81: Spirit Fruit

Lu Chen walked up to the charred, skeletal remains of the Iron-Beaked Long-Necked Vulture. With a flick of his wrist, the tip of his flash thunder spear deftly slipped into a gap in the bones. After a few twists and turns, the already brittle, charred bones scattered across the ground.

The spear tip then flicked upward, sending a dark red crystal core, about the size of a walnut and emitting faint demonic energy fluctuations, flying out of the bone pile and landing in his palm.

Sensing the pure demonic energy contained within the core, Lu Chen gave a slight nod and casually tossed it into his spirit beast pouch, saving it for the slumbering Yellow-Feathered Chick.

The scent of blood had already spread in this area, making it unsuitable for lingering. Without hesitation, his figure flashed as he vanished deep into the dense forest.

Sure enough, not long after he left, several low-level Yao Beasts, drawn by the scent of blood, darted out from the shadows and began vying to gnaw on the charred bones and scraps of flesh left on the ground.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

In a forest clearing scattered with rubble, Lu Chen was sitting on a bluish-gray boulder, taking a moment to regulate his breathing.

The blade of the flash thunder spear he tightly gripped was still stained with fresh blood, and a faint aura of Evil Qi emanated from his body.

Around the boulder, over a dozen corpses of burly, grayish-brown furred ape-like Yao Beasts lay haphazardly, each bearing different fatal wounds, clearly indicating a fierce battle had taken place.

This slaughter was not initiated by Lu Chen.

Half a day ago, he had accidentally discovered a spirit nurturing fruit that was about to ripen. The moment he picked it, he attracted the frenzied assault of these Stone-Splitting Apes, who regarded the fruit as their exclusive property.

Although he ultimately killed all the demon apes, the continuous fighting had drained a significant amount of his spiritual power and left him feeling somewhat weary.

"This Prison Dragon Mountain... there are far too many Yao Beasts."

Lu Chen let out a soft sigh and muttered to himself.

In just three days, he had encountered no fewer than four or five waves of Yao Beast attacks, and the number of Yao Beasts he had slain had exceeded fifty.

Such frequent battles, while excellent for honing practical combat skills, were also mentally and physically exhausting.

With a thought, he retrieved from his Storage Pouch the spirit nurturing fruit, which emitted a soft green light and was about the size of an infant's fist.

The fruit's skin was crystal clear, and the rich plant-based Spiritual Qi seemed almost ready to overflow.

"Qing Yi, is this the spirit nurturing fruit you mentioned?"

"Yes, Young Master."

A confirming response came from within the soul nurturing pearl. "This fruit contains pure vitality Spiritual Qi and can quickly replenish a Cultivator's depleted spiritual power. Although you Cultivate thunder techniques, Young Master, all methods share the same origin. This fruit should be equally effective for you."

Hearing this, Lu Chen hesitated no longer. He brought the spirit nurturing fruit to his mouth and gently bit through the skin.

Instantly, a stream of sweet, refreshing juice flooded into his mouth, sliding down his throat. Wherever it passed, an indescribable feeling of cool comfort spread throughout his limbs and bones, refreshing his spirit!

What surprised him even more was that after this pure plant-based Spiritual Qi entered his body, although its nature leaned towards gentleness, it did not clash with the domineering Power of Thunder within him. Instead, like spring rain nourishing the earth, it quietly nurtured the dantian thunder pool, which had grown somewhat dim from the days of intense fighting!

The thunder spiritual power, which had been nearly exhausted, began to slowly recover and increase under the nourishment of this vitality, at a speed far surpassing that of consuming ordinary qi recovery pills!

Although its effect might not be as significant as for wood or water attribute Cultivators, compared to the ordinary qi recovery pills he had on hand, it was already much better!

Feeling the gradually replenishing power within his body, a glint of satisfaction flashed in Lu Chen's eyes.

Although this Prison Dragon Mountain was fraught with danger, the opportunities and resources within it were indeed tempting.

