Zhuang Wei had risked his life to save Yuezheng Hezhi! Yuezheng Hezhi had burned away his own lifespan with a secret art! And now there was a pill formula that could extend Zhuang Wei’s life!
Hearing Yuezheng Hezhi recount everything left Xu Ziqing shaken to the core.
Every part of the story was astonishing.
A Soul Transformation cultivator possessed such immense vitality that Xu Ziqing had not sensed anything unusual about Yuezheng Hezhi’s remaining lifespan.
Now that he knew how much Yuezheng Hezhi had sacrificed, his admiration for the man only grew. He was also more certain than ever of Yuezheng Hezhi’s feelings for his old friend.
Who would surrender thousands of years of life for an ordinary friendship? At most, a person might support Zhuang Wei’s relatives and friends in the minor world, or protect his reincarnation. There would be no need to go to such lengths. Clearly, the sincere affection Zhuang Wei bore the Second Young Palace Master had not been misplaced.
But… Xu Ziqing considered something else. Yuezheng Hezhi was ordinarily a man of few words. Surely he had not disclosed all this simply to tell Xu Ziqing about the past.
He raised his gaze to the purple-robed young man. “Palace Master Yuezheng, since you’ve already told us so much, why not be a little more forthright?”
Was Yuezheng Hezhi hoping he would search the Zhou Tian Immortal Sect for suitable ingredients, as Xu Ziqing suspected? Or was there something else?
Yuezheng Hezhi’s expression eased, and he nodded. “You cultivate the wood attribute?”
Xu Ziqing began to guess what he meant. “That’s right.”
Yuezheng Hezhi continued, “I can’t discern which cultivation method you practice, but it must be formidable. You have reached this stage with a pure wood constitution, so you must have encountered a great many spiritually potent plants. Otherwise, even I would not find your cultivation so difficult to fathom.”
Xu Ziqing understood. He nodded. “I’ve gained a little knowledge in that area.”
Yuezheng Hezhi grew solemn. “Then I’ll come straight to the point.”
With a wave of his hand, several ice mirrors appeared before him. Each held the image of a different herb, with its name clearly written beneath it.
“These are all the ingredients I still lack. Many are ancient plants, and some have long been extinct. If you’ve seen any of them or know where they might be found, please tell me.”
Of course Xu Ziqing would do everything he could.
His expression turned serious as he carefully examined the mirrors.
He cultivated the Great Art of Myriad Woods Heart-Planting. Though he could not yet cause plants to grow at will, if he had their seeds, he might be able to try.
Mature plants were hard to obtain, but finding seeds might prove easier.
Moreover, he remembered that many of the subordinate woods he had fused with were ancient species, including medicinal plants long vanished from the world.
If one or two happened to match the missing ingredients, that would be immensely convenient.
He dared not overlook the smallest possibility.
There were eight ice mirrors in all, representing eight missing herbs.
Xu Ziqing examined them one by one, comparing their images to the subordinate woods within his body. Then his face lit up.
Yuezheng Hezhi noticed at once. “What is it?”
Xu Ziqing slipped his fingers into his sleeve. True essence circulated through his palm, and he drew out a spiritual herb.
It matched one of the images on the mirrors. Already a mature plant, it had actually been grown by Xu Ziqing moments earlier, concealed by his sleeve.
Yuezheng Hezhi stared, then immediately took it. A quick examination revealed an abundance of wood qi, confirming that it was precisely what he needed.
Xu Ziqing reached into his sleeve again and again, producing another four herbs. Altogether, he had supplied an astonishing five of the eight!
Yuezheng Hezhi scarcely noticed how peculiar Xu Ziqing’s movements were. He carefully put away each herb, and much of the anxiety weighing on him eased.
Even so, three herbs were still missing. Xu Ziqing had read countless texts about spiritual plants and undergone many adventures, yet he did not recognize the remaining three.
Still, their position was vastly better than before.
Xu Ziqing studied the three remaining mirrors, examining every detail and thinking hard.
The five plants he had provided were ancient species. He had happened to obtain their seeds in the past, and to find them useful now was a wonderful surprise. But Zhuang Wei had only a little over twenty years left to live. Even three missing ingredients were a serious problem.
Spiritual herbs were unlike ordinary treasures. Unless wood-attribute cultivators grew them or special formations shortened their growing periods, most matured naturally over time. Even if they found the missing plants, what if they still needed thirty or forty years, or even a century, to mature?
And while seeds were easier to find than mature plants, they could hardly be obtained on demand. An immature herb might not have produced any seeds at all. Even if Xu Ziqing was willing to expend true essence to accelerate its growth, he might have nothing to work with.
Considering all this, he decided that he must either discover where these plants could be found or work out whether they could be replaced.
Replaced… yes, that was another possibility.
But every spiritual herb had its own medicinal properties. The pill could extend lifespan only by combining these properties in precisely the right way. What role did the remaining three ingredients play?
Xu Ziqing looked up and voiced his question to Yuezheng Hezhi. “If there are substitutes, perhaps we can use them.”
Yuezheng Hezhi’s expression grew grave. “It’s an ancient formula. Deriving it was difficult enough, and many alchemy masters spent years of careful research confirming the ingredients. As for replacements… unless their effects are even stronger, I fear it won’t work.”
He had already considered substitutes himself, but these three herbs were the most obtainable options the researchers had managed to identify.
