The Lord of Void and Real
Chapter 792

Chapter 792: Chapter 789: Immortal Apricot Chapter 792: Chapter 789: Immortal Apricot “Indeed, I didn't initially believe the old man's words. However, after what I experienced on my journey to the Western Regions and my encounter with the Zhan Guo, I am now inclined to think that his words may not have been mere fabrications.” Shen Luo glanced at Yuan Tiangang and Cheng Yaojin and whispered.

“This issue is of great importance. Whether or not it was a coincidence, we must pay serious attention to it. Duke Cheng, please report this to His Majesty later.” Yuan Tiangang paused for a moment before saying to Cheng Yaojin.

“Alright.” Cheng Yaojin responded with a nod.

“Duke Cheng, I had previously asked you to help me find someone with a plum blossom mark on their wrist. Have you found any leads?” Shen Luo looked at Cheng Yaojin and interrupted.

“Chang'an City has a population of a million. It is quite troublesome to find someone based on the single feature of having a plum blossom mark on their wrist. I still have no leads.” Cheng Yaojin frowned and shook his head.

“Regarding this, I had a sudden thought when I was in the Western Regions. During my battle in the Underworld with the Jing River Dragon King, I came into contact with his daughter, Ma Xiuxiu. It seemed that there was a plum blossom-shaped scar on her wrist.” Shen Luo said.

“Really?” Cheng Yaojin's eyes narrowed.

“I should be right. I initially thought that the plum blossom mark was some kind of tattoo. It was not until I saw a person with a scar in Red Valley City that I realized it could also be a scar. This reminded me of Ma Xiuxiu.” Shen Luo explained.

Cheng Yaojin looked at Yuan Tiangang, who narrowed his eyes slightly, and then slowly nodded.

“If Ma Xiuxiu is indeed suspicious, then I will immediately send people to investigate her whereabouts.” Cheng Yaojin responded with a firm nod.

“You have all worked hard on your journey. Go and rest now. Leave the Zhan Guo's body here. We will take care of the rest.” Yuan Tiangang waved his whisk and said.

“Please wait a moment, Master Yuan. There's one more thing I would like your help with.” Bai Xiaotian suddenly said.

“Oh? What is it?” Cheng Yaojin looked over.

“It's not my business, but rather Shen Luo. Earlier, he was forced to fend off the Zhan Guo…” Bai Xiaotian glanced at Shen Luo, then briefly described the secret technique Shen Luo had used during the battle which consumed his lifespan, and how his lifespan was unable to increase even after consuming the Octagonal Lotus Leaf.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yaojin immediately dashed over, grabbed Shen Luo's wrist, and emitted a warm current of tremendous energy into him, whizzing around his body.

“Nonsense! Your meridians look fine from the outside but there are signs of atrophy within. Furthermore, your vitality is mixed and impure. You've used this lifespan-consuming secret technique many times and replenished your lifespan with life-extending treasures, haven't you?” Cheng Yaojin looked horrified as he scrutinized Shen Luo and reprimanded him sternly.

Shen Luo remained silent and nodded.

“The vitality is the fundament of life! How can you use it recklessly? Life-extending treasures may increase your lifespan but they also consume your life potential. The effect of other life-extending substances on you will get poorer and poorer. How could you behave so recklessly?” Cheng Yaojin's face revealed an expression of indignation and regret.

Shen Luo thought to himself that consuming too many life-extending treasures indeed has its drawbacks.

“Can Brother Shen's condition still be cured?” Bai Xiaotian, hearing this, looked quite alarmed and asked.

Shen Luo also looked at Cheng Yaojin, his eyes filled with a glimmer of hope.

Cheng Yaojin frowned and thought for a long time, then helplessly shook his head: “I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to restore the damage caused to Brother Shen's vitality.”

Shen Luo felt his heart lurch. His face instantly turned pale.

He had worked extremely hard both inside and outside of Dreamland, giving double the effort others did, undergoing experiences and dangers that ordinary monks could hardly imagine. With so much sweat and sacrifice, he had finally achieved a little, only for it to end like this.

If he only has three or four years left to live, what's the use of being powerful?

“Why are you all so anxious? Although I can't do it, isn't Master Yuan still here? Master Yuan, do you have a solution?” Seeing the distressed expressions on Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian's faces, Cheng Yaojin comforted them and turned to ask Yuan Tiangang.

Yuan Tiangang walked over, waved his whisk, and a white light enveloped Shen Luo's body, flowing slowly. A moment later, it flashed and disappeared.

“While Brother Shen's injuries are indeed difficult to heal, that does not mean it is impossible.” He paused before continuing, “Really? Master Yuan, Please tell us!” Shen Luo said, his face recovering some of its color as he bowed.

“There's no need for such formalities, Brother Shen. You have been seriously injured while protecting the people of the world. It is our duty to aid you.” Yuan Tiangang held up a hand and returned the bow.

“To heal your internal injuries, there are two actions needed. First, you need to practice the 'Divine Wood Grace'. This skill is a secret teaching of my sect, capable of absorbing the essence of plants to nourish the body and heal injuries. When practiced to a high level, it can temper the life vitality, eliminating what's unneeded and preserving the essential. It is well suited to rebalancing your current condition.” Yuan Tiangang paused before continuing.

Although Shen Luo had never heard of Divine Wood Grace, if it were a skill that Yuan Tiangang held in such high esteem, it must be extraordinary.

“And the second action?” Suppressing his excitement, he asked.

“While Divine Wood Grace can rebalance your life vitality, it cannot restore it to its normal state. To heal your body completely, external help is still needed. However, since you have consumed too many life-extending substances, ordinary life-extending spiritual objects will no longer suffice. I can only think of the immortal apricot from Mount Putuo as being useful to your injuries. This object shares a similar nature to Divine Wood Grace and is easier to refine.” Yuan Tiangang continued slowly.

“Immortal apricot?” Shen Luo was taken aback, recalling the jade slip from his dream, which contained information about the immortal apricot on Mount Putuo.

According to the jade slip, the Mount Putuo has three congenital spiritual roots, ten-thousand-year immortal apricot trees, which are reputedly from the Heavenly Realm and hold unimaginable effects.

The exact effects of the immortal apricot were not clearly stated on the jade slip, instead there were some unreliable rumors. Some say if you eat an immortal apricot, you could improve your cultivation by a thousand years. Others say it could increase your lifespan by a thousand years, or even ascend to immortality in broad daylight.

“The immortal apricot from Mount Putuo? That's right, only such an item from the Immortal Realm could cure his injuries. Master Yuan, are you suggesting that he should participate in this Immortal Apricot Conference?” The standing Cheng Yaojin interrupted.

“Immortal Apricot Conference?” Shen Luo was stunned. He had not heard of it.

“The immortal apricot of Mount Putuo is a renowned fruit in the Cultivation World. It can be directly consumed or used for refining elixirs with excellent effects. All the major sects of the Cultivation World dream of getting it. However, the yield of the Immortal Apricot is extremely low, only producing a few every few hundred years. To avoid unnecessary fights caused by the apricot, Mount Putuo holds the Immortal Apricot Conference every time the fruits mature. The talented young people from all sects gather and decide their ownership through a martial competition.” Yuan Tiangang explained.

“Isn't the conference held only once every few hundred years? How can Brother Shen wait for so long?” Before Shen Luo could speak, Bai Xiaotian questioned.