"I told you to grow the Spirit Tree? Then…"
Seeing Yuan's reaction, Xiao Cangming could guess why he was worried and said, "Indeed, I grew the Spirit Tree under your instruction. However, my illness did not originate from the Spirit Tree. That being said, it is related to my illness."
"What?" Yuan raised his eyebrows in a puzzled manner.
Xiao Cangming continued to explain, "Firstly, about my weakened cultivation. It has nothing to do with my illness. To grow the Spirit Tree, I had to feed it my cultivation. Naturally, my cultivation would decline afterward, so I would have to regain my cultivation and repeat the process. I had recently finished feeding the Spirit Tree my cultivation, hence why I am only at the first level of God Ascension."
Yuan swallowed nervously before asking, "How many tis did you feed the Spirit Tree?"
Xiao Cangming fell silent for a mont before responding in a nonchalant tone, "Ten tis. I cultivated to the peak of God Ascension from the first level ten tis, so this will be my eleventh ti."
Yuan stared in shock at such a ridiculous answer. Although ten may seem like a small number, one must consider the ti and effort it takes to reach the ninth level of God Ascension from the first level.
The vast majority of people cannot even do it once in their lifeti, much less ten. Even if one possesses the innate talent and ability to reach the peak of God Ascension, it'd take them millions of years to achieve it a single ti.
Xiao Cangming continued, "Normally, the process isn't as painful as what you witnessed today, but that has beco the routine after I was inflicted with the illness."
"Inflicted? So soone gave you the illness?" "Not soone. Sothing." Xiao Cangming sighed.
"Not long after the Spirit Tree sprouted, sothing tried to devour it," Xiao Cangming said. "It ca without warning—like a lightning strike from a clear sky. I tried to stop it, and after years of fighting, I managed to keep the Spirit Tree from being devoured. However, I was inflicted with this illness during the fight."
"What is this thing?" Yuan asked with a deep frown on his face, wondering if it was caused by an Eternal.
Xiao Cangming shook his head and said, "It had an ethereal form, so whatever attacked wasn't its true body. However, even without its true body, it was more powerful than anything I've ever faced before."
"How does this illness affect you?" Yuan asked.
"It attacks my Dantian from ti to ti," Xiao Cangming replied. "When it does, I have to focus everything I have just to defend myself. In those monts, I can barely even move a finger."
"Let take a look," said Yuan.
Xiao Cangming nodded and silently extended his arm, allowing Yuan to analyze his body with spiritual energy.
Sure enough, Yuan sensed an ominous energy coiling around Xiao Cangming's Dantian—like a sinister fla devouring it from within. However, it was currently suppressed by Xiao Cangming.
Yuan retrieved the Sacred Chalice of Purification and said, "Feed it so of your blood. This treasure can remove pretty much any curse out there."
Xiao Cangming didn't question Yuan and followed his instructions.
The chalice consud Xiao Cangming's blood, but it did not react, aning that he wasn't cursed.
"Now that we've confird it's not a curse, let try to absorb it."
Hearing this, Xiao Cangming instantly retrieved his arm and said in a stern tone, "Absorb it? What if it inflicts you, as well? Sorry, but I'll have to refuse."
Yuan shook his head and said, "I just want to see if it's poison. Don't worry, I have achieved True Poison Immunity in case it is."
"It's still too risky."
"Cangming, have you forgotten who I am?" Yuan said with a slight frown on his face. "Or are you looking down on ?"
"No, that's not it…" Xiao Cangming hastily responded.
"Then what is it? You have managed to survive this long with it, yet you don't think I can handle it? Are you trying to say that you're now above ?"
Xiao Cangming opened his mouth only to close it shut without uttering a word. Then, after a mont of silence—
"Alright, you win." Xiao Cangming sighed in a defeated manner as he extended his arm again.
Xiao ilin kept a serious expression as she watched their exchange, though she was smiling inwardly. This sowhat obedient, vulnerable side of her father was sothing she only ever got to see when he faced Yuan.
Yuan tried to absorb the ominous energy within Xiao Cangming the next mont, but alas, his poison immunity did not react to it, either.
"I guess it's truly neither poison nor a curse…" Yuan shook his head as he released Xiao Cangming's arm.
"But don't worry, I'm sure we'll figure it out."
"While it would be great if I could get rid of this illness, it's not like I cannot live without being cured. Though this illness was life-threatening at first, I have long since gotten used to it. Now, it's just a mild annoyance, akin to a seasonal cold that cos and goes."
"Even if you say that, we should definitely try to get rid of it. It might not threaten you now, but things can always change, especially when we know nothing about it."
Xiao Cangming nodded, then said, "Now that you know my situation, let's talk about you, my lord. What brought you to the Primordial Realm this early? The Spirit Tree hasn't fully grown yet, you know? It's about 95 percent there."
"Early? Did we schedule my next arrival date last ti?" Yuan asked with raised eyebrows.
"Not exactly, but you said that you'd return once the Spirit Tree is fully grown and ready to be harvested."
"I see… well, the reason I rushed to the Primordial Realm is because of her—"
Yuan proceeded to summon Xiao Hua from his Dantian. Of course, she was still slumbering.
"Junior sister…" Xiao ilin mumbled when she saw Xiao Hua's face. Xiao Cangming remained silent, but his eyes were slightly squinted, as if assessing her condition.
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