Is this even human?
On the bed before me lay an old man on the verge of death. There was not a single fleshy spot on his body; it was as if a layer of gray skin was wrapped around a skeleton.
If it weren't for the faint trace of life still emanating from this 'corpse,' Yang Zhen would have almost drawn his Great Deficiency Sword and slain this monster with a single strike.
"This... this is Old Master Feng?"
Yang Zhen stared in disbelief at the pitiful-looking old man before him. He never imagined that his sword, which had shattered the Heaven and Earth Shackles, would leave an old man in such a miserable state.
Tears welled in Feng Jingtu's eyes; this burly, iron-willed man was actually shedding tears. Even the Shameless Cat remained silent, staring intently at the Old Master Feng lying on the bed.
"This is Grandpa. He's only clinging to life now. If he doesn't receive treatment soon, the consequences will be unimaginable."
Feng Jingtu wiped away his tears, gave Yang Zhen an awkward smile, and asked like a child, his heart pounding with fear and hope, "Can he be saved?"
Yang Zhen took a deep breath, shook his head, and slowly sat down by the bed. He wanted to place his hand on Old Master Feng's body, but after thinking about it, he didn't dare to put it down.
In this situation, the body probably couldn't withstand even a trace of True Essence. If Yang Zhen were to investigate rashly, it might backfire.
This left Yang Zhen feeling somewhat at a loss.
"Young friend Yang, you've arrived!"
A deep voice suddenly rang in Yang Zhen's Yang Zhen, startling him. He stared at the expressionless old man in front of him, who couldn't even open his eyes, with a look of disbelief.
The old man seemed to chuckle silently, and said, "It's no wonder you were startled by my condition. But I know my own body is beyond saving, however..."
"But what?" Yang Zhen asked the old man curiously.
This old man can actually transmit his voice in secret, which is Divine Ability that all the young people on the Blue Planet yearn for. Even Yang Zhen can't actively use his Divine Sense to communicate with others. Of course, it's not impossible to forcibly instill consciousness with Divine Sense, but it's definitely not as easy as it is for Old Master Feng.
Yang Zhen had only ever felt this way with the Evil Shadow Black Taotie. This was something Yang Zhen could only achieve after refining the Great Deficiency Sword and turning the Evil Shadow Black Taotie into the Sword Spirit of the Great Deficiency Sword.
Upon hearing Yang Zhen's words, Old Master Feng said in a strange tone, "However, for some reason, I seem to have a strange feeling that I am not destined the Unseen die, and this feeling has become increasingly strong lately."
"Perhaps this isn't just my imagination!" Yang Zhen smiled and said, "I need to observe your physical condition. Your body is almost completely damaged."
Seeing Yang Zhen talking to himself, Feng Jingtu and the others' expressions changed repeatedly. Then, as if realizing something, they all shuddered and looked at Yang Zhen with disbelief.
Feng Jingtu grabbed Yang Zhen and excitedly said, "Grandpa, Grandpa is talking to you?"
Yang Zhen was startled, thinking that Feng Jingtu was excitedly calling him "Grandpa." After hearing Feng Jingtu's words, he nodded and said, "Has Old Master Feng not been communicating with you recently?"
Sending a message in secret must be very difficult. If Old Master Feng hasn't been communicating with Feng Jingtu and the others, then his situation seems to be much more serious than Yang Zhen imagined.
Feng Jingtu shook his head, but the look of ecstasy on his face grew even stronger. Although Yang Zhen did not give a clear answer, everyone already knew the answer: Old Master Feng was indeed communicating with Yang Zhen.
"Grandpa hasn't spoken to us in a long time. We have a general idea of his condition. So, is there anything we can do?"
Feng Jingtu looked at Yang Zhen with hopeful eyes.
Yang Zhen shook his head again, completely clueless. To say he was confident would be a lie.
"I need to observe for a while, and during this time, none of you should disturb me."
