Yang Hong was unaware that he had become food for a group of demons, specifically a delicious snack.
Think of it like us eating spicy strips.
Except his spicy strip was being stewed in a pot.
He didn't know this. If he did, he'd probably be furious.
Because he was currently thanking his benevolent captors in his heart.
As the messy herbal mixture slowly boiled, wisps of vital essence seeped into Yang Hong's body, mending and nourishing his battered form.
"I must have fallen into some backward tribe. Their method of treating injuries is this crude."
"But it seems to be working quite well. I'll have to thank them properly later."
Yang Hong gave thanks in his mind while circulating his High-Level Inhalation Technique.
He could absorb not only the vital essence from the herbs but also the heat from the iron pot, converting it into true essence to repair his body.
"My body…
It's practically a colander now."
He hadn't realized the extent of his injuries until he checked.
Upon regaining a sliver of consciousness, Yang Hong immediately examined his body.
There was barely any intact skin left. His flesh constituted less than 50% of his original mass. While his internal organs were still present, they were severely damaged.
His bones were nearly shattered, and he had lost about 70% of his blood.
For a normal human, anyone not yet at the Nascent Soul stage would have long since perished.
It was only his ten-thousand-year cultivation in the Fusion realm that allowed him to cling to life.
But he was merely hanging on by a thread.
"I must be one of the most tragically transmigrated individuals, right?"
He muttered to himself before quickly activating the [Impartation Plant Ten Thousandfold Cultivation Return System].
[Yang Hong: Sixth Prince of the Great Sui Dynasty.
Daily Impartation Attempts: 8/8
Lifespan: 32/450
Cultivation: 10,000,000 years of True Essence (Fusion Realm)
Strength: 100 jin / 580,000 jin; Divine Sense: 2 zhang / 999 zhang]
[Techniques: High-Level Inhalation Technique 299th layer, Intermediate Body Tempering Technique 199th layer
Martial Skills: Casual Punch, Casual Saber, Casual Sword
Spells: Lesser Rain Spell, Universal Salvation Demonic Sound (Mastered)...
Intent: Fist Intent: Valiant and Fearless (90%)
Sword Intent: Gentle Breeze
Special Abilities: Eidetic Memory, Agricultural Mastery.]
Yang Hong’s current condition was severely wounded, allowing him to utilize only a minuscule portion of his strength and divine sense.
However, judging by the system's attributes, although his cultivation hadn't broken through, his strength had seen a considerable increase.
Once his injuries healed, his true combat power would likely double.
"Since the impartation system is still active, and there are plants around, I might as well give it a try."
Seeing the impartation attempts at "8/8," Yang Hong suddenly had a good idea.
With great effort, he raised his hand, grabbed an unknown plant, and silently thought:
"Impart!"
The meager true essence within Yang Hong's body flowed towards the plant.
His cultivation remained, but his true essence was extremely depleted.
[Ding~ You channeled 4 days of true essence into the Snake's Saliva Grass, gaining a tenfold cultivation return, and receiving 40 days of true essence cultivation.]
[Ding~ Your cultivation has reached its limit. Please break through to the Advanced Body Tempering Technique to advance your cultivation.]
[Ding~ You cultivated...]
As prompts sounded continuously, a faint surge of true essence returned from the Snake's Saliva Grass in his hand.
Yang Hong's body, nourished by this true essence, recovered slightly.
"Fortunately, I still have a little true essence left within me.
Let's continue!"
Yang Hong was lucky. The iron pot was stewing, and most of the plants were alive.
The first plant he managed to impart was successful. Otherwise, he would have needed to rest for a long time to recover his strength.
The second and third plants could not be imparted.
Fortunately, the fourth plant was also alive.
[Ding~ You channeled 39 days of true essence into the Iron Skin Grass, gaining a thirtyfold cultivation return, and receiving 1170 days of true essence cultivation.]
This time, luck was on his side, with a direct thirtyfold return. The massive amount of true essence flowed back through the Iron Skin Grass.
Yang Hong's injuries healed further under the nourishment of this true essence, and his limbs could finally move.
With such a reward, Yang Hong was even more motivated.
The next six impartations yielded a return of 8290 days of cultivation.
Although the return multiplier was not high, after all these efforts, Yang Hong's injuries had healed by approximately one percent.
He could now utilize some of his cultivation and spells.
"I'll circulate the High-Level Inhalation Technique to regulate my breathing, and continue imparting tomorrow."
With his body somewhat recovered, Yang Hong felt at ease and focused on healing.
However, the demons outside the iron pot were growing impatient.
Outside this iron pot was a group of demons in various forms. Apart from three with beast heads and human bodies, the rest were in their wild beast forms.
These three beast-headed, human-bodied demons included two with ox heads and human bodies, though their feet and hands retained their hooves;
and one with a tiger head and human body, a tiger demon named Hu Li, who was flicking his long tail.
They were currently observing Yang Hong within the iron pot using their divine senses.
"Hu Li, why isn't this human dead yet? He's getting more energetic the more he's stewed. Did you get something wrong?" boomed a larger ox demon, standing three meters tall, to Hu Li.
"Brother Niu Sanjin, I'm not entirely sure about the specifics.
I've only seen other great demons stewing humans from afar before. This is my first time doing it myself."
"However, Brother Niu Sanjin, don't you think the spiritual energy emanating from this pot is becoming more potent?"
Hu Li hadn't actually seen other great demons stewing humans, only heard about it. But to save face, he could only change the subject.
"Indeed, the spiritual energy is more concentrated. Should we continue stewing him then?"
"Yes, continue stewing, and keep adding herbs."
"Minions, get to work! Go gather more flowers and grasses."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
"Brother, we're going now~"
The demons in their animal forms scattered, venturing into the nearby mountains and forests to collect various plants.
The three humanoid demons took turns tending the fire, continuously stewing Yang Hong.
This stewing process lasted for seven full days.
As the plants Yang Hong had imparted became progressively cooked, the spiritual energy radiating from the iron pot grew ever more potent.
"Hu Li, I can't hold back any longer. I'm coming for this human now!"
With Niu Sanjin's roar, the lid of the iron pot was flung open.
Niu Sanjin, along with his brother Niu Sijin, simultaneously struck out with their hooves, aiming for Yang Hong, who was still waiting for new, fresh plants to be tossed in.
"Niu Sanjin, you can't hog him all to yourself!"
Hu Li roared, extending his claws as well.
The once harmonious family of demons immediately turned on each other, their fists flying.
"Boom~ Boom~"
A hoof and a claw struck Yang Hong consecutively, sending him flying out of the iron pot.
"What the hell?! What's happening?
Demons!
Taste my Gentle Breeze Sword Intent!"
Yang Hong, sent flying, was momentarily stunned. Upon seeing a large group of demons around him, he immediately formed his fingers into a sword and unleashed his signature ultimate move—
Gentle Breeze Sword Intent!
"Screech~ Screech~"
After a series of crisp tearing sounds, silence descended upon the world.
Except for the three stunned demons whose limbs were severed, the others were all dismembered.
Yang Hong looked at the scene, a bit bewildered. He had just slain his saviors.
He then flew towards the three humanoid demons who had, at the last moment, had their vital points avoided and were not killed.
"What kind of demons are you?
Can you understand me?"
Yang Hong's question was met with roars and bellows, their calls patterned and clearly forming complete languages.
However, Yang Hong could not comprehend them.
"Language barrier?
This is troublesome."