Chapter 27: A Surge in Power
Three Fragrant Flower: Grows within dead trees, absorbs the air of decay, feeds on flesh-eating insects, and is the ultimate yin object. Its blossom has three petals, each distinct, exuding three scents, each with a unique flavor. It can transform pure yang energy, neutralize fierce toxins, and be used in marrow-cleansing medicines. Contains 2.6 units of essence.
Sparrow Antelope Grass: Sprouts at the edge of cliffs, thrives in mountain winds, its fragrance lures sparrows whose droppings nourish it, its green hue attracts antelopes whose saliva irrigates it. Draws energy from mountain veins and absorbs the purest winds. It cleanses tendons and purifies marrow, granting health and lightness of body. Contains 0.3 units of essence.
Red Miasma Fruit: The red miasma tree grows amid marshes, within the miasma, nourished by poisonous yin energy. It never exceeds three feet in height and is entirely toxic. Its branches and leaves are bright red and emit a fragrance that lures exotic beasts to consume its foliage, killing them and turning their bodies into nutrients. After fruiting, the scent changes, becoming rank and intolerable, its stench repels beasts. Born of venom yet adept at detoxifying, it also purifies marrow and delays aging. Contains 3.8 units of essence.
Purple Date Tree Tumor: The purple date tree is an ordinary jujube tree. Its roots, juicy and sweet, often attract earth spirits to gnaw, leaving scars that transform into medicinal tumors. These tumors unblock meridians, relieve headaches, stop pain, and dispel wind paralysis. Having absorbed spiritual energy, its medicinal effect is enhanced. Contains 0.1 units of essence.
White Spirit Jade: Essence of the earth converges to birth this jade, a natural treasure nourished by heaven and earth, full of pure energy, a miraculous creation. By chance, it merged into the roots of the purple date tree, hidden and unseen by the world, yet causing the tumor to mutate. Contains 9.9 units of essence.
Holding a purple date tree tumor the size of a fist, Yang Fan’s breath caught for a moment.
Ordinary on the outside, yet within lay a treasure of mountain and earth.
Nine point nine units of essence.
No matter what, he could not remain calm.
“Xiao Fan, excellent eye!” Seeing Yang Fan select the Three Fragrant Flower and the Red Miasma Fruit, Steward Wang’s lips twitched, but he still praised him. “You’ve picked all the good things, but what use is the purple date tree tumor?”
“To me, it’s a treasure.” Yang Fan smiled. “Uncle Wang, you’ve already helped me—if I don’t pay, you’ll have trouble explaining it. Please, tell me its value.”
“Very well.” Steward Wang, knowing Yang Fan carried a fortune, did not refuse, since the items were indeed valuable.
“The Red Miasma Fruit is a rare fruit with special effects—it delays aging. Even with my privileges, the internal price is two hundred forty taels! The Three Fragrant Flower is also excellent, being used in special antidotes, and costs twenty taels of silver. The other two, consider them thrown in.”
“Do you want them? The price is not low!” Steward Wang smiled.
Yang Fan directly handed over three hundred taels: “Uncle Wang, keep the change. Please look after Da Hu more in the future.”
“He grew up under my watch, I’d care for him even without your request. You’ll need much silver in your travels—how can I take your money!” Steward Wang shook his head. “Wait here, I’ll get your change.”
“Uncle Wang, no need!” Yang Fan waved his hand and left.
As for one spiritual item in the medicine hall, he did not intend to take it.
Coming to the storeroom was already conspicuous; to go to the medicine hall and select another item would be too abnormal, especially since the medicinal glow from that item was not strong.
Outside, Han Li was still waiting.
“Brother Han, the road through Jianghu is long, may we meet again!” Yang Fan cupped his hands.
“Brother Yang, I wish you a safe journey, may you soar like a dragon in the abyss!” Han Li returned the gesture.
Under several gazes, Yang Fan hurried away, carrying his little medicine bag.
He circled from the east end of the town toward the south.
His destination: Jinhua County.
Essence: +16.7
Total: 17.2.
On the road, Yang Fan absorbed the essence, becoming instantly wealthy.
He was excited.
This was his confidence.
Otherwise, with his current strength, how could he dare enter the city and kill the county officer?
Earth sense and intimidation were not omnipotent.
His martial cultivation was only ninth rank, though he’d reached its true peak. Yang Fan felt he would break the bottleneck and reach eighth rank within days.
After battling Liu Yuanying and others, he also gained a basic assessment of his own blood vitality.
Roughly equivalent to the peak of eighth rank.
Once he broke through, his realm would rise, blood energy would surge, and his strength would match that of a seventh-rank martial artist.
“Should I awaken Night Vision and Swift Movement, or continue increasing my awakening rate?”
As he moved forward, Yang Fan pondered.
Passing a grove, he suddenly changed direction.
Enter through the north gate? Impossible!
“Awakening rate is fundamental. Now that essence has surged, I’ll add points first and see if new abilities appear.”
Yang Fan no longer hesitated.
He added points, bit by bit.
Awakening Rate: 20%.
Yang Fan paused.
With the increase, power surged from deep within, cleansing tendons and marrow, strengthening his core.
He clearly felt his bones, skin, strength, senses, blood energy—all greatly enhanced.
