Spirit Herb Seeds

"Well, he is still my own brother... Moreover, I possess my own secrets." 

Yang Fan withdrew his gaze, no longer preoccupied with Yang Lei's whereabouts, and temporarily set aside the doubts that lingered in his heart. At this hour, the night had grown deep, and Yang Lei's arrival had not disturbed the slumber of his younger sister and mother. 

Yang Fan nodded slightly, recognizing that both he and his brother, despite their decisive and ruthless natures, held family ties in high regard. Tomorrow marked the much-anticipated medical competition in Wuliu Town, and he felt no hint of urgency. 

Returning to his room, he sat cross-legged and let his consciousness sink into the "Xianhong Space." 

Within the confines of this verdant expanse, roughly ten feet in radius, the size remained relatively unchanged; however, several tender shoots had sprouted from the lush earth. After leaving "Yihe Village," Yang Fan had planted some rare spirit herb seeds given to him by the hunchbacked old man in this verdant soil. In just a few days, these spirit flowers and extraordinary herbs had begun to sprout. 

Presently, the time within this green domain flowed at an accelerated rate of four times faster than the outside world. As Yang Fan infused the life mist into this thriving ground, he could faintly perceive a mysterious force hastening the growth of life. 

Of course, Yang Fan still possessed some spirit herb seeds, but given the limited area of his green land, he had only chosen to cultivate those herbs with growth cycles of less than a hundred years. Among them, the "Xuanjing Snow Lotus" and "Jiu Yang Daylily" were the most demanding in their growth conditions and the most precious in value. 

When the hunchbacked old man had entrusted these seeds to him, the seeds of these two extraordinary herbs had nearly withered and died. Even when stored with special prohibitions, their vitality diminished significantly due to environmental factors. However, after being planted in the green soil, these rare herbs had miraculously revived, gradually regaining their life force. 

Yang Fan could only imagine the astonishing value these "Xuanjing Snow Lotuses" and "Jiu Yang Daylilies" would hold upon reaching maturity. In a world where spiritual energy was scarce, such herbs were nearly extinct treasures, enough to entice even high-ranking cultivators. 

However, he did not expect them to mature in the short term; even if they did, he dared not trade them lightly, as doing so would invite deadly calamity. 

Standing within the "Xianhong Space," Yang Fan had no intention of immediately retracting his focus. He took a moment to pull out a vibrant green brick from his storage bag, a fragment of the magical artifact belonging to the Jin Hong Sect. 

Even though it was merely a piece, this object was a mid-grade spiritual tool, surpassing the Qingfeng Sword in his possession by an entire tier. In the days shortly after his return to Wuliu Town, Yang Fan had attempted to refine this treasure. Given his consciousness at the late stage of the Condensation realm, it was not overly strenuous, yet so far, he had only achieved a preliminary refinement. 

To fully forge it into his own life tool, years of dedication to refining and honing were necessary to develop a profound connection as if it were flesh and blood. 

Through his explorations, Yang Fan discovered that this green brick was versatile—capable of both offense and defense, its power immeasurable, even surpassing other spiritual tools of the same rank. What was even more peculiar was its ability to conceal itself. 

This so-called stealth capability allowed it to blend temporarily into the void through secret techniques, enabling surprising strikes that yielded astonishing results. However, the sole drawback was that utilizing this treasure consumed considerable magical energy. Yang Fan found that even with minimal manipulation, he quickly felt drained. 

After returning the green brick to his storage bag, Yang Fan took out a black whip, which was the self-defense spiritual tool gifted by the hunchbacked old man. 

He had attempted to refine it but found the process extraordinarily challenging. He could hardly comprehend why such a support tool was proving so difficult to cultivate. As for the whip's potential effects, he had only begun to scratch the surface, unable to wield it as he wished. 

The following morning, Yang Fan exhaled a breath of stale air, opened his eyes, and felt rejuvenated. He rose and stretched his limbs. 

As he stepped out of his room, he spotted his sister, Yang Huixin, busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Wuliu Town was alive with curling wisps of smoke rising from various homes. 

"This is a peaceful and harmonious little town. I hope my medical clinic can establish itself without causing too much conflict, let alone inciting bloodshed..." 

Yang Fan's eyes sparkled with determination; the opening of his clinic was a mission he was resolute to achieve. Anyone who sought to thwart his plans would face no hesitation in their removal! 

Before long, the three of them gathered for breakfast, enjoying a pleasant meal together. Yang's mother sighed, "When will Lei'er come home for a visit? That would be wonderful." 

"Indeed," Yang Fan replied, though he withheld the fact that his brother had visited last night without returning home. 

Just then, a voice rang out from outside, "Is Master Yang at home?" 

Following that came a knock at the door. 

Yang Fan walked over and opened it. 

"Master Yang!" An elderly servant with a jovial expression greeted him. "My master invites you over. There is only an hour left until the 'Medical Exchange' event begins in Wuliu Town." 

This elderly man was the deputy manager of Mayor Liu Degui's household. 

"The 'Medical Exchange'?" Yang Fan replied with a hint of sarcasm. "Please tell your master that I will arrive on time." 

"I will wait right here for you, sir." The deputy manager spoke respectfully, bowing as he stood at the door. 

Yang Fan didn't engage in pleasantries, leisurely rising to leave after finishing his meal. 

At that moment, the door opened, and another guest entered—a familiar face, Lin Zhong. 

"You arrived just in time; let us set off together." 

Yang Fan smiled slightly, glad to accompany Lin Zhong. The deputy manager bowed again, saying, "After you, sirs." 

With that, he led the way. 

Before long, Yang Fan found himself within the grand estate of Liu Degui. As the mayor of Wuliu Town, Liu's wealth far surpassed that of ordinary residents, and he accommodated dozens of family members and servants. 

Today, the mayor's courtyard bustled with activity, as curious townsfolk had gathered early to watch the festivities. 

With Yang Fan's arrival, the crowd grew even more boisterous. 

"Look! Young Master Yang has arrived!" 

Some exclaimed in surprise. 

"Brother Fan, you've finally come! I stopped by your house earlier but was chased away by Huixin, who said she didn't want to disturb your rest..." 

Tie Niu and Nangong Yu had also joined the crowd, though Yang Fan was unsure when they had arrived. 

Nangong Yu, a natural-born warrior, cast Yang Fan a friendly smile, his demeanor relaxed and confident. 

Yang Fan nodded to the two and continued deeper into the throng. 

His gaze swept over the crowd, noting not only ordinary townsfolk but also various "unsavory characters"—martial artists, worldly physicians, and even a few hints of cultivators among them. 

"It's quite lively..." 

Yang Fan's lips curled into a faint smile. Should this battle succeed, it would undoubtedly bring tremendous popularity to his "Universal Medical Clinic." 

Before long, the deputy manager guided the two men into an elegantly decorated reception room. 

As they stepped inside, Yang Fan immediately spotted several familiar figures. 

Among them was, of course, the man in question, Hu Banxian. 

However, Yang Fan's gaze was drawn to two other familiar faces, his expression suddenly turning solemn.