19: Chapter 19 Spirit-Nourishing Fruit

[Qingfeng Valley was hidden within a deep ravine of the Wanren Mountain Range, surrounded on four sides by sword-like mountains, dripping with lush verdure.]

[If not for the elder piloting the flying vessel to lead the way, ordinary people would likely only see a sea of clouds, making it difficult to discover the paradise-like scenery before them.]

[The massive vessel slowly descended, coming to a halt at the entrance of the mountain ravine.]

[When you safely set foot on the ground, you discover there is no path at all; only an archway woven from gravel and chains blocks the way ahead.]

[Beneath the archway sits a hunched old man in a gray hemp cloak, cross-legged.]

[You feel no aura from him whatsoever, as if he were merely a lifeless stone.]

“Senior Brother Yun.”

[The leading elder walks to the archway and bows politely to him.]

[You are slightly startled. The leading elder is a Golden Core cultivator, so wouldn't the person before you... be a Nascent Soul Perfected Lord?]

[You hastily avert your measuring gaze; toward Nascent Soul cultivators, your only thought is to keep a respectful distance.]

[Back then, the figure in the pink mist had left an indelible impression on you.]

[You still remember that during your first meeting, that Nascent Soul cultivator's very first words nearly scared you to death.]

[She said: “Strange. If not for your divine soul being no different from normal, this seat would have thought you were someone who possessed another's body.”]

[How terrifying!]

[Thinking of this, you still feel a lingering fear. High-level cultivators are truly terrifying.]

“Don't be afraid.”

[Lin Bufan seems to notice your nervousness and tightens his grip on your hand.]

[You smile back, but a dangerous thought crosses your mind.]

[Could the Ring Old Man beat this old man in hemp clothes in front of you?]

[Fortunately, the sitting old man in gray pays no attention to you at all. With a wave of his hand, a hazy gray sword light flies out, opening a two-person-wide gap in the sealed archway.]

“If you do not come out after three days, you are on your own.”

[The hoarse voice is not loud, yet it clearly reverberates through the entire valley.]

“What are you staring for? Hurry inside.”

[The leading elder cupped his hands again, then turned around and scolded.]

[Coming back to their senses, the crowd hurriedly swarmed toward the archway. You stayed by Lin Bufan's side, walking slowly forward with the crowd.]

[You suddenly feel a covert gaze fall upon you. Pretending to adjust your sleeves, you glance sideways out of the corner of your eye.]

[Oho~ Wang Hao! An old acquaintance.]

[You withdraw your gaze with little interest.]

[You really don't want to bother with a guy like him—no skill, no talent, not even handsome; you wouldn't give him a second glance even if he begged.]

“Qingyu, there is a spatial formation at the entrance of the secret realm. After stepping in, we will most likely be randomly teleported.”

[Lin Bufan lowers his voice, his gaze calm and resolute.]

“Once you enter, find a hiding place and wait there. I will come find you as soon as possible.”

[When it comes to crucial moments, the son of luck is truly reliable.]

“Brother Lin, you must also be careful.”

[You hold his hand back, your eyes filled with reluctance and worry.]

“Mm!”

[The two of you exchange a glance and step through the archway together.]

[After a bout of dizziness, you stumble and reach out to steady yourself on your sword hilt. Forcibly suppressing the urge to vomit, you hurriedly open your eyes to survey your surroundings.]

[Before your eyes is a vast sheet of white mist, with occasional flashes of emerald green. It is extremely quiet.]

[Standing on the spot, you ponder for a moment. With a wave of your hand, the xuanyu skirt covers your body, and as you circulate the Hehuan Cultivation Method, your entire aura rapidly shifts and conceals itself into nothingness.]

[Still feeling something is amiss, with a thought, your long black hair rises like flames, instantly turning into a fiery bright red—the unique cultivation technique effect of the Thousand Silk Love-Inducing Formula.]

[You raise your hand and remove your jade hairpin. The crimson long hair pours down like a waterfall to your waist, shimmering with a faint, seductive luster in the mist, adding a soul-captivating charm to your appearance.]

[Three blood spirit shuttles slip into your sleeves. You aren't here to search for treasure; you're here to hunt!]

[After all, a cultivator's fortune is the most valuable asset. You know you might only have ten years, so naturally your goal is to maximize your gains.]

