The moon was obscured by mountains, casting shadows over everyone and darkening the foot of the mountain.

The Savage Cow Barbarian, Niu Shan, panted as he jogged back, his bovine eyes red and fierce, sweeping a glance over everyone before deflating in disappointment. "Couldn't catch up. Where is Emperor Yue?"

"In your tent," Li Fanming replied.

Watching Niu Shan enter his tent, Xun Ye approached Li Fanming and the others, a smug smile flickering across his face.

Li Fanming and the nine others discussed in low voices.

"Yuqing, is there any other way? I have some medical herbs here, even a Continuation Fruit. Could it detoxify Fang Yun if he takes it?" Li Fanming asked.

"No matter how good the medicine is, it's not better than a medical book. Even the 'Detoxification' section couldn't do it, let alone your herbs. Divine items from the Demon Realm that can expel such poison, like the Moon Lotus from the Yuelun or the Renguo from the Burial Saint Valley, do you have any of those?"

"This… A Moon Lotus can extend life by a hundred years, even all the saints would fight for it. Even if we had it, we wouldn't use it to detoxify Fang Yun," someone nearly rolled their eyes.

"Or perhaps we could encounter someone from the Zhang Saint family. His medical skills and books are even above mine, which could sustain Fang Yun's life until the end of the Holy Land. But it's so vast here, and the chance of meeting him is slim," Hua Yuqing added.

"What if we find something like the Longevity Fruit? Could that help Fang Yun survive?"

"Medically speaking, the Longevity Fruit contains vast vital energy. Although it can't detoxify, it could prolong his life for a few more days," Hua Yuqing explained.

"Then let's look for the Longevity Fruit! I won't let you suffer losses. Once we leave the Holy Land, I'll pay you well, enough for the cost of a Longevity Fruit. My Ji Saint family can afford it," Li Fanming declared.

"About paying… I brought the spirit leopard here, let it be on me," Han Shoulu added.

"Han, what you said earlier makes sense. There's no order in the Holy Land. But I have my own principles. Just for a Longevity Fruit, our Jia family is not so desperate."

"I also don't want any reward. I've always liked Fang Yun's poetry. Searching for the Longevity Fruit is just on the way. There's more than just the fruit in the Holy Land, so no need for payment."

The rest nodded, expressing their willingness to help without compensation.

"Now that we've decided, let's set out for the Dead Lake tomorrow. Eighteen years ago, someone found three Longevity Fruits nearby," Han Shoulu suggested.

"Alright!" everyone agreed in unison.

Xun Ye approached, smiling. "Although Fang Yun and my Xun family are enemies, if you find something like the Longevity Fruit that can save him, I won't interfere and don't want any reward. One more person means more strength; you won't reject me, right?"

Li Fanming snorted coldly, and the rabbit snorted too. Han Shoulu said, "I hope Xun Ye will keep his word and not trouble Fang Yun further."

Xun Ye laughed lightly, "Han, you underestimate me. Would I bother with a piece of waste paper? In his current state, even if his life is saved, his literary palace will be corroded by the poison of the Demon Realm, severing his talent, turning him into a complete waste paper."

The others glared at Xun Ye angrily. They had deliberately avoided mentioning the literary palace in front of Fang Yun, not wanting him to despair before it was destroyed. But Xun Ye's voice was so loud that Fang Yun might have heard.

"Xun Ye, please be mindful!" Li Fanming said, eyes blazing with anger.

"Ha, I'm just stating the truth. His literary palace is about to be destroyed, and I can't say it? I'm just being factual. What, flattering the future Fang Yun can make you saints?"

Li Fanming clenched his teeth in rage, "Xun Ye! We are all people of the ten nations in the Holy Land, facing the Demon Barbarians together. Even if you resent him, at this moment, when he suffers such a disaster, you should accumulate some virtue! Moreover, if he weren't poisoned, you wouldn't be his match!"

