The Immortal Cultivation World Is Too Dangerous: I Return to Earth as a Divine Sage
Chapter 8 - A Supreme Spiritual Herb, the Leaf of the Longevity Flower?

Chapter 8: A Supreme Spiritual Herb, the Leaf of the Longevity Flower?

“The Xuanling Medicine Family?”

The moment Zhao Wuji uttered the name of the Xuanling Medicine Family, the room fell into a profound silence.

Everyone present was familiar with the Medicine Family.

And precisely because they knew of it, they understood just how lofty its status was.

Currently, there were two primary methods of healing on Earth: Western medicine and Great Xia’s traditional Chinese medicine.

Unlike Western medicine, which had only risen in prominence over the past century, Great Xia’s traditional Chinese medicine had flourished since the founding of Great Xia, thriving for thousands of years.

Even in an era where Western medicine had surged, and many people’s first thought upon hearing “doctor” was Western medicine, the status of Chinese medicine remained unshakable.

The reason was simple.

For countless terminal illnesses, while Western medicine could treat the symptoms, it rarely addressed the root cause, and even if treated, patients often didn’t live long.

For a young person with a terminal illness, Western medicine might extend their life by at most ten years, whereas Chinese medicine could grant decades.

Moreover, many terminal illnesses untreatable by Western medicine could be cured by skilled Chinese medicine practitioners, or at the very least, they could extend life by several years.

Chinese medicine originated from the Medicine Family.

The Medicine Family held countless invaluable prescriptions, and eight out of ten of Great Xia’s master Chinese medicine practitioners either came from the Medicine Family or were connected to it.

With so many master healers, the Medicine Family essentially held the health of countless people in its hands.

Thus, in Great Xia, and even across the entire Earth, the Medicine Family was the last family anyone wanted to offend.

If it were any other force, even a powerful dynasty, the Zhao Family could rely on Master Zhao’s prestige after extending his life to confront them, making it clear that the Zhao Family’s resources weren’t so easily taken.

But if it was the Medicine Family, the Zhao Family had no choice but to hand over the resources.

If they didn’t, the Medicine Family’s influence could easily turn countless forces against the Zhao Family.

The Zhao Family could even fall from dynasty status or, worse, fade into obscurity.

“Wait, Big Brother, does the Medicine Family really have the ability to extend Father’s life?”

“Didn’t we previously consult a master healer from the Medicine Family stationed in the imperial capital to examine Father?”

“That master healer said Father had reached the end of his lifespan, that his time was up, and no method could cure him.”

“It was because of his words that we sought out the world’s top Western doctors to treat Father, hoping for a miracle.”

“Could it be that the master healer lied to us? That he actually had a way to extend Father’s life, but the price was thirty percent of our Zhao Family’s assets?”

Zhao Xuankun suddenly thought of something, his gaze carrying a trace of coldness as he looked at Zhao Wuji.

“He didn’t lie to us. Father has indeed reached the end of his lifespan.”

Zhao Wuji shook his head.

“If he’s truly at the end, how can the Medicine Family extend his life?”

Zhao Xuankun asked, frowning.

“The Medicine Family has a legacy of five thousand years and possesses foundations unknown to the outside world.”

“The method they propose to extend Father’s life is a divine herb they’ve preserved for countless years. This herb has the power to prolong life. After consuming it, even someone on the brink of death can forcibly live for three to ten more years.”

Zhao Wuji explained.

“Isn’t the Medicine Family using this as an excuse to deceive our Zhao Family? How could such a divine herb exist in this world?”

Zhao Xuankun questioned.

“I think it’s definitely a lie by the Medicine Family. A single herb that can extend life? That’s practically like the immortal elixirs in novels and films. Our world isn’t some supernatural realm—how could such divine herbs exist?”

“Exactly. A single herb extending life by years or even decades? That’s absurd. It must be an excuse. The Medicine Family could clearly treat him but insists on claiming it’s the end of his lifespan.”

“There’s another possibility. What if there are secrets in this world we don’t know about? This herb could be one of those secrets.”

“No way. At our Zhao Family’s level, the world holds almost no secrets for us. The Medicine Family must be playing tricks.”

The younger Zhao Family members echoed Zhao Xuankun’s sentiments.

“At first, I thought the same as you, that the Medicine Family was playing tricks.”

“But I reached out through my connections and confirmed that what the Medicine Family said is true.” Zhao Wuji said.

“The Medicine Family has connections everywhere. What if the people you contacted were lying to you on their behalf?” Zhao Xuankun countered.

“Their words might be false, but the evidence is right in front of us, impossible to dismiss. The Medicine Family sent a leaf from that herb. According to them, this leaf is a gesture of sincerity to earn our trust.

“If I place this leaf in Father’s mouth, it will allow him to experience a temporary recovery for three days. During those three days, Father’s physical condition will be equivalent to that of a man in his sixties or seventies, able to walk and even run on his own. But within those three days, if we don’t purchase the entire herb to extend Father’s life, he will die immediately.

“Moreover, the Medicine Family offered their greatest sincerity: they’ll allow Father to consume the herb first, and only after he’s lived at least one year will they collect payment.

“Tell me, what kind of herb could restore a nearly hundred-year-old man to the physical state of his sixties or seventies, and sustain it? And with a guarantee that they’ll only collect payment after a year of extended life?

“All these signs point to the Medicine Family’s herb being a genuine life-extending divine herb. There are indeed secrets in this world we don’t understand, and at the very least, we know nothing about the Medicine Family, a medicinal dynasty with thousands of years of legacy.” Zhao Wuji looked at everyone in the room and spoke gravely.

“Big Brother, where’s the leaf?” Hearing Zhao Wuji’s words, Zhao Xuankun took a deep breath and looked at him.

“It’s here.” Zhao Wuji pulled out an exquisitely crafted transparent crystal box from his pocket. Inside was a pink, finger-sized leaf.

The leaf glistened with a moist sheen, as if it were still alive, showing no signs of the yellowing that typically occurs when a leaf is plucked.

…

“Hm? Is this a leaf from the supreme spiritual herb, the Longevity Flower?”

The moment Zhao Wuji revealed the crystal box, outside the Zhao Family’s ancient mansion, a young man suddenly opened his eyes.