229: Mantis stalks cicada, sparrow among sparrows

Under the guidance of Little Bai, everyone reaped significant rewards, with roughly half of their Storage Pouches filled to the brim.

At the bottom of the snowy mountain.

Chu Jiang looked at the data on the panel with a composed expression.

【Three Thousand Slashes: 1921 / 3000】

Still a thousand short.

There's hope of achieving Three Thousand Slashes in the Tai Xuan Secret Realm.

Not bad, not bad.

Two hours later.

At the peak of the snowy mountain.

Chu Jiang looked into the distance, a world entirely covered in ice and snow: ice hills, ice pillars, ice caves... The temperature plummeted as soon as he arrived.

Moreover, the world suppression in the second layer was several times stronger than in the first layer. In the first layer, a Peerless Grandmaster could easily break rocks.

The second layer, however, required the Transcendent Realm.

Furthermore, the space was more stable than the outside world; even a Divine Power Realm expert couldn't Break Through the Void.

...

On the other side.

The people from Seven Stars Valley and Ice Serpent Valley had already delved deep into the snowy mountain world.

They were currently fighting over a Jade Marrow Ice Flower.

"Yu Hualing, Valley Master, this Jade Marrow Ice Tree belongs to my Golden Serpent Valley!"

"Dream on! If I saw it, it's mine!"

"Kill them!"

Yu Hualing, Valley Master led two Elders in a fierce battle against the people from Ice Serpent Valley.

Although Yu Hualing, Valley Master's strength was slightly higher than hers, Jin She Lan, Valley Master didn't want to give up. The ice fruits on this Jade Marrow Ice Tree had the effect of improving one's Cultivation Aptitude, which could Cultivate a large number of outstanding descendants.

To create a golden generation.

Besides.

Five against three.

The advantage was hers.

Not far from where the two valleys were fighting, a Jade Marrow Ice Tree, over ten meters tall, exuded cold Qi, bearing more than thirty fruits with a fragrant aroma.

This was a second-grade, high-quality Treasure Tree.

Such Heaven And Earth Treasure could only grow in special treasure grounds; even if transplanted, it would quickly melt and wither.

More than thirty Jade Marrow Ice Fruits meant more than thirty Beyond Mortal seeds. Whichever faction obtained them.

They would be able to prosper for several more generations.

Their purpose for this trip was the barrier-breaking immortal fruit, and encountering such Heaven And Earth Treasure was an unexpected bonus.

"Seven Stars Shine on Heaven!"

Yu Hualing, Valley Master let out a delicate roar.

The Seven Star Sword in her hand erupted with starlight, blocking Jin She Lan, Valley Master's retreat.

"Seven Stars, Fly to Heaven!"

"Seven Stars, Land!"

Yu Hualing, Valley Master, working with two Great Elders, fought Jin She Lan, Valley Master's five Divine Power experts to a standstill.

As time passed.

Both valleys began to show signs of fatigue.

"Stop... Yu Hualing, Valley Master, neither of our valleys can monopolize this Jade Marrow Ice Tree. How about we split it in half, to prevent outsiders from taking it?"

Jin She Lan, Valley Master said, somewhat out of breath.

Yu Hualing, Valley Master also stopped her attack, understanding that continuing the fight would likely result in both sides suffering heavy losses. Even if they could defeat the people from Ice Serpent Valley, they would still suffer severe casualties.

"Alright, seventy-thirty. I get seventy, you get thirty!"

Yu Hualing, Valley Master said coldly.

"Impossible! Then let's fight another round. At worst, we'll both be destroyed!" The Golden Serpent Valley Elder roared. They had discovered this Jade Marrow Ice Tree first.

Seventy-thirty? Dreaming.

"Then I'll concede another step: sixty-forty. Otherwise, let's fight!"

Yu Hualing, Valley Master held her Seven Star Sword, poised to strike.

"Fine!"

Jin She Lan, Valley Master could only compromise. Although she knew this was the other party deliberately raising the price, there was nothing she could do. Continuing the fight was not in their best interest.

After all.

The barrier-breaking immortal fruit had not yet been found.

It was not advisable to fight her to the death yet.

Yu Hualing, Valley Master smiled. She had gambled that the other party wouldn't dare to continue fighting. If it really came down to it, she could always revert to fifty-fifty.

See who buckles under the pressure first.

A free ten percent.

"Prepare to collect the Jade Marrow Ice Fruits!" Jin She Lan, Valley Master softly commanded, "After sweeping this area, we'll proceed to the third layer."

Such a rare item as the barrier-breaking immortal fruit should not be found in the second layer.

Most likely, it's in the third layer.

"Yes!"

As both groups were about to approach the treasure tree to collect the Jade Marrow Ice Fruits.

A cold sneer suddenly appeared.

