Chapter 58 - Hundred Herbs Flourishing Spring
“It's willing to accompany us,” Zhang Xiaoloong stated plainly.
Deep down, he knew that the Soul Returning Grass King likely exhibited such behavior because it sensed the Shennong Divine Power within him.
When he was tending to Yang Jingjing's injuries earlier, in addition to applying medicine, he had also harnessed a trace of Divine Power. His concern was that her injuries might not heal swiftly enough and would hinder their descent from the mountain.
Employing Divine Power directly might frighten Yang Jingjing. Moreover, the potency of the Nine Deaths Soul Returning Grass was quite remarkable. Combining the two could deceive others and yield a more potent effect.
This Nine Deaths Soul Returning Grass King appeared to possess its own sentience. It might not recognize other divine energies, but the Shennong Divine Power, closely linked to All Herbs Hundred Grass, left no room for doubt. That's why it immediately displayed an affinity toward the Nine Deaths Soul Returning Grass King.
Certainly, it was an exaggeration to say they were acquainted with Shennong divine power. However, given the Soul Returning Grass's inherent spirituality, sensing the benefits of this divine power was undoubtedly accurate.
“So, can we take this Soul Returning Grass King with us?” Yang Jingjing was no longer fearful; she was eager.
A spiritual herb was undeniably an irresistible allure to her, given her innate curiosity.
“Hold on,” Zhang Xiaoloong cautioned her, “If we want to interact with this two-hundred-year-old Soul Returning Grass King, we need to make a gesture.”
Yang Jingjing didn't quite grasp his meaning. When it came to showing appreciation or gratitude, there were various methods, ranging from offering money and gifts to some, less savory, temptations. How could one communicate gratitude to a medicinal plant?
She refrained from asking, anticipating that Zhang Xiaoloong would soon demonstrate.
Zhang Xiaoloong's actions, however, left her even more puzzled. She watched as he crouched down, gently caressed the grass. He touched one of the Nine Deaths Soul Returning Grass, and after a moment, he moved on to the next one, then the last Soul Returning Grass King.
Initially, Yang Jingjing didn't pay much attention. Yet, after he repeated this process three or four times, she was astounded to observe that the Nine Deaths Soul Returning Grass he had touched appeared shinier, as if their vitality had surged.
She considered that it might be her imagination at first, but when she compared Zhang Xiaoloong's contact with the ones he hadn't touched, the disparity became apparent.
Just moments ago, she couldn't discern any differences among these few stalks of Nine Deaths Soul Returning Grass, which led her to conclude that Zhang Xiaoloong must be the reason behind this transformation.
Her curiosity had reached its zenith, but she also recognized that… If this was indeed the truth, then it had to be Zhang Xiaoloong's most significant secret. The fact that he was willing to reveal it in her presence was a testament to the trust he had in her. Pushing him to disclose it without him initiating it would be inappropriate, so she had to forcibly quell her inquisitiveness.
Zhang Xiaoloong was indeed harnessing the divine power of the Shennong Tripod. Just as Yang Jingjing had surmised, his response to the Nine Deaths Soul Returning Grass was precisely what these mystical herbs coveted the most.
The Soul Returning Grass King was once again swaying its branches and leaves. Yang Jingjing even felt as if it was conveying its gratitude to Zhang Xiaoloong.
She shifted her gaze to Zhang Xiaoloong but noticed a sudden change in his expression. Before she could caution him, he swayed and collapsed to the ground.
“Xiaoloong,” Yang Jingjing disregarded her own injury and rushed to help him up. “Don't frighten me!”
Atop the wild mountain, some herbs appeared to have taken on a spirit-like quality. When Zhang Xiaoloong fell, an unsettling feeling washed over Yang Jingjing.
Fortunately, she checked his breathing and discovered he was okay. It seemed more like he had overexerted himself and drifted into slumber.
Yang Jingjing settled against a boulder and positioned Zhang Xiaoloong's body so he could rest more comfortably on her lap.
She glanced at the Soul Returning Grass King once more. Anxiety welled up within her. Summoning her courage, she said, “We won't harm you, and you shouldn't harm him either.”
The Soul Returning Grass King remained unresponsive, much like its previous trembling. It appeared to be an illusion.
This brought some relief to Yang Jingjing. Had the Soul Returning Grass King resumed its incessant shaking at that moment, she might have fainted.
With nothing else to do and surrounded by the fragrance of the Nine Deaths Soul Returning Grass, drowsiness gradually overcame her.
A tiny bead of clear saliva slowly dripped from the corner of her mouth, inadvertently causing her head to slump…
Yang Jingjing was awakened by this fall. She observed as the droplet of saliva coincidentally landed on Zhang Xiaoloong's lips.
Even though no one saw her, Yang Jingjing couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Just as she was about to hastily wipe the saliva away before Zhang Xiaoloong woke up, she couldn't predict what he might dream about. She stuck out her tongue and licked her lips, feeling self-conscious.
Yang Jingjing instinctively covered her mouth with her hand, her face burning. Could this be considered a kiss?
Everyone had numerous “first times,” and ever since she'd met Zhang Xiaoloong, Yang Jingjing's list of first experiences had been consistently expanding.
There was the first time she had worn nothing but a towel in front of a man, the first time her heart had skipped a beat, the first time she had witnessed the miraculous Nine Deaths Soul Returning Grass, and the first time she found herself alone with a boy in such a remote location, with him holding her close.
Lost in these thoughts, Yang Jingjing suddenly caught a delightful scent emanating from Zhang Xiaoloong's body. It beckoned her to come closer…
Gazing at the slumbering young man, she carefully leaned in, moving toward his lips.
“Hundred Grass… Spring Gathering Technique…” Zhang Xiaoloong muttered in his sleep, abruptly closing his eyes.
Startled, Yang Jingjing withdrew as if she'd been caught red-handed, hastily straightening up and pretending to be asleep.
In the next moment, Zhang Xiaoloong opened his eyes, realizing that he was now resting on Yang Jingjing's legs. He understood that she had arranged this after he'd fainted to ensure he didn't sleep on the hard stone floor.
He covered Yang Jingjing with the clothes that had been draped over him, oblivious to the irregularity of her breathing and the lingering flush on her cheeks.
Zhang Xiaoloong found himself deeply engrossed in the dream he had just experienced. The dream felt remarkably real, with someone inside revealing that the divine power didn't originate from the Shennong Tripod but had been left behind by the Great God Shennong within it.
This divine power possessed extraordinary abilities, not only capable of healing injuries and illnesses but also revitalizing withered trees and nurturing all living things.
Previously, he had believed that cultivating the Imperial Dragon Spell would increase his divine power. In reality, this was a misconception. The Imperial Dragon Spell enhanced his physical strength and restored depleted divine power but couldn't generate additional divine power.
This was because, after acquiring the Shennong legacy, the wisp of divine power was intricately linked to his body. While the Imperial Dragon Spell replenished his physical and divine strength, it couldn't produce more divine power.
To amplify his Divine Power, he needed to master Shennong's true legacy—the Herb Growing Art!
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel