Chapter Five: To Death

Yang Fan moved through the forest with his eyes closed, stopping and starting as he went, gathering medicinal herbs one by one and dropping them into his basket. Compared to his former efficiency, this was an improvement by a hundredfold, if not more.

With his “sense of the earth,” everything within seven meters appeared to him in perfect clarity, like a 360-degree, high-definition camera. Beyond that, up to seventy meters, his perception was more blurred, but he could still detect the green vitality within plants and the crimson aura of wild beasts.

The mountain forest had become his private backyard. Especially in places where wild grass and vines grew thick, on sheer cliffs and remote spots rarely visited by humans, he was able to harvest medicinal plants with ease.

By midday, his basket was already half full. Yang Fan estimated the value—about two taels of silver. Compared to his usual earnings, it was almost miraculous.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t come across any spiritual herbs,” he sighed, gazing into the depths of the mountain. It was exceedingly difficult to find treasures in the outer regions.

“Well then…”

He decided to find Ma Guang first, to avenge a past grudge. Yang Fan had been tracking Ma Guang’s movements and now went directly after him.

Traversing wild terrain, he had to contend with tangled grass, twisting vines, and the threat of poisonous insects and snakes. Some fell from cliffs, others were devoured by wild beasts, but most casualties came from venomous creatures.

He deliberately avoided other youths gathering herbs, and in a mountain valley, he found Ma Guang standing hesitantly beside a pond.

Yang Fan’s pupils contracted.

In the pond, close to the edge, swayed a stalk of aquatic grass, shimmering with a faint green glow in his perception. The glow was weak, but it was rare and precious.

In the depths of the pond lurked a fierce fish nearly two meters long, its eyes fixed on Ma Guang at the shore, ready to strike.

Even Yang Fan felt a chill.

Sweeping the area with his earth sense and confirming the absence of others, he stamped his foot and charged forward like a tiger descending a mountain.

Ma Guang was alert; hearing the commotion, he spun around, only to find Yang Fan already upon him, his pupils narrowing in alarm.

He opened his mouth, but before he could utter a sound, Yang Fan’s fist crashed into his neck with a crack. Ma Guang’s neck twisted, blood trickled from his mouth and nose. Yang Fan seized him and, without so much as a glance at Ma Guang’s herb basket, flung his body to the far side of the pond.

Past grievances, other feuds—they no longer mattered.

Once he’d resolved to take revenge, he did it without hesitation.

Splash—

Water sprayed everywhere as the fierce fish, drawn by the scent of blood, darted toward the body. Yang Fan seized the opportunity to pluck the aquatic grass from the rippling water and quickly departed.

He examined the herb as he walked.

His earth imprint trembled in his mind, revealing its information:

[Clear Hollow Grass]: Hollow stem, upright leaves, three branches, verdant and light. Cold in nature, effective in reducing fever, treating convulsions, calming the heart and mind, containing 0.6 units of essence.

“So little!” he muttered. Even a small gain was worthwhile; he absorbed the essence through his Qi-Devouring ability, but it did not increase his awakening level. The grass in his hand, drained of essence, shriveled; he tossed it aside.

Looking back, the pond was now stained red.

Dust returns to dust, earth to earth, the past dispersed to the breeze.

Strangely, Yang Fan felt lighter, as if a burden had been lifted.

He still doubted whether his gathered herbs would place him in the top ten; he resolved to keep searching, to push deeper.

The further he ventured, the greater the danger.

More poisonous creatures appeared.

He paused, noticing a patch of mist ahead. Raising his eyes, he saw a rainbow shimmering among the treetops, colorful and dazzling.

“Miasma!” he recognized at once.

[Mountain and Seas Chronicle: The Miasma of Cloud Mist Mountain: Clouds rise, mist swirls, giving the mountain its name. Legend says the mountain was barren, devoid of plants or beasts, until one day fierce winds blew, lightning flashed, and torrential rains fell. A true dragon rolled down from the clouds, merging with the mountain. The dragon’s grievance echoed, rain poured for three years, and overnight grass and trees grew, poisonous insects and serpents appeared. On sunny days, the earth’s energy rises, mingled with the dragon’s resentment, forming miasma. Beasts are corroded, birds cry in sorrow; over time, the miasma turns toxic, causing dizziness and decay in those who stray within.]

Yang Fan hesitated, then moved closer and activated his Qi-Devouring ability, absorbing a wisp of miasma, which transformed into a thread of essence within him.

He felt no discomfort.

Qi-Devouring: Capable of consuming pestilence and miasma.

Yang Fan smiled.

He experimented a few more times; what hunters dreaded as if it were a flood, for him, was a source of benefit.

The subtlety of it was beyond words.

Yet Yang Fan did not venture into the mist—there were too many herb gatherers today, too many eyes; it was best to keep his advantage hidden.

He turned and headed another way.

Soon, he heard cries of distress ahead, a familiar voice, and hurried over—it was Yang Datiger.

Behind him slithered a giant python, over ten meters long.

A foul wind surged as the snake opened its jaws wide, lunging at the panicked Yang Datiger.

Its maw could engulf a man’s head.

Yang Fan felt his scalp tingle.

He swept his gaze, picked up a stone the size of a fist, and hurled it. His strength sent the stone whistling through the air, striking the snake’s head and causing it to recoil, blood splattering.

Seeing the effect, Yang Fan threw several more stones, managing to drive the python back.

“Whew… Yang Fan, thank you! If not for you, I’d have been eaten.” Yang Datiger ran over, delighted to see Yang Fan had rescued him, though he was gasping for breath, his face red and neck thick.

“Let’s go!” Yang Fan grabbed him, “How did you provoke that thing?”

He noticed Yang Datiger’s herb basket was gone.

“Ah…” Yang Datiger grimaced, “I stumbled on a silver-headed red flame ant, chased it here, and didn’t know there was a python lurking. Damn, I almost got swallowed.”

“Silver-headed red flame ant?” Yang Fan’s eyes lit up.

“Yeah, the kind about the size of a fist, super fast. Once processed, it’s a potent medicine, worth a tael of silver apiece,” Yang Datiger nodded.

“Those ants live in colonies—if there’s one, there must be more,” Yang Fan stopped. “Should we go for it?”

“I don’t want to die!” Yang Datiger shook his head.

“If you won’t, I will. It’s not just silver, it’s a qualification for the assessment,” Yang Fan replied.

“There’s a python, brother!”

“We just drove it away! I’ll give it a try, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll retreat.”

“You’re crazy for money!” Yang Datiger scratched his head, “Fine, I’ll go wild with you.”

“No, you’re exhausted. Stay here and get ready—if anything happens to me, you can help,” Yang Fan waved, “I’ll be right back.”

Besides the money and the assessment, Yang Fan remembered that his former self had once heard that near the nest of silver-headed red flame ants, earth treasures often grew.

“I—you—” Yang Datiger opened his mouth to protest, but lacked the strength to follow.

He looked around and began preparing.

Yang Fan had already dashed away.

This time, he detoured up the cliff to observe from above, where he could see clearly and act more easily.

Along the way, he collected several fist-sized stones and placed them in his basket.

Soon, Yang Fan spotted the python coiled around a stone pillar.

His eyes narrowed, gleaming with a brilliant light.

A look of delight flashed across his face.