As Fang Yun fell to the ground, his hand swiftly moved over the Swallowed Lake Pearl, pulling out a pseudo-dragon pearl. Already too weak to place it in his mouth, Li Fanming hurriedly took the pearl and inserted it into Fang Yun's mouth, then took out a fragrant medicinal pill from his own Swallowed Lake Pearl and fed it to Fang Yun.
The pseudo-dragon pearl and the pill slowly dissolved, beginning to take effect.
Fang Yun's gaze dimmed, seemingly trying to give Li Fanming a grateful look, but his eyes closed, and he passed out.
Li Fanming shouted, "Yuqing! Hua Yuqing! Quick, wake up Hua Yuqing!" After saying this, he picked up Fang Yun.
In the hazy night, a Savage Cow madly chased after the increasingly distant spirit leopard, while Li Fanming, carrying Fang Yun, ran towards the tent where Hua Yuqing was.
Many people, in disarray, came out of their tents, and numerous Demon Clans peeked out from the cave entrance on the mountain.
A tired Hua Yuqing, holding a blue-covered medical book, ran out of the tent, putting on his clothes and asking, "What happened?"
"Fang Yun’s been poisoned! He was ambushed by the spirit leopard, please save him!"
Hua Yuqing sighed in relief, the tension on his face dissolving. The medical book in his hand flew up to his chest, hovering in mid-air while automatically turning pages until it reached the "Detoxification" section.
The book emitted a faint white light, and the black characters on it flew into the sky, transforming into a bundle of white light, entering Fang Yun's body. The "Detoxification" section turned into blank pages and soon showed faint gray-white text traces, slowly darkening. The text would return to black within an hour.
Fang Yun suddenly spat out a mouthful of filthy blood, his lips black as coal. The three wound sites were not only swollen but also emitting a foul smell. He slowly opened his eyes, but before he could see everyone clearly, his eyelids heavily closed again.
"Not good!" Hua Yuqing exclaimed. He grabbed the medical book, rapidly channeling his talent into it. The text on the "Detoxification" section quickly darkened, restoring within mere moments. Hua Yuqing then directed the book's power into Fang Yun’s body again.
A trickle of black blood oozed from the corner of Fang Yun's mouth. Jia Jing'an hurried over and wiped off the poisonous blood with a towel.
"Yuqing, how is Fang Yun? Can't your medical book save him?" Li Fanming asked anxiously.
Hua Yuqing frowned deeply, not answering. He took out a bone knife and quickly sliced open Fang Yun’s wounds, squeezing out a bit of poison before applying some medicinal powder.
He checked Fang Yun’s pulse and then examined the towel with the poisonous blood, sniffing it and finally showing a hint of helplessness, saying, "Let's try the last method." The medical book reappeared before him.
Hua Yuqing softly said, "In the apricot grove, there's righteousness; in the medical arts, there's virtue. A healer must save lives." Saying this, twelve pages from the "Detoxification" section flew out, continuously absorbing his talent.
After the text turned from gray to black, it still absorbed Hua Yuqing’s talent. Finally, when he was out of talent, the twelve pages of the "Detoxification" section remained suspended in mid-air. Hua Yuqing's face paled visibly, his body swaying.
The surrounding Presented Scholars immediately came forward to support him.
Moments later, the twelve pages merged into a fist-sized ball of light, which flew above Fang Yun's head. Then, seven thin white smoky lines emerged from the ball, entering Fang Yun's ears, nose, eyes, and mouth.
A strong medicinal scent spread in all directions, much more intense than when boiling medicine, causing some Presented Scholars to cough.
The white smoke continued to enter Fang Yun's body, and the light ball gradually faded until it disappeared.
The medical book became thinner, and the "Detoxification" section was no longer in it.
Fang Yun's complexion, originally pale with barely noticeable breathing, improved slightly after the "Detoxification" section’s treatment, showing a faint color, and his breathing became somewhat stable.
Li Fanming and the others sighed in relief, then turned to Hua Yuqing.
Hua Yuqing, with a hoarse voice, said, "This poison is extremely aggressive, a mixture of multiple toxins. I’ve confirmed at least the poison of a Demon King serpent, the Demon Realm dragon, and some poisonous insects. These not only harm the body but can also destroy the literary palace. Unless someone brings a Great Scholar's medical book or those few antidotal divine fruits from the Demon Realm, it's impossible to save him. He has at most three hours before the poison kills him."
Han Shoulu asked, "I have a Flood Dragon pearl here, can it save Fang Yun?"
Hua Yuqing's face brightened, "The efficacy of the Flood Dragon pearl far exceeds the pseudo-dragon pearl. It can extend Fang Yun's life by at least five days, and at most half a month, possibly until the end of the Holy Land. Once back in Confucius City, the power of the Holy Academy can immediately neutralize the poison."
"Good!" Han Shoulu said, taking out a Flood Dragon pearl slightly larger than a thumb, with mist constantly gathering around it.
Distant Demon Barbarians showed a mix of greed and hesitation.
Xun Ye’s expression changed, and he harshly said, "Shoulu, what are you doing? The Flood Dragon pearl is precious even to our Semi-Saint family. How can you casually give it to an outsider? What if it can't save him, wouldn't it be a waste? Who will save you if you’re injured?" He reached to push Han Shoulu's hand away.
