52 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

Novel of Banxia Chapter 52 As the bloody avian creature soared into the palace's vicinity, it triggered a fierce reaction. A cacophony grew louder and louder, causing the entire palace to tremble. Large chunks of earth fell from the palace's structure, raising clouds of dust. Even the "ruined walls" Yan Zhu Guang had previously passed by were not spared. In no time, the palace grounds were heaped into mounds of mud. Suddenly, amidst the dust, something came alive. Hues of green emerged, and what was presumed to be dead stalks of grass swayed back to life. In an instant, a grand palace vanished, transformed into a colossal thicket of lush needle-leaved grass. Standing in the stone-paved courtyard, Yan Zhu Guang found herself surrounded by this aggressive growth. The transformation happened swiftly. The bloodied avian, yet to touch the ground, was ensnared by countless grass blades. It was heavily wrapped, shredded, and then devoured, leaving no trace behind—chilling the heart of any onlooker. After devouring the avian creature, the awakened beast set its sights on Yan Zhu Guang as its next target. Countless grass blades surged, engulfing the courtyard where Yan Zhu Guang stood. The tips of those slender greens glinted with a cold sheen. Whoever was struck by the dense array would either be shredded or be pierced into minced flesh. "What should we do, Host?" The system's miniature map was entirely red, flashing incessantly to warn Yan Zhu Guang of the danger. The grass blades were lightning-fast. No sooner had the system's voice faded than the attack reached the edge of the square. At that critical moment, Yan Zhu Guang acted. She moved swiftly, tracing the plaza's stone patterns with a profound and intricate step. She hadn't walked but a few steps before the whole square began to resonate wave upon wave. As her feet tread those mysterious patterns, she retrieved spirit stones previously used to replenish her spiritual energy. She threw them quickly in eight directions, using one batch after another, tossing them consistently toward a particular direction. In just the short time before the grass blades attacked, Yan Zhu Guang had covered the entire square with an incredible speed, laying spirit stones in layers three deep. Yet, equally swift were the menacing grass blades, now perilously close with the longest blade about to touch her! The system's metaphorical heart leaped to its throat! It fixated on Yan Zhu Guang, prepared to instantly deploy a protective shield to ensure her safety. At that critical juncture, Yan Zhu Guang's hands halted in the final form of a mystical seal. "Rise!" She shouted softly, and in that perilous heartbeat, the stone slabs beneath her feet trembled fiercely. Layer after layer of faint golden protective arrays illuminated, with hemisphere-like light engulfing the entire square! Those grass blades, mere strands away from grazing her hair, halted abruptly. They were severed forcefully by the powerful wards, fallen into fragmented remains scattered across the square. The refreshing scent of grass and wood filled the courtyard. The defensive array enveloped the whole square. Despite failing to capture its prey, the enraged massive thicket outside thrashed about. More leaves pounded against the barrier, only to be bounced back time and again, unable to breach it. Yan Zhu Guang exhaled lightly, wiping sweat from her brow. "You scared me, Host!" The system also heaved a sigh of relief; it nearly found itself a system left short of breath. This was excessively thrilling; one needed a formidable heart to accompany the host, else it'd be frightening enough to pass out. Yan Zhu Guang sat cross-legged to restore her spiritual energy, as her meager reserves from the early Foundation Establishment stage had already reached their limit to activate the formation. "Host, how did you know the palace was made of grass?" Had it not been for that avian creature, the system would not have imagined the palace to be "alive." It was puzzled as to why the host hesitated to enter the palace despite approaching it closely. As it turns out, the host had sensed something amiss all along. Yan Zhu Guang replied, "At first, I wasn’t certain. It was the wall’s attacks and the emergence of that root afterward that aroused my suspicion." "Suspicion?" The system contemplated but felt no discrepancy. "After I was attacked, the root appeared simultaneously. Typically, someone would assume it was the root attacking the wall." "Isn't that the case?" "As you'd observed the root's attacking method. Yet when the wall was under attack, the ground beneath was untouched." The root's attack was characterized by significant activity. If it had indeed burst through the soil, the land would have cracked. Given such an overt sign, Yan Zhu Guang would easily discern the danger, sparing her the need to rely solely on intuition. "I thought the root pierced the wall to attack?" Yan Zhu Guang shook her head, "The root's movement, even at its fastest, would leave traces. You didn't notice, when the wall fragmented, the grass stalks were conspicuously missing once reduced to rubble." "So, initially it was the grass stalks lurking within the wall attacking. That’s why, when the wall exploded as you landed, you realized something was amiss and deduced that the grass stalks were alive?" Yan Zhu Guang acknowledged this. Her extraordinary observational skills allowed her to discern the grass vine’s disappearance amidst the shattered debris from the wall, confirming her suspicions. Thus, even after reaching the palace center, she refrained from rushing inside, suspecting that the lukewarm attacks were merely to force her into the palace for a trap. "The plaza, did you choose it because you