Chapter 708: Zhang Xuan Saves the Beast

After rescuing the spirit beast, the group hurried towards the thatched hut.

Soon, they once again saw the stone tablet and the mound-like grave.

“Open it!”

Knowing the urgency of the situation, Zhang Xuan said no more and waved his hand.

Elder Qian nodded, raised his eyebrows, and powerfully grabbed it.

RUMBLE!

Powerful true energy surged, and violent power spread everywhere. As he pushed the mound, the vegetation gradually cleared, revealing a massive burial chamber.

“You built a burial chamber? It seems there’s still hope...”

Seeing that Elder Qian hadn't just buried it directly, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Regardless of whether the chamber was large or small, it had some space. And since soil naturally has gaps allowing air to enter, it wouldn't have been suffocated to death while still alive.

It was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

Pushing open the door of the burial chamber, everyone filed in and immediately saw the body of a huge Dragon-Rock Beast lying flat on the ground in a spacious room.

This massive creature had a body like stone, and although fifty years had passed, there were no signs of decay.

“As expected of a Dragon-Rock Beast...”

After a glance, Zhang Xuan nodded.

If it were an ordinary spirit beast, buried for fifty years with no one to care for it, it would probably have rotted away even if it hadn't died.

The Dragon-Rock Beast, possessing dragon bloodline within its body and with a hide as hard as rock, had no significant issues despite several decades passing.

“Quickly, go get a physician...”

Seeing that the “body” hadn’t changed, Elder Qian was filled with excitement and turned to Han Chong.

“Teacher, Master Zhang is... a very capable physician!” Han Chong hurriedly said.

“Oh, right, Master Zhang, please save the Dragon-Rock Beast...” Elder Qian couldn't help but say, and his knees buckled as if to kneel.

The Dragon-Rock Beast was his companion, and for all these years, he had lived every day in self-reproach. He had thought he would never have the chance to see it again in this life, never in his wildest dreams did he imagine it was still alive!

If it could truly be saved, let alone kneeling, he wouldn’t hesitate even if asked to die immediately.

Of course, there was also deep guilt.

The beast had almost died saving him, yet he, unable to understand its words, had buried it alive for fifty years...

If it couldn't be saved, he might truly not be able to live and would commit suicide out of guilt.

“Elder Qian, there’s no need to be so polite. If it can be saved, I will certainly act!”

Understanding his feelings, Zhang Xuan said no more. He walked a few steps to the huge Dragon-Rock Beast and gently touched it with his finger.

He then feigned a walk around it and lowered his head in thought.

A moment later, he walked over. Seeing his serious expression, Elder Qian's entire body tensed up with nervousness, and he couldn't help but ask, “It... can it still be saved?”

“It’s indeed not dead, but...” Zhang Xuan hesitated for a moment. “Having been buried underground for fifty years, its life force is nearly extinguished. To revive it, we need pills that activate life force, as well as spirit stones!”

“Pills that activate life force? I have three Stepping Void Creation Pills here, which are highly effective even for experts at Transcendent Mortal 8-dan Stepping Void Realm!” Hall Master Qin stepped forward and handed over a jade bottle.

“I also have two Life-Nurturing Pills here, which are excellent pills for activating life force!” Another elder walked over.

“I don't have any pills, but I have quite a few spirit stones. Here are five hundred mid-grade spirit stones...”

They were all friends with Elder Qian for decades, and if this Dragon-Rock Beast could truly be saved, it would not only be a great comfort to Elder Qian but also a significant boost to the overall strength of the Beast Hall.

“Excellent!”

Seeing the increasing pile of items, Zhang Xuan nodded with satisfaction.

“I also need Five Elements Formation Flags, Purple Bamboo Ink, three large buckets of beast blood – no other kind, just from the Purple-Winged Skymale Beast outside will do... and Pale Green Incense, Purple Ling Smoke...”

Seeing that Hall Master Qin and the elders had already gathered the pills and spirit stones for restoring life, Zhang Xuan secretly marvelled at the Beast Hall’s wealth and continued to list dozens more items.

“These...”

Hearing these items, everyone frowned, each filled with confusion.

The previous life-force pills and spirit stones they could understand, as they were related to life. But Pale Green Incense, Purple Ling Smoke... what were these for?

“I’ve heard of Pale Green Incense,” an elder suddenly recalled, “it has a soul-stabilizing effect. It’s said to be something often used by Witchdoctors...”

“Witchdoctors?” Everyone was startled.

This profession had disappeared into the annals of history tens of thousands of years ago. Could it be that... this young man knew it?

“Just some special techniques, not much to do with Witchdoctors!” Zhang Xuan waved his hand. “Oh, right, also prepare one hundred and eight three-foot-long silver needles for me, and a cup of Green-Tailed Snake venom!”

Witchdoctors were eradicated by master teachers in the past. Even if he knew it, he couldn't admit it; in any case, they didn't know the specifics.

“Green-Tailed Snake venom? But that’s highly poisonous...” Hall Master Qin couldn't help but say.

He didn't know what the Pale Green Incense and Purple Ling Smoke were for, but he was very clear about Green-Tailed Snake venom.

Just one drop could instantly kill an expert at Transcendent Mortal 8-dan. What was this item needed for?

“Poisons don’t just kill people; sometimes, they can save them too!” Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

“Using poison to save people? That’s... a technique only poison masters possess...”

Everyone gasped again.

Although the young man in front of them didn't say it, poison wasn’t to be used carelessly. To use it to save someone, unless one was a poison master, it was simply impossible.