[The next moment, black mist hangs down, and with a light tap of your toes on the ground, your whole body turns into a puff of blue smoke, dissipating on the spot.]

[Beneath a rushing waterfall, two men and a woman are clinging to the slippery cliff wall, cautiously climbing upward.]

[It isn't that they don't know how to ride flying swords, but in this sun-blocking thick mist, it's impossible to predict what dangers lurk in the sky above.]

[Instead, both sides of the waterfall washed clear by water vapor offer clear vision, becoming the safest passage at present.]

“Senior Brother! Is that the spirit-nourishing fruit?”

[At this moment, one of them, a round-faced woman, cries out in surprise, her eyes locked onto a low spiritual plant on the cliff face.]

[The gray-haired man leading the group pauses, following the round-faced woman's gaze.]

[Between the delicate branches of that spiritual plant, three translucent, thumb-sized fruits hang quietly, glowing with a faint blue-silver light, with golden patterns slowly slithering inside like living things.]

“It really is the spirit-nourishing fruit!”

[Foundation Establishment has three passes: Essence, Qi, and Spirit.]

[Among them, Spirit refers to a cultivator's divine sense.]

[Normally, cultivators only begin to generate divine sense during the Late Qi Refining Stage, but there are always heavenly materials and earthly treasures that break the rules.]

[The spirit-nourishing fruit is a supreme elixir for Qi Refining cultivators to nourish and enhance divine sense, extremely rare.]

[Its harsh growth conditions make it almost impossible to cultivate artificially, and if not consumed within a day after harvesting, it will wither and die.]

“Quick, Junior Sister, go harvest it right away.”

[The tall, thin cultivator trailing behind also lights up with excitement and hastily urges.]

[The round-faced woman shows hesitation, turning her gaze toward the gray-haired man ahead.]

[A flash of displeasure glints in the eyes of the gray-haired man, but after turning around, his tone is gentle as he says:]

“Junior Sister, you discovered it first. It is most appropriate for you to harvest it.”

“Mm~”

[Hearing the man's gentle voice, the round-faced woman's cheeks flush slightly, and the long sword in her hand begins shifting inch by inch toward the spirit-nourishing fruit.]

[A moment later, the three fruits fall safely into the woman's hands.]

[Surprise flashes in the tall, thin man's eyes, but he says nothing more, and the three climb upward at a faster pace.]

[Half an incense stick later, three figures land on top of the cliff one after another, and for a moment the atmosphere becomes somewhat bizarre.]

“Senior Brother, this fruit is for you.”

[Blushing, the round-faced woman hands a spirit-nourishing fruit to the gray-haired man.]

“Junior Sister, what about me?”

[A smile hangs on the tall, thin man's face, but his eyes are cold as ice.]

“I... I didn't say I was going to give you one.”

[Gritting her teeth, she takes out another spirit-nourishing fruit and hands it to the gray-haired man.]

“Senior Brother, I only need one.”

“You seek death!”

[The next instant, the long sword in the tall, thin man's hand shoots out explosively, aiming straight for the space between the gray-haired man's eyebrows.]

“Who is the one seeking death?”

[The gray-haired man sneers, a green shield appearing to block in front of the two.]

*Clang~*

[After a crisp sound, the long sword attacks again.]

“Junior Sister, go wait to the side.”

[The gray-haired man's eyes turn slightly cold. Instead of retreating, he advances, the sword at his waist already unsheathed. Blue light flows across the blade as it fiercely collides with the incoming long sword.]

*Clang~!*

[The clashing of metal echoes through the mountain ravine, and waves of air roll outward. Two currents of Sword Intent constantly strangle each other in midair, giving rise to an image of a battle between a dragon and a tiger.]

[Both of these men are experts of the Late Qi Refining Stage, and both have comprehended Sword Intent, making them top predators within the secret realm.]

[Yet before the spirit-nourishing fruit, neither of them is willing to yield.]

[With a fearful expression, the round-faced woman slowly steps back until reaching a safe distance, whereupon her gaze turns calm as she observes their fight.]

[Concealing your aura while hiding behind a tree trunk, you watch the woman's sequence of performances with a strange expression.]

[666, impressive! Everyone in the cultivation world has eight hundred schemes up their sleeves; you feel you are truly far too innocent.]

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