Chapter 405: A New Era
"Since that’s what you have requested... cough cough... I’ll donate it to the country!"
Old Lu mumbled under his breath.
"Mmm... Dean Wang, please help him see to it!"
Without paying any attention to the glares of the unfilial sons and daughters, Fang Yuan left the hospital and arrived outside.
It was winter and the sky was turning dark.
Snowflakes drifted from the sky, covering the ground with a glossy layer.
"Life... is this brittle!"
Fang Yuan closed his eyes and could feel the flickering flame of life.
"Hehe... Brother Fang, what are you looking at?"
Sun Xiaohong ran towards Fang Yuan and her face became flushed. She was gasping for air. "It’s snowing. Why are you not carrying an umbrella? It’s cold outside..."
"Just some random thoughts... Let’s return to the wards!"
Fang Yuan stroked Sun Xiaohong’s head and she squinted her eyes in comfort. Like a lazy cat, she almost purred.
"You can be discharged after a few more days of observation! Why are you not happy?"
Fang Yuan continued to probe. "You told me that you wouldn’t want to spend an extra moment in the ward..."
"I’m happy..."
Sun Xiaohong twitched her nose and her eyes were filled with anticipation. "Can I come here to look for you next time?"
"Of course you can!"
Fang Yuan flicked the snowflakes from his clothing and brought Sun Xiaohong back to the ward. "Today is the last time I will perform acupuncture for you! Doctor Qin, you’re here too!"
"Doctor Fang..."
Qin Wanqing bit her lip. With a complicated look, she took a deep and apologetic bow. "I’m sorry for misunderstanding you last time! Also... please accept me as your disciple! I am willing to take all kinds of hardship."
"It’s nothing much... What happened previously was only normal and I’m sure other doctors would react the same way as you did... As for accepting you as a disciple, I don’t have that practice..."
Fang Yuan rubbed his head. "However, you can approach me if you do have any questions regarding Traditional Chinese Medicine!"
"That’s great! Thank you, Doctor Fang!"
No matter how bad Fang Yuan’s name was in Xijing University, in Qin Wanqing’s eyes, Fang Yuan would always be the noble doctor worthy of her respect.
With that, her face turned red in embarrassment. "We’re about to usher in the new year... Doctor Fang, if you don’t mind, please come over to my house to have a meal!"
After finishing her piece, Qin Wanqing started to scold herself inside as she did not know why she would do that.
The fact was that there were many male doctors who were wooing her. Therefore, it was an unexpected thing that she would personally invite another male doctor to her house for a meal.
"It is simply a meal to thank you!"
Looking at Fang Yuan’s handsome face, her face became even redder as she tried to explain herself.
"It’s the new year... In an instant, it’s going to be the year 1004..."
Fang Yuan was filled with emotions. "It’s alright... In fact, this year, I am preparing not to accept any invitations... I have already decided to be alone and settle down."
"That’s a pity..."
Qin Wanqing forced a smile and thought of an excuse to take her leave.
...
"Phew..."
After a long morning of work, Fang Yuan returned to Xijing University and heaved a huge sigh. "I’m finally done with the day’s work..."
The three medical cases in the hospital were concluded and Fang Yuan was too lazy to return there.
He only attended a few lectures where he could not reject the invitations.
"The new year will be here in a few days time..."
The ground was covered in snow. Because of the winter break, many students had returned to their homes, but there were still a few students lingering around in the university.
The empty school felt much more peaceful and vast.
The remaining students who stayed behind in school were full of energy and built a few snowmen on the field.
Fang Yuan had made a name for himself in the university. Those who could recognise him started to point fingers and talked about him.
This was especially after they had realised his thesis, which sounded like a joke.
Of course, there were a few of them who looked at him with pity. Those who didn’t know had thought that he had failed his thesis and had to retain another year because of the lack of job prospects.
"Relax..."
Witnessing this scene, Fang Yuan remained emotionless. "Time will pass very quickly..."
...
The harsh and cold winter did little to dampen the festivities.
After settling some stuff on hand, Fang Yuan returned to his hostel and waited for the day to arrive.
"Pa!"
Eye-catching fireworks exploded in the night sky.
As the thunderous fireworks exploded, celebratory music was broadcasted throughout the entire nation.
There were many people who knew that Fang Yuan was an orphan. Now that he had a different status, he had attracted the attention of many. For instance, Professor Tian had invited Fang Yuan to his house to usher in the new year and had unknowingly mentioned about his own granddaughter many times, making Fang Yuan speechless.
The good thing was that there were no phones installed in Fang Yuan’s hostel and therefore no disturbance.
Fang Yuan crossed his legs and sat down as he waited for 12 midnight and the new year.
"It’s about to begin!"
With the change of his expression, he could feel that the spiritual droplets in the surroundings became much more concentrated as the concentration increased by folds in an instant!
"Rumble!"
The changes which the spiritual droplets brought about were immense.
In the next moment, with the inflow of spiritual droplets, Fang Yuan’s body became a blackhole, sucking all the spiritual energy from the heavens and earth.