However, Jia Jing'an stepped forward, blocking Xun Ye, and angrily said, "Xun Ye! If you were genuinely concerned for Han, I would have said nothing, but you're clearly acting out of self-interest, using this to strike against your family's enemy, the Xun Family! Not only do you not restrain yourself, but now, with Fang Yun’s life hanging by a thread, you go even further. How is this different from killing him?"
Xun Ye coldly smiled, "It’s not your Flood Dragon pearl, of course, you don’t mind. Our Xun Family and the Han Family have been allies for eight hundred years. How can I watch him be so foolish! Moreover, you misunderstand. If the Flood Dragon pearl could definitely save Fang Yun, I would not stop it. But since there’s no certainty, giving it to him is a waste."
"You…"
Han Shoulu interrupted Jia Jing'an, guilt in his eyes, "You seem to forget, I brought that spirit leopard."
"That has nothing to do with you. Are you saying saving your friend's spirit beast was wrong?" Xun Ye said.
Han Shoulu sighed, "Xun Brother, I know you’re not acting out of self-interest against Fang Yun, but to avenge your grandfather and fear that Fang Yun’s rise will harm the Xun Family’s Path of the Saints. The Holy Land is a cruel world without morality or constraints. But think about it, if we remain united as we are in the Holy Origin Mainland, what do we have to fear? Helping Fang Yun is helping ourselves. Saving Fang Yun is saving everyone. There's no order here. Do we also lack order in our hearts?"
Sighing, Han Shoulu placed the Flood Dragon pearl into Fang Yun’s mouth.
Xun Ye’s face turned pale and, seeing the changed looks from others, he left, saying, "Even if Fang Yun survives the Holy Land, what's the use? He’s poisoned. He’s no better than a piece of waste paper in the Holy Land. Wasting a Flood Dragon pearl on waste paper is foolish. You take care of this waste paper!"
The crowd was furious, some wanting to hit Xun Ye but ultimately restraining themselves.
The large rabbit angrily shouted at Xun Ye, baring its teeth, wishing it could bite Xun Ye to death.
Li Fanming asked, "Yuqing, can the Flood Dragon pearl help Fang Yun stand up? Shouldn’t it work with talent?"
Hua Yuqing had already said, "As I mentioned, the mixture of poisons is too many, and Fang Yun's body has been damaged. Even if he wakes up, he won't be able to control his body. As for talent… According to the medical book, those poisons are probably eroding his literary palace. Once it breaks through, it might destroy his literary courage. These poisons are even more potent than ordinary Weak Water."
People sighed, some showing disappointment. They had hoped to gain extra help in the Holy Land with Fang Yun's moonlight, but now, as Xun Ye said, the current Fang Yun was no better than waste paper. Giving him the Flood Dragon pearl seemed futile.
Li Fanming, gritting his teeth, said, "Tyrant! I, Li Fanming, will remember this hatred!"
"What do you mean? Was the leopard sent by the Tyrant?" someone asked in confusion.
Han Shoulu suddenly realized and said with regret, "That leopard could use Treasures of Literature, so it surely wasn't just a spirit beast. It must have had someone's spirit fragment inside. The Tyrant actually managed to lodge a spirit fragment in the leopard and even enter the Holy Land. If it ambushed, it would be unstoppable, no wonder they said Fang Yun was doomed to die. I hate that I've become an accomplice in Fang Yun's murder! I will remember this as well!"
"Was it really the Tyrant's doing?" someone asked.
Li Fanming said, "Other prominent families have no need to use such methods to enter the Holy Land, nor could they suddenly assassinate Fang Yun. I just remembered, when that spirit leopard pounced, its claws seemed to aim for the blood-dripping animal skin on Fang Yun's chest. Who else but the Tyrant could it be?"
"It seems you're right," another person said.
After a while, Fang Yun's eyelids twitched, and he opened his eyes.
Fang Yun looked around blankly, feeling a slight pain all over his body and a splitting headache. He felt a strange force corroding his literary palace and found himself unable to enter his literary palace.
Fang Yun moved his lips, trying to speak, but could not utter a word. He wanted to sit up, only to sadly discover that he had lost control of his body. Apart from opening his eyes, he could do nothing.
"How could this be? If the body can't move, there might be ways to heal it, but my literary palace is constantly being eroded by mysterious forces. Once the literary palace is destroyed, talent and literary courage will lose their foundation, and my Path of the Saints will end. All my efforts will have been in vain. I never thought I would become a vegetative person, even more miserable than becoming a beggar in the Book Mountain illusion," Fang Yun thought to himself.
"Fang Yun is awake!" someone joyfully said.
Li Fanming quickly asked, "How do you feel?"
Fang Yun tried to move his lips but still could not speak. He tried his best to suppress his emotions and remain calm, but his eyes were still filled with sadness, helplessness, and a trace of despair.
Hua Yuqing, standing beside him, said with regret, "The fact that Fang Yun is alive is already a great fortune. Don't disturb him; let him rest and heal quietly. Once the Holy Land ends, the power of the Holy Academy will naturally take us out."
Someone asked, "Fang Yun, how is your literary palace? Can you use your talent?"
Fang Yun's gaze dimmed, wanting to shake his head, but he could not move at all.
Li Fanming glared at the Presented Scholar who asked, then said, "Let's take Fang Yun back to the tent, let him sleep. Yuqing will treat him daily, and he will recover soon."
A Presented Scholar opened his mouth to say that the "Detoxification" section was gone but immediately shut it.
They wanted to give Fang Yun false hope.