Yi Tianxing didn't dwell on it any further. That area where the Essence-Nurturing Fruit Tree grew—without sufficient cultivation level, he absolutely wouldn't go near it again. Not even his Innate Yin-Yang Eyes could detect the hidden fierce beast lurking nearby; this had already exceeded his current capabilities.
He pressed on.
As he hacked through the brambles, a flash of crimson suddenly streaked before his eyes.
"Ginseng berries—ginseng!"
Fixing his gaze, he spotted a plant that looked like a miniature tree nearby. Clusters of bright red berries grew on it, forming a shape that looked almost like a radiant red flower—eye-catching and hard to ignore.
Yi Tianxing recognized it immediately: ginseng berries.
It's said that once ginseng matures enough in age, it blooms and bears fruit. These berries are ginseng seeds; when ripe, birds carry them elsewhere, where they can grow into new ginseng plants. Moreover, the berries themselves are edible and filled with abundant vital energy—nourishing the body. A ginseng plant that can bear scarlet berries must be quite old.
"Wild ginseng like this—can't let it go to waste."
A red cord appeared in Yi Tianxing's hand, which he quickly tied to a nearby branch. He held the other end in his hand.
Ginseng is a spiritual herb. The older it gets, the more likely it develops a humanoid form and spiritual sentience. When harvesting, one must first tie it with red cord to prevent its spiritual essence from escaping. Without it, even if you dug the ginseng up, it would lose its potency as the spirit would flee.
In traditional ginseng-harvesting methods, the process was even stricter. Each harvester carried a "suo-luo stick" to prod the grass while searching for ginseng. Speaking was forbidden during the search. Upon discovery, the rule was to loudly shout "club-head!"—a signal that supposedly stuns the ginseng into staying put. Then, the harvester would cover it with a hat, bind it with red cord, and only then begin the process of excavation. Even the term "digging" was replaced with "lifting," showing reverence for the herb.
Yi Tianxing didn't follow all those old rites, but tying the red cord was enough to stabilize the ginseng spirit.
He picked up a small trowel and carefully started digging. Bit by bit, the soil was parted. Before long, a yellow ginseng plant appeared. It was roughly the size of a carrot, with a mass of root tendrils. Its form was partially humanoid.
Yi Tianxing could sense a powerful vitality radiating from within it.
"A three-hundred-year-old wild ginseng."
He gently held it in his palm, a look of satisfaction spreading across his face.
"One door closes, another opens. I couldn't claim the Essence-Nurturing Fruit, but now I've found a 300-year-old ginseng. Life really is full of surprises."
Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing willed the ginseng into his Dantian.
Inside his Dantian, the Spirit Field (Lingtian) had already sprouted a plot of spirit rice. The growth rate was far beyond ordinary; nourished constantly by spiritual energy, the rice was nearly ripe. Each grain was full and plump, exuding faint spiritual energy. While not yet true spirit rice, it already surpassed ordinary worldly rice.
That was the wonder of the Spirit Field.
Unfortunately, the field currently spanned only about four-tenths of a mu. Through sustained absorption of spiritual energy and his own true qi, Yi Tianxing had managed to expand it from its original size. Once a Dantian Aperture is opened, it naturally absorbs energy and grows on its own. Spiritual herbs planted inside enhance the fertility of the soil as their medicinal essence seeps in, promoting even further expansion.
With a thought, a small hole appeared in the Spirit Field. The ginseng was transplanted into the pit, soil covering it automatically. Its berries would soon turn to seeds, and eventually, new ginseng would sprout within the Spirit Field.
"Great. One day, I'll build a medicinal garden of my own. This plot will grow larger, richer. If cultivated well, the Dantian Aperture becomes a cultivator's greatest asset."
He glanced at the Spirit Field once more, filled with hope.
As his cultivation progressed, his Dantian would continue to evolve.
In fact, the Spirit Field already hosted not just ginseng but other medicinal seeds he'd acquired from traders. Though not particularly rare—things like polygonatum, ephedra, etc.—they would help compensate for the village's current shortage of medicinal ingredients.
After that pleasant surprise, Yi Tianxing pushed forward again. Along the way, he had to fend off fierce beasts and poisonous insects. The jungle concealed many deadly threats.
Hours passed. He even ate lunch on the move. Before he knew it, the dense forest gave way—
—and the view opened up before him.
A vast grassland plain stretched out ahead.
In the middle of it stood a village, albeit a rather shabby one. The only notable structures were an archway and a mansion. The rest were simple shelters, thatched huts, and wooden sheds. The perimeter was marked only by a makeshift wooden fence, not even a proper wall.
By comparison, Xuanhuang Village was like a luxury villa in a city. This place—just a dilapidated rural hamlet.
On the archway, ancient seal script read:
Yang Family Village!
"So that's the name of this place."
Yi Tianxing instinctively understood—clearly, the village was named after its founder.
He scanned the surroundings.
"Traces of combat. The smell of blood is still fresh—must've been a recent attack. The fence is damaged. Looks like this village's been under serious assault."
And yet—despite the shabbiness—he saw something surprising:
"They've got an army here. A proper army. The uniforms match. Discipline. Formation. Not many in number, but clearly organized."
Behind the wooden fence, soldiers stood guard, spears in hand, armored. Some armor was damaged, torn by claws. Their faces were pale, expressions exhausted. Survivors of a brutal battle.
"Who goes there?!"
Two guards at the village entrance shouted as Yi Tianxing emerged from the woods. They raised their spears, barring the path. His unfamiliar face, and the fierce crocodile corpse he was dragging, naturally raised alarm.
"I'm a lost traveler," Yi Tianxing said calmly. "I don't know how I got into the forest—suddenly I was here. I just barely made it out. I saw the village and hoped for a drink of water."
He made himself sound like a lone wanderer. That usually made people drop their guard a little.
"Let him in. He's human. This world's dangerous enough. If he made it to Yang Family Village, then that's fate. We welcome all humans here."
A young man in armor stepped forward. His voice carried natural authority, shaped by military discipline. His words had weight, and his bearing inspired confidence.
"Yes, Young General!"
The two guards immediately obeyed and let Yi Tianxing through.
"Thanks, Young General," Yi Tianxing said with a smile, subtly observing the man.
He was young, handsome, exuding the charisma of a leader. His aura was strong, and his mind clear. A man destined for command.
"No need to thank me. In this world, all humans are brothers. If you're human, you're one of us. It's dangerous out there—come in, have some water. We don't have much food, but hot water we can offer."
The young man smiled as he spoke.
"Those soldiers called you Young General. You must be a Yang?" Yi Tianxing asked casually as he walked alongside him.
"That's right. This village was founded by my father. You're welcome to stay—no one will drive you out."
"My name is Yi—Yi Tianxing," he replied with a nod.
"Ah, Warrior Yi!" the young man said, noting the war spear on Yi Tianxing's back and the crocodile corpse he was dragging. That beast had spooked the soldiers earlier.
The young man cupped his fists.
"I'm Yang Yanping. Feel free to call me Yang. Here, we're all family. My father and I will protect the people here. We won't let innocent villagers die in vain."
"You're too kind, Brother Yang. I've got some skill in battle too. If danger comes, I'll fight. I've encountered my fair share of monsters in that forest recently."