Chapter 424: Healing Petrification Dao Injuries

Zhang Zhongyi dispersed all the idlers.

Soon, only he, Zhang Zhongyi, Ning Zhuo, and Sun Lingtong remained in the encampment.

Zhang Zhongyi began to select the herbs.

Around the circular tent were cabinets covering more than half of the area.

These cabinets were of the artifact level, possessing powerful capabilities for storing specific herbs.

Zhang Zhongyi was intimately familiar with these cabinets. From hundreds, even thousands of drawers, he swiftly selected the herbs he sought.

They were Life Soil Vine, Stone Breaker Grass, Fire Spirit Flower, Thousand-Year Bitter Wood Root, and Dragon Scale Vine.

Life Soil Vine was yellowish-brown all over, buried deep in the earth. It was warm in nature and could soften rock layers, turning them into soil.

Stone Breaker Grass often grew alongside Life Soil Vine. As the name suggested, its leaves were sharp as swords, growing out to break through rocks.

Fire Spirit Flower absorbed fire spiritual energy. After blooming, it would self-immolate, and the ashes would fall to the ground, becoming nourishment for continued growth and blooming the following year.

Thousand-Year Bitter Wood Root was extremely cold in nature, but deep within, it contained a hint of tenacious vitality. It was a classic excellent remedy for combating petrification.

The surface of the Dragon Scale Vine resembled layer upon layer of dragon scales. The scales were very dense, covering the entire vine. It possessed a strong respiratory ability and was more common in ancient stone mines, capable of purifying the air.

Each herb required a different processing method.

Zhang Zhongyi soaked Life Soil Vine, Stone Breaker Grass, and Fire Spirit Flower in water. He chopped up the Thousand-Year Bitter Wood Root and ground it into fine powder with a pestle.

As for the Dragon Scale Vine, he formed hand seals and used fire refining to burn away the vine core, causing the scales to fall off, collecting all of them.

Finally, Zhang Zhongyi precisely weighed these herbs and alternately soaked and mixed them.

He would stop occasionally and use spells to test the mixture. If he found that some quantities were too small, he would add extra corresponding herbs.

Ultimately, he activated the Hundred Herb Harmony Technique, used specific magic power, and mixed it in, finally creating a basin of medicinal juice.

The juice was thick and yellowish-brown, with speckles of green light floating on the surface.

Although its appearance was poor, the juice was very hot, emitting steam and a strong, peculiar earthy fragrance.

After successfully concocting it, Zhang Zhongyi immediately called Sun Lingtong forward.

Sun Lingtong walked up to Zhang Zhongyi, who immediately used his divine sense to grasp the medicinal juice and evenly applied it to Sun Lingtong's stone arm.

The powerful medicinal effect quickly spread and penetrated, softening the petrified outer layer, causing the stone skin to wrinkle and crack.

Zhang Zhongyi took out a bag of silver needles.

He took out a slender silver needle from it, holding it in his hand, but he remained motionless for a long time.

It wasn't until he observed that the stone skin had softened to a certain extent that he pierced the silver needle into Sun Lingtong's arm.

His hand speed seemed slow but was actually fast, and it was very steady.

After a dozen breaths, he had inserted over a hundred silver needles into Sun Lingtong's stone arm.

Zhang Zhongyi formed hand seals, drawing forth magic power.

The tails of the silver needles immediately began to tremble slightly, condensing weak silver light.

These silver lights drew out threads, which continuously rose, floated into the air, and drifted towards Ning Zhuo.

Zhang Zhongyi instructed, "Little friend Ning Zhuo, just expose your wrists."

Ning Zhuo did as told.

These silver light threads were as light as nothing, wrapping around Ning Zhuo's wrists.

Zhang Zhongyi continued, "Little friend Ning Zhuo, I will soon withdraw my magic power. You must immediately take over for me, infuse magic power, follow the silver threads to the silver needles, and then use the silver needles to constantly sense the principles and logic within the stone arm."

"I am not a master of the Earth element. This step can only rely on you."

"Whether you can comprehend the principles within is the most crucial."

Ning Zhuo's face was solemn. After taking a deep breath, he slowly infused magic power.

