37: Vermillion Fruit and Soul-Seeking Rat

Deep within the crevice where two massive rocks intersected, in a shaded and damp area, three peculiar crimson vines grew.

The vines coiled like Dragons, but their leaves were not red; instead, they were like the finest jade, crystal clear with visible veins, exuding a pure aura of life.

But what was most striking were the fruits hanging on those vines!

Five pigeon-egg sized, perfectly round and plump fruits!

The fruits were entirely crimson like blood, yet as clear as jade, their surface seemed to be enveloped in a flowing, fiery glow, emitting an indescribably refreshing and unique fragrance!

Just by smelling a trace of the scent, Lin Feng felt that his internal injuries seemed to alleviate slightly, and his dried Meridians subtly yearned for it!

“Vermillion Fruit! A second-tier Saint Grade Spiritual Fruit.”

“Legend has it that it can bring the dead back to life and is a Saint Grade healing item; no matter how severe the internal injury, one fruit is enough to regrow flesh on bones and revive the dead!”

“It also has the effect of extending life; the first fruit consumed can extend life by ten years! The second by another five years! The third by another three years! A maximum of eighteen years of lifespan can be added in one’s lifetime! This alone is enough to make Golden Core old monsters go crazy for it!”

“It is also rumored to have a slight benefit for Breakthroughs at a Bottleneck!”

And before him, there were actually five!

Looking at the gnarled old roots of the vine and its verdant leaves, it had clearly grown for an unknown number of years; it ripened every thirty years, yielding twenty fruits each time!

Now only five remained on the branches; the rest had probably been consumed by the Beast King.

He carefully picked the five crimson, fire-like Vermillion Fruits, which emitted a strange, refreshing fragrance, and sealed them in a specially made cold jade box.

He also transplanted or collected all the Spiritual Peach trees and the Spiritual Plants in the valley.

After completing all this, he dragged his exhausted body to a clean rock cave to recuperate and recover.

jade emperor honey and crimson flame jujube pear were taken in turns, and combined with the rich Spiritual Qi of the place, his injuries and Spiritual Qi recovered very quickly.

A few days later, when he emerged from the rock cave, fully refreshed and invigorated, ready to explore this island that had brought him such great surprises, a subtle “squeaking” sound caught his attention.

Behind a stone at the entrance of the rock cave, a palm-sized, silver-furred little mouse with eyes like black gemstones was peeking out, its small nose twitching, staring intently at the Storage Pouch containing Spiritual Fruits hanging from Lin Feng’s waist.

This little creature had surprisingly not been affected by the battle and had been hiding nearby the whole time.

“Treasure Seeking Rat?!” This name instantly flashed through Lin Feng’s mind—it was the Treasure Seeking Rat that Lin Feng had just discovered, coveting the Vermillion Fruit!

This kind of naturally born and raised little sprite possessed an extraordinary perception for Spiritual Qi treasures, was agile and cunning, extremely intelligent, and incredibly fast!

“Little fellow, you’re quite bold.” Lin Feng’s lips curved into a slight smile, and his figure flickered, appearing behind the Treasure Seeking Rat like a ghost, grabbing it in his hand.

“Squeak—!” The Treasure Seeking Rat was so frightened that its fur bristled, and its limbs flailed wildly; seeing that it couldn't break free, it rolled its small eyes, stuck out its tongue, and directly “fainted,” acting perfectly.

Looking at the slightly trembling silver whiskers and the eyeballs still rolling beneath the tightly closed eyelids, Lin Feng’s lips twitched.

He was amused and didn't expose it, merely lifting it to his face and shaking it.

The Treasure Seeking Rat secretly opened one eye and saw Lin Feng looking at it with a half-smile, realizing that playing dead was useless.

It immediately let out a “waah,” squeezed out two pea-sized tears, its small nose twitching, emitting a “woo woo woo” whimper.

It looked at Lin Feng piteously, its tiny paw still pointing in the direction where the Vermillion Fruit was stored, squeaking non-stop, as if accusing Lin Feng of stealing its treasure.

