Spirit of Plants and Trees

"Tomorrow is Xiao Yu's fifteenth birthday. Didn't you promise you'd come back?" A beautiful woman in her thirties, dressed in the standard white lab coat of a researcher, complained unhappily into her communicator.

The woman was Zheng Xinyi, Lin Qingyu's biological mother in this life.

"I'm sorry, Xinyi. But this mission is extremely important. Satellites have observed a large-scale gathering of monsters in the Wilderness Zone. As a member of Huashan, I have to investigate their movements..." A deep male voice, carrying a hint of apology, came through the communicator.

"Mission! Mission! Mission! Is that all you ever think about? Xiao Yu has been alive for fifteen years—how many days have you spent by his side? You've never even come home for his birthday! Lin Meng, do you even still have us in your heart?"

"I'm sorry, but there's really no way around it this time..."

"Enough! You..." The woman's voice suddenly rose, as though she were about to launch into a furious tirade.

Yet the harsh, cutting words in her mind came to an abrupt stop just before they left her lips.

The other end of the communicator fell silent, as though waiting for a storm to descend.

But in the end, that storm never truly broke.

So both ends of the communicator fell silent at once.

After a long while.

"Xinyi, I'm sorry, I..."

"A'Meng, I'm sorry..."

As if their hearts were linked, the husband and wife spoke at the same time, then both fell silent to listen the instant they heard the other speak.

"A'Meng, it hasn't been easy for you out there either. I was too worked up. Be sure to stay safe when you investigate—don't push yourself beyond your limits! Those high-level monsters aren't much less intelligent than humans. As a War God level expert, you'll definitely be a priority target for those beasts! Don't go acting recklessly just because you're confident in your movement techniques." Zheng Xinyi spoke first, her tone softening from its earlier agitation, though concern still lingered within it.

"Mm, I'll be careful." Lin Meng answered seriously. "With you two waiting for me, I can't bear to die just like that! Oh, right. I asked someone to deliver Xiao Yu's birthday present."

"Mm. You absolutely, absolutely have to be careful in the Wilderness Zone." Zheng Xinyi solemnly reminded him once more. "Did you bring the medicines I gave you? I may not be able to make medicines as powerful as Water of Life, but what you have is still better than the ordinary recovery medicines on the market. You must take them with you on missions! If you get hurt, use them immediately. Observing the Beast Tide is extremely dangerous. Even if you aren't injured, remember to replenish your Nutrient solution in time. You must remain in peak condition at all times."

"Don't worry, honey. I'm a War God, not some rookie! I've done Beast Tide reconnaissance missions plenty of times. Nothing will go wrong!" Lin Meng said confidently.

"Mm, I believe you'll return safely." Zheng Xinyi nodded.

The husband and wife continued talking for a long time.

By the time Zheng Xinyi ended the call, Lin Meng, who was staying at the military base, realized he had been chatting with his wife for nearly two hours.

"Honestly, once I start talking, I lose track of time again." Lin Meng shook his head helplessly, though he was still in high spirits. After all, he had originally prepared himself to be thoroughly scolded by his wife.

"Hehe, Xinyi really is as understanding as ever."

Just then, Lin Meng's communicator rang.

When he saw the words "Commander Jia" displayed on the communicator, Lin Meng's expression immediately turned solemn as he answered the call.

"A'Meng, how are your preparations for this mission coming along?" A calm and powerful voice sounded from the other end of the call, one that did not sound at all like it belonged to a man in his seventies or eighties.

That man was Lin Meng's direct superior, the foremost figure in the Huaxia Military, a Planetary level expert—Jia Yi.

He was also Lin Meng's master.

"Rest assured, Commander. This mission will be foolproof." Lin Meng said confidently.

"Very good, worthy of being my disciple." Jia Yi praised him. "Oh, and I have some good news for you. The negotiations between our Huaxia Country and the Limitless Martial Arts School have concluded. Hall Master Hong has agreed to trade us the Nine-Leaf Spirit Grass he had kept."

"Really?!" Lin Meng leapt up in excitement.

