Chapter 156: Spirit Fruit
“Song Yan?!”
His expression tightened, and he inwardly cursed his luck.
As it happened, this man had been among the onlookers when Song Yan fought Kong You on the debate platform that day.
Three strokes of sword light had reduced Kong You—at the eighth level of Qi Refining—to utter helplessness. That scene remained vivid in his memory to this day.
“Oh? To be recognized already?”
Truthfully, young Song felt a private flicker of pride.
But the garbed cultivator did not hesitate for an instant. He immediately flung three talismans at Song Yan.
Then he turned and fled.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three consecutive explosions of flame erupted, sending shockwaves rolling through the ancient forest and startling a flock of crows into flight.
The garbed cultivator seized upon the turbulence and smoke created by the blasts, fleeing into the distance.
“No chance of victory whatsoever!”
He had walked the path of immortal cultivation for nine years. He possessed no remarkable talents of any kind—save one quality that had consistently kept him from suffering undue losses.
That quality was self-awareness.
This sort of opponent was simply not someone he could hope to defeat.
And yet, despite having made what he believed to be the most correct choice with the swiftest possible reaction, he still could not escape the inevitable outcome.
Amid the rush of wind at his ear, a gentle laugh suddenly sounded.
“Heh heh, Senior Brother—meeting you here feels like reuniting with an old friend. Why are you in such a hurry to leave…”
Before the words had fully escaped his lips, a warm hand had already settled upon his shoulder.
“As we are about to part, allow this junior brother to see you on your way.”
Even though this man had braced himself for a fierce struggle, he was now pale with shock.
The hand Song Yan had placed upon his shoulder—within that great sleeve, sword qi surged without impediment, effortlessly extinguishing the three tongues of flame conjured by the spirit talisman.
In the same motion, it shredded his protective spiritual energy, yet left his person entirely unharmed.
This signified that the opponent harbored absolutely no fear of a close-range counterattack.
He screamed inwardly in terror: “Is he truly this powerful?!”
Was he truly this powerful?
In truth, he was not.
As the saying went—when swords cross in a narrow path, the brave prevail. Had this man stood his ground and fought Song Yan head-on…
Then even in defeat, the outcome would never have been so lopsided, so completely overwhelming.
The reason for this impression lay in the fact that he had chosen to flee from the very outset.
Before a sword cultivator, if one sought only to flee…
Then there was precious little difference between that and throwing away one’s life.
The jade token at his waist had already been severed by a surge of sword qi. Song Yan held it in his hand, and a spirit rune drifted from within it, tracing an elegant arc through the air before merging into Song Yan’s own token.
These jade tokens were specially crafted and could not be stored within a Cosmos Bag. Whichever party seized it would eliminate the other.
Almost in the same instant, the cultivator’s figure vanished from the Cave Heaven secret realm.
He reappeared upon the plaza atop Sword Trial Peak.
“…”
His expression was somewhat vacant, as though he could scarcely believe what had transpired. A long while passed before he recovered his wits.
He stood rooted in place, turning the matter over in his mind, ultimately attributing this sudden defeat to nothing more than ill fortune.
“Such is the cruelty of fate…”
The events unfolding within the Sword Testing zone of the Cave Heaven realm were projected above the debate platform and the remaining four peaks, allowing all cultivators, disciples, and elders to observe the proceedings.
However, since the boundary had not yet begun to contract, the area remained too vast, and the small skirmishes occurring at the periphery failed to draw much attention.
The garbed cultivator, noticing that his thoroughly one-sided defeat had attracted few spectators, hurried to the observation area and found a secluded corner to sit.
He then focused his gaze upon the illusory projection, searching for Song Yan’s figure.
…
Back in the secret realm, Song Yan had politely escorted the unknown senior brother on his way. The spirit rune count on the jade token at his waist had changed.
“Two.”
Unfortunately, when he consulted his map once more, the marker for the other cultivator had already vanished.
It seemed this fellow disciple belonged to the avoid-conflict faction and had likely withdrawn from the area altogether.
No matter. His destination remained the lake.
The lake was not far from the central zone and made for a suitable temporary staging ground.
Within the Sword Testing realm, apart from the spirit plants that grew naturally, the sect elders had also placed one particularly intriguing item inside.
Special teleportation talismans.
These were few in number, yet could appear anywhere within the Sword Testing zone.
Their function was simple—once activated, the talisman would instantly transport the person bearing it to a random safe location anywhere within the boundary.
The purpose was largely to allow disciples of lesser cultivation to survive longer within the Cave Heaven realm.
Should one be fortunate enough to acquire such a talisman, it could serve as an emergency escape when danger threatened.
Song Yan intended to search about and see if he might obtain one.
This was no mere tool for the weak—he harbored a rather different notion.
Consider: once the boundary shrank to its smallest area, he would inevitably clash with many senior brothers at the late stages of Qi Refining.
