Within the grand hall.
Feeling the vitality exuding from within and permeating her entire body, Yu Ning could hardly suppress the ecstasy in her heart, and she suddenly stood up.
Mixed with the Spiritual Spring, the blood trailed down her taut skin, giving off a ruddy, faint glow.
The vigorous life force stemming from her physique even made her Cultivation bottleneck feel somewhat loose.
Yu Ning took a deep breath, sensing the strong Blood Qi steaming within her Essence Blood, and a hint of surprise flashed through her eyes.
Judging by the intensity of this Blood Qi, Chu Zheng's physique was not far behind that of Martial Cultivators.
Immortal Path Cultivators nurture their Primordial Spirits and rely on Magic Treasures and weapons, utilizing just a fraction of Mana to unleash their full power, prioritizing the control of such tools.
Even if the body suffers great injury in an instant, as long as the Primordial Spirit remains intact, their combat strength is not greatly affected, and within a moment, they can heal bone and flesh, bringing the body back from the brink of death.
On the other hand, Martial Cultivators focus more on the physique because the physique is the foundation of their Cultivation and combat strength, and injuries to it have a great impact on their ability to fight.
The robustness of Martial Cultivators' bodies is nearly on par with the weapons and Magic Treasures of those on the Immortal Path.
However, while a weapon can be melted down and reforged if damaged, the body, ultimately, is not a weapon; a damaged body cannot be perfectly restored to its original state—such a task is nearly impossible.
Unless one were to never sustain injuries from the onset of their cultivation journey, over time, there would inevitably be some lingering damage.
The Secret Medicines capable of healing these lingering damages are rare treasures within the Martial Hall, accessible only to those with extraordinary talent or who have reached the pinnacle of the Saint or Great Saint realms.
"Many thanks to the Taixuan Holy Master."
Yu Ning bowed with a fist clasped, her expression solemn. This was a favor that affected her path significantly.
Merely healing the hidden injuries within her body made her trip to Cangyun well worth it.
"Envoy, there is no need for formality. I am currently seeking assistance from you two, and it's only right that I make some effort in return," Chu Zheng said, waving his hand and adjusting his robe to cover the somewhat ferocious wound on his chest, speaking in a calm voice,
"However, this technique has greatly drained me, and I will need a few days to recuperate before I can continue treating Envoy Xie's injuries."
Seeing Chu Zheng's pale face, Yu Ning's brows furrowed slightly, and without saying much, she draped on her outer robe and strode out of the sleeping chamber.
Seeing Yu Ning emerge, Xie Xingzhong, who had been waiting outside the hall, showed a glint of sharpness in his eyes:
Yu Ning took a deep breath and nodded emphatically, "To seize the fortunes of heaven and earth, to be restored to new, to return to the origin."
At this moment, her internal organs were no different from when she first embarked on the Martial Path; there was no discomfort, and her body felt indescribably light and agile from head to toe.
Xie Xingzhong's eyes brightened greatly; he looked towards Chu Zheng, who followed behind. Seeing his greatly depleted Blood Qi and pale complexion, he couldn't help but wonder, "Holy Master, what...?"
'I'll explain in detail later.'
Yu Ning signaled with a glance to Song Lingxue nearby, silencing Xie Xingzhong's queries with her transmission, then turned back to Chu Zheng:
"We will stay in Taixuan City temporarily. In ten days, we will return to impose upon you again, Holy Master. Rest and recover with ease."
Having said that, she took out the Storage Spirit Ring that Chu Zheng had given her earlier and handed it back:
"The terms offered by the Holy Master are more than generous; please take these back."
Chu Zheng did not refuse, and accepting it with a nod, he said in a gentle voice, "If there's anything you need, you may send a message at any time. Within my capabilities, I will do my best to prepare it for you two."
From beginning to end, his posture was very accommodating.
As he was the one seeking help, it was only natural to adopt such an attitude.
"Farewell, Holy Master, please remain here."
Without further conversation, Yu Ning left with Xie Xingzhong.
As Chu Zheng watched the two leave, he turned back to Song Lingxue, his pale complexion already regaining its healthy glow.
Song Lingxue faltered, wanting to ask what occurred inside the hall, why Yu Ning told Chu Zheng to rest and recover, and why Chu Zheng had looked so pale before.
"It's nothing, don't overthink it."
Chu Zheng did not intend to let Song Lingxue know what happened inside the hall. It would only cause her worry, increasing her burden of guilt, and would serve no good purpose.
Song Lingxue hung her head, her fingertips hidden in her sleeves tightly clenching her palm, knuckles turning slightly white, as a great feeling of helplessness rose within her.
Because of her, Chu Zheng had bowed his head to Geng Yiyang once before, taking on the shackles named Taixuan Holy Land.
And now, for her sake once more, Chu Zheng had lowered his head again, paying a price she was unaware of.
Things shouldn't have turned out ...
Seeing Song Lingxue remain silent, Chu Zheng gently stroked the top of her head with soothing words:
"Don't worry, I will do everything I can to pave the way for you. Leaving Cangyun is also a good thing for you, and it won't be long before I come looking for you."
Song Lingxue felt a slight sting in her eyes, burying herself in Chu Zheng's embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, holding back the tears that welled up, as she said in a muffled voice,
"This is the last time, I promise."
Xie Xingzhong and Yu Ning left Taixuan together, and after entering Taixuan City, they casually found an inn to stay in.
"How was it? What kind of Secret Technique did Chu Zheng use? Does it really work so miraculously?" Xie Xingzhong asked eagerly as soon as they were inside the room.
"Chu Zheng used his core Essence Blood assisted with a Secret Technique to nourish my physique. As of now, indeed, all my injuries have fully healed," Yu Ning replied, her expression growing stern,
"Such a method greatly harms oneself, and it can even shake the foundation of one's Cultivation."
Essence Blood is crucial for Cultivators— even a slight injury requires a long time to recuperate. A Secret Technique that drains one's own Essence Blood to nurture another's body comes at too high a price for Martial Cultivators.
Hearing her words, Xie Xingzhong looked somewhat regretful; such a method, which could not be widely replicated, was somewhat of a letdown for the Martial Hall.