Chapter 268: Chapter 267: Encountering a Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng
’It really is the one!’
Fang Han was ecstatic, but his eyes grew colder and calmer, like a frozen lake.
He took a slow breath, suppressing the urge to charge forward. He carefully observed his surroundings, searching for the perfect angle and moment to strike.
The thousand-year-old ginseng possessed abundant Spiritual Energy. At the slightest disturbance, it would escape into the earth. He had to succeed in a single strike!
He concealed his aura to the absolute limit and crept closer.
Fifty yards... forty yards... thirty yards...
Like the most cunning cheetah, he silently closed the distance. His gaze was locked on the thousand-year-old ginseng as he calculated the perfect time and range to attack.
’Just need to get within twenty yards!’
From there, he was confident he could rush the thousand-year-old ginseng before it had time to react.
Just as he was about to close within twenty yards...
...the situation changed abruptly!
Without any warning, the quietly rooted thousand-year-old ginseng trembled, its faint golden glow flickering.
As if startled by some unseen disturbance, its humanoid top suddenly swiveled, warily "glancing" in Fang Han’s direction like a living creature.
The next moment, its roots, which were buried in the soil, contracted rapidly as if they had a life of their own. Its entire body instantly blurred into a streak of golden light and began to sink into the ground.
’Damn it!’
Fang Han’s heart sank. He knew this was bad.
With no time to wonder how he had been exposed, he acted decisively, no longer bothering to conceal his movements.
BOOM!
His Fifth Grade Middle Stage Inner Qi erupted, and he pushed the Wind and Cloud Escape to its current limit.
Fang Han’s figure seemed to merge with the wind in an instant, becoming a streak of pale cyan light that tore through the air. He lunged ferociously toward the sinking golden ginseng at a speed almost impossible to follow with the naked eye.
For Fang Han, using the Wind and Cloud Escape, the distance of just over twenty yards was covered in the blink of an eye.
However, the thousand-year-old ginseng’s speed at burrowing into the earth was faster than he could have imagined.
By the time Fang Han’s figure appeared where the ginseng had been, all that remained was a hole where it had been rooted, like a pit left after pulling up a carrot.
The thousand-year-old ginseng had vanished completely!
Not a single trace was left behind!
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
A cold light flashed in Fang Han’s eyes. His Flowing Wind Sword was instantly unsheathed, transforming into several incomparably sharp streaks of cyan Sword Qi that viciously slashed at the ground where the ginseng had disappeared.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The hard earth and rock were sliced apart like tofu, leaving several ferocious gullies several feet deep and several yards long. Dirt flew and dust filled the air.
Yet, within the gullies, apart from shattered stones and severed tree roots, there wasn’t the slightest sign of the thousand-year-old ginseng.
It was as if everything he had just seen was merely an illusion.
’Spirit Nose Technique...’
Fang Han stood with his sword in hand, his expression ugly as he surveyed the cratered and ravaged ground he had torn up with his Sword Qi.
He fully extended his Spiritual Sense and pushed his Spirit Nose Technique to its limit, carefully sensing every inch of the surrounding earth and every wisp of air.
But he found nothing.
The moment the thousand-year-old ginseng burrowed into the ground, its rich, refreshing medicinal fragrance was cut off as if by an invisible hand, disappearing completely without a trace.
The thousand-year-old ginseng had vanished into thin air, leaving no trace of its aura behind.
’It got away...’
Fang Han slowly sheathed his sword, his brow furrowed in regret and confusion.
He regretted that he had failed to seize such a perfect opportunity, instead letting the thousand-year-old ginseng escape.
He couldn’t understand how the ginseng had detected him. He believed he had been careful enough, so why was he still discovered at the last moment?
’Where on earth did I go wrong?’
Standing his ground, Fang Han forced himself to calm down, replaying the recent events in his mind.
From discovering the medicinal scent to his stealthy approach, and finally to being detected by the ginseng... he re-examined every detail.
’Even though my Wind and Cloud Escape is only at the Entry Level, its speed and stealth already surpass the Flowing Wind Shadowless Step, a Top Grade Body Technique, at Perfection. When I move, I practically merge with the wind, landing without a sound and treading on leaves without a trace. The chance of making any noise is extremely small.’
’Then... the problem most likely lies with my breath concealment!’
Fang Han’s eyes narrowed as he zeroed in on the most crucial point.
The Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique was, after all, only a Middle Grade Secret Technique, and he had only cultivated it to the Great Success Level. Its Breath Concealment Effect was bound to have its limits.
This limited Breath Concealment Effect was good enough to hide his aura from other Martial Artists, even those who specialized in Tracking Secret Techniques.
But against a thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine with a Spiritual Sense far more acute than any human’s, it was very likely the reason he was exposed prematurely.
’My Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique at just the Great Success Level isn’t enough to completely fool the senses of a Spiritual Object like this...’
Fang Han slowly exhaled a turbid breath, a flash of understanding in his eyes.
If he couldn’t solve the problem with his aura concealment, even if he were lucky enough to encounter the thousand-year-old ginseng again, he would probably just repeat the same mistake.
’I have to raise the Realm of my Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique! Otherwise, finding the thousand-year-old ginseng again will be a fruitless effort!’
A resolute glint flashed in Fang Han’s eyes.
Now that he knew what the problem was, he would do everything in his power to solve it!
