Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Dao Heart Fruit
"Buzz..."
Above the void, the surging sea of thunder gradually dissipated, eventually restoring this piece of heaven and earth to its usual clarity.
Under the moonlight, Ji Chen’s white robes fluttered, a gentle breeze brushed against him, evoking an inexplicable sense of melancholy.
The Nine Dragon True Tribulation was repelled, and at this moment, Ji Chen’s cultivation had already broken through to the First Layer of the Returning Ruins Realm.
The improvement in strength made him feel as though he had undergone a transformation.
But Ji Chen was not excited about it, because he also understood what the wound of the great path meant.
This is an almost irreversible injury.
Differing from Nangong Ao’s Spiritual Sea wound, this was created by the Celestial Tribulation, and even holding a Spirit Storage Pill, it couldn’t heal it in the slightest.
Thinking this in his heart, Ji Chen’s body descended slowly, returning to the pavilion in the Enlightenment Lake.
He furrowed his brows, as if searching his mind for something, trying to find any way or some elixir to heal the wound of the great path.
Unfortunately, even with the memories and experiences of his past life, Ji Chen couldn’t find any method of treatment.
"Are you alright?"
A sigh came, and outside the pavilion, Nangong Ao appeared here.
When Ji Chen broke through, he was somewhere in the city, witnessing the whole process, and also saw the wound of the great path in Ji Chen’s Spiritual Sea caused by the Celestial Tribulation.
Seeing Nangong Ao appear, Ji Chen slightly cupped his fists, not speaking, just shaking his head.
Nangong Ao naturally understood that Ji Chen felt uneasy at heart.
After all, with such heaven-defying talent, he only had a year left to live, no matter who is in his shoes, they would feel this way.
"Brother Ji."
Not long after, another person arrived, it was the Young Master of the Ye Family, Ye Yunge.
His face also bore a look of regret; he didn’t speak much, came in front of Ji Chen, flipped his hand, and a jade bottle appeared in his palm.
"This ’Condensed Frost Jade Dew’ is an exclusive healing medicine of my Ye Family, perhaps it might help with your injury," Ye Yunge said, handing the jade bottle to Ji Chen.
This is a precious healing medicine, said to be worth a fortune for just one drop, exceedingly rare in the world.
Ji Chen did not refuse his kindness and accepted the Condensed Frost Jade Dew.
He didn’t want to die; anything that could possibly help his injury, Ji Chen would not reject at the moment.
"Thank you, Brother Ye, for the gracious gift of medicine, I will surely repay if there’s an opportunity in the future," he solemnly said as he cupped his fists toward Ye Yunge.
Although to Ji Chen, this medicine is almost unlikely to help with the wound of the great path, Ye Yunge promptly delivering such a rare medicine was a kindness Ji Chen would remember.
After Ye Yunge, others gradually appeared in the pavilion.
Mo Wanqing also arrived, along with Mo Cheng, bringing the Mo Family’s healing medicine for Ji Chen.
Besides Ye Yunge and Mo Wanqing, several powerhouses from the Sacred Land and Ancient Emperor families showed up, all bringing healing items, none as precious as Ye Yunge’s Condensed Frost Jade Dew, but Ji Chen did not reject them and accepted all, thanking solemnly.
Now, he was desperate, unwilling to miss any chance or possibility of recovery.
"Brother Ji, if you don’t mind, please come heal at my Ye Family," Ye Yunge suggested.
Ji Chen hesitated for a moment before ultimately declining.
He could accept Ye Yunge’s personal goodwill, but he still had some resistance toward the Ye Family.
Because back when they forcibly took his mother Ye Jinglan away, the Ye Family had oppressed and humiliated his father Ji Xiaotian, an incident his father never mentioned to him.
Ji Chen learned this as he happened to encounter his father drunk from the grief when he went to see him late one night, spilling the truth.
The Ye Family of that year was ruthless, even attempting to sever the relationship between his mother and him and his father, only spared his father due to his mother threatening to die.
"Brother Ye’s kindness, I appreciate it."
Ji Chen cupped his fists, declining the invitation.
Without much to say, he finally left with Nangong Ao.
In a certain mansion, under Nangong Ao’s lead, Ji Chen arrived there.
This is the Lin Family, a moderately powerful family in Bicheng, descendants of an old friend of Nangong Ao.
They settled down here.
Ji Chen did not sleep, unable to fall asleep, as he sat in the courtyard, still searching for a way to heal the wound of the great path in his mind.
Nangong Ao came, seated under the big tree in the courtyard.
"Throughout history, although the wound of the great path in the Spiritual Sea is irreversible, if some Holy Medicine can be found, it can prolong your life. As for the Condensed Frost Jade Dew that Ye Yunge just gave you, such a rare medicine may not completely heal the wound of the great path, but it should give you two or three more months," Nangong Ao said after a moment of contemplation.
Ji Chen nodded, naturally aware of this fact, which was why he did not reject Ye Yunge and Mo Wanqing’s goodwill.
But this was ultimately not the solution.
"It is said that in the ’Immortal Burial Forest,’ there exists a Divine Medicine called ’Dao Heart Fruit,’ which can heal the wound of the great path. Throughout countless years, many who were injured by the Celestial Tribulation went there looking for the Dao Heart Fruit, but such a Divine Medicine only exists in legend; no one has truly seen it," Nangong Ao said, this recorded in historical texts he had read.
The Immortal Burial Forest, located at the southernmost edge of Beiyou, infamous and one of the few Life Forbidden Areas in the world today.
It is said that an ancient Immortal fell there, hence the name Immortal Burial Forest.
Its danger goes beyond imagination; even the ancient sages who entered barely escaped alive, it is a place with almost no return!
"If no other solution can be found by then, you might try going," Nangong Ao suggested. With his experience, he understood more than anyone how dangerous the Immortal Burial Forest was, and unless necessary, he wouldn’t want Ji Chen to risk himself.
But now, apart from the legendary Dao Heart Fruit, there was absolutely no other method to heal the wound of the great path.
Ji Chen was silent for a long time before speaking, "Anyway, I’m going to die, indeed I should take a gamble, but before that, I have to go to Kunlun."
He wished to see Qu Luoning one last time, witness her receive the inheritance ceremony, and become the Kunlun Profound Lady.
Then he also had to return to the Lingyun Sect to handle some matters, and finally set out for the Immortal Burial Forest to seek the Dao Heart Fruit.
"Regarding the Spirit Storage Pill, I’m afraid I cannot refine it for Elder Ao, but before leaving, I’ll entrust this matter to the Grand Alliance Leader, Elder Ao, please rest assured," he said.
Nangong Ao was speechless, after a sigh, he nodded, "The Spirit Storage Pill isn’t essential; merely surviving the Saint’s Dojo is enough for me. After you leave, I will look after the Lingyun Sect."
"In that case, thank you very much," Ji Chen solemnly cupped his fists.
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