Chapter Fifty-Six: The Uses of Ginseng

It wasn’t until the next morning that Tang Wei and her companions learned that the ginseng auctioned at the previous night’s event had fetched a staggering price of one billion, fifty-three million. This left Tang Wei even more puzzled—what on earth was so special about this millennium ginseng that it could command such a sum? Should she ask the head of the Xuanyuan family about it?

Just then, Zixuan happened to knock and enter. Tang Wei hurriedly shared the news with him and asked, “Xiao Xuan, why was the ginseng at the auction last night so expensive?”

Zixuan considered for a moment before replying with certainty, “There must be something we don’t know. Otherwise, there’s no way millennium ginseng would sell for such an astronomical price.”

“I think so too. Should we ask the Xuanyuan family head?” Tang Wei voiced her inner thoughts.

“That might not be a good idea! What if it involves a secret between their great families?” Zixuan wasn’t particularly in favor of Tang Wei’s suggestion. Something about the whole affair just felt off.

“How about I bring it up casually? If he’s willing to share, great; if not, we’ll drop it. What do you think?” Tang Wei suggested again. People always grew more curious about hidden matters, drawn to uncover the truth—and Tang Wei was no exception.

Zixuan thought for a moment before agreeing, “All right, we can ask.”

Together, they went to the Xuanyuan family’s reception hall and requested an audience with the family head.

A maid served tea, and after less than a quarter of an hour, the head of the Xuanyuan family emerged, cupping his hands and saying, “I wonder what important matter brings you both to seek me?”

Zixuan spoke up, “We came specifically because there are some things we don’t quite understand. We hope you might clarify them for us, if it’s convenient.”

“You two have done my Xuanyuan family a great service. There’s no such thing as inconvenience! As long as it’s something I know, I’ll answer you fully and honestly. Please, ask whatever you wish,” the family head responded heartily.

“Oh my! The two of you are standing here exchanging polite words, and my head is starting to ache from listening! Why don’t you both sit down so we can have a proper conversation?” Tang Wei interrupted with a laugh.

The family head chuckled sheepishly, “You’re right, I nearly forgot myself. Let’s sit! Dongfang, after you’ve served tea, stand guard outside.”

“Yes, Master!” Dongfang did as instructed and then quietly withdrew.

“Now, what would you like to ask? There’s no one else here,” the family head said, settling into the main seat.

“It’s about last night’s millennium ginseng selling for over a billion,” Zixuan began delicately. “My senior and I both found it odd. Millennium ginseng doesn’t seem to offer that much benefit for cultivation. Even if it contains some spiritual energy, it’s not enough to help one reach the Fasting Stage, is it? So why was there such fierce competition to buy it?”

The family head sighed and shook his head, clearly finding it difficult to discuss.

“Of course, if this is truly a great family secret, you don’t have to tell us. We’re only curious; it’s not something we must know,” Zixuan quickly added, making it clear they would not press him if he preferred not to answer.

The family head waved a hand, “That’s not it. While this matter is indeed a secret among our three great families and the four major sects, I see no need to hide it from you two. In fact, I have questions I’d like to ask you as well.”

“Then please, go ahead,” Zixuan replied with a smile.

“This matter traces back to the Great Cataclysm,” the family head began. “After that disaster, spiritual energy became scarce, and since then, few have managed to reach the Fasting Stage. The loss of techniques and alchemical formulas played a part, but we never found the true reason. Our Xuanyuan family still possesses techniques for the Fasting Stage, yet it’s extremely difficult to achieve. In centuries, only a handful have managed it, and even then, progress beyond the early stage is nearly impossible.”

Tang Wei nodded in agreement—this was similar to what Elder Shi had told her.

After a brief pause, the family head went on, “A cultivator at the Fasting Stage lives at most three hundred years, after which they must return to dust. So our ancestors thought, if death is inevitable, why not pass one’s cultivation to the next generation? After much research, they discovered that using a vessel of pure spiritual energy as a guide could successfully transfer cultivation. Many objects were tested, but millennium ginseng proved best—the older, the higher the success rate. That’s why millennium ginseng is now so highly sought after.”

Tang Wei couldn’t help but interject, “So you’re saying that even with millennium ginseng, success isn’t guaranteed?”

The family head nodded, “Exactly! With a thousand-year-old ginseng, the success rate is only twenty to thirty percent.”

“I see,” Tang Wei mused, recalling what Elder Shi had mentioned. She wondered whether this was connected to the Shi family’s annihilation. Zixuan and the family head were both lost in their own thoughts, and for a moment, the hall was so silent that a pin drop could be heard.

A cough from the family head broke the silence.

Zixuan invited him, “Please, ask us anything you wish.”

The family head flushed with embarrassment, but asked, “I’d like to know how, at such a young age, you’ve both managed to reach the Fasting Stage so quickly?” Asking such a personal question wasn’t exactly the mark of a gentleman.

“That’s all thanks to our excellent master!” Tang Wei replied cheerfully, showing no concern.

“Would you mind sharing a little more?” At this point, for the sake of all cultivators in China, the family head steeled himself to ask again.

Zixuan smiled, unconcerned, and explained his theory: “I’ve thought about this. The reason you’ve struggled to advance may be the impurity of the spiritual energy in the air. While cultivating, you’re also absorbing harmful impurities, and as these accumulate, they block the flow of energy through the meridians, hindering further progress. Our master set up an array for us that converts the harmful elements in the air into spiritual energy, so we don’t have this problem.”

“Then what do you think we should do? Do you have any solutions?” the family head asked eagerly.

Zixuan replied apologetically, “I can’t say for certain, but you could try. My senior has prepared pills with detoxifying effects; you could have someone test them. If I’m right, after taking the pills, cultivation should improve noticeably until the impurities build up again.”

“If that’s the case, I should have someone try it right away. Is there anything I should be aware of?” the family head asked, turning to Tang Wei.

“Well… better ask my junior here—he’s experienced it firsthand!” She flushed, recalling how Zixuan had nearly died from diarrhea after taking the medicine.

Zixuan laughed, “There’s nothing much to it—just intense diarrhea. The pill forces the impurities out of the body, so its effects are strong. Even though I didn’t have many impurities, I was bedridden for a day or two. I can’t speak for others.” In fact, Shi Jinan had experienced the same, but the matter of the Shi family couldn’t be revealed to the family head just yet.

Hearing this, the family head rose and paced the hall, hands clasped behind his back. After a few turns, he stopped, closed his eyes in thought, then called out, “Dongfang, go fetch the young master at once. Tell him it’s urgent and to come quickly!”

“Yes, Master!” came the reply from outside, and all fell quiet again.

“You’re not planning to test this on Xuanyuan Zhe, are you?” Tang Wei asked curiously.

“As the young master of the Xuanyuan family, he must shoulder this responsibility for the family’s future!” the family head declared solemnly.

Tang Wei blushed, stammering, “That’s not what I meant. I just think this isn’t the best place for a test.”

“Hm?” The family head looked confused.

Zixuan struggled to suppress his laughter, his face turning purple. “Family head, there’s one thing you might not know—after absorbing the spiritual energy from the pill, there’s no time to make it to the restroom.”

At last, the family head understood, and burst out laughing with them.

Just then, Xuanyuan Zhe pushed open the door. “Old man, what’s got you laughing so heartily? Did you call me over to join in the fun?”