Chapter 772: Chapter 772

Over a dozen hunters fell silent for a moment when they heard the words "Hundred-Year Wild Ginseng," but then they swarmed around Zhao Yunjian. As they saw the Hundred-Year Wild Ginseng he had brought back, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted.

Some days prior, a few hunters from a neighboring village had hit the jackpot in the Forest Sea Snowfield, unearthing a Hundred-Year Wild Ginseng that sold for an incredible one million, making the hunters of Zhao Family Village envious for quite some time. They never expected that on their venture into the mountains they would come across such good fortune as well.

The box containing the Hundred-Year Wild Ginseng was passed from one hunter’s hands to another, and everyone who got hold of it looked and looked again, reluctant to let it go.

"Add this ginseng to the twenty-some wolf skins we got earlier, and after we sell them, each family could get nearly a hundred thousand dollars!"

One hunter said, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

"With this money, our lives will be so much better!"

Another hunter said, unable to contain his excitement.

Zhao Yunjian quickly regained his composure as he knew the fate of the ginseng was for Fang Bai to decide, since it was found with Fang Bai’s guidance. Otherwise, they all might have missed it.

"Mr. Fang, you were the one who discovered this ginseng, so it should belong to you..."

Zhao Yunjian approached Fang Bai, offering him the box with the ginseng.

Immersed in excitement, the hunters regained their senses as well. Seeing Zhao Yunjian about to hand over the ginseng to Fang Bai, although they felt somewhat reluctant and disappointed, they knew it was the right thing to do and showed no dissatisfaction.

Fang Bai pushed the box with the Hundred-Year Wild Ginseng back to them and, looking around at the dozen or so hunters with a smile, said, "This time in the mountains, all I want is the ’Earth Immortal Ginseng.’ The rest is yours to keep. I believe there’s more than one Hundred-Year Wild Ginseng in the mountains. If we look carefully, we might find a few more. Everyone, time is of the essence. Shall we continue on our way?"

On the way here, Fang Bai had already told Zhao Yunjian and the others that what he was looking for was called "Earth Immortal Ginseng." It was the first time Zhao Yunjian and the others heard of the Earth Immortal Ginseng and were curious as to why Fang Bai wanted these items that no one else seemed to care for.

However, the hunters didn’t have any interest in why Fang Bai was looking for the Earth Immortal Ginseng, and upon hearing that Fang Bai didn’t want the Hundred-Year Wild Ginseng, they were overjoyed and cheered again.

Although Zhao Yunjian had not had many interactions with Fang Bai, he knew Fang Bai was a generous and straightforward young man. If he said he didn’t want the Hundred-Year Wild Ginseng, he meant it.

Zhao Yunjian no longer insisted and expressed gratitude on behalf of the dozen hunters to Fang Bai. Then, he entrusted the Hundred-Year Wild Ginseng to his son Zhao Guoqiang for safekeeping and, with a wave of his hand, led the group onward.

The dozen hunters felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Fang Bai. They perked up, strode forward with large steps, ready to dig up more "Earth Immortal Ginseng" for Fang Bai when the time came, as a way of repaying him.

Along the way, Fang Bai continually brought surprises to Zhao Yunjian and the other hunters.

In just two short days, with Fang Bai’s help, the group of hunters had caught dozens of wild chickens and rabbits, and even encountered a ferocious wild boar weighing several hundred jin. Although the boar was killed by Fang Bai, its body was too large to bring back, so they could only cut off some of the meat to barbecue on the way, leaving the rest behind.

By dusk on the third day, Fang Bai discovered two more ginseng plants on a gentle slope. Upon unearthing the two ginsengs, Zhao Yunjian was so excited he almost had a heart attack.

One of the ginseng plants was over a hundred years old, while the other was incredibly over three hundred years old.

Zhao Yunjian, who kept a close watch on the ginseng market, knew that at a ginseng auction two years prior, a ginseng just over three hundred years old had sold for nearly ten million.

The one they had dug out, being older than three hundred years and larger and better in shape, would undoubtedly be worth over ten million if sold.

When Zhao Yunjian shared this news with the other hunters, they went wild. They jumped and hugged each other, with some unable to hold back their tears.

A three-hundred-year wild ginseng and two hundred-year wild ginseng—the total value had already surpassed ten million. After selling them, the dozen or so hunters could each get nearly a million. With this capital, they could engage in other businesses and wouldn’t have to risk hunting in the mountains anymore.

The discovery of the three wild ginsengs all owed thanks to Fang Bai. The hunters felt even more grateful towards him, considering this young man to be their lucky star.

"Mr. Fang, those few ’Earth Immortal Ginsengs’ we found last time were in this area!"

That afternoon, the group arrived at a small lake deep within the Forest Sea Snowfield. Zhao Yunjian pointed at a cluster of plants around the lake and spoke.

The lake was roughly the size of a soccer field, surrounded by mountains on three sides and a primordial forest on the other. The lake water was smooth as a mirror, unfathomably deep.

What was most astonishing was that the lake water was as black as ink, while a tawny mist lingered incessantly above the surface.

The tawny mist was Earth Element Qi.

Normally, one would expect the Water Element Qi to be more abundant near a lake, but surprisingly, the concentration of Earth Element Qi here even surpassed that of the Water Element Qi.

Fang Bai’s heart stirred. In his opinion, there must be some treasure within the lake constantly releasing Earth Element Qi.

Fang Bai only needed a glance to determine the surrounding plants were the exposed branches and leaves of the "Earth Immortal Ginseng."

Roughly estimating, there were about a thousand Earth Immortal Ginsengs by the lake. Although they were all low-grade Spiritual Medicines, their sheer number nonetheless delighted Fang Bai.

"It looks trip should yield a good harvest!"

Fang Bai thought to himself.

Under Fang Bai’s direction, Zhao Yunjian and the dozen or so hunters began to dig up the "Earth Immortal Ginseng."

Fang Bai didn’t plan to harvest all the "Earth Immortal Ginseng" here, only half, leaving the rest for a future visit.

By dusk, the dozen or so hunters had dug up a total of four or five hundred "Earth Immortal Ginseng." Zhao Yunjian let each person carry some, planning to hand them over to Fang Bai for processing once they returned to Zhao Family Village.

Zhao Guoqiang packed several dozen "Earth Immortal Ginseng" into his bag, then ran to the edge of the lake to wash his hands.

In this snowy weather, the lake water was warm. Immersed, one felt an indescribable comfort, warm and cozy, and although the water was ink-black, it didn’t stain the skin.

"Guoqiang, be careful!"

Zhao Guoqiang lowered his head, just having washed his face, when he suddenly heard someone far off loudly warning him—it seemed to be Fang Bai’s voice.

Zhao Guoqiang instinctively turned his head and glanced in Fang Bai’s direction. He only saw a blur as Fang Bai’s figure turned into a bolt of lightning rushing towards him.

At the same time, on the face of his father, Zhao Yunjian, not far from him, he saw an expression of sheer terror, as if he had seen some monster.

A loud splash sounded as if something huge had surged out from the lake. A dizzying, rancid smell like a tidal wave, crashed over Zhao Guoqiang, engulfing him in it.