The Struggle

In the pitch-black cave, a Wu Family cultivator limped forward, feeling his way along the tunnel. After walking several dozen zhang, he passed through a cavern paved with demonic beast bones. Then, a faint blue glow suddenly appeared ahead. Thinking he had found the exit, he hurriedly quickened his pace.

"Water Spirit Fruits! Haha, I never thought there would be a Water Spirit Fruit Tree in this place. This time, I've struck it rich."

Wu Ziyuan stared at the Water Spirit Fruit Tree before him, which emitted a dazzling blue radiance. His face was full of excitement, and he failed to notice a figure slowly approaching from the darkness not far away.

"Who's there?!"

"Fellow Daoist Wu, it's me. I'm Du Yucheng of the Du Family. Keep your voice down. This seems to be a demonic beast's nest."

A figure slowly emerged from the darkness, his face filled with panic. He was a Du Family cultivator.

"So it's Brother Du. You gave me quite a scare."

Wu Ziyuan saw that Du Yucheng's injuries were no better than his own. He was equally bedraggled, with a large smear of mud on his face, making him look rather comical.

He had seen this man in the forest yesterday. He was about the same age as Wu Ziyuan, around thirty, and counted as one of this generation's younger cultivators. His cultivation was only at the Fifth Level of Qi Refining, and he was not particularly valued among the Du Family cultivators, far beneath Wu Ziyuan's standing in the Wu Family.

In Wu Ziyuan's eyes, Du Yucheng was mediocre, and his cultivation was lower than his own. He gradually let down his guard and put away the flying sword in his hand.

Speaking of it, these two and Song Qingming truly had been unlucky. When the three of them had been gathering Demonic Beast Materials beside the pool, they had been relatively close to its center. Before they could react, they were swept into the Black Feathered Python's cave by the whirlpool it created.

Of the three, Song Qingming had landed closer to the Cave Entrance and quickly found the exit. These two, however, had landed too far from it. Stumbling about and heading in the wrong direction, they had arrived at the Black Feathered Python's nest. Finding this Water Spirit Fruit Tree was an unexpected stroke of fortune.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, this does indeed look like a Water Spirit Fruit Tree. Unfortunately, these Water Spirit Fruits on the tree will need at least another hundred years to ripen. If picked now, they would not even sell for a single Spirit Stone. They are completely useless to us. What a pity." Du Yucheng sighed regretfully after speaking.

After hearing this, Wu Ziyuan's eyes shifted before he said, "Brother Du, that is where you are mistaken. Though these Water Spirit Fruits are of no use to us now, this fruit tree is a Level 2 Spirit Fruit Tree and is worth a great deal. As long as we return alive and report this matter to our family, we will certainly receive a substantial reward. Wouldn't you agree?"

A smile appeared on Wu Ziyuan's face as he spoke, as though he were already imagining himself earning merit once again and receiving a family reward just as he had last time. Once he got out, he only needed to tell the family this news. The clan head would surely think more highly of him, and he would gain even more cultivation resources from the clan.

Du Yucheng opened his mouth, pondered for a moment, then seemed to come to a sudden realization. He lightly slapped his forehead and nodded. "Brother Wu is right. How did I not think of that just now? Brother Wu truly is sharp-minded."

Seeing that Du Yucheng did not object, Wu Ziyuan continued, "However, this place is exceedingly dangerous. I have no idea what kind of demonic beast swept us in here earlier, but it must possess considerable abilities. We should first find a way to escape."

"Since being swept in, I've stayed around this area. This cavern is filled with tunnels everywhere, yet I haven't found a way out. Brother Du, you're quick-witted. Which way do you think we should go?" Du Yucheng asked with an honest-looking expression.

Wu Ziyuan thought for a moment, then said, "When I was swept into the whirlpool, I seemed to see someone else being dragged in with us. Brother Du, have you seen that person?"

Du Yucheng lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then suddenly cried out loudly:

"Right, Brother Wu! I found a corpse in a cave ahead just now. It seems to be someone from your family. I don't know whether he was swept into the cave with us."

"Which member of my family is it? Do you know? Take me there quickly so I can see." Wu Ziyuan asked nervously.

"I was startled by the corpse just now and did not dare to go closer for a careful look. I only saw that he was dressed similarly to Brother Wu, so he should be from your family. Don't worry. The corpse is in a cave not far ahead. I'll take you there now."

Du Yucheng led Wu Ziyuan several dozen steps deeper into the cavern and turned into a cave. Sure enough, a corpse appeared not far ahead. Du Yucheng ran over and took a look, then shouted, "Brother Wu, this person seems to be your clan head!"

"The clan head... How could this be?" The moment Wu Ziyuan heard this, he panicked and ran over after him.

