White Jade Ginseng
The mournful and weathered figure, with his flowing white hair dancing in the wind, was once the pride of the family—the first genius of the clan. Slowly, he turned away from the Questioning Heaven Conference.
At the observation platform, the patriarch, Yang Hong, gazed at Yang Fan's departing silhouette, his heart tightening involuntarily. Before leaving, Yang Fan had offered an apologetic smile to the patriarch, stirring an inexplicable feeling within him.
As the leader of the Yang family, Yang Hong was a man of great pragmatism. With Yang Fan now reduced to a state of uselessness, he bore no value to the family. Remaining here would only serve to bring shame, and thus there was no need for him to stay.
Yang Fan's exit certainly drew the attention of many. Even Yang Guang, who had just taken the stage, couldn't help but cast a glance in his direction, his heart swelling with exhilaration: "From this day forward, I shall be the foremost among the younger generation of the family. No one can stand in my way…"
In a corner of the crowd, adorned in vibrant attire, Yang Man's bright eyes flickered with a hint of sympathy, which was quickly replaced by indifference: "What a pity... If it weren't for this unforeseen incident, my father might have considered marrying me to the family's first genius…"
Upon seeing Yang Fan leave, Li Pangzi's eyes darted with malicious intent, a sinister glimmer flashing across them. He stealthily retrieved a small paper crane from his storage bag, channeling his spiritual energy into it as he muttered a few incantations. Finally, he flicked his finger, and the little paper crane transformed into a faint azure glow, soaring into the sky until it vanished from sight.
Having left the confines of his family's estate, Yang Fan re-entered the bustling Yang Family Fortress. The sounds of hawkers echoing through the marketplace filled his ears.
The Yang Family Fortress was not merely a haven for immortals; it was a vibrant community inhabited by countless mortals who depended on the Southern Yang family for their livelihood.
"Zhang Laosan's buns, large and fragrant, three for a coin!"
"Freshly baked Chenxi pancakes, crispy and delicious, buy three get one free!"
"Wang Laoji's rice wine, a century-old brand, smooth and tasty…"
…
"This is the world of ordinary people. They may appear unrestrained, yet they endure relentless oppression, suffering the cycles of life and death. Even those exalted as nobles and princes cannot escape death, and the essence of this world remains elusive."
As Yang Fan observed the lively marketplace of the Yang Family Fortress, his heart was enveloped in tranquility. Having glimpsed the immortal path and the hope of eternal life, he could no longer return to the existence of a mere ant, gazing up at others.
Standing still, Yang Fan once again immersed his consciousness in the Immortal Hong Space.
He knelt down, pressing his palm against the verdant ground, and green light particles surged into his body at an astonishing rate, rapidly healing his wounds and replenishing his vitality. Moreover, these green particles entered his mind, nourishing his very soul!
In less than half a tea's time, Yang Fan felt rejuvenated. The fractured meridians and injured organs within him had all returned to their former state.
"This is simply miraculous; the healing effect of the green earth far surpasses those so-called elixirs!"
Yang Fan exhaled deeply, a healthy hue returning to his face as the pallor of his hair faded, becoming flecked with color.
In just a brief moment, Yang Fan restored his robust physique, akin to that of a cultivator in the Concentration Phase. The only difference was his loss of magical power and a slight diminishment in his soul's strength, yet he was still several times stronger than an ordinary person.
"Given my current condition, even without relying on the Immortal Hong Space, I could recover my former cultivation within four to five years."
Yang Fan felt an overwhelming thrill, his hands trembling slightly.
The green earth had effortlessly restored his vitality and spirit, nurturing his soul and liberating him from the constraints of age, endowing him with potential akin to that of a youth of eleven or twelve.
"This is excellent! I shall return home at once to practice the **Immortal Hong Sutra**."
With renewed determination, Yang Fan turned towards his residence within the Yang Family Fortress.
However, halfway there, he suddenly sensed an anomaly. Instinctively, he sidestepped, catching a glimpse of the vendor's stall out of the corner of his eye.
"How much for this ginseng?" he asked, feigning curiosity.
"Close call! He almost caught on!"
At the entrance of a shop, three or four men with unwelcoming expressions crouched, their eyes fixated on the distance where Yang Fan was purchasing items.
"What's there to fear? This brat is powerless, even inferior to an ordinary mortal…"
"Let's wait. Once we're in a secluded area, we'll teach him a lesson."
The leader, a middle-aged man with a handlebar mustache, stated confidently.
"Indeed, Uncle Ba, with you, a cultivator, here, we're bound to succeed."