Xu Ziqing frowned. “Then what are these three herbs supposed to do?”
“Supply vitality,” Yuezheng Hezhi answered. “Their effects reinforce one another, producing enough life force to make up for several hundred years of lifespan.”
This was different from an ordinary cultivator replenishing vitality. That could be accomplished gradually, using less precious herbs rich in life force as daily nourishment to strengthen the body’s vital essence and heal hidden injuries. But this pill was meant to replace lost years of life. The properties of its many other herbs had to interact and transform, then combine with life force equivalent to several hundred years before the pill could be refined. The ancient formula was unusually strict: it could not contain more than the ultimate number of nine times nine, eighty-one ingredients, or it would fail. Yet none of the other required herbs could be omitted; they already accounted for seventy-eight ingredients. It was therefore impossible to add greater quantities of less potent, life-restoring herbs as substitutes. After countless calculations, the alchemists had settled on these final three, whose combined vitality was just sufficient to equal several hundred years of life.
Xu Ziqing paused. “What if there were a single spiritual herb with such immense life force that it could bring the dead back to life and grow flesh on bare bones…?”
Yuezheng Hezhi started. “You have such a miraculous herb?”
Xu Ziqing nodded slightly. “I came across one during an extraordinary encounter years ago. I’ll take it out. If it proves useful, that would be best of all.”
Yuezheng Hezhi was visibly shaken.
Even so, he did not dare hope too much. Each of the last three herbs on the mirrors was extraordinary, with vitality rarely seen in the world. Together they could supply life force like a vast, rushing river. Xu Ziqing and Zhuang Wei had both come from a minor world. However fortunate Xu Ziqing’s later experiences, he was only a little over a century old. What he possessed might not truly be so powerful.
Nevertheless, Yuezheng Hezhi would not abandon even the faintest hope.
Without further hesitation, Xu Ziqing produced Flesh Upon Bones.
The plant was brilliant green, with light flowing across its surface. It resembled a tiger, its form strikingly lifelike.
One glance was enough to reveal its astonishing spiritual energy. A single breath brought a dense surge of vitality.
Yuezheng Hezhi took it immediately. “I’ll bring it to the alchemy elder for examination. Wait here a moment.”
Before Xu Ziqing could answer, he was gone like a whirlwind, leaving a great rush of wind behind him.
Xu Ziqing was briefly stunned, then could not help feeling moved.
The Second Young Palace Master’s nature was truly like a blaze beneath a sheet of ice. Once that ice cracked, the fire burned all the brighter.
Before long, Yuezheng Hezhi returned at remarkable speed. This time there was unmistakable joy in his eyes, and he could hardly contain himself. “This herb really is extraordinary! Its life force is more than sufficient!”
Xu Ziqing was delighted. “Then Palace Master Yuezheng, please have the pill refined as soon as possible, so Brother Zhuang can recover without delay!”
Standing before him, Yuezheng Hezhi drew a deep breath. “Thank you. Without all the herbs you gave me today, refining this pill would have been extremely difficult.”
Xu Ziqing shook his head and smiled. “Brother Zhuang is my friend. A few herbs are nothing.” He paused. “But please don’t tell him that I supplied them. He has never liked accepting other people’s possessions. If he knew, he would only worry about what he owed.”
Yuezheng Hezhi smiled. “Then I won’t tell him.”
Just as Yuezheng Hezhi had concealed from Zhuang Wei that he had sacrificed twenty-five hundred years of lifespan for him, Xu Ziqing did not want Zhuang Wei to feel greatly indebted.
Both men gave of their own free will, without the least reluctance.
Neither wanted Zhuang Wei to brood over their sacrifices, for fear that the burden might become an inner demon.
From then on, Yuezheng Hezhi regarded Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie with even greater respect.
With that worry lifted from his heart, his state of mind seemed to advance as well. His cultivation grew purer, and his understanding of his realm became exceptionally clear.
Although Xu Ziqing had not yet formed his Nascent Soul, even he could discern the great change in the man.
Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie remained in the Second Ice Palace for several more days. Xu Ziqing did not inquire after the pill refinement. Under Yuezheng Hezhi’s care, Zhuang Wei would surely be safe. How far he could progress in the Golden Core realm would depend on his own will, however. No one could cultivate for him.
Xu Ziqing also began to suspect that Zhuang Wei had been afraid to confess his feelings not only for the two reasons Xu Ziqing had previously considered, but because he knew his own life was nearly over. Perhaps once his lifespan was restored, and after what they had endured together, he would finally dare to speak. Or perhaps Yuezheng Hezhi, freed from the shadow of Zhuang Wei’s approaching death, would confess first. Xu Ziqing could only hope to receive a wedding invitation from them one day. That would be a fitting outcome for their sincere feelings, and make his gifts of spiritual herbs more than worthwhile.
With these thoughts in mind, Xu Ziqing spent much of his remaining time with Zhuang Wei. Sometimes they played Go; at others they watched Yun Lie and Yuezheng Hezhi spar. It was a thoroughly pleasant period.
Yet all gatherings must eventually end. However close two friends might be, each had his own path toward immortality and could not remain together forever.
After staying for some time, Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie bid farewell to Zhuang Wei and Yuezheng Hezhi, departed the desolate snowy plains, and made their way back toward the Zhou Tian Immortal Sect.