Le Qian’s eyes were bloodshot, his fists clenched tight. "I ran into people from the Heaven-Burying Sect," he said. "You all know that my Celestial Thunder Hall and the Celestial Profound Sect have always dedicated our full strength to suppressing them. For some reason, they knew people from my Celestial Thunder Hall would be passing through there. They ambushed us with a large number of experts and killed my Brother Bai and Brother Gao. I was the only one who escaped."
As Le Qian spoke, he slowly lowered his head, looking utterly grief-stricken.
Yann Chuxue looked at the sword wound on his shoulder and thought, ’Something about this seems strange.’
Everyone frowned upon hearing his story.
Xia Liu’s smile vanished. His eyes fell on the wounds covering Le Qian’s body as he shook his head. "My Three Realms Sect will not get involved in the grudge between your two sects and the Heaven-Burying Sect."
Xia Liu’s words might have seemed heartless, but they were logical. At this moment, he wasn’t representing himself, but the Sect behind him. His every word and deed now represented the Three Realms Sect.
"The Heaven-Burying Sect is getting more and more audacious," Lei Hao snarled, a crimson glint flashing in his eyes.
Yann Chuxue frowned. "I wonder if they’ll come to ambush us as well. If they knew the Celestial Thunder Hall’s route and could set up an ambush, then they might also know that we’re here hunting the Flaming Three-Headed Dog."
Le Qian nodded and was about to speak, but Lei Hao waved him off. "Not necessarily. The way I see it, the fact that Le Qian was able to escape proves the Heaven-Burying Sect’s ambush wasn’t watertight. They must have learned about their movements at the last minute and hastily set up the attack. It’s unlikely they know we’ve gathered here."
Hearing Lei Hao’s words, Le Qian sighed heavily. "Brother Lei has a point. Even though my martial brothers are gone, I must still complete my Sect’s mission."
Xia Liu, Chen Xi’Er, and the others breathed a sigh of relief when they heard Lei Hao’s reasoning.
It was true that without the members of the Celestial Profound Sect and Celestial Thunder Hall, they could claim more True Essence Fruits for themselves. However, that was only if they were actually a match for the Flaming Three-Headed Dog.
The Flaming Three-Headed Dog was a Demon Beast at the Destruction Realm Ninth Layer Heaven, and its power was immense. Even if everyone present attacked together, there was no guarantee they could kill it easily. Without Lei Hao, Yann Chuxue, and their people, the rest wouldn’t dare provoke the beast, meaning this entire trip would have been for nothing.
"I think he has a point."
Just then, a voice broke the group’s contemplation.
A faint smile touched the corners of Yann Chuxue’s lips. A hint of delight appeared in her normally cool eyes as she glanced behind her.
A young man with two swords strapped to his back was slowly approaching, a serene smile perpetually on his face. The hem of his robes fluttered in the gentle breeze.
The red leaves drifted down slowly, seeming to carry a gentle warmth, as if touched by his smile.
It was Wen Qingye.
When Mo Qing heard that voice, she turned her head. Her heart leaped with joy at the sight of Wen Qingye, but her expression quickly hardened. "Wen Qingye, what took you so long? Do you have any idea how many of us have been waiting for you?"
Xia Liu, standing to the side, blinked. ’Were we? Have we been waiting for him?’
Wen Qingye chuckled. "Oh? You were waiting for me?"
"O-of course..."
Stared at by Wen Qingye, Mo Qing felt flustered and tongue-tied, unable to get another word out.
Wen Qingye then turned to Yann Chuxue, his smile deepening.
Yann Chuxue nodded back at Wen Qingye, a flicker of nostalgia in her eyes.
’I still remember the first time I saw him,’ she thought. ’He was despised by all, and no one thought he had any future. Neither the Purple Sun Prefecture nor the Celestial Academy was willing to take him. I was the only one who made the call to accept him into Qig Mountain Academy.’
’And that decision was the best one I ever made in my life. It allowed me to know him.’
Lei Hao nodded at Wen Qingye, then scanned the group. "Alright. Although the full contingent from the Celestial Thunder Hall couldn’t make it, it won’t affect us much. Our four sects have now gathered. Let’s move out."
Everyone nodded. Yann Chuxue walked over to Wen Qingye’s side, and together, the group headed into the depths of the Redwood Forest.
Deep within the Redwood Forest lay a wide clearing, and beyond it, a small valley.
Before long, the party from the four sects arrived in the depths of the Redwood Forest. There, in the middle of the wide clearing, grew a massive, thick-trunked tree.
The main trunk of the colossal tree was so thick it would take ten people with linked arms to encircle it. Its branches were heavy with lush, vibrant green leaves that blotted out the sky, rustling as they swayed in the wind.
Furthermore, an incredibly rich life aura emanated from its branches, spreading through the surroundings. It was then they saw what was growing on those branches: translucent, crystal-clear fruits.
Chen Xi’Er pointed at the massive tree ahead. "That’s the True Essence Fruit Tree," she said slowly.
Everyone’s faces lit up with joy as they gazed at the fruits on the tree. After all, wasn’t every single person here for the True Essence Fruit?
A trace of joy appeared in Wen Qingye’s eyes as well. ’Even consumed raw, the True Essence Fruit would be a great boon to my current cultivation. And my foundation is now exceptionally solid and deep—it’s the perfect time to use this fruit to break through.’
Lei Hao lowered his voice. "Everyone, be careful. The Three-headed Flame Dog is certain to be near the True Essence Fruit Tree."
Xia Liu also nodded, his expression turning grave. "The Three-headed Flame Dog is extremely powerful. If your Primordial Qi isn’t dense enough, its flames might just devour it completely. So, do your best not to let its attacks make contact."
The Three-headed Flame Dog had yet to appear, but everyone was already on high alert, as if facing a formidable enemy. The atmosphere grew tense.
But Wen Qingye’s sharp senses had already detected it. His gaze shot toward the space behind the tree, and his pupils contracted violently.
"The Flaming Three-Headed Dog hasn’t shown up yet. Why don’t we go divide the True Essence Fruits first?" Mo Qing suggested, noting the quiet surroundings.
The moment she finished speaking, she darted forward.
"Don’t!"
Lei Hao saw her move and let out a furious roar.
But his warning came too late. In the next instant, a scorching red shadow, fast as a spear of fire, shot toward Mo Qing.
A closer look revealed it to be a gout of flame.
Mo Qing had no time to react, her face turning deathly pale with fright.
HSSS!
A silvery-white Sword Aura suddenly materialized, slamming into the red flame.
The white Sword Aura seemed to be scorched by the attack; it was instantly incinerated. The flame merely paused for a fraction of a second before continuing its charge toward Mo Qing.
Just then, a black-clad figure swooped in, grabbing Mo Qing by the arm and pulling her rapidly backward. The red flame slammed into the ground where she had been, letting out a deafening BOOM.
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