With this inflow of spiritual droplets, his Elemental Spiritual Energy Cultivation Spell which was at a bottleneck instantly achieved a breakthrough to the 2nd Grade and began its climb on towards the 3rd Grade.
"After completion of the 1st Grade of the Elemental Spiritual Energy Cultivation Spell, my physical body should be similar to that of the evolvers. By making use of the spike in spiritual droplets and actively absorbing it, I will be able to benefit more compared to them who are passively absorbing it!"
Fang Yuan’s eyes glistened as he looked at his own stats:
"Name: Fang Yuan
Essence: 3.0
Spirit: 3.0
Magic: 3.0
Profession: ???
Cultivation: ???
Technique: [Elemental Spiritual Energy Cultivation Spell (Grade 3 (57%))]
Skill: [Medicine (Level 3)], [Botany (Level 5)], [Fiery Golden Eyes (Level 1)]"
"1st Grade of Elemental Spiritual Energy Cultivation Spell: Spiritual Droplets Affined Body transformed! Energy sense increased! 2nd Grade of Elemental Spiritual Energy Cultivation Spell: New ability to release spiritual energy!"
"I have not only achieved a breakthrough to the 2nd Grade, but I have also completed almost half of the 3rd Grade? Furthermore... The ability to release spiritual energy in the 2nd Grade..."
Previously, Fang Yuan was able to absorb spiritual droplets and turn them into spiritual energy. However, his physical limitation limited him to require the use of silver needles to transfer the spiritual energy.
However, after gaining the ability to release spiritual energy now, everything would be different.
"Furthermore... I will be able to use all sorts of talismans, daoist techniques and even control magical equipment... After removing this limitation, it is as though I am able to cast anything I want. Since I already have an idea of the different types of spiritual techniques, it will mean that my cultivation has already overtaken that of people like Guo Jing..."
Although the rules of reality in this realm was different from Fang Yuan’s own realm, after gaining the ability to cast spells, Fang Yuan would merely have to alter the spiritual spells to follow the rules of this realm.
Fang Yuan tilted his head as he thought hard to himself. With the snap of his finger, an orange ball of flame appeared.
Seeing this, Fang Yuan started to smile. "This world... will be different!"
...
At the same time, in Mountain Ocean City.
"Hit him! Hit him!"
10 over gangsters surrounded Zhao Daniu and started to beat him up. "Let’s see if you will still dare to open your roast fish stall and steal our business! Don’t you have an idea as to who is in charge of this street?"
"Wreck his stall! Destroy it!"
"Clang!"
Amidst all the shattering, Zhao Daniu clenched his fist and his eyes turned bloodshot as he witnessed all his effort being wasted.
"F*ck you for not giving me peace even on the night of new years!"
One of the gangsters spat a mouthful of spit on Zhao Daniu’s face. "What a pity... you are still useless even though you’re well built!"
"Bang!"
As soon as the gangster finished his piece, a fist slammed into his face, causing his teeth and blood to fly. It was as though he was crushed by a car. Even if he were to survive, he would still suffer a concussion.
"Ho! Ho!"
Zhao Daniu’s eyes were bloodshot and he was breathing heavily. This honest bloke had finally exploded!
"Bang! Bang bang!!"
After all, he was also an evolver and had a physical body many times stronger than a normal human. He could even be considered a small superman.
As his wrath was incurred, the 10 over gangsters were no match for him. Within seconds, all of them were lying on the floor.
"You b*stard, go f*ck yourself!"
It was a fact that fighting would make one reckless and irrational.
A gangster shouted as he took out a knife and stabbed it towards Zhao Daniu’s thigh.
"Kacha!"
With a distinct sound, the blade of the knife snapped into two.
"Mon... monster!"
As the gangster shrieked, a huge fist was coming his way.
Blood was spewing everywhere!
"What... what did I do?"
After a long while, Zhao Daniu came to his senses and had a look of confusion as he examined the mess around him.
He looked at his own pair of hands.
The skin on the back of his hand had a green hue and felt like a rock, as though it was indestructible.
"What in the world... what is this, wait a moment... I think I have hit someone..."
He lowered his head and examined the few gangsters which had attacked him earlier on.
The few who had suffered from fractures were a small issue, for the few gangsters had a punch in their chest and it was obvious that they would not be able to survive it.
A police siren was heard approaching.
"I... I killed!"
This man finally recalled all that had happened. Instead of fleeing, he knelt on the floor and started to cry...
...
At the same time, in the capital.
Sun Xiaohong was preparing dishes. Suddenly, she accidentally sliced her own finger.
"Boohoo... it’s pain..."
As her fleshed turned pale, crimson red blood started to seep out of the wound and she was on the brink of crying.
However, before Sun Xiaohong could put a plaster on the wound, the deep cut had disappeared already.
"Eh? This is weird..."
She examined the wound for a long time before acknowledging the fact that it had recovered. With that, she was utterly confused.
...
In a particular guest room.
Guo Jing’s expression changed as he examined the spiritual light flashing on the magical equipment and talismans. He was filled with emotions. "This is not an illusion! Everything is real... The era of energy depletion... is over!"