realized the material differed from that of the palace?" "The plaza is an array base. Its significance was apparent, and with a ready-made formation, ensuring my safety took precedence." Sorry, I didn’t notice. The system silently updated its database. Yan Zhu Guang stated, "This location should be the feeding ground of that unknown spirit plant. The plaza likely serves as a lifeline left by the secret realm's creator. Seize the chance and survive, else become its meal." That also explained why not a single living creature was seen on the plains. Perhaps even external beasts were too afraid, having been consumed by it, to approach again. The system pondered, finding it a bit incredible, "Even the host doesn’t know what spirit plant this is?" "It has a faint scent of mildly toxic Heavenly Fragrant Smoke Weed, its appearance and attack resemble the intense Myriad Needle Grass, and the root's essence bears semblance to the primary ingredient of Alivening Elixir, Mu Su Seed." "This was deliberately cultivated as a mutated spirit plant, and moreover..." Yan Zhu Guang paused. "And what?" "Those three kinds of spirit plants are rather ordinary. Even a fusion resulting in a mutated plant wouldn’t reach its current state." The spiritual energy contained within the root fragment previously consumed by the Blood Sacrifice Vine far exceeded an ordinary spirit plant's level. In Yan Zhu Guang’s view, this immense plant should be at least of the Superior Profound Grade. "The one cultivating this spirit plant must’ve employed additional means." Such methods played into Yan Zhu Guang’s hands for her visit to this place. The system: Improved knowledge! Yet, right now wasn't the time to discuss spirit plant varieties, "But how do we escape then?" The system viewed the leaves still assaulting the protective light shield outside, worried. To escape meant leaving the protective field, exposing the host once outside the formation. The spirit stones powering the defense would eventually deplete, and the host couldn't remain within indefinitely, right? Yan Zhu Guang was unperturbed, “No need to worry.” Once she replenished her spiritual energy, she began weaving hand seals again. The system was clueless about her intentions but kept its gaze unyielding. Moments later, Yan Zhu Guang remarkably disengaged the formation guarding the square! Yes, the layers of radiant array light dimmed and extinguished one by one! Not only the system, but even the spirit plant outside, paused in confusion before reacting. A mass of needle leaves hastily lunged towards Yan Zhu Guang. Though uncertain why the prey had forsaken the formation's protection, they intended to seize and consume it first. The sky was filled with incoming needle leaves, yet Yan Zhu Guang, deftly forming hand seals again, had the light of the formation flickering back just before the grass left’s attack reached her. Another batch of leaves was diced by the array, intensifying the verdant fragrance. The system scratched its head, puzzled by the host's antics. Was she playing with the spirit plant? Subsequently, the system witnessed something akin to a cultivation world version of a lawn mower. Yan Zhu Guang alternated the formation’s activation at will; replenishing spiritual energy and spirit stones as needed. The piles of leaves accumulated to nearly half her height. Was there truly such a method? Yan Zhu Guang had effectively converted a pure defense array into an offensive machine, a strategic maneuver the system had never encountered before. The host was remarkably ingenious! The system silently gave her a thumbs-up. In the face of such relentless consumption, even a spirit plant with innumerable grass blades found itself stretched thin. Possessing a degree of intelligence, the plant desired to consume its prey but was now forced to weigh its losses against its gains. There was no guarantee that devouring this prey would replenish the energy it had expended; this hunt was proving to be a losing proposition. Having suffered multiple setbacks at the hands of the formation, the spirit plant's attacking tempo slowed. When Yan Zhu Guang activated the array once more, the ferocious needle leaf grass curiously halted. It hovered just outside the formation, making a tentative gesture before begrudgingly withdrawing its fierce leaves into the soil with a silent retreat. "It's retreating, it's retreating!" the system exclaimed joyfully. "Host, can we escape now?" Yan Zhu Guang ignored it, her gaze acutely fixed on her surroundings. A small clump of grass leaves, secretly tangled together, attempted a stealthy approach from behind, using the thick carpet of broken leaves on the plaza as cover. As though she had eyes on the back of her head, Yan Zhu Guang deftly turned and pointed, sending a flash of green light slicing through the air. She cleverly utilized the shattered leaves scattered on the square, sweeping through them like an autumn breeze, reducing the sneaky grass tendril to shreds. The system stifled a gasp, not having expected the spirit plant to be so crafty, attempting to divert attention with a feint! Engaged in a battle of wits and tactics with Yan Zhu Guang, the plethora of leaf fragments became weapons in her hands. Realizing its attacks were futile, the needle leaf spirit plant finally admitted defeat, retreating entirely to its original position at the palace. The surface of its leaves seeped with liquid, moistening the earth around them. It rolled within the soil, its leaves contorting and twisting until it slowly reverted back to the semblance of the previously decimated palace. The system watched with a tut of astonishment. About to say something to Yan Zhu Guang, it noticed a knowing smile playing upon her lips and shivered involuntarily. Was the host plotting another scheme?