Chapter 890: Bodhi Tree Is About to Die

"That's right, it's the Huber Healing Method!" Lu Cheng looked over. "Do you know its effects?"

"This healing method doesn't actually cure an injury. Instead, it activates the body's potential, suppressing the injury for a short period to restore one's combat effectiveness to its peak! It's a last resort used for emergency treatment of severe injuries on the battlefield..."

Wu Xu nodded.

As Zhang Xuan had guessed, they were battle masters, born for combat, and severe injuries were inevitable.

Being severely injured and losing combat effectiveness meant facing death at any moment.

Therefore, Senior Huber created this healing method, which isn't truly about healing but about stimulating inner potential, allowing individuals not to be dragged down by severe injuries and still exert their strongest combat power.

This secret technique had saved countless battle masters, enabling them to escape danger.

Given the situation just now, there was no other choice but to use it.

"You're right. Do you know the flaws of this cultivation method?" Lu Cheng continued to ask.

"The flaw is... once the effect ends, the injuries will worsen..."

Wu Xu nodded.

"Yes, the injuries will indeed worsen, and if not handled properly, one's cultivation could be severely damaged..." Lu Cheng shook his head. "That Master Zhang knew about my condition. From the very first move, he held back, never attacking my injured areas. Otherwise... forget over a hundred moves, I wouldn't have lasted three. I would have died on the spot!"

"This..."

"Don't believe me?" Lu Cheng shook his head. "The Huber Healing Method's so-called injury suppression actually involves confining the injuries to certain special acupoints. My injuries are in acupoints like Hongmen and Zhanghui. If these acupoints are attacked, the true qi will inevitably burst, and the injuries will become impossible to suppress!"

Wu Xu nodded.

Activating one's potential to suppress injuries essentially means sealing the injuries with true qi, and the critical points for this seal lie within these specific acupoints.

"Look..."

Seeing that he understood, Lu Cheng pointed to his clothes with a bitter smile.

Wu Xu quickly looked, and with just one glance, his pupils involuntarily contracted.

He saw that Brother Lu's clothes, particularly over the Hongmen and Zhanghui acupoints, had tiny holes, like those made by fine needles. Without careful inspection, they were practically invisible.

"This... this was left by him?"

Wu Xu's voice trembled.

"That's right. With the very first move, he discovered my weakness. When the wild grass swept over, I didn't realize it at the time; I thought he was simply not strong enough. I continued my attack, but to avoid injuring me, he forcibly changed his move and pricked a major acupoint on my chest..."

Lu Cheng shook his head, a look of awe on his face. "In truth, if it had been a life-and-death duel, he could have killed me with a single move. Yet, he kept holding back, and I... I was simply oblivious!"

"This, this..." Wu Xu's face turned pale.

Under such intense combat, he still held back? Was he even human?

That's simply terrifying!

"That Master Zhang... is unfathomable! If you ever encounter him again, never make an enemy of him..."

After a moment, Lu Cheng couldn't help but say.

"Yes!"

Wu Xu nodded.

Even Brother Lu was no match, so naturally, he wouldn't dare to provoke him.

"Alright, heal your injuries as quickly as possible. Then, you should also strive to break through to Semi-Saint soon. As long as you succeed, you'll have a chance to go with us to the Four Great Academies to select new talents and then complete that mission. Otherwise, you won't get another opportunity!"

Lu Cheng said.

"Don't worry, Brother Lu, I will definitely succeed in my breakthrough this time!"

A hint of determination flashed in Wu Xu's eyes.

As Hu Yaoyao and the others broke through to Semi-Saint, they spent the journey back consolidating their cultivation, diligently training. Zhang Xuan, too, was consolidating his cultivation, which had just reached the Silkworm Sealing Realm.

The journey was uneventful. Half a day later, they returned to Hongyuan City.

From their departure to their return, it had been just over one day and one night. Soon after dawn, Hongyuan City appeared before their eyes.

"Is that... my residence?"

The Violet-Sun Beast flew for a while, and Zhang Xuan looked down, immediately stunned.

He saw that what was previously a ruin had transformed into a magnificent building, no less splendid than the imperial palace itself.

Especially the faint formations within it, which had actually reached Level Six, not only gathering spiritual energy but also possessing immense power.

"What's going on?"

Zhang Xuan looked bewildered.

He knew the Master Teacher Academy would repair his house, but surely it wasn't necessary to make it so luxurious?

Outsiders would think it was the imperial palace!

"Let's go down and see!"

Feeling curious, he bade farewell to Hu Yaoyao and the others and instructed the Violet-Sun Beast to descend.

As soon as they landed, Sun Qiang came to greet them.

"What's going on here?" Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.

"It was the Hongyuan Imperial Family. They insisted on building our house. I couldn't stop them no matter what, so I had no choice but to let them..." Sun Qiang looked aggrieved.

He, too, was utterly bewildered.

He could understand the Master Teacher Academy helping to repair the house... but for the imperial family to rush over and build it as if their lives depended on it, what exactly was going on?

"The Imperial Family?" Zhang Xuan blinked.

Just the night before last, he seemed to have been driven away by His Majesty the Emperor. How, in the blink of an eye, were they building his house for him?

"Yes, and not only that, His Majesty Yu Shenqing has already visited three times, saying he wanted to see you..." Sun Qiang continued.

"He wants to see me again?" Zhang Xuan was even more confused.

This emperor's moods were very strange; it was impossible to fathom him.