Upon hearing Yang Zhen's words, Feng Jingtu didn't hesitate at all and immediately said, "That's easy. Whatever you need, just have that Shameless Cat tell me, and I'll do everything I can to get it for you."
Yang Zhen nodded and said, "Alright, you can go out now."
After Feng Jingtu and the others left, Old Master Feng did not communicate with Yang Zhen again, and Yang Zhen did not try to observe Old Master Feng's injuries. He just sat quietly by the bed for a whole day.
On this day, neither Old Master Feng nor Yang Zhen spoke a word, as if they were cultivating.
However, upon closer inspection, it was discovered that Yang Zhen was surrounded by a layer of fine threads that were invisible to the naked eye. Threads of runes, finer than a hair, condensed into thin lines that circled around Yang Zhen, attempting to touch Old Master Feng.
This kind of touch is extremely dangerous; if not handled properly, it could damage Old Master Feng's body.
Old Master Feng's body is already in such a broken state that it cannot be repaired once damaged. Even if Yang Zhen heals Old Master Feng Old Master Feng's injuries, unless he cultivates to the Heavenly Cycle Realm and can travel through the Zhou Tian in spirit, leaving his physical body, he will be able to find someone else to possess and continue his life. Otherwise, he can only reside in this broken corpse or simply cultivate into a soul cultivator.
That's not what Yang Zhen wants, and it certainly isn't what Old Master Feng wants either.
Yang Zhen's test lasted for five days. During those five days, Yang Zhen did not eat or drink anything, as if he had vanished into thin air from the Feng Household.
Feng Jingtu had been guarding outside the door for five days. He was almost starving and nearly fainted before he finally ordered someone to bring him some food. While he was eating heartily, he mumbled indistinctly the words he had just learned from the Shameless Cat.
" Niu Bi, Niu Bi! Five days without food or water, what kind of monster is this kid?"
Within five days, almost everyone in Mountain and River City knew that Yang Zhen was trying to find a way to save Old Master Feng. All sorts of cultivators came to the Feng Household to inquire about the news. One wave left and another came, eventually forming a torrent. Countless cultivators came to pay their respects to Old Master Feng, and even more than ten Mahayana Realm experts came. Two of them even stayed at the Feng Household.
The entire Feng Household held the two Mahayana Realm experts in the highest esteem and treated them with great courtesy. These were the closest friends of Old Master Feng, so they could not be neglected. Feng Jingtu also temporarily left the small residence to entertain the two Mahayana Realm experts.
In the Feng Household council hall, the auras of the two old men were as calm as the sea. These two were the top figures in North Isle, the only cultivators in North Isle who had broken through to the Peak Mahayana Realm by force through the burst of True Essence, even higher than the realms of Master Tie and others.
A short, stout old man exuding a strong earth elemental aura frowned, his temper seemingly volatile. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "So much time and no news. Is this Yang Zhen really as unreliable as the rumors say?"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the Feng Household looked embarrassed, and a hint of displeasure even showed deep in Feng Jingtu's eyes.
Regardless of whether Yang Zhen Yang Zhen seeking fame or not, the fact that he stayed by Old Master Feng's side for five days without eating or drinking shows that he has surpassed most people in the Feng Household. Even Feng Jingtu himself, Old Master Feng's most beloved grandson, has never done anything like staying by Old Master Feng for five days without eating or drinking.
The short, stout old man's suspicion of Yang Zhen left the Feng Household family somewhat disgruntled, but they didn't know what to say.
At this moment, another old man in purple robes said with a chuckle, " Old Meng, calm down your temper. You're practically in your grave, and you're still so impatient."
"Hmph!" The short, stout old man curled his lip. "I'm just worried about Old Feng!"
As he spoke, the short, stout old man sighed and said, "But then again, did Yang Zhen really not eat or drink for five days and five nights? Heh, this kid is quite interesting. Regardless of whether he can save Old Feng, I've decided to befriend this young man. If anyone speaks ill of him again, I'll be the first to object."