Chapter 648: Pool Eye

Seeing that Master Hong was about to collapse, Zhang Xuan ignored Wu Zhen, who was playing tricks on the side, and continued his voice transmission.

Wu Zhen confirmed the fact he had guessed in his heart and no longer bothered him, watching quietly instead.

A few minutes later.

Feng Yu, Luo Zhao, and Chen Yue each lay on the ground, their faces swollen like pig heads and their bodies covered in injuries, admitting defeat proactively. They had no choice but to surrender. Master Hong consistently anticipated their moves, leaving them no chance to retaliate. If the fight continued, winning would be out of the question, and even survival would be uncertain. It was better to admit defeat.

The three were in terrible shape, injured beyond recognition by their own parents. However, Master Hong was not much better. His face was swollen, his eyelids were red and puffy, his body swayed, and his face was covered in blood. If not for a surge of willpower, he would have collapsed long ago.

"Alright, since Master Feng, Master Luo, and Master Chen have surrendered, the three spots will be filled by your three factions!"

Ye Qian was full of surprise to see Master Hong actually win. He didn't have Wu Zhen's keen eye and couldn't discern the trick. He thought Master Hong had defeated the three masters purely by his own strength, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration.

"Master Wu, Master Hong is injured. May I ask for a cup of medicinal wine for his recovery?"

Seeing Master Hong approach, his face disfigured, Zhang Xuan felt a pang of guilt. He stood up and went to Master Wu. If it weren't for this fool constantly calling out to him, Master Hong, though injured, would have been within a controllable range and certainly not on the verge of collapsing as he was now.

"Hmm!" Master Wu also felt a little embarrassed. He took out the medicinal wine from earlier and poured a cup.

With a casual flick of his hand, Zhang Xuan infused a stream of *zhenqi* into the cup and had Master Hong drink it. While *zhenqi* could be preserved for a long time within the human body, it would dissipate quickly in wine. This meant that the gourd of wine Master Wu held still had some effect now, but it would soon turn into ordinary liquor with no medicinal properties as time passed.

Soon, Master Hong's injuries slowly began to heal. When the Heavenly Dao *Zhenqi* was integrated into the wine, it flowed along the meridians, proving effective even when consumed.

"Many thanks, Master Wu and Master Zhang!"

With his injuries healed, Master Hong felt refreshed and invigorated. He quickly clasped his fists in gratitude. He had truly believed he wouldn't survive earlier. He never expected Master Zhang's guidance to be so potent, allowing him to defeat the three masters with ease. Those were renowned masters of his own level. Even in a one-on-one fight, he might not have won, yet he won a three-on-one battle. Even with severe injuries, it was worth it! With the four vassal states competing against each other, this single victory would allow Hongfeng Empire to finally hold its head high!

"You're welcome..." Master Wu waved his hand and looked at Zhang Xuan, full of curiosity. However, he knew it wasn't the right time to ask questions, so he said no more.

"Master Wu, could we also trouble you for a cup of that medicinal wine?"

As Zhang Xuan and the other person returned to their seats, Master Feng, Master Luo, and the others walked over. They had witnessed Master Hong's immediate recovery after taking the medicinal wine and were incredibly envious. At this moment, they had no choice but to come and ask for some as well.

"Alright!" Master Wu's eyebrow twitched. Although he was quite reluctant, he still took out the wine gourd and poured a cup for each of the three.

"Many thanks, Master Wu!" Taking the medicinal wine, the three quickly drank it, feeling only a burning sensation rush up their throats. After waiting for a while, they found that their injuries had not changed much. They couldn't help but look over and ask, "Master Wu, did you perhaps take the wrong wine gourd...?"

"Wrong gourd? This is the one I used just now..." Master Wu frowned. "Perhaps your injuries are more severe and require external application!" After speaking, he poured another cup for each of them.

"That's right!" Master Zhang had previously used an external application when piercing Master Bi's arm. Perhaps their injuries were more severe than Master Hong's, making internal consumption less effective. Thinking this, they picked up the wine again and applied it evenly to their injured areas.

*Sizzle!* The wine brought a burning sensation that made them grimace in pain. After waiting for a long time, their wounds showed no improvement; instead, they began to show signs of festering. Feng Yu, Luo Zhao, and Chen Yue were utterly bewildered. Wasn't this supposed to be a healing elixir that would instantly restore them to their original state upon application? Why was it not only ineffective but also causing spasmodic pain in their wounds, accompanied by occasional itching? They had clearly seen Master Hong recover instantly after drinking it just now. Could Master Wu be playing favorites and giving them less?

"Master Wu, perhaps there isn't enough medicinal wine. Could you please give us a few more cups...?" Luo Zhao couldn't help but ask again, full of doubt.

"Get lost!" Master Wu raised an eyebrow. What was this? Master Hong only got so much from me, and you're all asking for cup after cup, drinking and applying it. Is there no end to this? After scolding them, he also wondered if perhaps their injuries were more severe, making the effect weaker. It must be! In any case, their mental state was much better than before.

