Hong Yun's heart was filled with emotion upon hearing Shen Nong's words. With such people among the humans, how could they not prosper!
Shen Nong carefully examined the small herb in his hand. He had fainted too quickly, not even getting a good look at this herb that could cure spider venom.
Shen Nong noticed regular protrusions on the emerald-green leaves of the herb and a purple membrane around the stem.
He brought it to his nose and inhaled gently. A pungent smell assaulted his senses, and Shen Nong quickly pulled it away, taking deep breaths of fresh air to recover.
Thinking that since this herb could cure spider venom, he would name it Spider Grass.
Hong Yun watched the focused Shen Nong and did not disturb him, sitting quietly in his spot.
After naming the herb, Shen Nong remembered Hong Yun was still there. He turned back and looked at Hong Yun with a slightly embarrassed expression, saying:
"Senior! I am truly sorry, I forgot you were still here!"
Hong Yun shook his head and said:
"Shen Nong, do you truly intend to find a path for the human race? You might lose your life because of it!"
Shen Nong nodded gently, his expression serious. "Senior, my mind is made up. If our race has no means of treatment, our people will die in agony. Even if Shen Nong dies, I must find a path to healing for my people!"
Seeing Shen Nong's firm resolve, Hong Yun took out a ruler. Looking at Shen Nong, he said:
"Shen Nong, since you have this aspiration, I, this Daoist priest, will lend you a hand. This item can neutralize all poisons, and I shall bestow it upon you today!"
Hearing this, Shen Nong looked at the ruler in Hong Yun's hand. Though his eyes showed longing, he did not reach out to take it. Shen Nong said:
"Senior, we are not related by blood or acquaintance, and I cannot accept your gift!"
Hong Yun was taken aback. He never expected this young man to refuse such a precious treasure.
This ruler was given to him by Taishang, with instructions to give it to Shen Nong at the opportune moment. To think he refused it!
Hong Yun shook his head, a wry smile on his face, and said to Shen Nong:
"This item is not from me. It is from your race's Holy Father, who entrusted me to deliver it to you!"
Upon hearing it was a treasure from the Holy Father, Shen Nong finally accepted it and said:
"Thank you, Senior, for conveying my gratitude to the Holy Father!"
Hong Yun nodded and said:
"Rest assured, I will inform your Holy Father. This item does not yet have a name; why don't you give it one?"
Shen Nong pondered for a moment, looking at the green ruler in his hand, and then said:
"My name is Shen Nong, so let it be called the Shen Nong Ruler!"
After naming the Shen Nong Ruler, Shen Nong turned to Hong Yun:
"Senior, Shen Nong has urgent matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer. I bid you farewell!"
Shen Nong bowed to Hong Yun and then headed into the depths of the mountains.
Hong Yun watched Shen Nong depart, unsure of what else to say.
After Shen Nong left, he felt much more confident with the Shen Nong Ruler in his hand. Along the way, he tasted every plant he encountered.
Whether it was the fruit, the leaves, or the roots, Shen Nong sampled them all.
There were countless plants in the world, and some were highly poisonous.
Shen Nong spotted a small grass with bright red fruits. Even birds avoided it.
Shen Nong plucked the vibrant fruit and chewed it. It was incredibly sweet at first, then a slight astringency.
As soon as he swallowed it, Shen Nong felt unbearable pain in his abdomen, as if his intestines were being sliced by knives. His face changed drastically, and he cried out:
"Not good! It's poisonous!"
In unbearable pain, Shen Nong writhed on the ground, as if it could alleviate his suffering. After an unknown duration, Shen Nong fainted from the agony.
Time ticked by. It wasn't until the sun began to set behind the mountains that Shen Nong slowly regained consciousness.
Shen Nong looked at the bright red fruit before him with lingering fear. Because after consuming it, he felt as if his intestines were being torn apart, he named it the Heartbreak Grass.
Shen Nong had ingested quite a bit that day, much of it poisonous. However, the potency of Heartbreak Grass was the most severe.
Shen Nong looked at the Shen Nong Ruler. Without its assistance, he doubted he would have survived even with ten lives.
As Shen Nong consumed more plants, he gradually discovered a pattern: plants with pungent aromas were often medicinal.
This was because after he consumed plants with such smells, the color of the Shen Nong Ruler would deepen slightly.
Shen Nong realized that the Shen Nong Ruler not only neutralized all poisons but also possessed the ability to identify medicinal properties in all plants.
Furthermore, when he consumed a poisonous substance, after waking up and the Shen Nong Ruler detoxifying him, the ruler would lose its green hue due to the toxicity.
He could also observe the Shen Nong Ruler to determine the toxicity of a plant.
Every time Shen Nong awoke, he felt grateful to Hong Yun and the Human Race's Holy Father. If not for the Shen Nong Ruler, the path of healing for the human race would undoubtedly be fraught with countless more hardships.
In Shen Nong's memory, he had almost fainted more than seventy times that day.
As the sky darkened, Shen Nong casually found a spot to lie down and fell into a deep sleep.
Shen Nong had been traveling all day and had been tormented by numerous poisons. Although the Shen Nong Ruler could detoxify him, it could not shield him from the feeling of being poisoned.
Meanwhile, Taishang had arrived at the Feixiong clan's settlement, where the Human Emperor resided. Everyone understood Taishang's purpose for visiting. After paying their respects, the Human Emperor's mother brought the Human Emperor to him.
Taishang looked at the child and asked:
"What is this child's name?"
The Human Emperor's mother, while having the Human Emperor pay his respects to Taishang, replied:
"Reporting to Holy Father, his father named him Xuanyuan."
Taishang nodded and said:
"Xuanyuan, I will be residing in your tribe for a while. Are you willing to follow me and learn?"
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan replied crisply:
"Reporting to Holy Father, Xuanyuan is willing!"
Taishang nodded and said:
"Then, when you have free time, come to my place."
Xuanyuan's mother quickly interjected:
"Reporting to Holy Father, Xuanyuan always has free time. It would be fine even if he stayed with you!"
Taishang smiled but said nothing. Was this mother too eager?
However, Taishang did not refuse and said:
"In that case, Xuanyuan will live with me from now on."
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan said:
"Thank you, Holy Father! Xuanyuan will definitely study diligently!"
Taishang patted Xuanyuan's head and said:
"Good! Xuanyuan must keep his word! If you give up halfway, I will impose a severe punishment!"
Seeing how approachable Taishang was, Xuanyuan's mother also smiled and said:
"Holy Father, please rest assured. If he is not serious, I will not let him off lightly when he returns."
Taishang smiled and then led Xuanyuan towards his residence.