Chapter 14: One Hundred Thousand, One Day

You should know that ordinary hundred-year-old ginseng already costs three to five million or more, and three-hundred-year-old ginseng is even rarer.

For ordinary people, it is naturally a life-saving medicine—even many people on the verge of death can be kept alive by it.

Because of this, many wealthy people are extremely eager to acquire all kinds of wild ginseng with age.

And for martial artists, this kind of ginseng king is also a treasure that is hard to find even with a fortune. The surging medicinal power contained within the ginseng king can help martial artists break through.

If he could obtain such a ginseng king and then use his sect’s secret methods to refine it into medicine, he would be fully confident in making further progress, directly breaking through to the Grandmaster of Internal Pill stage.

After all, for martial artists—especially in the early stages—progress depends greatly on the strength of one’s vital energy and blood. As the saying goes, “an old boxer fears the young and strong.” Even if you’ve practiced boxing for decades, you still fear being beaten to death by a strong young man’s flurry of punches.

So the younger you are when you break through to a higher level, the more limitless your future prospects.

Especially since he had heard from his master that the world was undergoing great changes. For martial artists like them, this was truly an unprecedented golden age.

Before the world changed, they couldn’t sense any free energy between heaven and earth, and every breakthrough could only be achieved by consuming their own vital energy and blood.

That’s why martial artists often ended up with hidden injuries all over their bodies. Those without a prestigious lineage, not knowing how to eliminate these hidden injuries in time, often died at the peak of their strength in their prime.

After the world’s transformation, martial artists would gain tremendous benefits. Even he could faintly feel the free energy between heaven and earth improving his body and healing hidden injuries.

This was a golden age for martial artists. If he could step into the Grandmaster of Internal Pill stage before the age of thirty, his future would be truly limitless. It was even possible that he could one day become a martial arts legend.

You should know, throughout history, those confirmed to have reached the level of martial arts legend—or even higher—were only a handful: Lü Zu Chunyang, Shaolin’s Bodhidharma, Wudang’s Zhang Sanfeng, and a few others.

Which of them wasn’t a peerless genius, leaving a resounding name in history, their brilliance shining through the ages?

And this three-hundred-year-old ginseng king could help him take another step forward.

Even someone as composed as he was couldn’t help but have a fleeting thought of snatching it.

But he quickly banished that thought. He glanced at Ethan Carter and couldn’t help but swallow—trying to snatch something in front of this man would be courting death.

Just now, he had launched a fierce assault, but the other party had easily blocked every move. The feeling was like facing his master—or perhaps, even more terrifying than his master.

At the very least, his master could never so effortlessly block all his attacks under such a fierce onslaught.

If he dared to make a move, he’d probably be beaten to death on the spot.

Besides, he wasn’t the kind of madman who would do such a thing.

Ethan Carter was also slightly surprised. If it were his previous life, when he had already become a Celestial Venerable, he wouldn’t have even glanced at a three-hundred-year-old ginseng. But at this stage, this gift was indeed worthy of great thanks.

However, Ethan Carter still calmly accepted it. He had cured William Collins’s illness, which was equivalent to saving his life—and also saving the The Collins Family. He deserved this token of gratitude; there was nothing wrong with accepting it.

This did not conflict with his earlier refusal of the million-yuan thank-you gift. A gentleman loves wealth, but acquires it by proper means—and this was Ethan Carter’s way.

He needed money, but with his abilities, there were plenty of ways to make it. He naturally disdained using petty tricks.

At that time, his purpose in saving people was pure; he never thought of profiting from it. This time was different—he already knew the The Collins Family’s identity and naturally had the intention of making money from it.

Cultivation emphasizes wealth, companions, methods, and place. Among them, “wealth” refers to money and resources. All kinds of resources needed for cultivation require money. Without money, you can only struggle bitterly and miss the chance for rapid improvement.

Even the harshest ascetics would not refuse money. What they refuse is enjoyment, but money can buy many resources for cultivation, which helps them improve.

Especially since Ethan Carter in his previous life had achieved great cultivation and become a Celestial Venerable, he had long seen through it all. The saying “money is the root of all evil” is false—money itself is innocent; only people can be guilty.

“Since that’s the case, I’ll accept it!”

Ethan Carter nodded and accepted the ginseng king in the wooden box.

A three-hundred-year-old ginseng king was extremely precious to him at this stage. If used well, it could increase his foundation and allow him to step into the sixth level ahead of time.

Henry Collins also breathed a slight sigh of relief. Although a three-hundred-year-old ginseng king was incomparably precious, compared to winning over a master of this level, it was nothing.

Just like James Harris’s master—such a person, now moving within the imperial court, was so difficult to approach that even someone as wealthy as him could hardly get a word in. It had taken a lot of connections just to invite James Harris.

Such people are peerless experts; meeting them is a stroke of fortune.

“Today, inviting Mr. Carter here was not only to ask Mr. Carter to treat my son, but also because I have another request!” Henry Collins said.

“Go ahead,” Ethan Carter replied.

“I would like to ask Mr. Carter to protect my daughter for a period of time!” Henry Collins said, somewhat embarrassed.