Chapter 519: After Grain Rain, Before White Dew, Digging for Ginseng on Changbai Mountain!

The news of a president personally flying out just to meet a celebrity sent Huaxia into an uproar.

"The President is Actually Temple Master Ning's Fan!"

"Now That's Status! A President Begging for a Photo!"

"The True Bridge for Huaxia-Africa Friendly Cooperation is Actually Him!"

All sorts of media articles flooded the internet.

Ning Fei's popularity was currently at its absolute zenith, and every outlet wanted a piece of the traffic.

Ning Fei himself remained incredibly unfazed by it all.

"Everyone encounters all kinds of people throughout their life, so running into a president isn't that strange."

Ning Fei told the viewers in his livestream.

Such a humblebrag!

Good lord, most of us will never even see one in real life, yet you had one personally come to greet you!

Comparisons really do make you want to die!

Temple Master Ning's boundless charm has even conquered a president.

The viewers gleefully teased him.

At this moment, Ning Fei was riding in a jeep, heading toward the coast of Madagascar Island.

Generally, leaving a country required going through proper procedures. But since the president himself had just paid Ning Fei a visit, Liu Teng figured none of that red tape really mattered anymore.

They drove straight to the shore without a hitch.

Out in the distance, the Qingfeng Cruise Ship cut through the rolling waves like a returning traveler, speeding straight toward Ning Fei's position.

"We're heading out. See you around if we get the chance!"

Ning Fei said, waving at Liu Teng.

"Goodbye, Temple Master Ning!"

Liu Teng waved back.

Ning Fei and Bai Yi then boarded the vessel. The little ones followed, either swimming through the water or taking to the sky to return to the Qingfeng Cruise Ship.

Liu Teng watched Ning Fei's departing silhouette.

He felt a mix of envy and genuine admiration.

Ning Fei's gentle, refined disposition was truly unforgettable.

Once aboard, Ning Fei called out to Bai, the yacht's smart steward.

"Bai, adjust our course. Set off for Huaxia!"

"Understood, Captain."

The smart steward's voice rang out as the Qingfeng Cruise Ship surged forward, riding the wind once more.

Flocks of seabirds circled the vessel, painting a perfectly relaxed and leisurely scene.

"Brother, where are we heading this time?"

Bai Yi voiced the exact question all the viewers were dying to know.

Ning Fei thought for a moment. "The Northeast. Changbai Mountain."

"Why there?"

"To dig for Ginseng."

Ning Fei stood at the bow. A seagull landed on his shoulder, but the Little falcon immediately spotted it and flew over in displeasure, aggressively chasing the interloper away.

Ning Fei stroked the Little falcon's feathers and smiled as he explained.

"Wild Ginseng begins growing in the spring, then stops and enters a dormant state after the first frost of autumn. Because of that, the locals usually start digging for Ginseng around June and July."

"The absolute best window is after Grain Rain and before White Dew."

"Which is right around the time we'll be getting back."

"So, we're going to join in on the fun."

A wave of envy immediately washed over the viewers.

Going to Changbai Mountain to dig for Ginseng? Now that's a good time!

I'm just afraid Temple Master Ning is about to launch a dimensionality reduction strike on the whole mountain.

Don't worry, Temple Master Ning definitely won't be looking for ordinary Ginseng. He won't steal business from the local mountain folks.

Nowadays, it's not even mountain folks digging for wild Ginseng, it's professional teams. Even Xuanhu Medical Center has sent quite a few people out there.

With so many people digging at once, will Temple Master Ning even be able to find anything?

I remember he dug one up in Daxinganling before. Wait, no, he saved a silly roe deer, and the deer brought him one in its mouth.

The livestream chat buzzed with lively discussion.

Ning Fei, however, was thinking about something else entirely.

He had questioned the System in detail. The Fuzhu Egg had absorbed a massive amount of Spiritual Energy, but it was still just slightly short.

Even counting the massive piece of Ambergris he had, he still needed to find wild Ginseng over five hundred years old, premium Lingzhi, or top-tier Cordyceps to make up the difference.

Ning Fei planned to try his luck on Changbai Mountain. If that failed, he could always just go to Xuanhu Medical Center and buy what he needed.

He certainly wasn't hurting for money, after all.

