Earth Treasure

The mountain mist was like ink, the morning light not yet broken. Chu Ning stepped on withered branches soaked with dew, his figure weaving through jagged, strange rocks.

The cold wind brushed past his ears, lifting a few stray strands of hair, but he seemed oblivious, his eyes scanning his surroundings like a hawk.

Yesterday, when he returned home, he pushed open the dilapidated wooden door with a basket of medicinal herbs on his back.

Chu Yun was curled up in the corner of the heated brick bed, coughing, a sickly flush on her sallow face.

The newly hired physician, stroking his goatee, shook his head and sighed, "The cold has entered the marrow; she needs warming tonics like ginseng and reishi, supplemented with acupuncture to expel evil."

Chu Ning said nothing, piling the silver ingots from selling furs onto the table. Seeing this, the physician busied himself writing a prescription and administering acupuncture. Before leaving, he even pressed a packet of dried mugwort into Chu Ning's hand for expelling cold.

"Brother Ning, how much silver will this cost?" Chu Yun clutched the corner of her blanket, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum.

"Elder Sister, just focus on drinking your medicine." He chopped firewood and started a fire, placing the medicine pot on the stove. The firelight reflected on the newly mended window lattice; yesterday, he had bought tung oil paper and sealed the leaky holes tightly.

Villagers peered over the fence, pointing and chattering.

"Prodigal son! Wasting money as soon as he earns it!"

"He must have gotten involved with some unscrupulous merchant. Look at those herbs; they're enough to buy three acres of land!"

Chu Ning grabbed his axe and split a wooden stake. Amidst the flying wood chips, a few peeking villagers hastily withdrew their heads.

Jealousy and curses buzzed like flies, but he didn't even lift an eyelid. In this world, the weak were wrong just to breathe; only by becoming stronger could one crush all the noise.

At this moment, he tightened his grip on the longbow, his fingertips rubbing against the frost condensed on the bowstring.

The day before yesterday, while hunting a snow fox, he had glimpsed a crimson shadow flashing across the cliff face. Its speed was like lightning, certainly no ordinary beast.

Ever since his transaction with Shen Yan, he understood more profoundly: wealth was easily obtained, but strength was hard to come by.

The Wang family was like a viper coiled around the county; a Ranked Martial Artist could crush his throat at any moment. Only by risking his life could he fight for a sliver of survival.

The deeper mountain ravines hid danger, but also opportunity.

Chu Ning licked his chapped lips. The internal force of the Rough Stone Hardening Technique circulated within his muscles, his skin taking on a stone-like, cold sheen.

The advance payment from the Chaos Divine Order had given him a physique beyond that of ordinary people, but the martial arts academy's tuition of ten taels for three months still weighed on his heart like a boulder.

"Ordinary prey is just a drop in the bucket. Only by hunting demonic beasts with awakened intelligence and taking their bones, blood, fur, and hides can I gather enough silver." He lightly tapped his toes, leaping onto a protruding dead branch.

A beast's roar echoed from the distance, like muffled thunder, shaking the accumulated snow from the branches.

Following the scent of blood, he suddenly saw several scorched claw marks embedded in the rock face.

The claw marks were over three inches deep, their edges tinged with a lava-like crimson hue, and the surrounding vegetation had all withered.

Chu Ning's pupils contracted slightly. He drew an arrow and nocked it in one smooth motion, his bowstring taut like a full moon.

The deeper he went, the hotter the air became. The dead wood was charred black as charcoal, and wisps of sulfurous gas seeped from the cracked ground.

Chu Ning held his breath, concentrating, his ears twitching slightly.

A hundred paces away, a low beast roar could be faintly heard, mixed with the clang of metal striking stone.

He pushed off with his toes, his figure darting towards the source of the sound like a phantom.

In front of a rock cave, a crimson vine coiled around the stone wall. Nine scarlet fruits hung from the branches, their surfaces flowing with gilded patterns, as if cast from molten lava.

The fruity aroma was intoxicating. Chu Ning took just one breath, and felt his blood and qi surge within him, even the hidden injuries from the Rough Stone Hardening Technique faintly healing.

"Nine Revolutions Profound Sun Fruit!" His heart pounded wildly.

This item was a treasure recorded in ancient texts, rumored to cleanse the marrow and strengthen the bones upon consumption, even assisting a martial artist in breaking through to the ranked level.

However, the next moment, a腥风 (fishy wind) swept towards him.

"ROAR—"

A giant beast leaped from the shadows, three zhang long, its fur as crimson as flame, a single horn menacing on its forehead, its golden eyes like torches.

Its claws struck the ground, sending broken stones flying, and waves of heat carrying the scent of sulfur washed over him.