"Congratulations, you've been surrounded by me. Your mission ends here. Now, it's time for this King's performance."

"Who's playing tricks? Get out here!"

Jin She Lan, Valley Master shouted.

Then.

Everyone scanned their surroundings.

They saw.

A Red-Robed Youth walking leisurely from the distant snow, leaving no trace, full of heroic spirit.

"Where did this little brat come from? Still wet behind the ears and already trying to rob people. Do you think you're Chu Jiang or something?!"

The Golden Serpent Valley Elder relaxed upon seeing it was just a little brat, not putting him in his eyes at all.

One person surrounding all of them? He was going to die laughing right here.

"Young man, come with me. I'll give you a few of my share, how about it?"

Yu Hualing, Valley Master's eyes flashed with a spark, her face showing a covetous expression. Her Cultivation Technique was stirring; Dual Cultivation with this person would surely allow her to Breakthrough.

"Valley Master, how could you..."

The Seven Stars Valley Elder beside her was puzzled. These were Jade Marrow Ice Fruits, priceless treasures. How could she give them to a little brat?

It was simply a waste of Heaven And Earth Treasure.

Jin She Lan, Valley Master shook her head. This Yu Hualing, Valley Master was always scouting for Prodigies, absorbing their Yang Qi essence to Cultivate, draining them dry. Nothing good ever happened to those she targeted.

She then waved her hand.

Signaling her subordinates to continue collecting the Jade Marrow Ice Fruits.

Yu Hualing, Valley Master could flirt with her boy toy.

It wouldn't affect their fruit collection.

"This King is not interested in women!"

The Red-Robed Youth said softly.

Immediately.

He vanished from his spot, reappearing before the Jade Marrow Ice Tree in the next second, carefully examining the treasure tree.

As if he didn't put anyone in his eyes at all.

"How dare you! Get over here!"

Jin She Lan, Valley Master was enraged. She had been suppressed by Yu Hualing, Valley Master just now and was fuming, looking for an outlet.

"Attack!"

The four Divine Power Elders behind her charged forward simultaneously.

"Little brother, don't make trouble. What's mine is yours, isn't it? This old woman is not someone to be trifled with, you..."

Yu Hualing, Valley Master said sweetly, but in the next second, a shock flashed across her beautiful face, revealing an expression of disbelief.

She saw.

The Red-Robed Youth unleashed a palm strike, accompanied by what sounded like a Dragon's roar and a tiger's growl, shaking the Void.

The four Elders immediately spat out a mouthful of blood and flew back. The weakest Elder's arm was directly blown off.

"Who exactly are you?!"

Jin She Lan, Valley Master, who was about to charge forward, her pupils wide with shock, immediately halted her steps. To defeat four Divine Power experts with a casual palm strike.

This person's strength was probably not much weaker than Chu Jiang and Wang Xuance.

When did such a top-tier expert appear in the Western Seven Provinces?

Chu Jiang's rise still had traces to follow.

This young man, however, seemed to have suddenly popped out of a rock.

"This Jade Marrow Ice Tree is mine!"

The Red-Robed Youth laughed loudly.

The ice fruits on it were the peerless foundation for his future conquest of the world.

He casually snatched two or three Storage Pouches and swept all the Jade Marrow Ice Fruits into them, sealing them away.

"Little brother, can you give sister some? Sister can give you anything!" Yu Hualing, Valley Master reacted, batting her eyelashes at the Red-Robed Youth, infinitely alluring.

Who knew.

The Red-Robed Youth didn't even glance at her, directly carrying the Storage Pouches and leaving the area: "Hmph, women are poison, they wear down one's will and only hinder my progress towards domination."

Jin She Lan, Valley Master had a bitter expression.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Even an eagle catching chicks might one day get its eyes pecked out by a chicken.

This battle.

A huge loss.

Not a single Jade Marrow Ice Fruit, and all four Elders were injured.

"Let's go!"

The Spiritual Qi here is rich. Let's find a good place to restore our Origin Qi first, otherwise, when the barrier-breaking immortal fruit appears, Ice Serpent Valley will have no right to contend for it.

The people from Seven Stars Valley also left, the two groups going their separate ways.

And so.

The Red-Robed Youth plundered everywhere on the second layer. In just one day, almost half of the experts had been robbed by him.

Making them gnash their teeth in hatred.

Chu Jiang was strolling through the second layer of the Secret Realm, taking strides of a thousand meters, as if it were his own backyard, walking at leisure.

Not long after, he heard a voice, which belonged to the Red-Robed Youth.

"Hehehe... Hand it over!" A strange laugh came from Chu Jiang's mouth, and then his figure flashed, heading straight for the Red-Robed Youth.

(Red-Robed Youth: Don't come over here! ಠ o ಠ )