Chapter 51: A Surge in Strength

Azure Lotus Fruit: A spiritual lotus of the arid earth, it grows only within spiritual caverns, nurtured over many years to blossom and bear fruit in a single day. Once the fruit ripens, the flower withers, the leaves fall, and the roots shrivel. The fruit contains ethereal energy, capable of cleansing the mind and tempering the spirit, bringing enlightenment and greatly increasing spiritual acuity. Contains 7.9 units of vital essence.

Celestial Jade Fruit: Grows only upon jade stones, with purer jade accelerating its growth. The fruit is azure, shrouded in a blue radiance, resembling the hue of the celestial sky with the texture of jade. It can refine the muscles and bones, transforming them to jade-like strength, and possesses the power of rebirth. Eaten directly, it bears the toxicity of jade, so blending it with jade powder is best. Contains 12.3 units of vital essence.

Vermilion Fruit: Both herb and shrub, it takes three years to grow, three years to flower, three years to fruit, and another year to ripen, yielding only three fruits in a decade. It can temper the body, boost blood vigor, strengthen muscles and bones, and fortify the organs. For the elderly, it may cause blood to surge dangerously to the brain. Contains 3.3 units of vital essence.

There were three Vermilion Fruits.

The vital essence contained within the Azure Lotus Fruit and Celestial Jade Fruit was far beyond his expectations.

Especially the Celestial Jade Fruit, with its astonishing twelve point three units of vital essence—the most potent spiritual treasure he had ever obtained.

Yang Fan consumed them all, and as they entered his mouth, he absorbed the vital essence through his Qi-Devouring Divine Ability.

Vital Essence: +30.1

Total: 31.7

Overnight, he became fabulously wealthy.

“Be strong, wait for my return!”

After saying his farewells, Yang Fan leapt into the dark river.

The underground cavern returned to silence.

By the riverside, Shi Qiangqiang watched for a long while before returning to his cultivation. Only when weary or exhausted did he rest.

Within the dark river.

Yang Fan’s eyesight pierced the darkness, and his earth sense allowed him to observe his surroundings.

Aside from having to hold his breath, he was otherwise unhindered.

He advanced swiftly.

Once through the dug-out tunnel, the passage widened, and though still underground, he could now catch his breath.

Turning this way and that.

Eventually, a glimmer of light appeared ahead, but Yang Fan did not rush forward, for a crocodile blocked the way.

Its body brimmed with vigorous blood energy.

Yet it was still within his power to handle.

“Intimidate!”

“Sever!”

With ease, Yang Fan slew the crocodile and leapt out.

He found himself in a mountain valley with a pool of water, the dark river opening into it and stretching beyond.

After a quick survey, he stepped on the rocks and quickly scaled to the summit, gazing in all directions.

The forests were lush and green, the peaks layered and unending.

The surroundings were entirely unfamiliar.

Yang Fan felt a headache coming on.

Fortunately, it was daytime, the sun high and blazing. Returning to the valley, he laid his clothes out to dry on a rock, along with the banknotes from his wallet.

“This Purple Gold Essence Pearl…”

After a moment’s hesitation, Yang Fan absorbed it as well.

No need for further thought.

Vital Essence: +6.6

Total: 38.3

Yang Fan smiled.

A silent, satisfied smile.

Were it not for concern over attracting unwanted attention, he would have thrown his head back and laughed to the heavens, perhaps even urinated in triumph.

This was more than overnight wealth—it was an absolute windfall.

“Let’s add points!”

“I wonder how much this will raise my strength?”

Yang Fan did not hesitate further.

His Awakening increased.

Bit by bit, he allocated the points.

His strength, senses, blood energy, and more all grew steadily stronger.

The sensation was intoxicating.

It reminded him of those all-inclusive services from his past life, making him tremble with delight.

Awakening: 40%

A new divine ability appeared.

Unawakened Divine Ability: Earth Shatter (Awakening Requirement: 10 Vital Essence)

Earth Shatter: Soil, stone, and the like can all be crushed and disintegrated. Beneath the earth, all things are as fragile as clay chickens and straw dogs—utterly soft.

Yang Fan clicked his tongue.

This ability seemed formidable.

A single stomp might shatter the very ground.

But he shook his head; without great personal power, no divine ability could reach its full potential.

“Earth Surge manipulates soil upward to excavate treasures buried below; Stone Fissure slices through rock to open new paths; then Earth Shatter—breaks through any hard obstacle ahead, turning everything soft.”

These three divine abilities were somewhat interconnected.

Earth Shatter seemed an advanced form of Stone Fissure, but with its own distinctions.

Still, it felt somewhat redundant.

“But it’ll make rescuing Shi Qiangqiang next time much easier!”