With such a teleportation talisman, he could extricate himself from the chaos of battle in an instant, regroup and recover his composure.
“…”
Recalling the powerful participants in the Sword Testing, in truth, he wished to exchange blows with every last one of them.
Yet when it came to those within the sect whom he had witnessed firsthand, which one left him feeling that their depths were truly unfathomable?
The first face that surfaced in his mind was that of a young girl.
Xiang Zhaoling.
The scene of those two cultivators—one at the seventh level, one at the eighth level of Qi Refining—outside Lingxi Market perishing in an instant flashed before his eyes.
With his two styles of sword qi and his natal flying sword, he had felt confident in facing any fellow disciple. Only against her did he harbor genuine uncertainty.
“If I were to face those two now, could I match her clean, effortless precision?”
If he invoked the true essence of the Sword Dao, perhaps he might manage it.
But it would absolutely lack her effortless grace.
The spirit insects and spirit beasts she commanded—each one was extraordinary.
Most frightening of all, it seemed no one truly understood the extent of her power.
Among the sect’s other cultivators, their speculations regarding the so-called top twelve disciples had never once mentioned her name.
“If I truly encounter her within the Cave Heaven realm, I must exercise utmost caution.”
He composed his mind, oriented himself by his surroundings, and set off.
The Sword Testing had only just begun, and the boundary had not yet started contracting. No other cultivators’ markers appeared nearby.
Song Yan did not even employ the Soaring Intent. He simply walked at a measured pace toward the lake.
“How vast is this Cave Heaven realm…”
“A thousand disciples entered, yet one can scarcely encounter anyone at the edges.”
“Truly wondrous…”
…
Cave Heaven realm, Qingjiang Flat.
The once-quiet shore of Qingjiang Lake now played host to over a dozen figures locked in a chaotic melee.
“Senior Sister of Lotus Seclusion Peak—don’t let those bastards from Forgotten Peak seize our spirit fruit!”
“What nonsense are you spouting?! We discovered this Scarlet Fruit first! What business is it of yours? Save the false camaraderie!”
The cultivators from Forgotten Peak showed no intention of yielding. “Enough talk—let our fists decide!”
“Senior Sister Wu! You have already taken one spirit fruit. The three of us—each takes one. Why must it come to blows?!”
“Shut your mouth! They’re all ours!”
The female cultivator from Lotus Seclusion Peak possessed a fiery temperament and showed not the slightest inclination to compromise.
Her mouth unleashed a torrent of increasingly vulgar abuse, and even the most patient cultivator from Sitting Forget Peak could not help but flare with anger.
In an instant, spells flew and artifacts clashed across Qingjiang Flat.
Yet though the battle among these dozen or more cultivators was dazzling to behold, they deliberately avoided a certain spot near the lake.
Three spirit plants of identical form grew clustered together.
Upon two of them hung a single scarlet fruit each, glowing an intense crimson.
These were the spirit fruits borne by a spiritual flower known as the “Concubine Yu.”
In common parlance, they were also called Beauty Fruit.
These fruits carried considerable renown, and even an unverified legend accompanied them.
It was said that during the ancient era, within the cultivation world of the Chu Kingdom, there lived a pair of lovers like gods descended to earth. Yet for certain reasons, the male cultivator was hounded to his death by enemies at the banks of the Wu River.
The female cultivator refused to live on alone and took her own life with his sword.
Both were mighty cultivators. Their blood spilled upon the banks of the Wu River, and the nameless flowers that grew there—nourished by that crimson offering—underwent profound transformation.
To honor the memory of that female cultivator, the flower was named after her—”Concubine Yu,” commonly known as the Yu Beauty.
Every part of the Yu Beauty was a treasure.
Whether petals, spirit fruits, nectar, or even leaves—each served as an indispensable ingredient in the refinement of the Age-Preserving Pill.
The spirit fruits and nectar, in particular, could not be substituted by any other herb of comparable properties.
Consequently, they commanded extraordinary prices.
The Yu Beauty flower and its fruits were among the spiritual flora for which the Chu Kingdom was renowned across distant lands.
After all, a single pill could preserve one’s youthful appearance for a full decade.
Among female cultivators, very few possessed the nonchalance to care nothing for their looks.
Among male cultivators, no small number likewise placed great emphasis on their appearance.
Within the cultivation world, pills capable of preserving one’s complexion forever commanded exorbitant prices.
More often than not, they were priceless yet unobtainable.
And each Beauty Fruit fetched approximately four hundred and twenty spirit stones at market auction.
Here, three such fruits lay before them.
One of them had already been claimed within the Cosmos Bag of the Lotus Seclusion Peak female cultivator.
“Rustle, rustle…”
“Rustle, rustle…”
While the battle raged with fierce intensity, three figures emerged from the underbrush not far away.
“Senior Brother Li, Senior Brother Sun.”
Gu Qingqing whispered softly, “When do we make our move?”
Li Qingfeng raised a hand, signaling for patience. “Not yet—let us observe a while longer.”
