Chapter 534 - Sun God's Descendant
After hearing the cute eyepatch girl's answer, Grandmaster Don rubbed his disciple's small head dotingly.
There were three reasons why he had accepted this little girl by the name of Anya as his disciple, one of which was why he dared to explore the Grand Surya Desert.
She had a unique physique that allows her to resist extremely hot temperatures.
Grandmaster Don was able to resist the surrounding hot temperature due to his cultivation as a Fire Transcendent, but his disciple could do the same at the 3rd step Awakener Realm.
It definitely had something to do with her physique—a heavenly blessed physique so great that it could possibly resist the scorching hot temperatures of the sun.
Ordinary people would assume she was the sun god's descendent if they came to know of her physique. Even Grandmaster Don did not know what her physique was called.
When Grandmaster Don found Anya in her home village, she was not revered as the sun god's descendent but some cursed child instead.
This was mainly due to her unique hobby and also the reason why Grandmaster Don took her in as his disciple.
They were two people who share the same passion for explosions. There was no way Grandmaster Don would leave such a gem to remain unknown in some backward village.
No, with such a heaven-blessed physique, Anya was destined for something much greater.
What she needed was an opportunity to spread her wings, and Grandmaster Don was the person who will give her that opportunity.
As two trekked through the scorching sands of the Ishaan Desert, leaving behind a trail of footprints that slowly disappear under the wind.
Shortly after, Grandmaster Don and his disciple stopped on the top of a hill.
In the distance ahead of them, a colossal sandstorm was revealed, obstructing their visions from seeing further beyond.
"So this is the entrance to the Grand Surya Desert," Grandmaster Don muttered with few sweats oozing from his forehead.
The sweats evaporated within moments, causing Grandmaster Don's skin to appear dry and dehydrated.
Nevertheless, Grandmaster Don's attention was focused on the sandstorm in the distance with hints of both dread and anticipation in his eyes.
Fire Energy was especially strong within the region. Such environments made it the ideal place for Fire Awakeners to cultivate.
Most people would avoid this place.
However, Burning Heaven Sect's disciple frequently visited the Grand Surya Desert's outer region to train.
Those who ventured deeper into the inner region, however, never made it back—and that was precisely where Grandmaster Don was heading with his disciple, Anya.
"Let's go, my dear disciple. Be careful not to catch sand in your eyes, though." Grandmaster Don warned.
"Yes, master!"
Shortly after, Grandmaster Don conjured a flame barrier that surrounded the two of them before they disappeared into the sandstorm.
...
Great Wall.
At that moment, the mutated rat tide continued to get pincered by explosive cannonballs at the front and icicle showers at the back, significantly reducing the endless mutated rat tide to a level where a glimpse of victory could finally be seen.
Nevertheless, the mutated rat tide was still great, numbering in the millions. The battle would not end any time soon.
"Marquis Haldir, I will create an opening for you. On my signal, take Princess Thessalia and retreat back to the Great Wall for proper treatment." Leon shouted from outside the vine dome.
"Young prince? You're back? That's good." There was some relief in Supreme Elder Haldir's voice before he said gravely, "Princess Thessalia's injuries are too severe for her to be moved! Her condition will quickly deteriorate if I stop supplying my Wood Energy, even for a brief moment!"
"This…" Leon quickly frowned.
With a quick scan with his divine sense, he was able to see a clearer picture of Princess Thessalia's condition up close despite still being outside of the vine dome.
While hacking away some mutated rats and block their ballistic lightning spikes, Leon's frown deepened further.
It was as Supreme Elder Haldir said.
Princess Thessalia's wounds were so severe, it was practically a miracle that she was even still alive. Her body was punctured in so many places that pierced even her bones and organs.
She was surviving purely on the Supreme Elder's supply of Wood Energy that healed her fleshly wounds, stopped her bleeding, and continued to regulate her body in place of her failing organs.
Although Wood Energy had excellent healing properties, it still had its limits.
Wood Energy can boost the body's natural regenerative rate by hundreds to thousands of times greater depending on a Wood Awakener's capability, but it cannot do what the body already can not—regrow missing limbs and organs.
At the very least, it did not seem like it was possible in the Transcendent Realm.