Lin Feng watched its performance expressionlessly.

After crying for a long time and seeing that Lin Feng was unmoved, the Treasure Seeking Rat got angry!

It abruptly stopped crying, its small paws again on its hips, standing in Lin Feng’s palm, one paw pointing at Lin Feng’s nose, the other angrily pointing at the Vermillion Fruit Lin Feng had put away on the ground, its tiny mouth chattering like a machine gun, “Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp!” it cried out.

Although he couldn't understand rat language, the exasperation, the insistence on its rights, and even a hint of “do you know how long I’ve been watching this” accusation were practically overflowing!

Its small chest puffed up with anger, and its silver-gray fur bristled, making it look like a small furball.

Lin Feng was thoroughly amused by its “righteous” and arrogant demeanor.

This little creature was too human-like!

Lin Feng couldn't understand rat language, but he could feel its strong emotional fluctuations.

He deliberately put on a stern face and put it into a small cage temporarily woven from vines, placing it beside him.

For the next two days, as Lin Feng explored the island, the Treasure Seeking Rat in the cage would sometimes play dead, sometimes gesticulate and chirp at Lin Feng, appearing both angry and anxious.

Sometimes it would even hold its tiny paws, striking an arrogant pose of “I am very noble, you will regret catching me,” which was quite comical.

Lin Feng was not in a hurry either; he would just occasionally take out an ordinary Spiritual Peach or a fire pattern pepper and dangle it outside the cage.

The Treasure Seeking Rat initially disdained it, but it couldn't resist the temptation of Spiritual Qi, and its small eyes slowly changed.

On the third day, Lin Feng took out a high-quality azure jade spiritual peach.

The rich fruity aroma instantly made the Treasure Seeking Rat in the cage restless; it clung to the cage, its black gemstone-like eyes filled with longing, saliva almost drooling out.

Lin Feng smiled and put the Spiritual Peach into the cage.

The Treasure Seeking Rat hesitated for a moment but finally couldn't resist the temptation and quickly began to gnaw on the Spiritual Peach, eating it messily with juice, a look of satisfaction on its face.

“How about following me?” Lin Feng asked.

Upon hearing this, the Treasure Seeking Rat instantly seemed to remember something, threw away the almost-eaten peach, pointed its small paw at Lin Feng, and chattered, not knowing what it was saying.

Lin Feng always felt it was something unpleasant.

He thought for a moment, then took out a few fire pattern pepper and crimson flame jujube pear that he had previously ripened, which were full of Spiritual Qi, from his Storage Pouch and offered them to the little creature.

The bristling Treasure Seeking Rat instantly quieted down.

It twitched its pink little nose, a glimmer of light flashed in its golden eyes, and it tentatively extended a small paw to touch the fire pattern pepper, then sniffed the crimson flame jujube pear.

It seemed to think the quality was not bad, although far inferior to the Vermillion Fruit, and it secretly glanced at the Storage Pouch where Lin Feng had put away the Vermillion Fruit jade box, finally seeming to make a difficult decision.

It grabbed the largest fire pattern pepper, then quickly pulled a few crimson flame jujube pear into its embrace, then looked up and “squeaked” twice at Lin Feng, its voice much softer, with a hint of “you’re smart” in it, and the tip of its small tail wagged happily.

Lin Feng smiled and released the restraint.

The little creature immediately hugged its “spoils of war” and in a few leaps, scurried onto Lin Feng’s shoulder, found a comfortable spot to squat down, and began to nibble on the fire pattern pepper little by little, savoring it.

From time to time, it would contentedly squint its golden eyes, making “smacking” sounds, as if the “mortal enmity” from before had never happened.

Looking at this carefree little glutton on his shoulder, feeling the surging vitality of the five Vermillion Fruits in his embrace, and then surveying this “treasure land” he had personally secured, Lin Feng’s pale face finally revealed a relieved smile of surviving a great calamity.