief. ”Iʼm glad to see that Zhang shi isnʼt angry about it.”

He had been worrying over this matter for the last two days, fearing that he had offended the other party, but it seemed like the other party hadnʼt taken the matter to heart.

But that was no wonder as well. A person who could create and gift such a formidable set of cultivation techniques on a whim was likely to be a magnanimous person, unbothered by such trifling matters in the world.

After chatting for a moment longer, Zhang Xuan raised his request. ”I heard that the royal family has a Bodhi Saint Tree. If it isnʼt too much, may I borrow it for something?”

”Bodhi Saint Tree?” A conflicted expression surfaced on Yu Shenqingʼs face. ”This…”

”It isnʼt convenient?” Zhang Xuan frowned.

Since he had promised to save Wei Ruyan, he would keep his word. However, if Yu Shenqing were to refuse to lend him the Bodhi Tree, there would be nothing he could do either!

”It isnʼt that…”

With a shake of his head, Yu Shenqing sighed deeply, ”To be honest with Zhang shi, our Bodhi Saint Tree, for some unknown reason, started to wither some time ago. The situation has worsened particularly in the recent two years… I have tried all kinds of means, but I have been unable to reverse its declining condition. I fear that in its current state, it isnʼt too far from death anymore!”

”Wither?” Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

”Thatʼs right. I have invited over a hundred herbologists over the past two years, but none of them were able to resolve its illness,” Yu Shenqing replied despondently.

The condition of the Bodhi Saint Tree was a huge secret of the royal family, so he had been guarding it tightly all along. However, since Zhang shi had asked about it, he could only reply honestly.

”Can you take me over to take a look?” Zhang Xuan asked after a moment of thought.

”Zhang shi wants to take a look?” Yu Shenqing asked in astonishment.

”Indeed. I do know a thing or two about herbology too, so I might just be able to help you on this matter,” Zhang Xuan explained.

He had once solved a problem for a herbologist back in the Myriad Kingdom Alliance, so he wasnʼt unfamiliar with the occupation.

Hearing those words, Yu Shenqingʼs eyes lit up, and he nearly leaped up in excitement. ”Zhang shi is knowledgeable in herbology as well? Thatʼs great!”

His ears were already on the verge of growing calluses from hearing about the incredible deeds that Zhang shi had accomplished. After two years of effort, he already didnʼt harbor much hope for the recovery of the Saint Bodhi Tree. However, if Zhang shi were to make a move, there might still be a chance for it to happen!

Without any hesitation, he immediately brought Zhang shi onboard the saint beast he had arrived on and headed back to the royal palace.

Upon landing in the royal palace, Yu Shenqing led the way, and after twisting and turning about numerous roads, they finally arrived at a residence.

”The Bodhi Saint Tree is right inside…” Yu Shenqing said as he gestured toward the building.

”Here?” Zhang Xuan frowned.

He had never been to this residence before, but he couldnʼt help but notice that there were no formations set up in the area. Considering how valuable the Bodhi Saint Tree was, was it really fine to leave it lying around without any protection?

Noticing Zhang Xuanʼs doubts, Yu Shenqing answered, ”The Bodhi Saint Tree is only useful for those who practice soul cultivation techniques, so, perhaps in the whole of Hongyuan Empire, it only has value to our Yu Clan. Others wouldnʼt benefit from it. Besides, having reached Saint realm, it already possesses its own sentience, and it detests being surrounded by formations, so…”

”I see.” Zhang Xuan nodded.

Formidable saint herbs, just like Saint-tier artifacts, possessed sentience. It was harder to absorb spiritual energy from the surroundings if they were surrounded by formations, so they loathed it.

While speaking, the duo entered the residence, and a few elders within immediately walked over and greeted respectfully, ”Your Majesty!”

These elders were all Saint realm experts, and they were probably stationed there to take care of the Bodhi Saint Tree.

”Zhang shi, this is the Bodhi Saint Tree!”

Zhang Xuan turned his gaze over and saw a majestic tree in the middle of the courtyard. It had an extremely thick trunk, and it towered at a height of around a dozen meters tall.

However, the leaves on its branches were shriveled and sparse, and traces of white had surfaced on the tree trunk as well. It didnʼt seem to be in a good condition.

”Indeed, the Bodhi Saint Tree is nearing death…” Zhang Xuan frowned deeply.

It was spring, the season when everything came to life and vitality permeated the air, but the massive tree was showing clear signs of decline. There was no doubt that it was extremely ill.

Had it not been for the royal family pumping in endless resources to sustain its life, it might have already died.

Unable to determine its condition from a distance away, Zhang Xuan asked, ”Can I take a closer look?”

”Of course, feel fr…”

Yu Shenqing nodded, but before he could finish his words, one of the elders stepped forward and said, ”Your Majesty, it is not advisable for anyone to approach the Bodhi Saint Tree now!”