When the magic power reached the silver needles, he immediately had a vague sensation.

He closed his eyes, and at that moment, his consciousness seemed to sink into the depths of the earth.

"I feel it!"

Almost instantly, he grasped the Earth element principles within.

These were principles related to condensation and confinement, with some elements of nourishment and collection mixed in.

Zhang Zhongyi silently calculated the time, and his eyes couldn't help but show worry.

He saw that the medicinal juice on Sun Lingtong's stone arm had gradually hardened, and even the roots of the silver needles had a layer of gray stone skin.

Zhang Zhongyi's heart sank slightly: "Where did this little kid suffer this Dao injury? The injury has sunk inward, much more severe than it appears on the surface."

"We must hurry!" Zhang Zhongyi couldn't help but feel anxious.

He looked at Ning Zhuo.

"The injury is more severe than expected. You only have half an incense stick's time."

Zhang Zhongyi dared not disturb Ning Zhuo, so he could only shout inwardly.

But the next moment, Ning Zhuo suddenly opened his eyes: "Lord Zhang, I have comprehended the principles within. What should I do next?"

Zhang Zhongyi: ?!

No, this is too fast!

Zhang Zhongyi was incredulous: "Little friend Ning Zhuo, you must not be careless. You should know that if you miss this opportunity, the next time we want to reach the same level, we will have to change the herbal formula, pay a greater price, and the time for comprehension will be further shortened."

Ning Zhuo nodded and smiled: "Senior Zhang, would I joke about my friend's life? I have indeed comprehended all the principles."

Zhang Zhongyi was half-believing.

Sun Lingtong giggled: "I believe Ning Zhuo, Senior Zhang, let's proceed to the next step."

He knew many details and understood that Ning Zhuo's Five Elements realm was not just simple master level.

Therefore, it was reasonable for Ning Zhuo to grasp the principles within a very short time.

"Alright." Zhang Zhongyi saw that both of them were confident and chose to temporarily believe them.

Zhang Zhongyi began to pack up the silver needles, herbs, and so on.

Sun Lingtong sat cross-legged to the side, adjusting his breath and actively adjusting his state.

Ning Zhuo closed his eyes and mulled over the situation in his mind, continuously formulating targeted techniques.

His realm was profound, and formulating these techniques was very easy, as simple as lifting a hand or foot.

Soon, he opened his eyes and said to Zhang Zhongyi: "I've figured it out."

Zhang Zhongyi hadn't finished packing up the herbs yet. He smiled: "Little friend Ning Zhuo's talent is remarkable, to conceive of one so quickly."

"But I am not an Earth element master. Next, I need to devise auxiliary treatment methods through techniques."

"Therefore, the more techniques you conceive, the better I can understand the situation, and the more reasonable the auxiliary method I conceive will be."

Ning Zhuo was slightly taken aback. His first thought was to hide some of his abilities, but glancing at Sun Lingtong, he decided to speak the truth: "Lord Zhang, are three techniques enough?"

Zhang Zhongyi smiled: "Three techniques are enough. In fact, two are barely sufficient."

Ning Zhuo then chuckled: "Alright, I have thought of three."

Zhang Zhongyi: "Hmm?"

Ning Zhuo immediately took out blank jade slips and inscribed these three techniques in them.

After looking at the jade slips, Zhang Zhongyi couldn't help but look up at Ning Zhuo again, surprised in his heart: "These three techniques really seem legitimate. But what's with this kid Ning Zhuo? If these techniques all work, then his Earth element realm seems quite extraordinary!"

He carefully studied them and found that these three techniques addressed the petrification from three different angles. The concepts were ingenious and made people marvel.

The first method used heart blood as the source, repairing the bones, meridians, and flesh in sequence.

The second method used petrification against petrification, making the petrification more severe, causing it to collapse on its own after exceeding the limit, turning from stone to sand.

The third method involved infusing magic power throughout Sun Lingtong's stone arm, using magic power to influence and clear blockages, constantly maintaining balance, continuously removing the stone skin, and continuously healing himself. It was as if continuously infusing clear water into a basin of muddy water, constantly draining it, and ultimately achieving a cured state.

