I Can Merge Techniques-Chapter 149 - 107: Refusing Heaven’s Gift Brings Misfortune; Moon Eclipse Arrow’s Breaking Limit, Power Greatly Increased
"How are these Moon Worship Sect people so poor?"
Zhao Tianxing was somewhat disappointed.
"Perhaps their resources aren’t in silver coins," Chu Fan said, opening another bag they had found on the man in white.
Inside was a long object, carefully wrapped in oilcloth.
Unwrapping the oilcloth revealed a strangely shaped plant.
The plant was about half a foot long, its stem a dark purple, resembling a withered branch.
But at its tip grew three long, narrow leaves.
The leaves were so vibrant a green they looked as if they might drip, and a faint silver light seemed to flow within their veins.
The most peculiar part was that the three leaves clustered together, bearing a translucent, crystal-clear red berry the size of a grain of rice.
Although they couldn’t name it, Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing could clearly sense that the aura emanating from this plant was similar to the fruit from before!
It was the aura of life’s very essence, a wave of vibrant vitality washing over them.
It was several times richer than the two old mountain ginseng roots they had previously spent a considerable amount of silver on combined!
Though it couldn’t compare to the wild mountain ginseng Zhao Tianxing had found before.
It was still enough to make the two of them ecstatic!
"What a treasure!"
A sharp glint flashed in Chu Fan’s eyes. "This is definitely a Treasure Plant!"
Zhao Tianxing was also incredibly excited, slapping his thigh forcefully.
"Haha! I never would have thought! I figured we were just coming here to blow off some steam and make a little extra cash on the side. But we ended up hitting this kind of jackpot!"
"Master Lei’s Spirit Fruit, the Moon Worship Sect’s Treasure Plant... We’ve really made a killing!"
The two didn’t immediately divide and consume the Spirit Fruit and Treasure Plant.
Not all Treasure Plants could be eaten raw like wild mountain ginseng.
All medicines have a bit of toxicity. Some Treasure Plants require complex alchemy steps before they can be consumed.
Most Treasure Plants also needed to be decocted using specific methods at specific hours to fully release their medicinal effects. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
The two gazed at the haul spread out on the table...
Dazzling silver notes, the strangely fragrant Spirit Fruit, and the vibrant Treasure Plant.
A profound sense of satisfaction and accomplishment filled their hearts.
The risks and battles they had just endured now seemed entirely worth it.
...
「The next morning, at the crack of dawn.」
Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing, filled with a mix of apprehension and anticipation, sought out Cao Feng.
The two carefully took out the Exotic Fruit from the Jade Box, along with the vibrant Treasure Plant.
Placing the items on the table, Chu Fan asked respectfully, "Master Cao, your knowledge is vast. Could you help us identify what these two things are?"
At first, Cao Feng only gave them a casual glance.
But when his gaze truly fell upon the Exotic Fruit in the Jade Box and the Treasure Plant, his lazy expression vanished, replaced by utter astonishment.
He shot upright, leaned in for a closer look, and even extended a finger to feel the energy flowing from them at a distance.
"This... Where did you get this?!"
Cao Feng’s voice trembled with disbelief. "These two items are far more potent than the ’Great Medicine’ I gave you before!"
He took a deep breath and pointed at the pale golden, cloud-patterned fruit in the Jade Box. "If I’m not mistaken, this fruit is called the ’Golden Patterned Cloud Marrow Fruit.’ It grows by absorbing the violet qi of the morning sun and the essence of mountain mists..."
"Judging by the clarity and color of these cloud patterns, it’s at least one hundred and fifty years old!"
Next, his gaze fell upon the plant with the dark purple stem, vibrant green leaves, and ruby-like berry at its tip. His expression grew even more focused. "As for this one, it’s even more incredible! This is the ’Three-leaf Star Soul Grass,’ which often grows in perilous locations where the Star Power is dense."
"Look at the silver light flowing in its veins and the firmness of the ’Star Soul Berries.’ It’s likely close to two hundred years old!"
Cao Feng looked at the two of them and explained in a serious tone, "You must understand, ordinary medicinal herbs that haven’t aged enough can only regulate the body and enhance one’s qi and blood."
"Only those that have reached an age of over a hundred years and have absorbed the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism to undergo a qualitative change can be called a ’Treasure Plant’ or a ’Great Medicine.’"
"Take wild mountain ginseng, for example. Below a hundred years, it’s merely a precious medicinal herb. Only after a hundred years does the immense ’Spiritual Mechanism’ contained within truly manifest, allowing it to be classified as a Treasure Plant."
He paused, as if savoring a memory. "The Spiritual Mechanism is the purest, most essential qi emitted by mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, as well as the sun, moon, and stars. It is faint and formless, born from nothingness. Ethereal and empty, it’s difficult to capture. Yet, it is the fundamental aid for Martial Artists to cultivate and achieve Breaking Realm after undergoing Mortal Transformation!"
"It is also the Power of Heaven and Earth that Martial Artists can absorb!"
"A hundred-year-old Treasure Plant already has a considerable amount of Spiritual Mechanism. But these two you have are even older. The sheer abundance of their Spiritual Mechanism is truly rare!"
Cao Feng let out a long breath, his gaze complex as he looked at the two. "You two boys have truly stumbled upon some incredible luck!"
"Tell me, where on earth did you get these? Don’t tell me you robbed the treasury of some major power?"
Faced with Master Cao’s questioning, Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing exchanged a look and decided to tell the truth.
Chu Fan began, "Master Cao, this is what happened..."
"Tianxing has a grudge with the White Tiger Gang. Last night, we went to the Firewood Market and took out the White Tiger Gang’s Sub-Branch."
Hearing this, Cao Feng nodded slightly. There was no blame on his face; instead, a trace of approval showed. "A debt of hatred must be repaid. Taking swift and satisfying revenge is how it should be. Sigh. When I was young, I had too many worries and too many ties. I was always timid and hesitant, lacking the sharp, decisive edge you two possess."
His tone carried a hint of reminiscence and emotion, as well as a trace of unspeakable regret.
If he had possessed Chu Fan’s temperament—to fight when he wanted to fight, to kill when he wanted to kill—he could have led the Cao and Li families to seize control of the Seven Stars Gang after the old Gang Leader died.
Unfortunately...
He had clung to old loyalties, unwilling to move against the old Gang Leader’s son or raise his blade against his former brothers. In the end, he was betrayed by the Hall Master of the Punishment Hall, Lin Luoxue, the woman he loved. He was severely injured, and both the Cao and Li families were ostracized and completely lost their power.
Chu Fan didn’t notice Master Cao’s dazed expression and continued, "After we succeeded, we left. On our way back, we happened to run into a group of people ambushing someone from the Moon Worship Sect..."
He briefly recounted how Master Lei had pushed Liang Yuhen forward to block a blow, how the three of them had all ended up mutually wounded, and how he and Zhao Tianxing had ultimately "picked up the scraps."
