Chapter 868: Sacred Bodhi Tree of the Sanctuary

When Master Mu and others rushed to Zhang Xuan's residence, they discovered that Senior Zi Yang had used immense power to shield everyone, ensuring no one was injured. However, the buildings themselves had been neglected and were now a terrible sight, completely reduced to ruins.

At this moment, Master Zhang stood before a tall cauldron, cursing loudly.

“What did you promise me before refining the pill? You can't even handle a small Level-7 pill, and you call yourself a Saint artifact? Saint my foot!”

Zhang Xuan was indeed furious. This fellow had solemnly vowed that refining a Level-7 pill would be no problem. That's why Zhang Xuan had painstakingly employed the Heavenly Impartation of Master's Will, controlling Master Alchemist Lu and others, to assist in the alchemy and ensure every step was flawless.

The medicinal ingredients were of sufficient age, and with no errors, the pill was quickly formed! However, the moment the pill was formed, it wasn't Master Alchemist Lu and the others who held them back, but this Golden Origin Cauldron, proclaimed as the institution's treasure!

It couldn't contain the violent aura of the pill with a Pill Vein, and it exploded with a roar. Although no one was injured, the residence he had finally acquired was completely ruined!

“I... I didn't realize you were going to refine such a heaven-defying pill...” The Golden Origin Cauldron replied, feeling thoroughly wronged after being cursed at. It was indeed a Saint artifact, but it was merely an implement cauldron, not an alchemy furnace. Expecting it to refine an ordinary Level-7 pill was already pushing its limits, let alone a pill that far exceeded its capacity. It was a miracle it hadn't burst on the spot.

“If you hadn't given out at the end, this pill definitely could have reached Level-8. Now, it's just a Level-7 Pill Vein, wasting so many good medicinal ingredients...” Knowing it wasn't entirely the other party's fault, Zhang Xuan huffed and said. If that guy hadn't given out at the end, the pill's quality would surely have increased. What a waste of Jiang Qingqin's Phoenix Sycamore Tree and the high-grade medicinal ingredients provided by numerous elders.

“Level-8? Level-7 Pill Vein?” Master Alchemist Lu, standing nearby, only then understood what kind of medicine they had refined, and he trembled incessantly with excitement. "Brother, the Severing Continuity Pill itself is a Level-7 pill. Reaching the Pill Vein realm is already terrifying; many top-tier 8-star alchemists might not even be able to achieve that... and you're still thinking of refining a Level-8 one? You're trying to defy the heavens!"

“Forget it. Thankfully, the pill isn't damaged, otherwise, even if I killed you, it wouldn't compensate!” After scolding it a few more times, Zhang Xuan finally calmed down, placed the pill into a jade bottle, and then, seeing Master Mu and the others, clasped his fist: “Master Mu, Elders!”

“Martial Uncle... is the pill you just refined a Severing Continuity Pill?” Master Mu recognized it and couldn't help but ask.

“Precisely!” Zhang Xuan nodded, having nothing to hide.

“A peak Level-7 Severing Continuity Pill, refined with a Smog Cloud... This alchemy technique is simply incredible...” Master Mu, full of praise, couldn't help but ask, “The Severing Continuity Pill has the ability to reattach severed limbs. May I ask, Martial Uncle, what is the purpose of refining this pill?” This type of pill possesses immense vitality. While it might not literally bring the dead back to life or regrow flesh on bones, it's close. And to refine one comparable to a Level-8 pill is even more remarkable.

“To save a junior!” Answering, Zhang Xuan summoned the Purple Sun Beast to bring over Wei Ruyan, whom it had been protecting, before taking out the jade bottle.

“Martial Uncle, are you planning to treat this person?” Master Mu frowned.

“That's right!” Zhang Xuan nodded.

“Her body is too weak, and this pill of yours is too potent. I'm afraid that taking it as is might be counterproductive...” Master Mu said anxiously. "This is a top-tier medicine comparable to a Level-8 pill, with surging life force. Even he wouldn't be able to handle taking it abruptly. Giving it to an unconscious, emaciated girl would likely lead to her being burned alive by its potency before the effects could even fully manifest. The principle of 'a weak body cannot bear strong nourishment' is a known rule."

“No worries!” Waving his hand, Zhang Xuan flicked his finger, popping open the stopper. Immediately, a pure surge of spiritual energy gushed from the jade bottle, and a pill instantly flew into the air, as if ready to escape at any moment. Although a Level-7 Pill Vein pill cannot develop sentience in a short time, it already possesses the ability to seek fortune and avoid danger. With time, it could become like the Golden Origin Cauldron, developing human thoughts, and even evolving into a human form.

“Trying to escape? Come here!” As if knowing the pill would attempt this, Zhang Xuan snorted coldly and, with an aerial grab of his hand, enveloped it in a special force. The pill, suspended in the air, came under some control and involuntarily flew down. Knowing the characteristics of this level of pill, he had already prepared various methods in advance. Using his true qi, he supported the girl's chin to open her mouth, then with a gentle flick, the Severing Continuity Pill, its surface covered in pill veins, shot straight into her throat.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle! The moment the pill entered her body, it was like red-hot iron plunging into cold water, emitting a sizzling sound. Wei Ruyan's complexion began to redden, but this lasted only a short while before stopping. She remained in a deep sleep, showing no signs of waking. Placing a hand on her pulse, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. For anyone else, it would indeed have been as Master Mu said: 'a weak body cannot bear strong nourishment,' unable to withstand the pill's potency and leading to premature death. But this person was different. A Saint medicine like the Ten-Leaf Flower could directly poison her to death. A mere Level-7 pill, once inside her body, would practically become nourishment for her unique 'poison body'. Although this Severing Continuity Pill was not yet enough to fully revive her, her physical body had already recovered its health, and the injuries sustained in her mother's womb were completely repaired.