Xun Ye's smile faded, and he replied contemptuously, "Accumulate virtue? I don't need you to teach me how to behave! What are you? A descendant of a declining Semi-Saint family, no, not even a descendant, just a son-in-law. Before Fang Yun was poisoned, your flattering was understandable, showing you're foolish but at least utilitarian. But now, treating him like this when he's a waste paper, are you stupid or what?"

Li Fanming was about to charge at Xun Ye but was held back by those around him. After taking a deep breath to calm his anger, he glared at Xun Ye and said sternly, "Although I've known Fang Yun for a short time, we share a bond. This bond is enough for me to seek a Longevity Fruit for him! Let me also speak the truth, you, this beast, will definitely face retribution!"

Xun Ye laughed sinisterly, "Keep cursing, continue. Can you save Fang Yun? In seven days, he'll be a waste with a destroyed literary palace! Oppose my Xun family? This is the consequence!" He left, laughing loudly.

Jia Jing'an suddenly spat at Xun Ye, cursing, "Your great-uncle Xun Qiong was so spirited, and Xun Tianling was so loyal. I never thought in your generation there'd be such a scoundrel! After leaving the Holy Land, I'll sever ties with you! Your Semi-Saint family, I, Jia Jing'an, am unworthy to associate with! Scoundrel!"

Inside Niu Shan's tent, a soft sigh.

The moon set and the sun rose.

People gradually woke up, squinting at the sun, even as Presented Scholars unable to stare directly at the Holy Land's sun.

The sun here seemed a hundred times larger than on the Holy Origin Mainland, hanging overhead, scorching hot, making this place hotter than a desert.

Yet, the strange fog persisted, only fainter.

In the morning, Li Fanming and others bid farewell to Fang Yun and headed towards the Dead Lake's bottom. Xun Ye followed, mostly ignored by others, but he didn't care.

Outside the tent, Niu Shan said, "Emperor Yue, they've left."

Inside, the rabbit stood upright, holding a bowl of water with a straw for Fang Yun.

The rabbit became anxious, unable to put the straw in Fang Yun's mouth with its paws holding the bowl. Desperate, it used its long ears to slowly push the straw to Fang Yun's mouth.

After Fang Yun drank a bit, the rabbit smiled contently, carefully placing the water aside, then squatting beside him.

Fang Yun glanced at the rabbit, wanting to smile in gratitude but couldn't. He sighed softly and closed his eyes.

Sweat beaded on Fang Yun's forehead.

The stabbing pain in his body intensified, and the ache in his head worsened.

Fang Yun knew Hua Yuqing underestimated the Tyrant's poison. Not just a Talented Scholar's literary palace, but even a Presented Scholar's would be destroyed by such poison. But his literary palace was large, and even this potent poison would need at least three days to corrode its outer wall.

"The Tyrant's poison is exceptionally potent, likely a special formula. Tyrant, as long as my literary palace stands, the Path of the Saints continues, and I will repay you a hundred, a thousandfold! I'll make you pay for harming me, Fang Yun, with blood!"

Fang Yun didn't give up hope. Despite the pain, he kept reciting medical books in his mind.

The "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" by Semi-Saint Zhang Zhongjing, a masterpiece with 18 volumes, even had methods for artificial respiration, a miracle in traditional medicine and a crucial medical book to this day.

The "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" is one of the classics of all saints, included in the exams for Child Scholars and Talented Scholars. Each year, at least one question is derived from it.

Fang Yun had memorized this book early on. Now poisoned, he instinctively recited the "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" and other medical books.

He silently recited medical texts, his only solace and hope.

As the sun set, a group appeared in the mist.

Niu Shan and the rabbit, large and small, barbarian and beast, stood outside the tent, watching the people emerge from the fog.

The setting sun was blood-red.

The rabbit jumped in surprise and rushed over.

Two were missing arms, two had lost parts of their legs, and the others were soaked in blood, walking slowly.

Niu Shan looked closely and muttered, "Seems they encountered a fierce creature."