A significant leap.
This was a fundamental improvement, like a strengthening of his bloodline.
Even the four abilities—Absorption, Earth Sense, Intimidation, and Essence Lock—gained greater power.
Buzz...
His body trembled, blood energy surged.
Yang Fan’s expression changed slightly.
He was about to break through!
The rise in awakening rate naturally dissolved the bottleneck, unlocking the body’s second shackle.
Yang Fan quickly practiced Fierce Tiger Fist, circulated his blood, and soon shattered the restraint.
Potential power gushed forth, another round of tendon and marrow cleansing.
The effect was excellent.
The improvement was no less than what the awakening rate brought.
Yang Fan’s aura climbed, silencing the insects around him. Only after a long while did his boiling blood settle.
“Eighth rank in martial arts, just like that?”
He still felt unreal.
He clenched his fist, power surged, blood gathered.
Bang...
He struck the air, producing a sonic boom.
With such speed, compressed air left shallow marks on the bark ahead.
“So strong!”
This was no ordinary strength.
The breakthrough and awakening boost gave him confidence; if facing the dog demon now, he could contend head-on.
He could even overwhelm it with sheer force, until it was dead.
After the excitement, he used the ‘Essence Lock’ ability, sealing his blood energy inside, leaking only the aura of an ordinary man.
Examining himself, Yang Fan found a new ability to awaken.
Earth Surge: Manipulate earth power, soil flows, retrieve underground treasures; requires eight units of essence to awaken.
The explanation was simple.
Just the control over earth power moved Yang Fan deeply.
This was a truly extraordinary ability.
The earth is vast and heavy, bearing all things, nourishing all life.
Its scope is immense.
“I feel boundless potential—even now, it brings great benefits.”
Yang Fan’s heart was restless.
Soil flowing? It sounded rustic, but he saw endless uses.
“Awaken!”
Without hesitation, Yang Fan acquired the ability.
Instantly, he felt a closer connection to the ground beneath his feet, and detailed information about ‘Earth Surge’ flooded his mind.
He pointed ahead, the soil softened, then spread outward, forming a deep pit.
Continuing to manipulate, he felt strain.
With a lift of his hand, the earth beneath the pit rolled up like a spring, bringing up objects from below.
“Wonderful!”
Yang Fan was delighted.
He continued testing the ability.
Eventually, he discovered that the range of ‘Earth Surge’ exactly matched that of Earth Sense.
With twenty percent awakening rate, he could sense everything within twenty meters as clearly as a high-definition camera.
Beyond twenty meters up to two hundred meters, his sensing was vague—he could only detect spiritual light and rough outlines.
He could manipulate Earth Surge within the twenty-meter radius.
Not small at all.
“Earth Sense, Intimidation, and now Earth Surge—all bolster my combat repertoire.”
He felt more confident about his city mission.
Only, his remaining essence was now scarce.
Essence: 4.2
But it was enough to awaken ‘Swift Movement.’
Yang Fan hesitated.
In a flash, he stamped his foot, power exploded, carving a pit, soil flying, his figure shooting out.
His speed was so fast, only an afterimage remained.
Where he passed, a gust swept up, rustling the leaves.
He stopped a hundred meters away.
Only two breaths had passed.
Too fast.
“My speed has more than doubled!”
If Swift Movement awakened, then what?
“Speed is power—awaken!”
With that thought, Yang Fan no longer hesitated and activated the ability.
Instantly, he felt streams of energy flow through his legs, subtly altering muscle, fascia, bone, blood vessels.
His feet bonded even more closely to the earth, and with a slight movement, earth power seemed to surge into his legs.
Swift Movement: Tread the earth, patrol the mountains. A must-have for mountain patrol agents, harnessing earth power to traverse myriad peaks in a day.
Yang Fan moved lightly, his feet seemed to gain propulsion, launching him forward—when he stopped, he was dazed.
In just a moment, he was a hundred meters away.
His speed had more than doubled.
“This Swift Movement ability is incredible!”
Yang Fan was overjoyed.
Then he noticed something odd: at such speed, no storm was stirred.
Swift Movement was silent.
“Incredible!”
Yang Fan was once again astonished.
Calming down, he realized how much the increased awakening rate and new abilities had benefited him—far beyond his imagination.
“A small county city—can it still stop me?”
Suddenly, Yang Fan was filled with heroic spirit.
He focused, and his personal information appeared before him, showing significant changes.
Seal Master: Yang Fan
Fate: Mountain Patrol Agent
Awakening Rate: 20%
Awakened Abilities: Absorption, Earth Sense, Intimidation, Essence Lock, Swift Movement, Earth Surge
Abilities Available to Awaken: Night Vision (passive talent, requires 5 units of essence)
Earth Essence: 0.2
Cultivation: Martial Arts, eighth rank
Unconsciously, the awakening rate for the Mountain Patrol fate had reached twenty percent, one step closer to perfection.
He now had six abilities.
His cultivation had reached eighth rank.
Yang Fan’s personal profile was impressive.
The only flaw was that essence was down to 0.2.
He did not mind.
Yang Fan, invigorated, pressed onward.
This time, his mood was entirely different.
“Enter the county, fight the tyrants, divide the land...”