I Can Merge Techniques-Chapter 59 - 58: What Is This Thing Called Money?

Chu Fan’s eyes flew open, and he subconsciously bit down.

The wild mountain ginseng melted the moment it entered his mouth. A clean sweetness spread over his tongue, followed by a warm, strange power that slid down his throat. It felt like warm water seeping into frozen earth, slowly penetrating his esophagus.

In just a few breaths, that power dispersed throughout his entire body.

As it flowed through his meridians, the tearing pain was enveloped as if by warm water and slowly dissolved.

A faint itch came from the saber wound on his arm. Chu Fan glanced down to see the scab at the edge of the wound shrinking at a visible rate, revealing new, pale pink flesh underneath.

The turbulent Qi Blood within his meridians also began to calm down.

The tangled, chaotic pain dissipated along with the warmth, leaving only a faint, tingling numbness...

"It has such a miraculous effect!"

Chu Fan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice laced with disbelief.

He knew that Exotic Beasts and Treasure Plants existed in this world, and he had heard fishermen talk about how "Treasure Fish" could increase one’s Cultivation and prolong one’s life. But to personally experience the flow of medicinal power and the healing of his wounds was still a profound shock.

This half-root of ginseng had not only stabilized his ruptured meridians in an instant, but in just a few breaths, he could even feel a subtle current flowing within his bones...

His once-weakened muscles and bones had actually grown somewhat firmer!

His Qi Blood Power had also increased noticeably. A warmth spread from his Dantian, and the exhaustion from his previous saber practice was slowly being driven away by this power.

Chu Fan subconsciously glanced at his panel—

[Spiritual Essence: 102]

’Half a root of ginseng... actually increased my Spiritual Essence by 52 points!’

Chu Fan was speechless, his fingertips trembling slightly.

Even the potent Blood Refining Pills only increased Spiritual Essence by three points each.

’What incredible luck did that kid Tianxing stumble upon?’

’This is probably far more precious than the "Treasure Fish" from his memories!’

"You... Where did you get this?"

Chu Fan’s voice was still a bit hoarse. He raised a hand to touch the wound on his right arm. The new flesh had almost completely grown back, leaving only a faint red mark.

"Not only did it heal my injured meridians, but when I was circulating my Qi Blood just now, I felt that my muscles and bones had become even tougher than before!"

"I went back to my old hometown in the countryside yesterday," Zhao Tianxing said, scratching his head. "My home is in a mountain hollow. After the heavy snow sealed the mountains, all the Hunters took a break. I was planning to ask some of the uncles for some of last year’s dried Exotic Beast Jerky to trade for money to buy Blood Refining Herbs."

"But as I was walking on the mountain path, my foot slipped on a patch of loose soil, and I fell flat on my butt."

"When I got up, I saw a bit of green sticking out of the dirt. I dug it up and found this ginseng!"

"Tianxing’s luck is truly unparalleled," Chu Fan thought with a silent sigh.

’To find such a miraculous ginseng in the snow just by going home...’

In his memory, he had spent two years fishing by the river, casting his nets before dawn every day, yet he had only ever heard of "Treasure Fish" and never seen one.

Even old fishermen with thirty years of experience said that a Treasure Fish was a once-in-a-decade encounter.

’But this kid... he killed a Vermilion-Scaled Blood Python before joining the Seven Stars Gang, and now he’s found this Treasure Plant. He’s practically drowning in good fortune!’

"Something so precious, and you just broke it in half and gave it to me?"

Chu Fan was stunned. "This thing... if you took it to the Treasure House, the biggest one in Cyan Yang Ancient City, and offered it for a thousand taels of silver, I bet countless Noble Family Members would be fighting over it, right?"

"I thought you were dying!" Zhao Tianxing rolled his eyes. "I heard a noise and rushed in, and I saw you collapsed on the ground, eyes shut, blood trickling from your mouth, and your arm a bloody mess..."

"Even when I was almost swatted to death by a bear, I didn’t look this pathetic!"

"When you cultivate, you’re really reckless!"

Chu Fan fell silent.

At this, Zhao Tianxing’s expression turned troubled. "You just said this thing could sell for a thousand taels of silver?"

Chu Fan clapped him on the shoulder. "If you’re in trouble, just say the word."

"As long as it’s within my power, I’ll certainly consider it."

"Huh?" Zhao Tianxing paused. "Shouldn’t ’as long as it’s within my power’ be followed by ’I’ll do everything I can’?"