And although Princess Thessalia still had her limbs and organs, so many parts were missing that it was no different from not having any.
After fending off another wave of attacks from the mutated rats and observed the surrounding battle, Leon said, "Then create an opening and let me in. I will help."
"Alright." Supreme Elder Haldir quickly agreed.
After Leon gave the Supreme Elder his location and timing, Supreme Elder Haldir diverted some of his attention from Princess Thessalia to create a vine dome opening.
Once Leon saw the opening, he entered immediately before the gap in the vine dome quickly closed up behind him.
Shortly after, several lightning spikes struck the vine dome.
"What do you think, young prince? Are you able to heal this level of injury?" Supreme Elder Haldir asked.
Leon observed the state of Princess Thessalia's body before falling silent in quiet contemplation of a suitable method of treatment.
Princess Thessalia was weak, but she overheard their conversation.
No one knew better about the state of her body than herself. Seeing that the Supreme Elder was helpless and Leon was silent, her will to live slowly faded as she began to lose hope.
"Just let me die and save yourself the troubles. No one can save me," Princess Thessalia spoke weakly with a paled face and listless eyes.
"If you really want to die, I won't stop you. But don't forget that there are people who will mourn for you, like Princess Faelyn. Are you sure you want to leave behind your only sister left behind in this world alone?" The Supreme Elder said.
He had also presumed that Princess Thessalia's case was hopeless after observing Leon's silence on the topic of solutions.
"Then what do you suggest we do, Supreme Elder? I cannot continue living on your life support forever. Your Wood Energy is not endless, and I am not that selfish!" Princess Thessalia spoke emotionally as tears dripped from her face.
Shortly after, she threw another fit of violent coughing.
To not be able to move and had to rely on the kindness of others to stay alive, how can she stand living like that?
Such a life was no better than dying.
"I haven't said anything yet. So why are you already giving up on life? Did I say I couldn't treat your grave injuries?" Leon finally spoke.
"Oh? Do you truly have a way to save Princess Thessalia, young prince?" Supreme Elder Haldir was pleasantly surprised to hear Leon's word.
Leon nodded.
"If you had a way, then why didn't you say something sooner?" Princess Thessalia complained while wiping her tears with her hands. She felt wronged and blamed Leon for making her feel sad for no reason.
"I was thinking. How would I know if I can or not without checking?" Leon responded with furrowed brows before adding, "Anyway, seeing you act like this is much more preferable compared to your usual self. No man will ever like such a tomboyish woman."
Leon thought that one day, he would eventually leave Gaia. And when he does, he would take all his women with him—including Faelyn.
If Princess Thessalia never gets married and produces any descendants, wouldn't that mean that he would have basically ended the royal elvish bloodline on Gaia?
Not that it bothered him all that much, considering the Supreme Elder was the true ruler of the elven tribe.
It was just a passing thought.
Nevertheless, after Princess Thessalia heard Leon's words, she felt embarrassment overwhelmed her as she covered her face like she was trying to hide from being seen in such a vulnerable state further.
"For now, just swallow this first." Leon casually said, unaware and unconcerned of Princess Thessalia's present emotions.
He took out a Tier 3 All-Purpose Healing Pill before forcefully slipping it into Princess Thessalia's mouth and making her swallow it, albeit with some resistance.
Although the All-Purpose Healing Pill cannot regrow missing bones and parts of the organs, it supplemented the regenerative process of the flesh and muscles that had already been mostly recovered by Supreme Elder Haldir.
As such, less Wood Energy was required to maintain Princess Thessalia's condition as they were all directed into regulating the body's functions.
Shortly after, Leon placed his hand over Princess Thessalia's chest and supplied his own Wood Energy as he took over the Supreme Elder's role.
"You can leave Princess Thessalia to me and head out to assist the others while I am conducting the treatment, Marquis Haldir," Leon said.
Supreme Elder Haldir gazed at Leon for a moment.
"Alright. Well then, I will be leaving Princess Thessalia, young prince." Supreme Elder Haldir nodded before shortly leaving Leon and Princess Thessalia inside the vine dome alone.
The Supreme Elder had vaguely guessed that the young prince's medical treatment would be unorthodox and involved some secrets that the person did not want to be known by others.