novelraw Chapter 68 – Draw the snake out of its hole
Chapter 68 – Draw the snake out of its hole
Luo Xiu hadn't expected that as soon as he arrived at the Guanlei Mountain Range, he would stumble upon clues about the Fire Sun Tree.
Although it's not absolutely necessary for a Qi Sea Martial Artist to use an Ascension Pill to break through to the Innate Realm, taking one at the ninth layer of the Qi Sea Realm can lead to a rapid breakthrough. Without it, one would need to accumulate and temper their strength for years at the ninth layer before naturally advancing.
For martial artists with less talent, the Ascension Pill is essential for breaking through; otherwise, they might remain stuck in the Qi Sea Realm for life.
Breaking through to the Innate Realm is crucial for martial artists because it doubles their lifespan, granting them 300 to 500 years of life!
Thus, the preciousness of the Ascension Pill is self-evident.
Without the Fire Sun Fruit, the Ascension Pill cannot be crafted. Even in a powerful sect like the Free Spirit Sect, the pill is rare, with only a select few core disciples having the privilege to use it.
However, Luo Xiu, though young, wasn't naive. He didn't believe in such fortuitous events falling into his lap.
Regardless of whether the Fire Sun Tree truly existed, acquiring it wouldn't be easy. Otherwise, why would Zhang Haifei and his companions be willing to share such a benefit?
"Brother Luo, Miss Lu, the value of the Fire Sun Fruit is clear to both of you," Zhang Haifei said solemnly.
As he spoke, Luo Xiu could sense the killing intent from the three men intensifying.
It seemed that if Luo Xiu and Lu Mengyao refused, they would be killed.
At this point, Zhang Haifei didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "If the news about the Fire Sun Tree gets out, it will attract powerful Innate Martial Masters. Since I've shared this with you, if you don't cooperate..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the murderous aura emanating from him and his companions said it all.
Luo Xiu wasn't afraid of their threats. He had already slain Gou Jinchuan, who was at the second layer of the Innate Realm, and was confident he could handle these three.
However, their demeanor suggested the news about the Fire Sun Tree was true. If he could obtain the Fire Sun Fruit, Luo Xiu believed he could break through to the Innate Realm in a short time.
"Alright, we'll team up," Luo Xiu said with a smile.
Though he smiled, Luo Xiu was inwardly sneering. He was certain that if they obtained the Fire Sun Fruit, Zhang Haifei and his companions would turn on them to reduce the number of people sharing the spoils.
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Luo Xiu and Lu Mengyao's cultivation at the fifth layer of the Qi Sea Realm was obvious. Zhang Haifei's boldness in sharing the news and forcing them into the team suggested he didn't regard them as threats.
"Great, with you two joining us, our chances of getting the Fire Sun Fruit are even higher. If we succeed, I, Zhang, won't treat you poorly!"
Seeing Luo Xiu agree, Zhang Haifei laughed, and the killing intent around him subsided.
Luo Xiu, however, caught a fleeting cold glint in Zhang Haifei's eyes, confirming his suspicions.
They thought they had him cornered, but the outcome was still uncertain.
Throughout, Lu Mengyao remained silent. To her, wherever Luo Xiu went, she would follow; otherwise, she would feel empty inside.
As for Zhang Haifei and his companions' schemes, Lu Mengyao didn't think much of them. She had witnessed Luo Xiu's strength firsthand. Anyone who underestimated him due to his lower cultivation was courting death.
"Where are you from, Miss Lu?" Tian Guangyou suddenly approached Lu Mengyao as the five of them traveled together.
Lu Mengyao frowned slightly, finding his fiery gaze repulsive and understanding his intentions.
Seeing her ignore him, Tian Guangyou awkwardly laughed it off, but he thought to himself that once they obtained the Fire Sun Fruit, this woman wouldn't escape his grasp.
He was sure Zhang Haifei and Miao Feifei wouldn't stop him. In the Guanlei Mountain Range, where they often fought demonic beasts, nerves were always tense, and sometimes capturing a woman to relieve stress was normal.
Initially, he had planned to pursue Miao Feifei, but upon learning that Zhang Haifei had already been with her, he gave up the idea.
However, while Miao Feifei had a good figure, she couldn't compare to Miss Lu.
"What kind of demonic beast is lurking near the Fire Sun Tree?" Luo Xiu asked.
"The Blue-winged Demon Snake," Zhang Haifei replied, looking serious.
"Can the five of us handle it?" Luo Xiu frowned. He knew that while the Blue-winged Demon Snake wasn't the top among third-level demonic beasts, it was formidable, comparable to the fourth layer of the Innate Realm.
Moreover, its most dangerous aspect was the poisonous mist it spewed. Inhaling even a little could be fatal, even to a ninth-layer Innate Martial Master.
"Don't worry, I have a third-level Antidote Pill to counter the snake's poison, and I'm also a third-level Formation Master. Once I set up the formation, the Blue-winged Demon Snake won't be a problem," Zhang Haifei assured.
Luo Xiu was surprised to learn Zhang Haifei was a third-level Formation Master. Formation Masters held a higher status than martial artists. Even as a ninth-layer Qi Sea Martial Artist, his formation master status meant many Innate Martial Masters would treat him with respect and avoid offending him.