He no longer hesitated. He immediately gave up on searching like a headless chicken and instead found a relatively hidden spot where he could observe his surroundings and not be easily ambushed, then sat down cross-legged.
He devoted himself entirely to the Cultivation of the Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique.
Despite having a 64x Secret Technique Talent Amplification, he had previously focused his energy on his Cultivation, Swordsmanship, and Body Technique. He hadn’t invested much time in an auxiliary Secret Technique like the Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique, which offered little help in direct combat.
That was why his progress with the technique had been so slow; he had only reached the Great Success Level.
Now, by focusing all his efforts on it, his Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique began to improve at an incredible speed under the 64x Secret Technique Talent.
He circulated the Heart Method again and again, constantly adjusting and optimizing his control over his own aura.
All sorts of knacks and insights became clear to him with a mere thought.
He advanced steadily and rapidly toward the profound Xuan Realm of "Merging with All Things."
Time flowed by quietly as he remained immersed in his Cultivation.
The sun rose and the moon set, and the light and shadows in the forest shifted.
Aside from necessary breaks for eating and resting, Fang Han sat motionlessly on the ground like a stone statue.
「One day passed.」 His aura seemed to gradually merge with that of the surrounding rocks and vines.
「Two days passed.」 His presence diminished even further. A bird landed on his head, completely unaware of his existence.
「On the afternoon of the third day,」 the afterglow of the setting sun coated the cliff face in a layer of warm gold.
As he sat in meditation, the aura around his body suddenly underwent a qualitative change!
It didn’t vanish completely. Instead, it thoroughly merged with the surrounding environment—the stillness of the rocks, the density of the soil, the life and death of the vines, the gentle breeze flowing through the air...
He sat there, yet it was as if he had become a part of the earth itself, a stubborn stone that had weathered countless storms. Not a single trace of "Fang Han’s" unique aura leaked out.
A feeling of perfect harmony and effortless control washed over him.
’Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique, Perfection!’
Fang Han’s eyes were as placid as still water, but deep within his pupils, a faint, almost imperceptible dark light flickered and vanished.
He gently stretched his limbs, his joints making a soft, inaudible popping sound.
Feeling the near-perfect sense of fusion with heaven, earth, and nature, the corners of his mouth lifted into a very faint smile.
The Perfection Level of the Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique was a quantum leap in effectiveness compared to the Great Success Level!
Now, if he fully concealed his presence, even an ordinary Martial Artist of the Upper Three Grades would find it extremely difficult to detect him with their Spiritual Sense.
This was the absolute limit of what he could achieve under the current circumstances.
The Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique had reached Perfection; it could not be advanced any further.
If he wanted to strengthen his aura concealment even more, he would have to cultivate a higher Grade Breath Concealment Secret Technique, but he didn’t possess a higher Grade Breath Concealing Secret Manual.
The thousand-year-old ginseng’s sensitivity to auras far surpassed that of humans. It was still uncertain if he could get close enough without being detected, but the probability of being discovered had undoubtedly been greatly reduced.
’Time to start searching again.’
Fang Han rose to his feet and lightly brushed away the non-existent dust from his robes.
The Perfection Level Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique silently activated, and his aura instantly merged with the entire mountain forest.
Like a phantom in the woods, he moved without a sound, once again vanishing into the vast sea of trees.
HMMMM—
His nostrils twitched. He fully activated his Perfection Level Spirit Nose Technique, capturing and carefully discerning every subtle scent carried on the wind.
His gaze, as sharp as a falcon’s, swept over every inch of the forest floor, not letting any suspicious trace escape his notice.
「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」
Fang Han had meticulously combed through the surrounding several miles of mountain forest multiple times.
He pushed his Spirit Nose Technique to its absolute limit, not missing a single suspicious scent.
However, aside from the faint medicinal auras of common herbs and the foul stench left by some Demon Beasts, the unique and rich fragrance of the thousand-year-old ginseng never appeared again.
’It’s really gone...’
Fang Han stood atop an ancient tree, gazing into the distance. The continuous mountain range filled his vision, with clouds and mist swirling around the mountainsides, adding a touch of mystery and depth.
The thousand-year-old ginseng’s Spiritual Energy was extraordinary. Having sensed danger and fled, it naturally wouldn’t be foolish enough to stay in the same place and wait to be found.
His mind made up, he no longer dwelled on this location. His figure drifted silently down from the treetop like a falling leaf, and he set off to search elsewhere.
The mountain range was vast; perhaps other opportunities awaited.
He activated the Wind and Cloud Escape, his figure flickering erratically through the mountain forest. At the same time, his Spirit Nose Technique was operating at full power, keeping him alert to his surroundings.
After traveling for seven or eight miles, he faintly heard the sound of hurried footsteps and clamorous voices from the forest ahead.
Fang Han’s brow furrowed slightly. He was about to change course to avoid unnecessary conflict.
But after a moment’s hesitation, he silently activated his Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique, his aura instantly merging with the surrounding environment.
With a flicker, his body moved closer to the source of the sounds.
In the dense woods not far away, he saw seven or eight Martial Artists in varied attire, all armed with weapons, rushing hastily in the same direction.
Their auras varied in strength, but every one of them wore an expression of irrepressible excitement and urgency.
It was as if some incredible temptation awaited them up ahead.
Comments