Seeking Lotus Root
"My sick child said you have a kind of lotus root that can make you fly if you eat it. I wonder if I could have a piece?"
When Zhang Xuezhou returned to his residence, he saw the same people waiting inside.
Huo Qubing had a rope tied to his right leg, and he floated above the new emperor's head like a balloon.
Zhang Xuezhou returned late; Huo Qubing had already fallen asleep while levitating.
The new emperor looked at Zhang Xuezhou, who had landed on the waves, and thought that Zhang Xuezhou's body was exceptionally good at flying after consuming a large amount of lotus root.
"Gongsun He said you went to the Grand Steward's Office early this morning to deliver a Thousand-Pound Pendant for the Horse-Taming Technique," the new emperor said. "The sick child said this technique can perfectly solve the drawbacks of levitation, and when you want to use the ability to levitation, you only need to cancel the Thousand-Pound Pendant technique!"
"Your Majesty knows everything?" Zhang Xuezhou asked in surprise.
"I've even entrusted you with the imperial sword to inherit the throne, and I've put you in charge of building my tomb after I die. Don't forget me if you have any good treasures," the new emperor rarely complained.
"I rarely see an emperor value the possessions of his ministers," Zhang Xuezhou shook his head repeatedly. "That lotus root wasn't anything special either. I never considered its effects when I consumed it, and now it's hard to know if there will be any side effects!"
"The immediate benefits are very clear!"
The new emperor looked at the floating Huo Qubing.
Huo Qubing would never have taken advantage of this physical condition at this time, but the new emperor was very clear about the benefits it brought.
"Floating without touching the ground seems great, but it also means you're easily knocked away," Zhang Xuezhou warned. "This state is a double-edged sword. It's not easy to integrate it into a state that suits you, and once you've taken it, there's no turning back!"
"Maintaining a Thousand-Pound Drop when using swords reduces my striking power, but being airborne allows for many variations of moves and even enables long-distance travel at minimal cost. Overall, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages," the new emperor said.
Like Zhang Xuezhou, the new emperor, having entered the Sole Self Realm, also pursued methods after stabilizing his cultivation, doing everything possible to unleash his combat talents.
He felt that the lotus root that Huo Qubing ate was very effective.
Although this was an unexpected result of Zhang Xuezhou's treatment, and it is currently difficult to know whether there will be any future problems, the allure of this effect was too strong. The new emperor couldn't stay in the palace and changed his clothes to wait for Zhang Xuezhou for a long time.
He even saw the remaining section of lotus root under Huo Qubing's guidance, realizing he still had a chance to join in the fun.
"I only took it because I was sick, Xiao Huo isn't hungry or craving anything, you..."
"I heard you have an antidote?"
"That's both an antidote and a poison. Currently, it seems the medicine can counteract the effects of lotus root, but an overdose will seal away your Law Power and Qi and Blood, making it difficult to use!"
"Can you really solve the problem of being blocked by using women?"
"Yes!"
"Then it's not poisonous!"
The new emperor pondered this over and over, and felt that it almost formed a closed loop.
If this drawback is considered troublesome, then spiritual practice is troublesome in every aspect.
Let alone the lotus root that Zhang Xuezhou possesses, even the Creation Pill has killed some great cultivators. Great cultivators can't just give up the Creation Pill because of this.
"Come, come, cut me a piece to try," the new emperor beckoned. "I don't ask for much, just enough to make me feel like the sick child!"
"I can't cut it myself, I'll have to ask Xiao Huo for help with this," Zhang Xuezhou said, waving his hand.
"A sick child cutting lotus root?" the new emperor asked in surprise.
Zhang Xuezhou nodded, then whispered something in the new emperor's ear, causing the emperor's eyelids to twitch.
If he hadn't known that Huo Qubing was born to Wei Shao'er, he would have almost thought that Huo Qubing was Emperor Gaozu's illegitimate son.