The five of them traveled through remote areas, still on the periphery of the Guanlei Mountain Range.
After passing through a dense thicket taller than a person, they saw a stone cave about two hundred meters ahead.
The dry stone walls were riddled with holes of various sizes, and the wind howled through them. In an inconspicuous corner, a small fiery red tree grew among the rocks, about three feet tall, with leaves like burning flames and four fruit the size of dates hanging from its branches.
The location was so remote that the Fire Sun Tree had remained undiscovered, a testament to Zhang Haifei and his companions' luck.
However, the air was filled with a foul stench, and snake tracks were visible on the ground. The Blue-winged Demon Snake Zhang Haifei mentioned was likely lurking in the stone caves near the Fire Sun Tree.
Luo Xiu squinted slightly. As long as the Fire Sun Fruit was there, the trip was worth it.
Zhang Haifei, Tian Guangyou, and Miao Feifei's eyes burned with desire. Obtaining the Fire Sun Fruit would almost guarantee a breakthrough to the Innate Realm.
"I'll set up the formation first. Please keep watch," Zhang Haifei said, taking out palm-sized formation flags from his storage ring.
Luo Xiu, unfamiliar with formations, couldn't discern what Zhang Haifei was setting up.
He knew formations generally fell into four categories: killing, trapping, illusion, and defense.
To deal with a third-level demonic beast like the Blue-winged Demon Snake, comparable to an Innate Martial Master, Luo Xiu guessed Zhang Haifei was setting up a killing, trapping, or defense formation.
After about half an hour, Zhang Haifei completed the setup and said to Luo Xiu and the others, "I've set up a trapping formation and a killing formation. With these two third-level formations and our combined efforts, we have a sixty percent chance of killing the Blue-winged Demon Snake."
He then took out a green pill, "One of us needs to lure the Blue-winged Demon Snake here. I need to stay and control the formation, so I'll leave this task to you."
After Zhang Haifei spoke, Tian Guangyou looked at Luo Xiu and Lu Mengyao, "You two have the weakest cultivation. The main task of killing the snake falls on us, so you should lure it."
"Miss Lu is a woman, so Brother Luo, you're the most suitable for this task," Tian Guangyou said with a smile.
Hearing this, Luo Xiu frowned. He knew these three had ulterior motives for forcing him and Lu Mengyao into their team. Luring the snake was extremely dangerous; the Blue-winged Demon Snake was incredibly fast, and he might not make it back alive.
"Brother Tian makes a good point. Since we're working together, everyone should contribute. We'll handle the snake, but as a team member, Brother Luo should also do his part," Zhang Haifei said, looking at Luo Xiu with a hint of threat.
Lu Mengyao clutched Luo Xiu's sleeve, clearly aware of the danger.
Luo Xiu inwardly sneered but showed no dissatisfaction on his face, "Alright, I'll lure the Blue-winged Demon Snake."
Zhang Haifei smiled, "Don't worry, Brother Luo. Take this Antidote Pill, and you won't fear the snake's poison. Just run back quickly, and the snake will be trapped by my formation."
Luo Xiu nodded, taking the Antidote Pill from Zhang Haifei. The Heaven's Life and Death Cycle in his dantian trembled slightly, alerting him to a dangerous aura from the pill.
"This Antidote Pill is problematic!" Luo Xiu thought, but he didn't mention it.
"Luo Xiu..." Lu Mengyao looked at him worriedly. Although she knew he was strong, the Blue-winged Demon Snake was no Gou Jinchuan.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine," Luo Xiu reassured her, then cautiously approached the stone cave.
Zhang Haifei and Tian Guangyou exchanged glances, smirking as they watched Luo Xiu's retreating figure.
The closer Luo Xiu got to the cave, the stronger the nauseating stench became. He expanded his Life Perception and sensed the Blue-winged Demon Snake's life force, burning like a torch, deep within the largest cave opening.
Demonic beasts' bodies and vitality far surpassed human martial artists, making their life force more intense.
Soon, Luo Xiu was within ten meters of the cave when the Blue-winged Demon Snake's aura suddenly became violent.
"I've been discovered!"
Startled, Luo Xiu stopped hiding his presence, unleashing his full speed, leaving afterimages as he dashed towards the Fire Sun Tree in the corner.
From a distance, Zhang Haifei, Tian Guangyou, and Miao Feifei were shocked to see Luo Xiu heading for the Fire Sun Tree.
They were surprised by his speed, fast enough to leave afterimages, and by his audacity to grab the Fire Sun Fruit even after being discovered by the Blue-winged Demon Snake. His courage was astounding.
"He won't make it back," Zhang Haifei said coldly.
He knew how fast the Blue-winged Demon Snake was. If Luo Xiu had turned and fled upon discovery, he might have escaped, but rushing for the Fire Sun Tree sealed his fate.
If Luo Xiu died, Zhang Haifei planned to send the woman, Lu, next. Though it was a pity to lose such a beautiful woman, compared to the Fire Sun Fruit, she was insignificant.