"Nonsense!" Chu Fan couldn’t help but laugh. "You already fed me half the ginseng. I can’t exactly spit it back out for you, can I!"

"It’s not that!" Zhao Tianxing laughed heartily. "I was just hesitating whether I should cut off a small piece to eat every day, or sell the other half to buy Blood Refining Herbs."

"Don’t sell it!" Chu Fan said. "This is no ordinary item. It does more than just help with Cultivation..."

As he spoke, he lightly slapped his left palm on the ground. When his palm touched the snow on the bluestone slabs, the snowflakes melted instantly.

With a light THUMP, he used the force to push himself up. He landed steadily on his feet, all traces of his previous pathetic state gone. He looked vigorous and full of life, even the weariness at the corners of his eyes had vanished.

Chu Fan sheathed his saber and touched his right arm with his left hand.

The wounds were still healing at a visible rate.

"This thing..."

Chu Fan’s pupils shrank as he whispered, "It can save your life!"

Zhao Tianxing grabbed Chu Fan’s arm to take a look, then blinked and said, "I’ve heard the old folks say that when a ginseng grows to look like this, it means it has absorbed all the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism and become an extraordinary object."

"It can cure all illnesses, mend broken bones, and even..."

"Grant immortality!"

"Immortality..." The corner of Chu Fan’s mouth twitched. "You must keep the other half on you at all times. Whatever you do, don’t sell it."

"Focus on your Cultivation for now, and don’t go to the Mist Marsh anymore. That place is even more dangerous after the snow."

"As for the Blood Refining Herbs, I have my own way of getting them. You don’t need to worry about it."

He glanced nonchalantly toward the southwest corner of the courtyard.

’The things he’d taken from Huang Shouliang’s house were buried there.’

’He had buried them in a hurry after bringing them back, without even having a chance to take inventory.’

’There was a pile of gold ingots in there!’

Chu Fan had always been a man who was clear about his debts and grudges—

If someone showed him an ounce of kindness, he would repay it threefold.

But if someone tried to harm him, he would show no mercy!

He gently swung his right arm, which was still slightly sore and tingly.

Feeling the exhausted yet purer and more surging Qi Blood within him, he recalled the saber strike from before—the one that had come so naturally, creating its own thunderous sound—and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curve upward.

The snow was cold, but it couldn’t suppress the searing heat in his heart.

His Ninefold Thunder Shock Saber had finally reached the Realm of Great Success!

However, from now on, he could probably only practice the Saber Techniques and could no longer try to use Melted Blade Force.

His body could no longer withstand Fivefold Blade Force, let alone the sixth or seventh layer...

"What way?"

Seeing Chu Fan stop mid-sentence, Zhao Tianxing was itching with curiosity. "You’re not thinking of robbing the rich to... to help yourself, are you? Like one of those vigilantes from the storybooks?"

"If you’re really going to do that, you have to take me with you!"

’He even guessed that...’ Chu Fan glanced at him and spun a tale. "It was a dark and stormy night, and I dug up a bag of silver at my old family home..."

"Do you take me for a fool?" Zhao Tianxing scoffed. "I’m as sharp as a monkey!"

"Aren’t they both just beasts?" Chu Fan pushed him away. "I just ate half a ginseng, and the Qi Blood in my body is surging like a tide. I need to practice the Twelve Forms Fist to digest the medicinal power. Don’t get in my way."

But Zhao Tianxing refused to leave. "Your Twelve Forms Fist is much better than mine. I’ll practice with you and learn."

And so, the two of them began practicing the Twelve Forms Fist in the courtyard.

The wind from their fists howled, sending snow swirling through the air...

When night fell, Chu Fan found an excuse to send Zhao Tianxing away, then grabbed a pickaxe and dug up the box.

After carrying it into the house, he lifted the lid.

A pile of gold ingots and golden leaves dazzled his eyes.

Beside them lay a thick stack of silver notes...

Gazing at the box full of wealth, Chu Fan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—

’Oh, what is this thing in the world called money?’

’That makes people pledge their very lives to it...’

Just a moment ago, he had been thinking about going to the Mist Marsh with Tianxing.

But now, with so much gold and silver in his possession, why would he need to risk his life again?

Since he possessed the Map of Mountains and Rivers panel, he should cherish every second. The right path was to spend all his time on Cultivation!