However, his confusion didn't last long before someone announced that His Majesty Yu Shenqing had arrived again!

"Let him in!"

Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

Although he didn't know what the other party was up to, he also happened to want to borrow his Saint Realm Bodhi Tree. Since the person was here, he might as well ask.

"Yes!" Sun Qiang went out, and it wasn't long before His Majesty Yu Shenqing walked over. Seeing Zhang Xuan, he quickly cupped his fist and said, "Master Zhang!"

After they took their seats, with Zhang Xuan as host and the Emperor as guest, Zhang Xuan looked over. "Your Majesty, what is the reason for personally sending people to help build my residence?"

"There were some misunderstandings before. Seeing your residence in such a state, and having some craftsmen available, I sent them over. I wonder if Master Zhang is satisfied?" Yu Shenqing said hurriedly.

"Misunderstandings?" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "It's nothing at all!"

He genuinely hadn't taken that day's incident to heart.

He was just a bit embarrassed that he had caused their banquet hall to collapse again.

"As long as Master Zhang isn't angry!"

Seeing no displeasure on the other's face, Yu Shenqing breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, he was only afraid of offending the other party.

But it seemed the other party hadn't taken it to heart.

It was no wonder. A Master Teacher who could effortlessly create such powerful cultivation techniques was naturally broad-minded and didn't care about such worldly matters.

"I heard that your imperial family possesses a Saint Realm Bodhi Tree. I wonder if I might borrow it?" After chatting for a while, Zhang Xuan directly asked.

"Bodhi Tree?" Yu Shenqing's face paled, showing a difficult expression. "That..."

"Inconvenient?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

He needed to borrow it to save Wei Ruyan. With the precedent of the Ten-Leaf Flower, he naturally wouldn't let it perish. If the other party genuinely didn't want to lend it, there really was nothing he could do!

"It's not that..."

Shaking his head, Yu Shenqing sighed. "To be honest with Master Zhang, for some unknown reason, this Saint Realm Bodhi Tree has begun to wither, especially in the last two years. It could dry up at any moment... I've tried every method, but I'm powerless to save it! Now... though it's not dead, it's close!"

"Withering?"

Zhang Xuan was startled.

He thought the other party didn't want to lend it to him, but it turned out the tree was withering.

"Yes, in the past two years, we've invited over a hundred plant nurturers, but sadly, none of them were of any use..." Yu Shenqing's expression was downcast.

The change in the Saint Realm Bodhi Tree was a major secret of the imperial family, kept well-hidden. He hadn't originally intended to speak about it, but since Master Zhang had asked, he knew he could no longer conceal it.

"Could you take me to see it?" Zhang Xuan said after a moment of hesitation.

"Master Zhang wants to see it?" Yu Shenqing was surprised.

"Yes, I also have some knowledge of nurturing plants. Perhaps I can help you find the root of the problem..." Zhang Xuan explained.

He had previously resolved problems related to plant nurturing and was not unfamiliar with this profession.

"Master Zhang also has knowledge of nurturing plants? That's wonderful..."

Upon hearing his words, Yu Shenqing's eyes lit up, and he was so excited he nearly jumped.

He had recently heard so many miraculous stories about Master Zhang that his ears were practically calloused. He couldn't be sure about others, but with this Master Zhang's intervention, there might truly be hope!

Knowing that Master Zhang intended to help him treat the Saint Realm Bodhi Tree, Yu Shenqing no longer hesitated. The two directly boarded a flying sacred beast and flew towards the imperial palace.

Upon entering the imperial palace, Yu Shenqing led the way, circling for an unknown distance before finally arriving at a courtyard.

"The Bodhi Tree is in this courtyard..."

Yu Shenqing pointed forward.

"This one?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

He had indeed never been to this courtyard, but there were almost no formations within it. Could such a precious Saint Realm Bodhi Tree really be left so boldly, unprotected?

Seeming to notice his confusion, Yu Shenqing explained, "This Bodhi Tree only nourishes the soul for those who cultivate a specific unique cultivation method. To put it plainly, it only works for our Yu family. Others, even if they are right in front of it, will experience no effect. Furthermore, it already possesses its own sentience and dislikes being encompassed by formations, so..."

"Oh!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Many powerful sacred medicines, like sacred artifacts, possess their own sentience. Being encompassed by formations makes it difficult for them to absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth, so they are indeed quite unwilling.

As they spoke, the two pushed open the door and entered. Immediately, several elderly men in the courtyard came forward, respectfully greeting, "Your Majesty!"

These elderly men had all reached the Saint realm in cultivation and were likely specifically stationed there to care for the Bodhi Tree.

"Master Zhang, that is the Bodhi Tree!"

Yu Shenqing pointed forward.

Zhang Xuan looked up and indeed saw a large tree standing in the courtyard, thicker than a person and over ten meters tall, appearing extremely imposing.

However, its leaves were already withered and yellow, and very sparse. The tree trunk had also started to turn pale, showing signs of drying out.

"It's indeed close to dying!"

He took a glance and frowned.

It was spring, a time when all things revived and life flourished, yet this great tree was severely decayed, even on the verge of death at any moment. It was clear at a glance that it was very ill.

If not for the imperial family's immense wealth and resources, it would have probably dried up long ago.

"May I go closer to take a look?"

From such a distance, he couldn't discern anything, Zhang Xuan said.

"Of course, you may..."

Yu Shenqing nodded, but before he finished speaking, one of the elderly men who had greeted them stepped forward. "Your Majesty, no one can go over there right now!"