Chapter 235
Qian Jiajia rushed into Mu Linlang’s lounge.
“The Divine Doctor is here! The Divine Doctor is here!”
“Divine Doctor? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?” Mu Linlang stood up. Previously, rumors had flown everywhere about the Divine Doctor’s visit, but last time it turned out to be just his disciple.
“This time it’s the real one!” Qian Jiajia said excitedly. “Chu Feng himself came with Illya.”
“Chu Feng came in person?”
Qian Jiajia nodded. “Yes! I heard Chu Feng is very respectful to this person.”
Mu Linlang felt tempted. “I’ll go take a look.”
Although she had never seen the Divine Doctor before, the legends about him were numerous, and she had long admired him.
“I’ll go with you,” Qian Jiajia said quickly.
When they reached the botanical garden, they found it under tight security. Armed guards stood at the entrance.
“You’re here,” the security officer greeted respectfully.
“Is the Divine Doctor inside?” Mu Linlang asked.
“Yes, he’s in there now,” the captain replied.
“May I go in?”
“You may.”
Many people were eager to meet the Qiu Luo, but the security team had already turned away several groups. Mu Linlang, with her plant-based ability, was granted entry.
“I’m her assistant,” Qian Jiajia added quickly. “I’ll go in too.”
The captain hesitated, then nodded. “Alright—but only the two of you.”
Mu Linlang gave Qian Jiajia a look, realizing this was probably why she had been dragged along.
Inside the National Bureau of Paranormal Abilities’s medicinal garden, Chu Feng and the others strolled while Shaman Qiu Luo examined various plants. Before long, he had identified several precious species.
Shaman Qiu Luo had always been fascinated by rare plants, and with so many unique species here, he was utterly captivated.
“How many points do I have in my account?” Chu Feng asked Shen Yutong.
“Eight thousand,” she replied.
Chu Feng crossed his arms. “Not enough, right?”
Just the few plants Qiu Luo had selected were worth ten thousand points.
Chu Feng thought to himself: You never realize how precious something is until you need it. Usually, points seem useless, but now my wallet feels painfully empty.
Shen Yutong said, “Don’t worry, Master Chu. I’ve already applied for special permission from above. Whatever you want, you can take, and you can repay the points later.”
Chu Feng smiled. “Then I must thank you.”
Shen Yutong smiled in return. “You’re too polite.”
Opportunities to have Chu Feng owe a favor were rare, and the higher-ups hoped he would owe them more this time. If Chu Feng was indebted, both the military and the National Bureau of Paranormal Abilities would have an easier time asking for his help in the future.
They were also quite interested in the Crescent No. 6 liquor Chu Feng had launched recently. Some big figures were already worrying about how to approach him—if they could get the raw liquid, that would be ideal.
“This place has changed quite a bit!” Several plots of land belonging to the National Bureau of Paranormal Abilities now looked a bit like a flower valley, blooming with flowers of every color.
Last time it wasn’t so obvious, but now it really resembled a garden.
“Is that Calendula orchid?” Chu Feng asked.
Shen Yuting nodded. “Yes. Calendula orchid is a medicinal herb effective even for ability-users. The effect isn’t remarkable, but it’s rare in that it can be cultivated in large quantities.”
“Very beautiful,” Chu Feng said.
Shen Yuting smiled. “This flower garden is currently managed by Mu Linlang.” Mu Linlang’s plant-based ability was especially good for growing beautiful flowers.
“Miss Shen, Mr. Chu,” Mu Linlang greeted, walking toward them.
Shen Yuting glanced at her and thought, speak of the devil, here she comes.
Chu Feng nodded to her.
“Good day, Young Master Chu,” Mu Linlang greeted politely, then looked expectantly at Qiu Luo. “This is the legendary miracle doctor, right?”
Chu Feng nodded. “Yes.”
Qiu Luo gave Mu Linlang a calm glance and nodded slightly.
“Miss Mu’s ability seems to have improved quite a bit,” Chu Feng remarked.
Mu Linlang smiled. “Compared to Young Master Chu, my skills are nothing.” Her plant-based powers were rare and precious, so she’d received plenty of resources from above—plenty of witch stones too. Under such stimulation, her strength had advanced quickly.
Qiu Luo stopped in front of a particular tree. Chu Feng stopped as well.
“This tree… could it be a ginseng fruit tree?” Chu Feng murmured.
Shen Yuting shook her head. “Not sure, but the higher-ups value it greatly.”
It was obvious—the tree was fenced off with special protective devices, making it hard to approach.
The aura it emitted was incredibly pleasant.
Illya tilted his head. Standing by the Tree of Life had once given her a refreshing, clear-headed feeling, and standing by this tree gave her something similar.