In truth, he didn't know that Zhang Xuan had infused *zhenqi* into the entire gourd earlier. Although most of it had dissipated, some effect still remained. Luo Zhao and the others each received two cups. Although they didn't fully recover like Master Hong, they were mostly healed; their bleeding stopped, and they could walk without any issues.

Seeing his anger, Luo Zhao and the others dared not say more and quickly returned to their seats.

"The spots have been decided; now we will allocate the areas!"

Seeing the competition results and confirming the allocated spots, Ye Qian looked around and said, "The Cleansing Pond, which gathers spiritual energy from Qingji Mountain and Dragon Scale River, can nourish souls and greatly enhance soul power. Therefore, this spiritual pond is known as the holy land of the Illusory Feather Empire. Even members of the imperial family cannot enter it at will; they must follow the rule of its opening once every ten years. You all know this, so I probably don't need to elaborate!"

Master Hong and the others nodded. This was common knowledge and no secret.

"The Cleansing Pond is indeed a spiritual pond, but its waters are incredibly turbulent. Even those at the Ninth Layer of Transcendent Mortal would be easily crushed upon entering! In the past, when our ancestors discovered this place, they sent people to explore it, but none survived." Ye Qian's expression was solemn.

"A place of great peril? Death and the destruction of the Dao?"

"Didn't they say it was a spiritual pond filled with spiritual energy?"

"Yes, how could it be dangerous?"

Everyone was stunned. Even Luo Zhao, Feng Yu, and the others frowned. Everyone had heard that the Cleansing Pond nourished souls and increased cultivation, but no one had ever heard that it was extremely dangerous. What danger could a pond full of spiritual liquid possibly pose?

"Even those at the Ninth Layer of Transcendent Mortal would be crushed?" The crowd was startled. "Then what about us...?" If even those at the Ninth Layer of Transcendent Mortal couldn't withstand it, wouldn't it be suicide for them to enter? If that's the case, why is it called a cultivation holy land?

"Don't worry, everyone, let me finish!" Seeing their expressions, Ye Qian smiled. "The Cleansing Pond is indeed very dangerous; I'm not exaggerating, it's true. However, there is a way. Our ancestors spent many years exploring it, sacrificing countless lives, and finally deciphered some of the pond's mysteries. They found some safe zones where, no matter how one cultivates, they will not be affected!"

"These areas are what we call 'pond eyes'! A pond eye is a convergence point of spiritual energy and is very safe. However, it only appears once every ten years."

"Pond eyes?"

"Appears once every ten years? Is that why the Cleansing Pond only opens once a decade?"

"It must be..." Hearing the explanation, everyone suddenly understood. The fact that the Cleansing Pond only opened once every ten years had puzzled everyone. They had initially thought it was to protect the pond, but now it seemed it was to prevent danger.

"A pond eye isn't very large, only about two meters in diameter. Furthermore, the spiritual energy within it that can enhance the soul is limited. Once it's fully absorbed, the pond eye will collapse! This means that anyone inside must leave as soon as they realize the spiritual energy is nearly depleted, or they won't be able to get out once it collapses," Ye Qian explained.

"Two meters in diameter? And there's a limit? So..." Everyone was filled with doubt. There were fifteen spots available in total, but a pond eye only two meters in diameter couldn't possibly accommodate everyone! And with the limitations, wouldn't there be complications regarding who enters first and who enters later?

"As you know, the soul, being confined within the physical body as if by a cage, cannot increase indefinitely!" Without addressing their immediate doubts, Ye Qian continued.

Zhang Xuan nodded. For normal cultivators, the physical body acts like a cage, tightly locking the soul and preventing it from breaking free. Even if one obtains a method to cultivate the soul, the soul can only remain confined within the body. It's like planting a flower in a pot; no matter how large the roots grow, they will remain confined within the pot.

"After calculation, regardless of whether one is in the Harmonization Spirit Realm or Bridge Heaven Realm, three days is the limit. Staying longer would be ineffective. Moreover, three days is the maximum time a pond eye can sustain itself. Therefore, the Empire set a three-day limit." Ye Qian said, "The first place winners from the Empire and the vassal states can stay for a full three days. Second place gets two days, and third place gets one day!"

Everyone acknowledged. This was precisely the reward agreed upon before the Grand Master Competition. First place could cultivate in the Cleansing Pond for three days, second place for two days, and third place for one day, decreasing sequentially.

"Previously, you must have wondered how a pond with a diameter of only two meters could allow fifteen people to cultivate simultaneously... In fact, each time the Cleansing Pond opens, not just one, but ten pond eyes appear at the same time!"

"Ten?"

"Yes, ten! According to previous rules, the five first-place winners each occupy one pond eye and cultivate for the full three days. For the remaining second and third-place winners, two share one pond eye, with one cultivating for two days and the other for one day. All ten pond eyes are utilized, and all fifteen individuals get to cultivate!" Ye Qian continued. The five first-place winners would take five pond eyes. The remaining five would be shared by the ten second and third-place winners, with different durations, ensuring fairness and impartiality.

"However... this year is different!" At this point, Ye Qian paused and shook his head. "Senior Wu, Princess Liu, and others will each definitely need a pond eye to themselves, and I also need one. That accounts for five... So, you will only be able to share the remaining five!"