"Why is the senior so certain?" Chu Feng asked.
"Intuition," Ouyang Kongyu replied with a smile.
"Nothing more than intuition? No basis at all?" Chu Feng pressed.
"The basis is that your mother is very powerful, and I believe she's been holding back."
"You, kid — being hunted by the Seven Realms Sacred Palace and coming out of it unscathed, you're obviously no fool."
"So who do you think you inherited that cleverness from? Naturally, your mother."
"A girl that clever and that powerful — how could anyone possibly harm her?"
"As for the Seven Realms Sacred Palace, there does seem to be an incredible force within it, but that force would never be wielded by Jie Tianran."
"If it belongs to the Seven Realms Sacred Palace, why would it harm a genius of the Seven Realms Sacred Palace?"
"So my guess is, your mother being imprisoned is entirely possible, but having her bloodline stripped away? I don't think so," Ouyang Kongyu said.
His analysis, though merely personal conjecture, put Chu Feng somewhat at ease.
Practically everyone who knew his mother well believed she wouldn't come to harm — a testament to how fully these people recognized her abilities.
After all, Jie Tianran was no weakling.
Following that, with the help of Chu Feng and Bai Yunqing, Ouyang Kongyu officially began treating Jia Lingyi.
In the end, however, he let out a long sigh.
"How could she have been stimulated to this degree?"
"Even this prescription is ineffective."
"This was left behind by the greatest divine physician of the ancient era."
Ouyang Kongyu furrowed his brow as he lamented.
"Senior, is there nothing you can do?" Chu Feng stepped forward and asked.
"Chu Feng, would a brief restoration of her consciousness be acceptable?" Ouyang Kongyu asked.
"I only need to ask her a few questions — even a short time would work," Chu Feng said.
"Then I do have another prescription."
"I'll begin preparations now, but I'll need one more key ingredient."
"Friend Chu Feng, go and retrieve it."
With that, Ouyang Kongyu looked to Tian Ming. "Tian Ming, guide Chu Feng and bring back three stalks of Spirit-Calming Grass."
"At once," Tian Ming answered immediately.
Ouyang Kongyu then tossed a barrier key to Chu Feng.
"Senior, l-l-let my brother s-st-stay and help you."
"Fetching some herbs — I c-c-can do it," Wang Qiang said, rising to his feet.
"I don't trust you. Chu Feng will go," Ouyang Kongyu said.
"Damn…"
Wang Qiang was left speechless, but said, "W-w-well, I'm going too."
Ouyang Kongyu paid him no mind, not caring whether Wang Qiang came or stayed.
With Tian Ming leading the way, the three of them left the Bloodline Heavenly River and arrived in a different upper realm.
According to Tian Ming, Ouyang Kongyu had planted the Spirit-Calming Grass within a mountain range in this upper realm.
That was because a peculiar lake sat within the range, and the Spiritual Energy it released was ideal for the Spirit-Calming Grass to grow.
Tian Ming himself had originally lived in a small village at the foot of those mountains.
By chance, he had crossed paths with Ouyang Kongyu, who then brought him to the Daoist temple to assist him. Occasionally, he would also teach Tian Ming cultivation techniques.
"Lord C-C-Chu Feng, I have a request — I'm not sure if I should say it."
Tian Ming suddenly grew nervous.
"What is it? Speak freely," Chu Feng said.
"I-I-I'd like to go home and take a look — just one look. Say hello to my family."
"When I left, my little sister had just been born. She should be about five years old by now, b-b-but I've never even seen her."
"If it's not possible, that's f-f-fine too. Just pretend I never said anything. Please don't tell Lord Ouyang."
The more Tian Ming spoke, the more afraid he became, until his head hung low with his chin pressed against his chest.
"Visiting your family — it's no big deal. Once we've got the Spirit-Calming Grass, I'll go with you," Chu Feng said.
"R-really? Th-that's wonderful!" Tian Ming broke into a bright, beaming smile.
It was clear that he truly missed home — after all, when he had left, he was still just a child.