“Oh.”
“…”
Sun Zhengfu, however, was growing restless.
He felt that as a man of honor, one ought to possess a righteous bearing. Hiding in the shadows, preparing to launch a sneak attack—this seemed rather unbecoming.
“Er… Junior Brother Li.”
Sun Zhengfu hesitated, but ultimately spoke. “Perhaps we should go find Junior Brother Song first…”
The Sword Testing imposed no prohibition against forming teams. Typically, however, those disciples of lesser cultivation traveled in groups.
The reason was simple—they stood little chance of claiming a high ranking and merely sought to remain within the small Cave Heaven realm a while longer, gathering precious spirit resources.
“Old Song? What do we need him for…”
Sun Zhengfu was somewhat taken aback. “Why, so that the four of us can travel together and look out for one another, of course.”
Li Qingfeng deliberated, his expression conflicted.
Then he waved his hand. “Forget it. We had better not move together with Old Song.”
“This… but why?”
Li Qingfeng sighed. “That fellow is thoroughly uncanny. At the seventh level of Qi Refining, I somehow feel he could arm-wrestle with inner sect disciples at the ninth level…”
“Perhaps he could genuinely attempt to break into the top twenty-two.”
Gu Qingqing recalled the figure upon the debate platform that day and nodded in wholehearted agreement. “I think so too. I believe in Senior Brother Song.”
A glimmer of hope shone in Li Qingfeng’s eyes.
“We really ought not to hold him back…”
He exhaled a soft sigh. “If we did seek him out, knowing his character, he would certainly insist on helping us.”
“The Sword Testing is teeming with formidable opponents this time… were he to concern himself with our safety, he would only be burdened.”
Sun Zhengfu started slightly, then nodded.
Li Qingfeng spoke the truth.
No matter how they tried to deflect, traveling together meant that Song Yan—with his chivalrous nature—would surely look after them at every turn.
But he was only at the seventh level of Qi Refining!
That he could stand upon this stage, competing alongside those geniuses and powerhouses, was already remarkable enough.
Were he also to expend mental energy watching over them, his friends, the toll would surely be considerable.
Then, as though something had occurred to him, Li Qingfeng slapped his thigh in sudden agitation, startling both Sun Zhengfu and Gu Qingqing.
“Besides! Which among us is some mediocre talent?”
“We cannot expect Old Song to help us all the time…”
These words, even the typically upright and stern Sun Zhengfu, roused a spark of competitive spirit.
“Well said.”
“Indeed!”
“And so…”
Li Qingfeng raised a finger with elaborate gravity.
“If we encounter Old Song, not only must we refuse to travel with him—we must make him see that we are no cowards!”
Gu Qingqing nodded vigorously, her expression brimming with resolve.
She seemed to have been ignited by Li Qingfeng’s rhetoric. “That’s right! Senior Brother Song must know that Qingqing is no coward either!”
Gu Qingqing clenched her delicate fists, her heart surging with determination.
She admired Senior Brother Song deeply, yet she did not wish to forever be treated as a junior sister in need of protection.
“Good! Very spirited!”
“Senior Brother Li, what should we do then?”
“Let us think of a way to get the better of him! Show him the true harshness of the world!”
“Good! We—”
“…”
“Huh?”
Gu Qingqing froze.
She turned to look at Sun Zhengfu beside her, as though seeking the elder brother’s opinion.
Sun Zhengfu likewise turned to stare at Gu Qingqing in equal puzzlement. The two gaped at each other, neither understanding what Li Qingfeng was babbling about.
“Senior… Senior Brother Li—can we actually defeat Senior Brother Song?”
Li Qingfeng’s face darkened. “Tch, and they call you dim.”
“?”
“Who said anything about fighting him.”
Then Sun Zhengfu was the first to grasp his meaning. “You mean—use that thing?”
“Oh!”
Gu Qingqing caught on as well.
“Precisely, precisely.”
Li Qingfeng grinned with cunning satisfaction. “When we run into him…”
He produced a red talisman glowing with spirit light from his Cosmos Bag.
“We simply find an opportunity to slap this onto him and teleport him straight out.”
“Ooh~”
The two of them chattered back and forth, their scheme against Old Song already having achieved what seemed like total victory.
Sun Zhengfu found himself infected by the strange atmosphere and allowed himself a quiet laugh.
He had grown up under his parents’ exceedingly “righteous” upbringing, where the distinction between right and wrong was to be drawn with absolute clarity.
Yet regarding Li Qingfeng’s “conspiracy,” he felt not the slightest discomfort.
“Being able to send Junior Brother Song to a safe area and spare him from premature exertion is not a bad outcome either…”
Perhaps this was simply the way he and Junior Brother Song, as friends, showed their care.
The three set about refining the details of their “scheme” with great enthusiasm, assigning each step to a specific person.
Just then, the dispute upon Qingjiang Flat appeared to be drawing to a close.