He slowly drew his long sword from his waist, and with an extremely slow speed, he stabbed at Zhang Xuezhou to retrieve the yellowish-brown lotus root.
A deep crimson aura spread across his five fingers, and a cold glint shot out from the tip of his sword.
A dull feeling washed over him, and Zhang Xuezhou, who was holding the lotus root, took two steps back. The new emperor could only see a grayish-white sword mark left on the lotus root.
The sword flash that Sword-Ray was not the new emperor's full power, but it was definitely a proper display of his swordsmanship.
But this swordsmanship couldn't even pierce a section of lotus root. Despite having been mentally prepared for what Zhang Xuezhou had said before, the new emperor was still somewhat shocked.
"How did the sick child learn to use that sword?" the new emperor asked doubtfully.
"I don't know either," Zhang Xuezhou shook his head and said, "It was normal for him to draw his sword; it only went limp after he cut two sections of lotus root!"
"Let the sick child try again!"
The new emperor took a deep breath.
The fake Red Empyrean Sword was being manufactured continuously in the Marquis of Pingyang's residence. The new emperor never expected that the real sword would be used to cut lotus roots.
What you cut doesn't matter; the real issue is finding out exactly how Huo Qubing wielded the Red Empyrean Sword, and whether it can be used as a reference for him to imitate.
This is even more important than gaining a light and agile body by consuming lotus root.
After pacing back and forth in the room several times, the new emperor noticed that Zhang Xuezhou's gaze kept sweeping towards the side rooms on the second floor.
"Are you going to have another seizure and fall into a deep sleep?" the new emperor asked.
"I'll be lucid for half a month now, and my coma will last for another half a month. I can only see His Majesty again in half a month," Zhang Xuezhou said. "As long as the sick child can cut the lotus root, you can eat one piece if you want, or two pieces if you want. Just leave some for me to treat my illness!"
Has your condition worsened again?
"No, no, no, my condition has improved, and I might even recover completely!"
Zhang Xuezhou waved his hand.
The extended timeframe did not cause Zhang Xuezhou any concern.
He inherited the karma of the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon and became entangled with the giant tree with whom he had no way of communicating, but Zhang Xuezhou also gained control over time travel.
Zhang Xuezhou can extend the travel time, but he can also shorten it. If the Green-headed Duck's soul can withstand the strain, he might even be able to achieve the original day-night cycle, thus becoming similar to the daily routine of ordinary people.
If it weren't for the lack of divine control over his body, Zhang Xuezhou would actually be a normal person.
I won't take any more of your medicine!
The new emperor pursed his lips, indicating that he would not misappropriate Zhang Xuezhou's medicine.
The effects of the Spirit Silk Jade Lotus are visible to the naked eye. Some ruthless emperors might even use it to create a group of special great cultivators.
However, compared to this possibility, the new emperor values Zhang Xuezhou's role more, since no one around him can replace Zhang Xuezhou so far.
He even made a promise that he wouldn't do anything reckless during Zhang Xuezhou's absence.
"I don't know much about this kind of lotus root. If Your Majesty gets sick from eating it, don't blame me," Zhang Xuezhou said, waving his hand.
"What is the origin of this lotus root that it possesses such miraculous effects?" the new emperor asked in bewilderment.
"These are the lotus roots that Buddha Son Shigong and I consumed. However, the fresh lotus roots that could be eaten directly are gone; only three sections of old lotus roots that are too tough to chew remain," Zhang Xuezhou said. "I was just trying anything, and I didn't have much hope. I didn't expect that Xiao Huo would cut the lotus roots, allowing me to swallow them normally!"
"This lotus root is so peculiar; it seems there are very few people in the world who can consume it!"
The new emperor sighed.
The absence of precedent means there are unknown risks, but it also means there are no competing high-level cultivators with similar cases, thus allowing it to be unique, as there is currently no unbreakable Technique Method or routine.
If things go well, this might help him develop his own unique swordsmanship style.