A Divine Farmer

Chapter 297 - Qilin Fruit

“As long as it can alleviate the patients' suffering, I hold no bias,” Wang Zhengyi said, his eyes brimming with concern. “My fear is that even with Western medicine, it may be difficult to find a cure that can completely eradicate this virus.”

“Senior Brother is correct. Whether it's Western or Chinese medicine, both are intended to heal. They exist solely to cure diseases. Yet, as you've mentioned, currently there's no effective Western medication available. It looks like I have no choice but to visit Shennong Mountain,” Zhang Xiaolong agreed with a nod.

People often have polarized views. Those who prefer Western medicine criticize Chinese medicine as unscientific, while proponents of Chinese medicine argue that Western medicine treats only the symptoms, not the root cause. However, these individuals usually lack substantial pharmacological knowledge and base their entrenched beliefs on personal experiences, anecdotes from friends, or hearsay.

Ultimately, the goal of both Chinese and Western medicine is to save lives and cure illnesses. Instead of debating which is fraudulent or ineffective, it would be wiser to invest time in researching new medications.

“I agree that you should give it a try, but be cautious,” Wang Zhengyi advised earnestly. “The Divine Sect's teachings indicate that the Divine Medicine exists deep within Shennong Mountain, guarded by a Divine Dragon. It must not be disturbed lightly. Ordinary people would surely perish there. Even with your martial arts prowess, you must exercise extreme caution. Remember, as long as the green hills remain, there will always be wood to burn.”

“I understand,” Zhang Xiaolong acknowledged, aware that his friend was concerned about his eagerness. “I'll take care.”

With Wang Cheng's directions, he swiftly made his way into Shennong Mountain, heading toward its deepest reaches.

The treacherous mountain trails posed no challenge to him. On the contrary, he encountered numerous medicinal herbs, surpassing even those found on Qilin Mountain.

Remembering the Beauty Preserving Grass he had found on Qilin Mountain, Zhang Xiaolong was confident that he would discover even more miraculous herbs here.

Executing the Swimming Dragon Step to perfection, his form blurred into a streak of light, darting and weaving through the mountainous terrain. In no time at all, he had traveled a great distance.

Venturing deeper into the mountain, Zhang Xiaolong encountered an area riddled with toxic barriers that would be impenetrable to the average person. What appeared to be solid grassy fields were, in fact, deceptive quagmires of mud and swamp. For any ordinary individual, this place would likely spell doom.

Yet, Zhang Xiaolong was undaunted. With the appropriate Heart Sutra enhancing his mastery of the Dragon Controlling True Spell, he found himself more adept than ever. Each gesture and step he took seemed to harmonize with the natural order of the world, rendering the treacherous swamp incapable of holding him back.

Once he cleared the swamp, the poisonous haze dissipated. The trail ahead, though still uneven, seemed considerably smoother compared to the terrain he had just traversed.

Remaining vigilant, Zhang Xiaolong was aware of the numerous fierce beasts that inhabited these parts. His strength was sufficient to face them, but he knew to proceed with caution. A single lapse in attention could result in a minor injury for him, but the real concern was the precious time it would cost—time that the situation outside could ill afford.

Since his arrival at Eternal Light Village, only a handful of hours had elapsed. Yet, with the urgency of the circumstances beyond the village, each additional minute could mean the difference between life and death for someone.

Though not overly large, Eternal Light Village was home to over a thousand souls. Should their efforts to concoct an Ebola antidote be delayed, they would be forced to watch powerlessly as their community succumbed to the virus.

“Hmm?” In the midst of his swift advance, Zhang Xiaolong came to an abrupt halt, his senses picking up an unusual medicinal scent.

The aroma was invigorating, seemingly dispelling all weariness from his body.

While the exact nature of the medicine eluded him, Zhang Xiaolong was convinced that it was one of the fabled Divine Medicines nestled deep within Shennong Mountain. He honed in on the scent, adjusting his course and propelling himself forward with the agility of a bullet.

Reaching a vantage point, Zhang Xiaolong gazed upon the source of the fragrance and was awestruck. Before him stood a spherical shrub with branches and leaves of such a vibrant green they could have been sculpted from jade, glistening with crystalline sparkles. Amidst the foliage, seven ruby-red fruits peeked out, their beauty magnified by their lush surroundings.

“Is this… Qilin Fruit?” Zhang Xiaolong sifted through his memories and ultimately identified the fruit.

The Qilin, a creature of good fortune, was always a symbol of prosperity and well-being. The Qilin Fruit was no different, promising health and safety wherever it was found. This likely explained the origin of its name.

Armed with the Qilin Fruit, even the Ebola Virus could surely be vanquished!

Zhang Xiaolong dashed toward it with excitement. But after covering roughly thirty feet, he halted, a wave of danger washing over him.

He had an impeccable track record for detecting threats, so he immediately went on high alert.

Sure enough, there was a disturbance in the bushes, likely an attempted ambush on Zhang Xiaolong, which he had detected. The creature then slowly emerged.

Even Zhang Xiaolong was taken aback by the sight of the beast guarding the Qilin Fruit—a python stretching a formidable twenty feet.

Atop the python's head was a peculiar swelling, suggesting the emergence of a horn, which looked exceedingly strange.

“There's been an outbreak of plague in the village beyond the mountain, and I've come specifically to harvest the Qilin Fruit,” Zhang Xiaolong said to the python, channeling his divine power to communicate telepathically. “Rest assured, I won't take all the Qilin Fruit. I'll leave at least three for you, which should suffice.”

From his previous encounters, he knew that sentient beasts could understand him, but this time he wasn't quite sure.

It wasn't a question of comprehension; he suspected that even if the python did understand, it might simply ignore him.

And it turned out just as he had thought. The python, far from being placated by his words, lunged at him with its jaws wide open.

“If you won't accept a friendly gesture, you'll face the consequences,” Zhang Xiaolong declared, nimbly leaping to the side, undaunted by the massive python.

Feeling challenged, the python attacked with even greater fury. In its movements, there was a hint of the grace and power of a grandmaster.

The python's massive form, with its head and tail, exuded lethal intent in every twist and turn. Even a skilled martial artist would likely be overwhelmed by its sheer size in a single confrontation.

Yet, Zhang Xiaolong was undaunted. As the python bore down on him, he didn't even attempt to dodge. Instead, he channeled all his divine strength into his palms and struck fiercely at the serpent.

With a resounding crash, the python was sent reeling backward. To Zhang Xiaolong's astonishment, its resilient body seemed unharmed. It merely coiled and lunged at him once more.

“This Spirit Beast is quite the adversary. Could it be because it has consumed the Qilin Fruit?” Zhang Xiaolong pondered.

Typically, the Qilin Fruit would yield nine pieces, but now there were only seven. Clearly, the missing two had been taken, and judging by the situation at hand, it appeared that the formidable python before him was the culprit.