Wasn't he a physician? How could he possess Witchdoctor techniques? And also poison master methods?

Also beast tamer, master teacher, ancient beast language...

What else could he not do?

“Alright, these are all the items. Go prepare them quickly!” After listing all the items, Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

“Yes, I’ll have someone prepare them right away!”

Elder Qian nodded and hastily retreated.

It must be said that the Beast Hall’s financial resources were indeed astonishing. The items Zhang Xuan requested were not only rare but also involved several professions and were incredibly diverse. For an ordinary professional guild, it would have been impossible to gather them all, yet the Beast Hall found everything in less than three hours.

They even prepared extra copies of some items, fearing they wouldn't be enough at a crucial moment.

“Alright, the items are all prepared. Everyone, please leave. During my treatment, I need absolute silence. Unless I give instructions, please guard the outside for me and don’t let anyone disturb me!”

He had originally thought it would take at least three or four days to gather all these items, but unexpectedly, it was completed in such a short time. Zhang Xuan secretly sighed in admiration and waved his hand after glancing around.

His upcoming treatment involved too many things, and he would need to continuously utilize various methods. If outsiders observed, many troubles would inevitably arise.

“Understood!”

Elder Qian nodded and, along with Hall Master Qin and the others, retreated. Luo Qiqi and Yu Fei-er exchanged glances and also headed out. Soon, he was the only one left in the burial chamber.

Looking at the prepared items before him, Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist and put them into his storage ring.

Then, his eyebrows furrowed, he flicked his wrist, and threw out a Five-Star Spirit Gathering Formation Plate.

The items he had requested were not for his own use, but were genuinely intended for this Dragon-Rock Beast.

Back then, this creature had exhausted its vital blood to save Elder Qian. Under normal circumstances, simply replenishing its blood, administering highly nourishing items, or nourishing it with spiritual energy would have allowed it to revive within a few years.

But Elder Qian did nothing...

The spirit energy in the underground palace was extremely scarce, so the creature couldn't even maintain its own life force. After fifty years, even if it hadn't died, its life had become precarious, like a candle in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

If it were any other physician, even a 7-star, 8-star, or even 9-star one, they would likely be powerless to reverse the situation. But Zhang Xuan was different.

He possessed Heavenly Dao True Energy, which was as pure as water. As long as there was still a trace of life force, he could prevent death.

However, Heavenly Dao True Energy alone wasn't enough. Having lost its vital blood and been buried underground for decades, it also needed medicine to boost its life force and ample spiritual energy support.

More importantly... Witchdoctor techniques!

As that elder had guessed, Pale Green Incense and Purple Ling Smoke were indeed items used by Witchdoctors. The beast's soul, though not in the same deep slumber as Lu Chong's had been, had also not awakened for fifty years, so there wasn't much difference.

These items for summoning witch souls were needed to help it recover, for it to be revived.

As for the Green-Tailed Snake venom, Hall Master Qin was right; it was indeed a highly poisonous substance. However, it wasn't for poisoning to death, but to stimulate acupuncture points, using the poison to stimulate the body and awaken it.

It could be said that this single treatment utilized techniques from beast tamer, Witchdoctor, physician, poison master, master teacher... numerous professions.

For anyone else, it would be truly difficult to accomplish; only a prodigy like Zhang Xuan could do it.

The formation plate landed, and he threw the spirit stones given by the elder into it. Immediately, spiritual energy enveloped, covering the “body” of the Dragon-Rock Beast.

With a flick of his finger, the prepared silver needles appeared in his palm. After dipping them in the Green-Tailed Snake venom, his figure moved like lightning. At the same time, he flicked his five fingers lightly, and in the blink of an eye, one hundred and eight silver needles flew out, sealing one hundred and eight acupuncture points on the Dragon-Rock Beast.

The Dragon-Rock Beast was an extremely rare spirit beast. Over tens of thousands of years, the number of beast tamers who had successfully tamed it could be counted on two hands. Therefore, no one knew about its state of suspended animation, and the knowledge was not passed down.

Since even this was unknown, its acupuncture points were even less known to anyone. Zhang Xuan had only understood the distribution of its acupuncture points after reading books formed within the Library of Heaven's Path.

After sealing the acupuncture points, Zhang Xuan's movements became faster and faster. He lit and arranged the Pale Green Incense, Purple Ling Smoke, and other items in specific positions. Only then did he sit cross-legged and activate his spirit.

BOOM!

His Witchdoctor Soul left his body.

His soul hovered in the air. His Eye of Insight activated. After scanning around, he suddenly made a gentle beckoning motion with his palm towards a certain spot.

His movement was light, like a lover’s summoning.

As if sensing his summons, the silver needles in that spot immediately emitted a clear ringing sound, like wind chimes.

A special Witchdoctor technique: Soul-Summoning Hand!

He had obtained the complete Witchdoctor legacy from Mo Hunsheng back then, and the Soul-Summoning Hand was one of its techniques. Once cast, even a deeply slumbering soul could be forcibly torn out.

Even a living person's soul could be easily peeled away.

The beast’s soul had been dormant for fifty years. It was too difficult to awaken it with normal methods, so only such an extreme technique could be used.

Succeed or die trying!

A low rumbling sound emanated.

After the silver needles vibrated for a moment, the previously motionless Dragon-Rock Beast suddenly trembled and slowly lifted its body, as if on the verge of coming alive.

“No, this isn’t right...” Seeing this, Zhang Xuan wasn't happy at all; instead, his expression darkened.