Zhang Zhongyi pondered for a long time, conceived three auxiliary methods, and also inscribed them in jade slips with his divine sense, handing them over to Ning Zhuo for examination.

Ning Zhuo read the jade slips and immediately became engrossed.

The first auxiliary therapy primarily used rotten astragalus, silver gentian, mountain chuanxiong, and golden ginseng as the main formula. Rotten astragalus could strengthen the physical body, silver gentian cleared heat and detoxified, mountain chuanxiong promoted blood circulation and removed stasis, and golden ginseng greatly replenished vital energy, which could be called a combination of healing and nourishment.

The second auxiliary therapy used gold and silver starlight flowers, divine eagle wolfberries, fire citrus aurantium, and nighttime angelica to create pills. The pills were to be taken orally and applied externally simultaneously.

The third therapy used acupuncture, mainly needling the Zhouliao acupoint to relieve petrification pressure and increase blood flow. Secondary needling of the Jianjing and Baihui acupoints relaxed the muscles and regulated the body's qi and blood.

These three auxiliary therapies greatly satisfied Ning Zhuo, and he praised them highly: "As expected of the Imperial Physician! They complement my three techniques perfectly, a perfect match."

However, Zhang Zhongyi shook his head and pointed out the drawbacks of the three therapies one by one.

The first method required long-term medication, which would lead to the accumulation of medicinal properties, requiring more time in the future to dissolve the residual medicinal power.

Although the second method was the fastest in terms of effectiveness, the effect of the pills varied from person to person and could potentially lead to muscle atrophy.

The third method, using acupuncture in conjunction with qi channels, was moderate and steady, but frequent needling put a lot of pressure, and one mistake could lead to obstructed meridians in the future.

Upon hearing this, Ning Zhuo fell silent.

He was worried about Sun Lingtong and naturally wanted to do his best to treat his boss's injury.

These three therapies all had drawbacks and risks. If it were on Ning Zhuo himself, he wouldn't care. But on Sun Lingtong, he wanted to do his best to minimize the risks and drawbacks.

Sun Lingtong understood Ning Zhuo well: "Xiao Zhuo, it's not a big deal. Even if there are some residual symptoms, it's better than my current predicament, right?"

"Hurry up and treat it. I've been quite uncomfortable lately."

Zhang Zhongyi also said: "I have also treated Dao injuries three times. The techniques designed by little friend Ning Zhuo are already excellent and astonishing."

"Based on my experience, it's almost impossible to improve it to another level in a short period of time."

"The realm is not something that can be achieved overnight."

Ning Zhuo sighed in his heart, thinking: "Wasn't my Five Elements realm shaped in an instant?"

"That's it."

He was sure that the techniques he had just designed were indeed the result of his utmost effort and racking his brains, and he could not design anything better in a short time.

Next, Ning Zhuo and Zhang Zhongyi discussed which treatment plan to adopt.

According to Sun Lingtong's impatient nature, he would naturally choose the second one.

Ning Zhuo directly refused him.

Although the second method was fast-acting, it had significant sequelae.

Zhang Zhongyi frankly stated that he had unique advantages in herbal concoction because his cultivation technique was the Hundred Herb Harmony Technique. However, he could not guarantee the level of acupuncture throughout the entire treatment process, and being older, it was likely to make mistakes.

Finally, Ning Zhuo and Zhang Zhongyi decided on the first treatment method.

However, they encountered difficulties.

Ning Zhuo continuously practiced the first technique, but for a long time, he could not reach Zhang Zhongyi's standard.

Sun Lingtong giggled: "Xiao Zhuo, although your realm is profound, you spend too little time practicing techniques every day. Even if you can conceive exquisite techniques, when you actually use them yourself, you are aiming high but achieving little, unable to reach the level of precise control."

Zhang Zhongyi sighed: "Little friend Ning Zhuo, a genius like you should be heavily protected and practice your skills diligently in the family. Your Ning family, however, is letting you wander around, they are too carefree."

Ning Zhuo humbly said a few words and suddenly had an idea.

"I can't control it myself, but I can rely on the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Technique to precisely control the amount of magic power. I can also design two more techniques, one Fire and one Wood, to constrain the effect of the Earth element technique."