When Wu Ziyuan reached Du Yucheng's side and looked, he saw a corpse lying on the ground with only its upper half remaining. He stepped forward for a closer look and immediately realized something was wrong. This person was clearly wearing the silver Dharma Robe unique to Liu Family cultivators. Just as he was about to turn around and question Du Yucheng, a gleaming green dagger pierced through his chest from his back.

"Du Yucheng, you... you... Why would you do this?"

Du Yucheng's previously honest expression vanished, replaced by a sinister smile.

"Hmph. You actually planned to report this Water Spirit Fruit Tree to your family. What can the Wu Family give you? Toss you a few dozen Spirit Stones and dismiss you like a dog? You fool, do you know this Water Spirit Fruit Tree's true value?"

"If I report news of this Water Spirit Fruit Tree directly to the Carefree Sect, joining the Carefree Sect in the future will certainly not be a problem. I might even be able to exchange it for a Foundation Establishment Pill immediately. How could someone as short-sighted as you be worthy of sharing this with me?"

"Fellow Daoist Du, don't kill me. I am willing to swear a blood oath. After we get out, I will absolutely not reveal what happened today. I'll act as if I was never here." Wu Ziyuan pleaded bitterly, his face full of terror.

"Brother Wu, do you still not understand? As long as you live, you are a threat to me. I have never liked being threatened." Du Pingtao gave a cold laugh, a ruthless look appearing on his face as he kicked Wu Ziyuan to the ground again.

"Du Yucheng, must you truly be so vicious? If you kill me, aren't you afraid that my Wu Family will learn of this someday?"

"Vicious? Hahaha! Hasn't the Cultivation World always been like this? Even if your surname were Du, I would still strike today. So long as I can achieve Foundation Establishment, whether it is the Wu Family or the Du Family, I can trample them both beneath my feet. Hahahaha..."

Wu Ziyuan struggled despairingly on the ground, seemingly trying to get back to his feet. Just as he was about to stand, a flash of cold light slashed across his throat. Wu Ziyuan's body fell back down unwillingly and no longer moved.

"A fool like you can cultivate faster than me. Heaven truly is unfair."

After Du Yucheng had been swept into the cave, he happened to land here and immediately discovered the Liu Family Elder's corpse. After secretly taking the Liu Family Elder's Storage Bag, he had stumbled by chance upon the Water Spirit Fruit Tree before Wu Ziyuan did.

The moment he saw the Water Spirit Fruit Tree, he was stunned. He secretly decided that after leaving this place, he would go straight to the Carefree Sect and use this Water Spirit Fruit Tree to exchange for what he wanted.

Just as he was preparing to leave first, he unexpectedly heard Wu Ziyuan's footsteps approaching. He could only hide in the deepest darkness of the cave.

Seeing that only Wu Ziyuan had come, and that he had also discovered the Water Spirit Fruit Tree, Du Yucheng developed murderous intent. He had originally wanted to slowly approach and ambush Wu Ziyuan under the cave's dim light, but Wu Ziyuan's cultivation was somewhat higher than his own and he discovered him before he could get close.

Du Yucheng's injuries were not actually serious. Part of his miserable appearance had been deliberately put on. Although Wu Ziyuan's injuries had been worse at the time, he had not rashly attacked directly. Instead, he chose to string him along with false pleasantries. His cultivation was only at the Fifth Level of Qi Refining, and against Wu Ziyuan at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, even with the advantage of a surprise attack, he truly had no confidence in victory.

Only after lowering Wu Ziyuan's guard did he devise this method and kill him here.

When they had first entered this cave, Du Yucheng had pretended to lead the way in front. Using the Liu Family Elder's corpse, he made Wu Ziyuan mistake it for his own clan head and lose his composure. Du Yucheng then stabbed him from behind and ended his life.

Du Yucheng looked at the corpse on the ground and chuckled softly. After confirming that Wu Ziyuan had stopped breathing, he grabbed the Storage Bag from his body and turned to disappear into the dark cave.

After the time it took to burn an incense stick,

A Black Giant Python four or five zhang long flew back toward the pool from afar. After circling the pool several times, it let out several thunderous roars at the pile of demonic beast bones on the shore. Then it plunged headfirst into the water, splashing up a spray.

Fortunately, the Black Feathered Python had always been concerned about the Water Spirit Fruit Tree in the cave and did not pursue everyone relentlessly. It only chased them for over ten li before returning to the pool. Most of them, including Liu Tianlong, escaped with their lives. Only several unlucky Liu Family cultivators were swallowed by the Black Feathered Python.

The Liu Family suffered grievous losses in this battle. Clan head Liu Tianlong was badly injured, while two Late Qi Refining Stage elders died in the demonic beast's cavern while covering Liu Tianlong's escape. After the Black Feathered Python came ashore, it ignored the cultivators from the other families and relentlessly pursued the Liu Family. Along the way, the Liu Family lost several more Mid Qi Refining Stage cultivators.

The other three families suffered relatively minor losses. Only one cultivator from each family had been swept into the pool, their fates unknown.