"Mm. I know you've wanted this Spirit of Plants and Trees for a long time. We obtained it specifically for you. When the time comes, I'll personally deliver it to your home," Jia Yi said.

"Wonderful, wonderful! Thank you, Commander! Thank you, Organization!" Lin Meng shouted excitedly.

"Look how happy you are. I'm telling you this in advance so you won't push yourself so hard. Over the years, you've completed three or four times as many missions as other War Gods! Working hard is a good thing, but it isn't worth it if you work yourself to death. Be careful on this mission as well," Jia Yi said.

"Yes, Commander! I guarantee I'll complete the mission safely and perfectly!" Lin Meng promised.

"As long as you understand." Jia Yi nodded and ended the call.

After the call ended, Lin Meng finally could no longer suppress his joy. He laughed loudly as he bounced around his room in delight, like a child who had just received a new toy.

It was no wonder he was so excited. In Lin Meng's mind, this Nine-Leaf Spirit Grass was the greatest hope for curing his son, Lin Qingyu!

His son had been paralyzed in bed for fifteen years, unable even to walk. It had always been a source of anguish for Lin Meng.

As a War God—and a Disciple personally taught by a Councillor—he naturally had extensive connections. He had invited countless renowned doctors to treat his son's illness.

Yet neither medical diagnoses nor instrument tests could uncover anything wrong with Lin Qingyu.

Quite a few diagnostic results even indicated that Lin Qingyu was in extremely good health, with physical fitness comparable to that of a Warrior level martial artist.

But Lin Qingyu, who had been diagnosed as "healthy," could not even stand up. It had left Lin Meng so worried that his hair was nearly turning white.

Of course, if Lin Qingyu knew about it, he would certainly tell Lin Meng that the doctors' diagnoses were not wrong. His body truly was in excellent health. After all, without a healthy body, how could it possibly bear Lin Qingyu's powerful will?

Fortunately, although the examinations had yielded no results, those many doctors and experts were not useless. After consulting some high-level martial artists and Mental Masters, they put forth a hypothesis—

The reason Lin Qingyu could not move was not a problem with his body, but with his mind—or rather, his Sea of Consciousness.

Those with the talent to become Mental Masters were born with Mental Power within their Sea of Consciousness. This Mental Power accumulated within the Sea of Consciousness. If it could not awaken, it would instead bring intense pain.

Many Mental Masters had records of suffering from headaches before awakening.

Lin Qingyu was very likely a genius with an exceptionally powerful talent for becoming a Mental Master.

However, his innate Mental Power was simply too strong. Even without awakening, it placed enormous pressure on his Sea of Consciousness and body, causing him to feel pain at all times and leaving him unable to move freely.

This conjecture had also gained the approval of some War God-level Mental Masters.

This left Lin Meng both delighted and anxious.

Delighted because he had finally seen hope that his son might be able to move about freely.

Anxious because awakening Mental Power was by no means risk-free. Many had been unable to withstand the Mental Power in their bodies and had exploded to death!

Not to mention that, according to the experts' estimates, Lin Qingyu's talent for Mental Power was so powerful that it could be called unprecedented. Once awakened, it might even rapidly elevate him to the War God level.

Such talent was both a gift from heaven and an enormous challenge.

But Lin Meng had no desire to let his son risk his life.

Fortunately, as a War God-level expert, he was still able to obtain information on certain precious items. Among those materials, he found the treasure most likely to help his son—the Nine-Leaf Spirit Grass.

This was a special Spirit of Plants and Trees. It did not greatly improve a martial artist's physical strength, but it could permanently increase the bodily vitality and toughness of martial artists below the Councillor level, while also slightly expanding the Sea of Consciousness! Most importantly, if this Spirit of Plants and Trees was prepared into a potion through a special method, it could grant an ordinary person a body capable of withstanding force comparable to that of a War God-level expert for a short time.

With the physical endurance of a War God, there would be no risk of Mental Power bursting the body apart.

The Nine-Leaf Spirit Grass could be said to be the most helpful treasure on Earth for the awakening of a Mental Master.