"Fire generates Earth, and Wood restrains Earth."

"Through the relationships of mutual generation and mutual restraint, the Earth element technique can be precisely planned."

Thinking of this, Ning Zhuo waved his hand: "Wait, I have a good idea."

How to put it?

A profound Five Elements realm allows you to do as you please!

Although the two techniques designed couldn't be precisely controlled, they were like a ruler, limiting the performance of the Earth element technique.

Zhang Zhongyi personally witnessed Ning Zhuo conceive two brand new techniques, and his heart was greatly shaken. He lost his voice: "Are you also a master of the Fire and Wood elements?"

"Could it be that you possess the innate talent of Scorched Earth Genesis, or the three-element destiny of Wood, Fire, and Earth?"

Ning Zhuo chose to conceal a part of the truth and said: "I do have innate talent, but it has never been measured."

Zhang Zhongyi took a deep breath, examined Ning Zhuo from head to toe, and for a moment, clicked his tongue in wonder.

Ning Zhuo used three techniques, and Zhang Zhongyi concocted herbs. With this two-pronged approach, Sun Lingtong's left arm rapidly recovered.

Feeling returned, Sun Lingtong clenched his left hand, his face filled with joy.

Suddenly, his heart trembled, and he sensed something.

Seeing that Ning Zhuo was about to use techniques on his right arm, Sun Lingtong quickly jumped back a step, avoiding it.

"Wait, wait," he shouted.

"Boss, are you uncomfortable?" Ning Zhuo's heart immediately tightened.

Sun Lingtong, however, giggled, raised his left hand, and said proudly: "Look, look, do you see anything different?"

Ning Zhuo's divine sense covered it, and his expression changed slightly: "Boss, the cultivation technique you practice mainly focuses on the Divine Sea, with only some attention to the other two Dantians."

"But now, the strength of the flesh and bones in your left hand far surpasses before, with a clear difference from the rest of your body. Why is this?"

Sun Lingtong winked at Ning Zhuo: "Xiao Zhuo, do you remember the cultivation technique you recently obtained unexpectedly?"

Ning Zhuo was slightly startled, and a book title immediately appeared in his mind - "Heaven and Earth Nourishing Fetal Breath Great Law"!

He became more curious.

Sun Lingtong changed to voice transmission this time, telling Ning Zhuo the details: "I had nothing to do in the mechanical dragon and was contemplating the 'Heaven and Earth Nourishing Fetal Breath Great Law', gradually gaining a lot of understanding and experience."

"One day, I suddenly thought that perhaps I could rely on this method to alleviate my injury. After all, the physical body is strengthened, which can also provide more resistance."

"So, I lay down in the Fetal Breath Spiritual Ark, allowing my whole being to enter a state of fetal breath."

"Unexpectedly, after the stone skin was destroyed, the physical attainments of my left hand far exceeded other parts of my body. You say, can I use this illness to cultivate my physical body?"

"Boss, you..." Ning Zhuo was immediately speechless.

However, Ning Zhuo was also used to it.

Sun Lingtong was like this, always having many strange and wonderful ideas.

Ning Zhuo carefully examined Sun Lingtong's left arm and briefly explained the cultivation idea to Zhang Zhongyi.

Zhang Zhongyi stroked his beard and smiled: "There are actually many examples of people using their own ailments to cultivate."

"For example, the Blood Shadow Cave Master of the Six Cave Sect suffered from blood poisoning from childhood. By cultivating demonic techniques, his cultivation level反而 increased rapidly."

"Another example is Young Master Sheng Xu. He was frail and sickly, with extremely weak innate internal organs, even incomplete, which formed a weak qi cavity that attracted everything from the outside."

"There are also some techniques, such as the Vajra Immortal Body Technique, which requires constantly beating oneself and creating injuries, so that the physical body is continuously repaired and becomes stronger and stronger."

"If the truth is as little friend Sun said, then there's really no need to rush to cure it."

Sun Lingtong giggled: "Indeed, this is a blessing in disguise for me. Xiao Zhuo, you can also try it, the feeling of being petrified is very unique."

Ning Zhuo's heart was pounding.