Chapter 1562: Yu Bi's Fury
Yu Bi waved his hand, and five jade boxes flew out in unison, drifting toward the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation.
As the five jade boxes floated slowly toward him, a flicker of surprise crossed the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation’s eyes.
Five Sky-Blue Glazed Fruits, obtained so easily?
Is Yu Bi really being this straightforward?
Hidden in the shadows, Song Wen couldn’t help but suspect that something was amiss with the jade boxes.
Under Song Wen’s control, the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation didn’t immediately reach for the boxes but instead levitated them in mid-air.
However, after repeatedly probing the jade boxes with his divine sense, Song Wen found nothing suspicious.
He then instructed the shadow void to examine the boxes meticulously, but it too found nothing amiss.
It seems I was being overly cautious, Song Wen thought to himself. Given Yu Bi’s desperation for the Life-Replenishing Fruit, offering five Sky-Blue Glazed Fruits as collateral isn’t entirely implausible. Besides, in Yu Bi’s mind, he probably sees this as merely entrusting the fruits to me temporarily. Once he obtains the Life-Replenishing Fruit, he can simply kill me and reclaim them at any time.
Just then, perhaps noticing that “Gou Jun” was hesitating to accept the spirit fruits, Yu Bi’s voice carried a hint of displeasure.
“Gou Jun, are you trying to back out of our agreement?”
Hearing this, a smile immediately spread across the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation’s face.
“Senior, you misunderstand. With such a treasure before me, I momentarily lost my composure. I hope you won’t take offense,” the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation said.
Before the words had even finished, the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation had already manipulated its spiritual power, sweeping the five jade boxes into its storage ring.
“Gou Jun, I’ve already given you the five Sky-Blue Glazed Fruits, demonstrating my sincerity. Where have you hidden the Life-Replenishing Fruit? It’s time to hand it over now,” Yu Bi said sternly.
“Senior acts with such decisive efficiency, how could this junior possibly go back on his word? The Life-Replenishing Fruit is right here with me, not hidden anywhere else.”
As the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation spoke, it flipped its palm, revealing a jade box in its hand.
Yu Bi immediately recognized it as the same jade box he had seen in the image stone recording—the one used to contain the Life-Replenishing Fruit, at least in appearance.
“Quick! Give it to me!” Yu Bi’s voice trembled with barely suppressed urgency, and he moved closer to the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation.
“Senior, I advise you not to make any rash moves. With just a little force, I could crush this jade box and the Life-Replenishing Fruit inside,” the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation said coldly, its right hand gripping the jade box like an iron vise.
Yu Bi froze mid-air.
His gaze, cold and piercing, darted back and forth between the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation’s face and the jade box.
“Gou Jun, you little whelp, what do you want?”
A cold smile curled at the corner of the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation’s lips.
“Senior, have you forgotten your promise? Hand over the remaining ten Sky-Blue Glazed Fruits and the Taiyin Netherfire, and this junior will gladly present the Life-Replenishing Fruit with both hands.”
Yu Bi’s brow furrowed, his aged and withered face wrinkling like gathering storm clouds, layer upon layer of creases pressing together.
After a moment’s hesitation, the dark clouds on his face dispersed, revealing a smile as chilling as the wail of a Fierce Ghost.
“Junior Gou Jun, you’ve only shown me a jade box. How can I be certain the Life-Replenishing Fruit is truly inside? Shouldn’t you open the box first and let this old man see for himself?”
The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation gently shook its head.
Instead of complying with Yu Bi’s request, it slightly increased the pressure on the jade box with its right hand.
A faint creaking sound emanated from the box, as if it were on the verge of shattering under Song Wen’s grip.
“Senior, this junior is well aware of my inferior strength and knows I’m no match for you. The Life-Replenishing Fruit is my only leverage. You would do well to follow my instructions, or we’ll both end up perishing together.”
The smile vanished from Yu Bi’s face, and a barely perceptible glint of sinister malice flashed in his sunken eyes.
“Junior, are you threatening this old man?”
“And what if I am?” the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation replied calmly.
The Life-Replenishing Fruit in the jade box was clearly genuine at a glance. Why would he show it to anyone?
“You dare not let me inspect the Life-Replenishing Fruit? Could it be… you don’t actually have it?” Yu Bi pressed.
“Senior hasn’t shown me the remaining Sky-Blue Glazed Fruits and the Taiyin Netherfire either. Has Senior been conjuring things from thin air all along?” the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation countered.
“Do you truly have no fear of death?!” Yu Bi glared at Song Wen, his body radiating a murderous aura.
His gnarled, tree-branch-like fingers were now tinged with a layer of dark corpse qi, as if he were about to lose his restraint and strike at any moment.
Hidden nearby, Song Wen felt a sudden chill.
He realized that his earlier counter-question had likely struck the truth.
Yu Bi probably couldn’t produce the promised fifteen Sky-Blue Glazed Fruits and the Taiyin Netherfire. The five Sky-Blue Glazed Fruits he had already given were likely all he possessed.
Realizing he had squeezed Yu Bi dry, Song Wen immediately resolved to leave.
“Senior, please remain calm,” the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation quickly interjected.
For now, he needed to keep Yu Bi pacified.
The five Sky-Blue Glazed Fruits remained in the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation’s storage ring and needed to be transferred to the main body’s possession.
Otherwise, if a confrontation erupted, Yu Bi would instantly kill the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation, and the hard-won Sky-Blue Glazed Fruits would revert to Yu Bi’s control.
Such a failure would render all previous schemes and risks utterly futile.
“Senior wishes to inspect the Life-Replenishing Fruit? By all means. However, the fruit is not on my person. This jade box I hold is merely an empty container.”
Yu Bi paused, slightly taken aback.
Earlier, ‘Gou Jun’ had claimed the Life-Replenishing Fruit was hidden elsewhere, then insisted it was inside the jade box. Now, he claimed it was in a different location entirely.
These shifting explanations only deepened Yu Bi’s suspicion and eroded his patience.
“Where exactly is the Life-Replenishing Fruit?”
Remembering his dwindling lifespan, Yu Bi finally suppressed his rising anger.
“It lies at the bottom of this lake. Senior, please wait a moment. I will dive down and retrieve it for you.”
As the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation finished speaking, it prepared to leap into the nearby lake.
“Halt!” Yu Bi roared. “Gou Jun, you’re not thinking of escaping, are you?”
“Senior, please don’t jest. How would this junior dare?” the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation replied, its expression awkward.
“Then why dive underwater? Why not simply retrieve the Life-Replenishing Fruit directly?” Yu Bi demanded.
“This… To be honest, one of my friends is hiding beneath the surface. The Life-Replenishing Fruit is in his storage ring. He won’t hand it over unless I personally retrieve it,” the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation explained.
“Lies!” Yu Bi thundered. “This old man’s divine sense has already scoured every inch of the Ten Thousand Mile Mist-Hidden Lake. There isn’t a single living soul here. I see right through you—you’re just trying to escape under the guise of retrieving the fruit.”
The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation immediately appeared flustered, scrambling to explain.
“Senior, please understand. My friend is skilled at concealment, which is why you couldn’t detect him.”
“Do you think I’d believe another word you say? You never had the Life-Replenishing Fruit to begin with. Prepare to die!”
Corpse qi swirled around Yu Bi as he prepared to strike.
(End of the Chapter)