Yang Fan left Earth Shatter unawakened.

For now, it was unnecessary.

He continued adding to his Awakening.

When it reached fifty percent, another new unawakened divine ability appeared, but he had no time to check it.

With his Awakening increased, his strength surged, his blood energy roiled and boiled within him.

A slight shift of his foot pulverized the stone beneath.

“The increase in Awakening has brought my martial cultivation to the verge of breakthrough.”

With that thought, Yang Fan began practicing the Fierce Tiger Fist.

Each punch cracked like a thunderclap.

His fists compressed the air into force that left marks upon the cliff face.

Thunderous rumbling…

Yang Fan truly seemed to have become a fierce tiger, every punch and kick exuding wild power.

A plume of blood energy threatened to burst from his crown.

Scorching heat poured from his pores, raising the ambient temperature. His blood energy condensed into a blazing furnace within.

Without the slightest obstacle, Yang Fan easily broke through the bottleneck and unlocked the shackles of his body’s potential.

From Martial Dao Eighth Grade, he stepped into the Seventh Grade.

In that instant, the latent primordial power within surged forth, cleansing his muscles and bones, tempering every aspect—strength, physique, reflexes, and senses all soared to new heights.

By noon, Yang Fan finally stopped.

He had largely mastered both his new strength and the explosive growth from his breakthrough.

“My punch now…”

Boom!

His fist struck the rock face, blasting out a deep crater.

“I could easily beat Xiang Yangkai at my former strength!”

“Even against Cao Kaijin, I now have the confidence to contend!”

Seventh Grade cultivation, able to contend with a Fifth Grade martial artist.

And that was a conservative estimate.

Yang Fan’s progress this time was tremendous.

After calming himself, he examined the new divine ability.

Unawakened Divine Ability: Earth Spike (Awakening Requirement: 15 Vital Essence): Manipulate the power of the earth to condense soil and stone into upward-thrusting spikes.

“At last, a true offensive divine ability—and yet it’s so expensive!”

After his initial excitement, Yang Fan felt a tinge of numbness.

He suddenly felt as if his beginner’s privileges had been revoked.

Nevertheless, he awakened it without hesitation.

Earth Spike—striking unexpectedly from below, who could withstand it?

Just the thought made Yang Fan shiver.

His gaze sharpened, and his personal information appeared before him.

Seal Bearer: Yang Fan

Destiny: Mountain Patroller

Awakening: 50%

Awakened Divine Abilities: Qi Devouring, Earth Sense, Intimidation, Qi Lock, Swift Movement, Earth Surge, Night Vision, Stone Fissure, Earth Spike

Unawakened Divine Ability: Earth Shatter (Awakening Requirement: 10 Vital Essence)

Earth Vital Essence: 3.3

Cultivation: Martial Dao Seventh Grade

Overnight, he was rich, yet in a blink, he was back to square one.

He clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within.

“It’s worth it!”

Yang Fan pondered the uses of his new Earth Spike, raised his hand, and pointed—immediately, a spike of earth jutted from the ground before him.

Thick at the base, sharp as a needle at the tip.

He could feel the drain of blood energy within.

“Earth Spike!”

He used the ability again, this time channeling more blood energy—before him, a two-meter-tall spike erupted from the ground.

Still thick at the base, needle-like at the tip.

“If the Earth Spike had barbs, branches, or could spin…”

A shudder ran through Yang Fan at the thought.

He built a fire, roasted crocodile meat, and after eating his fill, the sun had already slanted westward. Dressed and oriented, Yang Fan set out south.

With his strength, there was no need for excessive caution.

He had no interest in seeking spiritual items.

All he wanted now was to leave these mountains and see what lay beyond.

At sunset, an eagle’s cry sounded overhead.

Looking up, he saw a white eagle.

“Someone from the Tianhe Commandery Prince’s household is nearby?”

Yang Fan was surprised.

He deliberately stepped into view, and sure enough, the bird quickly locked onto him and began circling lower.

“Come down here!”

With a lunge forward, he vaulted off a rock, soared into the air, and activated his Intimidation divine ability, enveloping the eagle.

The bird stiffened and plummeted.

As Yang Fan landed, he kicked a stone, smashing the white eagle into a cloud of blood.

“Since I’ve encountered you, how could I let you escape?”

A surge of killing intent welled up within him.

Activating his earth sense, he extended his awareness five hundred meters.

Soon, Yang Fan discovered a group of over a hundred people, their attire matching the guards he had slain outside the mine.

His suspicions were confirmed.

Within his sense, the leader—a middle-aged man—possessed blood energy no less than Cao Kaijin’s.

A Fifth Grade martial artist.

“To kill, or not to kill?”

Yang Fan hesitated briefly.