"The Crimson Flame Tiger has already awakened its intelligence!" Chu Ning retreated half a step, his bowstring vibrating as he loosed three arrows in rapid succession.

"Boom!"

The arrowheads tore through the air, but the Crimson Flame Tiger opened its mouth and spewed a stream of fire. The pillar of flame swept out, and the arrows turned into molten iron before they could even get close.

Chu Ning rolled to evade, the hem of his clothes instantly scorched black, the heat searing his face. A hint of mockery flashed in the beast's golden eyes as it swept its claws, forcing him towards the rock wall.

"Bang!"

Chu Ning used the Rough Stone Hardening Technique to meet the blow head-on. Amidst the flying rock debris, his fist collided with the beast's claw, sparks erupting.

His fist struck the beast's body, emitting a sound like metal clashing.

The Crimson Flame Tiger roared in pain, its claws sweeping horizontally. Chu Ning used the momentum to leap into the air, loosing three arrows in mid-flight.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The arrows whistled through the wind, aiming directly for the beast's eyes, throat, and heart.

The Crimson Flame Tiger's golden eyes narrowed sharply, its crimson fur standing on end. At the moment the arrows arrived, it turned its head to dodge. The three arrows grazed the beast's body and embedded themselves in the rock wall, the arrow tails vibrating ceaselessly.

"What a beast," Chu Ning landed and quickly retreated, cold sweat beading on his palms. This demonic beast was not only immensely strong but also reacted far faster than any ordinary martial artist.

The Crimson Flame Tiger gave him no more time to breathe, its body charging forward like a cannonball.

Chu Ning gritted his teeth and met the attack head-on, his fists and feet clashing with sharp claws, sending sparks flying. Each impact made his insides churn, and his palms cracked.

After thirty exchanges, the cave was already covered in scorch marks. Chu Ning panted like an ox, his tattered clothes stained with blood. The Crimson Flame Tiger was also covered in wounds, but its golden eyes grew brighter – it was enjoying the fight!

I can't keep this up. Chu Ning glanced at the Profound Sun Fruit, his mind racing. The demonic beast had gained sentience, perhaps...

He suddenly retreated three steps, sheathed his bow on his back, and raised his hands high. "Wait!"

The Crimson Flame Tiger bared its fangs, a threatening growl rumbling in its throat, but it genuinely stopped its assault.

"You're guarding this fruit to hoard it all for yourself when it ripens?" Chu Ning stared directly into its golden eyes, his voice like cold iron. "But this fruit grows on a branch with nine others. When it ripens, it needs to be watered with essence blood for three days. You may be strong, but when the phenomenon occurs, it will attract more than just me!"

The demonic beast's golden eyes narrowed slightly, its front claws anxiously digging at the ground.

Chu Ning took a step forward, his fingertip grazing a wound on his chest, and a drop of blood fell to the ground. "I'll help you guard the fruit, and in return, I'll take one. How about it?"

The Crimson Flame Tiger snorted fire, its fangs almost touching Chu Ning's throat. After a moment of stalemate, it suddenly retreated, its tail flicking towards a spot on the cave wall.

Boom!

The stone wall collapsed, revealing rows of white bones.

There was a broken sword from a human martial artist, as well as the remains of a giant python... all souls who had coveted the treasure!

"I know you don't trust humans," Chu Ning wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and sneered. "But three days later, on the night of the full moon, the Azure-Eyed Snow Fox will appear in North Mountain. By then, all the martial artists in the county will be mobilized. Who will still pay attention to your cave?"

The Crimson Flame Tiger's golden eyes constricted.

"Cooperate with me. You keep eight, I get one." Chu Ning picked up a charred bone from the ground, applying force with his palm. The bone fragments turned to dust. "If we fail, I'll destroy this vine right now. You can kill me, but the treasure... no one will get it!"

As the last word fell, the cave fell into deathly silence.

The Crimson Flame Tiger's golden eyes flickered, and finally, it let out an enraged roar that shook the mountains. Its beast claws slammed heavily onto the ground, cracking the rock crevices, and an unripe Profound Sun Fruit fell into Chu Ning's palm.

"Deal." Chu Ning pocketed the fruit and, before turning to leave, suddenly looked back. "By the way, my name is Chu Ning. If you need help in the future, you can find me at the foot of the mountain."

The demonic beast's golden eyes gazed at him deeply for a moment before it turned and disappeared into the shadows of the cave.

Chu Ning clutched the Profound Sun Fruit, a cold smile playing on his lips.

Demonic beasts are still demonic beasts. No matter how human-like they become, they can't comprehend human hearts.

The vine's roots had long been eroded by sulfur and could last at most another half a month. Nine fruits? It would be a miracle if even three ripened!