ZEN!!!
In a burst of brilliance, the light emitted by the flower enveloped the entire chamber, erasing every trace of the intense battle between Di Tian and the Giant Earth Bear. The scars and signs of their fierce struggle vanished, as if they had never taken place.
But the flower's influence extended beyond the confines of the cave chamber; it reached out to Di Tian himself. Slowly, the deep and gruesome wounds that marred his serpentine body began to mend, a remarkable transformation taking place before any observer lucky enough to witness it.
The healing process was a sight to behold. His once-devastated scales, the very ones that seemed on the brink of splitting his body in two, gradually fused back together, forming a seamless and flawless surface. The natural healing abilities of a True Dragon, hindered by the unique energy of the "Nine-Revolution Elixir," were reignited and enhanced by the vitality exuded by the flower.
As if a great wall had crumbled, the strange energy that had impeded his recovery disintegrated, allowing the flower's life-giving energy to permeate every cell of his being. The wounds, both minor and major, began to close on their own, the pit-like scars that had marred his form disappearing within minutes.
Where his scales had fallen away during the battle, a wondrous transformation occurred. Jet-black scales, newly grown, emerged to replace the old ones. These scales appeared even more formidable, their surface gleaming with a newfound hardness and resilience that spoke of their prowess.
Di Tian's claws, once marred with micro-cracks, commenced a self-guided healing process. Even their sharpness seemed to undergo enhancement, reaching a level beyond their previous state.
...
However, the impact of the magical flower's metamorphosis wasn't confined to merely physical wounds. Its influence transcended the visible injuries, delving into the realm of the unseen and the soul.
In the world, physical injuries can be categorized into two types: external and internal. These refer to injuries inflicted upon the physical body. But beyond these, there exists another category—one more elusive and perilous—known as soul injuries.
Soul injuries stand among the gravest forms of affliction, targeting the very essence of an individual's being. Di Tian was also grappling with such a wound, a consequence of the "Nine-Revolution Elixir." This elixir, while augmenting his physical prowess, extended its enhancement to his soul, compelling it to perform at double its typical capacity.
Physical exhaustion can often be remedied through rest, but the scars inflicted on the soul are different. Unlike physical wounds, soul injuries prove stubborn to heal. When a soul is wounded, the methods for recovery are rare and elusive.
In most instances, those burdened with soul-related issues find themselves immobilized, their life force dwindling away with no recourse for remedy.
This predicament paralleled that of the little white snake. Although unharmed physically, the creature suffered from an incomplete soul, a malady present from birth.
Without proper intervention, beings like these face a gradual and agonizing demise. To watch one's life, fade away while being powerless to halt its course is a torment that defies description.
The flower that held the potential to heal Di Tian's soul injury was undoubtedly an extraordinary treasure.
…
As hours rolled by...
After what could only be described as an eternity, signs of life rekindled within Di Tian's still serpentine form.
"Ah, damn. Feels like my head's about to split," Di Tian's voice mumbled through the haze of half-consciousness.
[Consider yourself fortunate; a splitting headache would have been a minor ordeal compared to potential outcomes], echoed
Di Tian's response was feeble, almost as if his own consciousness were still drifting amidst the remnants of a dream. The words of
"That creature was something else... Took everything out of me," Di Tian's voice was a murmur, laden with memories of his battle against the Giant Earth Bear. The term 'battle' itself seemed almost inappropriate; prior to ingesting the "Nine-Revolution Elixir," it was nothing short of a brutal onslaught where the Earth Bear pounded him ceaselessly, nearly snuffing out his life in the process.
The encounter with the Earth Bear had been a fierce one, a daunting reminder of the perilous Wild-Cat confrontation during his initial stage.
'Battle of predator and prey,' he thought to himself, casting a sidelong glance at his serpentine body.
"How...?" A mixture of surprise and disbelief tinged Di Tian's voice as he beheld his colossal frame adorned in newly grown jet-black scales. The vestiges of his earlier skirmish were nowhere to be found, replaced instead by an immaculate resilience.
Shifting his body weight, he lifted off the ground, observing with astonishment the absence of pit-like wounds. In the spots where his scales had once been dislodged, fresh ones had sprouted, manifesting an even greater robustness than their predecessors. His claws, formerly marred by near-invisible scars, had likewise been restored to their prime. A surge of revitalized energy coursed through his being, rekindling his vitality.
"Could my recovery ability have surged to such an extent?" Di Tian pondered with a hint of amusement, yet he knew the idea was implausible. While his inherent True Dragon physiology did grant him remarkable regenerative abilities, recuperating from the extensive injuries he had sustained in the prior skirmish within a short period of time was beyond the realm of possibility.
'Or has considerable time passed already?' He questioned himself as his gaze swept across his surroundings.
Although still within the cave chamber, gauging the passage of time was arduous in this dim-lit space. Yet, as he observed his surroundings, the pristine state of the chamber suggested that considerable time might have indeed elapsed. Unlike the ravaged battleground of his clash with the Giant Earth Bear, the environment around him bore no evidence of past conflict.
Gone were the scarred walls and damaged floor, even the ceiling was devoid of the fallen stalactites that once adorned it. The cave's ceiling, now covered with formations that would have taken ages to develop, was the proof of the passage of time.
[Apologies for dismantling your assumptions, master, but I must correct you on both accounts.] The voice of
"So, you're implying my nap wasn't a lengthy one, partner?"
[Indeed, you've slumbered for a mere few hours—three hours, to be precise.]
"Huh, I was needlessly fretting." A sigh of relief escaped Di Tian's lips as
[I can't help it if you choose to say or think things of questionable logic.]
Di Tian brushed aside the unspoken disagreement, recognizing more immediate matters at hand. He wasn't evading the debate; he merely understood priorities. 'However, it's perplexing that this cave's transformation has been so rapid. It's as if someone did a whole makeover for this place,' he mused.
[Possibly, I can illuminate the mystery for you, master.]
"Hmm, can you shed light on why this place underwent such a swift transformation?"
[An unexpected occurrence took place during your unconsciousness.]
"Can you elaborate on that a little more so that I, an ignorant laymen can also understand better?"
[Sure thing, a substantial volume of your blood, shed due to your grievous injuries, flowed onto the ground. The magical flower, the very reason for our presence here, the magical flower absorbed and underwent a metamorphosis through that blood.]
"Wait, it absorbed my blood?" Di Tian's astonishment echoed loudly.
[Indeed, to be precise, about a bucketful.]
"What? A whole bucketful?!"
[Fear not, the blood you lost won't impact your performance negatively. Instead, this magical flower's metamorphosis has yielded unforeseen advantages for you, master.]