…
"Ah, Young Master Yang, this is a five-hundred-year-old white jade ginseng, quite valuable. Unfortunately, it has lost much of its vitality due to being mishandled by a few mortals. Only a skilled alchemist could restore its former essence."
The vendor was surprisingly a practitioner at the initial stage of Qi refinement, and he clearly recognized Yang Fan, the once-prominent genius of the family.
Five hundred years old white jade ginseng—this was a treasure of the earth!
Yang Fan felt a stir in his heart and asked, "How much for this white jade ginseng?"
"Ah, Young Master Yang, allow me to introduce myself. I am Lin Zhong, a wandering cultivator. Although you've lost your powers, your composure in the face of such disgrace commands our admiration."
"Since you seem fond of it, I wouldn't mind gifting you this white jade ginseng."
Lin Zhong said warmly.
Yang Fan pondered for a moment before responding, "In that case, since Brother Lin is so generous, I shall accept this white jade ginseng."
In the world of cultivation, wanderers like Lin Zhong were typically unaffiliated, many even lacking a master, relying solely on a few tattered manuals to painstakingly navigate the path of immortality.
For lower-tier wanderers, what they lacked most were access to cultivation manuals, jade slips of techniques, magical artifacts, and insights into cultivation.
Lin Zhong's eagerness to present Yang Fan with this white jade ginseng undoubtedly held ulterior motives.
"Feel free to visit my home sometime, Brother Lin. I don't mean my residence in the Yang Family Fortress, but my home in Wuliu Town."
Yang Fan stated casually.
"Thank you, Young Master, thank you!" Lin Zhong, quick-witted, expressed his gratitude profusely. Although Yang Fan had lost his powers, he was still a former practitioner in the Concentration Phase, possessing a wealth of knowledge and techniques that far surpassed Lin Zhong's.
After parting ways with Lin Zhong, Yang Fan turned, deliberately concealing himself from the men trailing him.
He quickly darted into a secluded corner, glanced around, then bit his fingertip, letting blood flow forth.
"Activate!"
He pressed the bloodied finger against his waist storage bag.
The storage bag opened, and Yang Fan deftly retrieved a stack of talismans, hiding them in his pocket.
After completing these tasks, he exhaled softly.
Having lost his magical powers, he could use his blood as a catalyst to pry open his storage bag, extracting a dozen talismans.
After all, this storage bag had been his companion for many years, and given his former status as a practitioner in the Concentration Phase, his blood contained some residual spiritual energy.
With this method, even in his current powerless state, he could barely activate a few spells that required minimal magical power, provided he understood the principles behind them.
"There! Quick, look over there!"
The middle-aged man with the handlebar mustache shouted, urging his three lackeys to pursue.
Just a moment ago, Yang Fan had vanished from their sight, sending Uncle Ba into a brief panic.
"This job involves ten spirit stones and a thousand taels of silver. We absolutely cannot let this 'fat sheep' escape."
As Yang Fan made his way midway, he once again immersed his consciousness in the **Immortal Hong Space**.
Standing on the green earth, he observed a small dog nearby and asked, "How can I transfer items from the real world to here?"
The small dog replied, "Just will it with your mind."
"Is it really that simple?"
Yang Fan focused, and the white jade ginseng in his hand seamlessly transitioned into the Immortal Hong Space, now firmly in his grasp.
"Hmm? That ginseng in your hand looks like it's on the brink of dying. If you place it on the green earth, it won't take long before it revives."
The little dog suddenly remarked, staring at the ginseng Yang Fan held.
"Ah, I had this suspicion, which is why I purchased it. It seems the green earth truly has such a capability," Yang Fan replied with a grin.
"I'll go fetch some tools from the warehouse…"
With that, the little dog scurried into the hut behind him, emerging moments later with a small spade, which he handed to Yang Fan.
Understanding its intent, Yang Fan used the spade to clear the weeds and turn the soil, burying
the ginseng halfway.
In an instant, tendrils of green energy began to flow from the earth, weaving into the white jade ginseng.
With the naked eye, the ginseng transformed from its listless state, gradually regaining its vigor.
"This is wonderful… Just this five-hundred-year-old white jade ginseng could fetch hundreds of spirit stones at the trading market."
Yang Fan felt elated within.
Hundreds of spirit stones were no small sum!
Taking his time, Yang Fan made his way back to his residence, leaving the door intentionally ajar.
"Quick, get inside…"
Uncle Ba commanded, leading the three ruffians as they barged into the courtyard.
However, upon entering, they were met with an unexpected sight:
Yang Fan had completely vanished!