Lu Chen swallowed the remaining spirit nurturing fruit in a few bites. The pure Spiritual Qi dissolved within his body, rapidly replenishing his consumed spiritual power.

He casually tossed the smooth fruit pit into his spirit beast pouch before slowly rising to his feet.

His gaze turned toward the depths of the dense forest. He had personally experienced the efficacy of the spirit nurturing fruit. In this perilous Prison Dragon Mountain, a treasure that could quickly restore spiritual power was akin to a second life.

When he picked it earlier, he clearly remembered there were still a few unripe fruits on that tree. Now that the guarding Stone-Splitting Apes were eliminated, he naturally couldn't let them go.

He efficiently collected the over ten Stone-Splitting Ape corpses on the ground into his spirit beast pouch; these would be nourishing items for the Yellow-Feathered Chick.

Then, his figure moved as he swiftly dashed toward the direction he remembered.

Before long, a towering ancient tree with lush branches and leaves appeared before him—it was the spirit nurturing fruit tree.

Lu Chen lightly tapped his toes and leaped onto a branch like an agile ape. His eyes, sharp as torches, searched among the layers of leaves while simultaneously spreading out his Divine Sense.

Sure enough, concealed by the dense foliage, he discovered two more mature spirit nurturing fruits emitting a faint green light.

Just as he was about to step forward to pick them—

"Young Master, be careful! There's something behind the main trunk!"

Qing Yi's warning voice suddenly rang out!

Lu Chen's heart tightened. Without thinking, he swiftly retreated backward.

Almost simultaneously, a demonic python as thick as a child's arm, its color indistinguishable from the tree trunk, shot out from behind the main trunk. Its massive mouth, filled with fine, dense fangs, viciously bit down on the spot where he had just been standing, producing a sickening, muffled crunch!

It was clearly a cunningly camouflaged Iron-Thread Demon Python!

The Iron-Thread Demon Python, having missed its strike, contracted its body, intending to retreat back into the dense foliage.

However, Lu Chen reacted even faster. With a flick of his wrist, the startling thunder whip shot out like a purple lightning bolt. With a crisp crack, it wrapped precisely around the python's rapidly retreating vital point—its seven-inch!

Restrained, the demon python flew into a rage. Its body twisted violently, and instead of retreating, it surged forward, opening its foul-smelling, gaping maw and lunging at Lu Chen's face like an arrow released from a bowstring!

Standing firmly on the branch, Lu Chen remained as steady as a rock. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as the hand gripping the startling thunder whip suddenly exerted force!

The whip's body immediately blazed with brilliant thunder light, emitting crackling explosions. A scorching, dark red Bing Fire Thunder Flame rapidly spread along the whip, instantly engulfing most of the python's body!

"Hiss—!"

Suffering this severe blow, the demon python let out a shrill, agonized hiss. Its forward momentum abruptly ceased, and its massive body violently coiled and twisted in excruciating pain.

After the thunder flame burned for three breaths, it suddenly extinguished, leaving only a charred, foul odor in the air. The demon python had stiffened, devoid of all life.

Lu Chen leaped down beside the python corpse. After flipping it over with his flash thunder spear for a moment, he found no Demon Core.

Just as he was about to sweep it off the tree, the spear tip unexpectedly flicked out a mucus-covered, slightly damaged Storage Pouch, along with some nearly digested clothing fragments and scattered bones.

Judging by the remaining appearance, it was clearly the remains of a Cultivator who had perished some time ago.

In such a treacherous place, it was common for Cultivators to end up in the bellies of Yao Beasts.

Lu Chen felt little emotional fluctuation. With a calm expression, he waved his hand, sending out a gust of forceful wind that swept all the remains and tattered clothing off the tree.

Then, he formed a hand seal with his fingers, conjuring a ball of clean water. He repeatedly rinsed the slimy Storage Pouch until it regained its original color before using his spiritual power to draw it into his hand.

After a brief inspection and finding no lingering Restriction on the pouch's opening, Lu Chen separated a wisp of his Divine Sense and cautiously probed inside the bag.