Hatching the Fuzhu took absolute priority.

A handsome little deer covered in pure white fur... just the thought of it was exciting.

From then on, Ning Fei and Bai Yi spent their time relaxing aboard the Qingfeng Cruise Ship.

The journey back was a long one.

Having each other for company, along with all the little animals, made for an incredibly pleasant and cozy trip.

Huaxia. Changbai Mountain.

Ning Fei and Bai Yi had arrived at the foot of the mountain with all the little ones in tow.

Quite a few fans in the surrounding crowd recognized him and enthusiastically waved in greeting.

Waving was perfectly fine, but a few of the more fanatical guys actually pulled out three sticks of incense from god-knows-where, dropped straight to their knees, and lit them right in front of Ning Fei.

The sight left Ning Fei completely dumbfounded.

He was perfectly alive and well. Why were people burning incense for him?

In reality, these guys were simply worshiping him like a living immortal.

Ning Fei didn't dwell on it too much.

His drone soared high into the air, circling overhead.

Looking up at the lush, emerald peaks of Changbai Mountain, Ning Fei felt his mood brighten. He began his introduction.

"The tradition of gathering Ginseng on Changbai Mountain has a very long history. People have been harvesting it here since the middle of the third century."

"The locals call the act of trekking into these ancient, deep forests to hunt for wild Ginseng 'fangshan'. Participating in a fangshan expedition used to be the ultimate mark of a man's maturity."

"Because the survival conditions in these forests are so incredibly harsh, fangshan serves as a grueling test of a person's guts, wisdom, stamina, courage, and even their morality."

Clad in his flowing Daoist Robe, Ning Fei spoke at a relaxed, unhurried pace.

His voice was soft, but his enunciation was perfectly clear. Every single viewer absorbed his words effortlessly.

The viewers loved it when Ning Fei shared local lore and history.

It was like disciples eagerly listening to a master recite sacred texts.

The atmosphere made the act of learning feel incredibly relaxing.

Why do I feel like I've heard of this fangshan thing before?

You're thinking of "Alien vs. Predator". The Predators' coming-of-age ceremony involves going into a pyramid to kill Xenomorphs.

Right! That's exactly it!

I can't believe we had that kind of tradition so long ago.

It's perfectly normal. Many ancient customs required men to accomplish dangerous feats to prove their capabilities.

Little Dog was currently darting back and forth, chasing after a butterfly. The other little animals were behaving themselves.

Bai Yi was carrying the transparent Pet Backpack on her back. Inside, the three Xiao Heijiu were curled up fast asleep.

These three completely lacked their mother's wild nature. They were incredibly lazy and heavily disliked running around outdoors.

Then again, the black stray cat back in Qinshan Village probably preferred that her kittens lived safe, comfortable lives like this.

Just then, a noisy commotion erupted further ahead. It sounded like a large crowd had gathered.

Curiosity piqued, Ning Fei walked over to investigate.

At the base of the mountain ahead of them, a multitude of tents and small pavilions had been erected. They looked brand new.

At the forefront stood a table laden with offerings.

Seeing this, Ning Fei spoke up.

"It looks like our timing is perfect. Today is the exact day they enter the mountain."

"A highly auspicious day must be selected before anyone enters the deep mountains, and they must first pay their respects to the Mountain God."

"Look over there. They use three stones—two vertical, one horizontal—to build a 'Lord's Manor,' which serves as a makeshift temple for the Mountain God. Then they kneel and pray for safety and a bountiful harvest."

"After the ritual, they'll rest. At night, they must light bonfires in front of their shelters and tents. Even the way the firewood is stacked has to follow strict, traditional rules."

"Only when all of these preparations are complete will they finally enter the mountain."

"It's all part of the old traditions."

Listening to Ning Fei's explanation while watching the scene unfold on stream, the viewers found it all fascinating.

It was a truly captivating piece of culture.

Ning Fei didn't linger for long, however, and quickly continued on his way.

Last night, he had read the stars above Changbai Mountain.

Because Ginseng was currently sprouting across Changbai Mountain, the local Spiritual Energy had reached an absolute peak.

The stars had shone the brightest in one particular spot—the exact location where the Spiritual Energy was at its densest. He had already pinpointed it.

Now, all he had to do was go over there and dig it up.