Chu Feng folded his arms. “If this really is a ginseng fruit tree, that would be something…” He recalled how, in Journey to the West, Zhenyuanzi of Wanshou Mountain’s Wuzhuang Temple possessed a ginseng fruit tree, also called the “Grass Returning Pill.” It bloomed once every 3,000 years, bore fruit after another 3,000, and took 3,000 more to ripen—ten thousand years for a fruit to be edible. Only thirty fruits at a time, each resembling a small child, complete with limbs and facial features. The ginseng fruit tree was said to be a world-root of the earth, and its fruits were priceless treasures. Just smelling one could extend life by 360 years; eating one could grant a lifespan of 47,000 years.
Shen Yuting gave a wry smile. “Ginseng fruit trees are probably just legend. This shouldn’t be one.”
Chu Feng nodded. “I think so too. Living tens of thousands of years just from eating a fruit is too exaggerated. Journey to the West is just the imagination of ancient people—but maybe not entirely fabricated. The author might have seen a similar tree and exaggerated its qualities.”
On the tree, dozens of fruits swayed enticingly.
Qiu Luo’s eyes lit up. “A doll tree!”
Chu Feng nudged Illya. “You know what a doll tree is?”
Illya nodded. “I’ve heard of it.”
Like the Tree of Life, the doll tree was extremely rare. Its “doll fruits” could enhance abilities and prolong life. The Tree of Life was a symbol of the elves, while the doll tree was the symbol of the treants.
This tree looked very much like the doll tree described in books, though Illya wasn’t sure if they just looked alike or were actually the same species.
“How long does it take for doll fruits to mature?” Chu Feng asked.
“Normally, three years.”
Chu Feng let out a breath of relief. “Three years is reasonable. Three thousand years would be too much.”
“So, which is rarer—the Tree of Life or the doll tree?” Chu Feng asked.
“They’re both precious,” Illya replied, “but probably the Tree of Life is rarer. Still, the doll tree is not far behind.”
Chu Feng nodded. “That’s what I thought. The elves’ sacred tree can’t be compared to ordinary plants, but the doll tree is surely no common thing either.”
“This was also found deep in the mountains?” Chu Feng asked.
Shen Yuting nodded. “Yes. It was very difficult to transport here. This tree is far more valuable than that jujube tree from last time. Back then, because of special circumstances, Jocelyn took half the jujubes. But this ginseng-fruit-like tree? Many people have their eyes on it. If you want half, I can’t make that decision.”
Chu Feng smiled at her. “The fruits aren’t ripe yet, right? Want us to help?”
Shen Yuting looked a bit embarrassed. “Everything else in this botanical garden is fine, but for this tree, I can’t decide.”
“Alright,” Chu Feng said. “Help me ask how many fruits we could get at most.”
“Okay,” Shen Yuting agreed, stepping aside to make several phone calls.
Mu Linlang was curious. “Young Master Chu, are you planning to force these fruits to ripen?”
Chu Feng nodded. “Exactly.”
Mu Linlang gave a wry smile. “I’ve tried channeling spiritual energy into it before, but the effect was minimal. Probably my ability is just too weak.”
Chu Feng chuckled. “Don’t belittle yourself. Maybe the tree just has a big appetite. You’re already very skilled.”
“Thank you for the praise,” Mu Linlang said with a smile.
Shen Yuting returned. “Young Master Chu, the higher-ups have agreed. If you help ripen this batch, you can have five fruits.”
Chu Feng discussed briefly with Illya and Qiu Luo, then agreed.
Five fruits wasn’t bad—two could be used for planting experiments, and three for tasting.
Last time, the jujube tree was dying, so ripening it was the only way to salvage anything, which was how Jocelyn ended up with half. This time, the tree was healthy, so getting one-sixth was already very fortunate.
Qiu Luo looked at Chu Feng. “I’ll start now.”
Chu Feng nodded. “Alright.”
Shen Yutong looked at Shaman Qiu Luo with curiosity.
The National Bureau of Paranormal Abilities had long received reports that the mysterious doctor behind Chu Feng was likely an ability-user.
What she didn’t know—and was dying to find out—was the extent of his power.
Shaman Qiu Luo closed his eyes and activated his ability toward the ginseng fruit tree. The tree glowed faintly, quietly absorbing his energy.
Shen Yutong glanced at the ability detector in her hand and noted that his ability was rated at A-level. She thought to herself: No wonder they call him a divine doctor—he really is that powerful.
Shaman Qiu Luo kept channeling energy into the tree, but despite the faint glow, there was little visible change. He furrowed his brows, clearly tiring.
Chu Feng signaled to Illya, who took Qiu Luo’s hand and transferred spiritual power to him. With Illya’s support, Qiu Luo’s energy was instantly replenished, and an unending flow of plant-based energy surged into the ginseng tree. The fruits began to glow more brightly, seemingly growing larger.
Mu Linlang, observing from the side, thought: The gap between an S-level and an A-level ability-user is enormous—Illya’s total energy must be dozens of times greater.
Shen Yutong tilted her head, thinking: Illya’s support ability is terrifyingly strong. He can seemingly enhance any other ability-user’s powers. If he helped the National Bureau of Paranormal Abilities’s illness-transfer specialist, they could save dozens more patients every day.