“With her physical body recovered, even if her soul remains dormant, there won't be any problems for a while...” Previously, Wei Ruyan was on the verge of death at any moment. Now, although she hadn't woken up yet, her physical body had recovered, and her life was no longer in peril.

“This... the Severing Continuity Pill entered her body, and she still didn't wake up? What illness does this junior of yours have, Martial Uncle?” Master Mu asked, full of surprise. A Severing Continuity Pill, which even he could barely withstand, had no effect on a patient who remained unconscious, let alone waking up. This illness was quite terrifying!

“It's a soul injury. Her physical body has recovered, but her soul is too weak, making it difficult for her to wake up anytime soon.” After explaining, Zhang Xuan suddenly thought of something and couldn't help to look over: “Do you have any Saint medicines that nourish the soul? Preferably living ones... the more, the better!” He couldn't recall or find any Saint medicines that nourished the soul, but Master Mu might have some.

“I do have some Saint medicines that nourish the soul, but they are all dried and prepared; I don't have any fresh, living ones!” After a moment of hesitation, Master Mu shook his head.

“None?” Zhang Xuan showed disappointment. He could find prepared Saint medicines if he wanted, but unfortunately, they were useless for Wei Ruyan! They had to be fresh and living.

“Master Zhang, I do know of a living Saint medicine,” Zhong Dingchun, who had been following the group silently, suddenly spoke up. As the dean of the Physician School, he knew a great deal about medicinal ingredients.

“Oh? Where is it?” Zhang Xuan eagerly looked at him.

“In the Hongyuan Empire's Imperial Palace, there's a Saint Domain Bodhi Tree. It's said to have a significant effect on nourishing the soul...” Zhong Dingchun said.

“Saint Domain Bodhi Tree?” Zhang Xuan frowned. He had never heard of such a tree.

“It's said that this tree was brought back from the Primeval Forest by an ancestor of the Hongyuan imperial family and planted within the palace. It has the effect of nourishing the soul, which is why the imperial family's descendants all have very strong souls!” Zhong Dingchun hesitated: “However, this is the most important possession of the imperial family. I'm afraid they might not be willing to lend it for use!”

“Unwilling to lend it?” Stroking his chin, Zhang Xuan pondered: “There's a banquet tonight anyway. I'll first see if this Bodhi tree has any effect on Wei Ruyan. If not, there's no need to ask. If it does, then I can try!” “Thank you for the reminder, Dean Zhong!”

Having grasped the key point, Zhang Xuan clasped his fist.

“You're too kind, Dean!” Zhong Dingchun quickly nodded.

After asking a few more questions to the others and realizing that such soul-nourishing Saint medicines were indeed rare, Zhang Xuan reluctantly shook his head.

“Dean, I'll send people to repair the courtyard right away...” Seeing the dean's prestigious residence in such a state, without even a place to live, Zhao Bingxu spoke up.

“Thank you, Dean Zhao!” Zhang Xuan nodded. If he had known refining this Severing Continuity Pill was so dangerous, he would have gone to an open area outside the city. Now he has no place to live.

“Mhm!” Zhao Bingxu said no more, turning with the other elders to return to the academy and began arranging for people to help repair the courtyard.

It was noon when they returned from the Conferred Saint Platform. After that, he went to the Elder Council for a talk, and then the alchemy... The afternoon passed quickly, and before he knew it, night had fallen. Looking at the ruins around him, Zhang Xuan hesitated for a moment, then placed Wei Ruyan into the Myriad Ant Nest. He instructed Sun Qiang, Wang Ying, and others to first go and stay at the academy (Wang Ying and the others were guest elders of the academy and had already been assigned residences there). Just as he was about to head to the Imperial Palace for the banquet, he suddenly felt a stir within him and stopped.

He looked up. The collapsed buildings and courtyards formed a vast expanse of ruins stretching across the ground, resembling a majestic dragon soaring.

“This is... an 'Earth Dragon'?” His pupils contracted. The scattered ruins, combined with the terrain, looked exactly like a giant dragon lying on the ground. This alone wouldn't have surprised him, but it reminded him of the conditions for Wu Yangzi's treasure! The old residence, beneath the 'Three-Star Earth Dragon'! Since this was the 'Earth Dragon'... where were the 'Three Stars'?

He quickly looked up at the sky. Night had fallen, and stars filled the sky, countless celestial bodies hidden in the dark void, like pieces scattered across a chessboard.

“So many stars... what are the 'Three Stars'?” His brows furrowed into a knot. The other party had only mentioned the four characters 'Three-Star Earth Dragon,' without specifying which three stars, nor their exact location. How was he to find them amidst the vast expanse of stars? He had found the Earth Dragon, but without finding the Three Stars, he couldn't pinpoint the location. He couldn't possibly dig up the entire courtyard again! Besides, if it could be found by digging it up, the so-called treasure would surely be long gone, and it wouldn't be his turn.

He moved, flying into the air, and looked down. The collapsed ruins spread across the ground, meeting the dark sky, appearing like a giant dragon poised to fly upwards at any moment.

“Eye of Insight!” Knowing he wouldn't find it by simply searching, Zhang Xuan remained calm. The patterns in his eyes swirled as he gazed directly at the point where the 'Earth Dragon' (the ruins) met the sky.