The Thief Appears

When they arrived at the back mountain, the Ginseng Fruit Tree towered overhead, its lush green canopy blocking out the sky.

Li Mo didn't like the feeling, but to copy the Ginseng Fruit Tree, he still had no choice but to walk up to it.

He pressed his palm against the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

"Ding! Ginseng Fruit Tree copied successfully. Two of the Ten Great Spiritual Roots collected. The Ginseng Fruit Tree has been placed in the system space."

At the sound, Li Mo's lips curled into a smile. He immediately inspected the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

Maybe the tree had already borne fruit. If so, that would be wonderful.

However, the result disappointed Li Mo somewhat.

The tree had not borne fruit. It would need to grow for another ten thousand years before it could.

"Big Brother, this Ginseng Fruit Tree really is impressive. It wasn't affected by the Samadhi True Fire at all. We can't find any clues here, either. What should we do now? Leave?"

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi asked.

Di Jun tilted his head and looked at Li Mo.

Their eyes met. As Li Mo met Di Jun's gaze, he grumbled inwardly.

Jun Ge, why are you looking at me like that? Is there a clue growing on me? Why don't we look around and ask if any nearby creatures know how to use the Samadhi True Fire?

The Samadhi True Fire is formidable. Though it can't compare to ordinary flames, not every creature can master it. If we search carefully, we're bound to find something.

Di Jun's eyes lit up, and his lips curled into a smile.

He knew Li Mo would have an idea. "Let's go look for the Ginseng Fruit. Once we find it and return it to Zhen Yuanzi, he'll surely clear up the misunderstanding and become our ally."

"The Samadhi True Fire is powerful. If any nearby creatures know how to use it, the news is bound to spread."

Jun Ge's pretty quick on the uptake!

The three demons flew through the air toward a forest.

This forest was called the Fire Maple Forest. The aura of fire there was rich, and even the trees had been dyed red.

"The aura of fire in this Fire Maple Forest is extraordinary. Anyone who knows how to use the Samadhi True Fire would likely choose such a fine place to cultivate. It would greatly strengthen their flame power."

Di Jun landed on a rock, clasped his hands behind his back, and spoke.

"The Fire Maple Forest must span a hundred thousand li. There are countless creatures here. Searching for them one by one would be too much trouble. Even if we found the culprit, the thirty Ginseng Fruits would probably already be in his belly," Eastern Emperor Tai Yi said, shaking his head.

Li Mo was terribly lazy. Wherever they went, he would lie down, as if he had never stood up in his life.

Not necessarily. Ginseng Fruits can increase one's strength, so they have to be refined. With so little time, I doubt he's refined even one.

How's this for an idea?

Li Mo didn't waste any more words. He unleashed the power of a mid-stage Mystic Immortal, and boundless Solar True Fire spread wildly in every direction.

Many of the maple trees in the Fire Maple Forest were burned to ashes.

Tai Yi looked confused. "Fifth Brother, what are you doing?"

Di Jun stared at Li Mo, unsure what he was up to.

But the next moment—

One little demon after another, cultivating in the Fire Maple Forest, suddenly cried out.

"What a powerful aura of fire!"

"How incredible! It's even stronger than the Samadhi True Fire!"

"That's right! Only the Undying Phoenix Fire and Solar True Fire could match this aura, couldn't they?"

"If only I could obtain such powerful flame energy."

Li Mo suddenly announced, "I have some free time and wish to find a disciple who understands the Samadhi True Fire, to teach him the way of the Solar True Fire."

At his words, many little demons in the Fire Maple Forest cried out.

"What? He's taking on disciples?"

"Hurry and go ask to be his disciple!"

"I'm already a Mystic Immortal. He's only a Mystic Immortal, too."

"I'm going! I'm only an Earth Immortal."

"But you're not qualified. You don't understand the Samadhi True Fire."

"There's someone who qualifies, but he's already at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm. He probably wouldn't become anyone's disciple."

Hearing this, Di Jun's lips curled into a smile. He finally understood what was going on.

Di Jun reached out and pulled the little demon who had spoken over to him.

He revealed every bit of his power as a peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal. The blazing energy around him was so intense that no one dared underestimate him.

Many creatures fell to their knees, trembling and breaking out in cold sweat.

No one had expected a mighty being at the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm to be here.

"Little demon, where is that fellow you mentioned who knows the Samadhi True Fire? What's his name?" Di Jun asked.

"He... he's in the Fire Maple Forest, nesting in a Flame Spirit Fruit Tree, a fire-attributed spiritual root. His name is Bi Fang."

The little demon was so frightened by Di Jun that he didn't dare lie. He told them everything, word for word.

Bi Fang! The divine bird Bi Fang! No, he isn't a divine bird yet.

Peak Golden Immortal, not bad at all. Would Jun Ge let this fellow go? The Heavenly Court needs people. If we can bring him along, we should.

"Lead the way. Take us to the Flame Spirit Fruit Tree," Di Jun said.

At his words, the Fire Spirit Monkey, who was only an Earth Immortal, could only serve as their guide and lead the three demons to the Flame Spirit Fruit Tree.

"It's over, it's over! Bi Fang's going to die."

"Not necessarily. Bi Fang's mist is incredibly good at obscuring vision. He might get away."

"No way! His opponent is at the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm."

"You never know."

At that moment, Bi Fang was on the Flame Spirit Fruit Tree, refining a Ginseng Fruit.

Once he finished refining this fruit, he would break through to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

Then, he would be someone of importance in the Primordial World.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to claim a mountain and establish himself as a Demon King?

But even though he had found this place on the Flame Spirit Fruit Tree in the Fire Maple Forest, where the aura of fire was so rich, the Ginseng Fruit was still refining a little too slowly. It would be better if he could find an even better place.

Then, without warning—

His eyes snapped open. The feathers on his arms stood on end as a sense of danger washed over him.

Immediately afterward, a voice rang out.

"Bi Fang! Do you have the Ginseng Fruit?"

The speaker was Eastern Emperor Tai Yi.

At the same time, the aura of a peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal surged from him, bearing down on Bi Fang atop the Flame Spirit Fruit Tree.

Bi Fang felt an immensely powerful pressure crushing down on him.

He didn't dare speak. Their target was clearly the Ginseng Fruit.

How could he let such a treasure fall into someone else's hands?

He let out a shrill cry and tore through the overwhelming pressure.

Then he shot into the air.

An endless torrent of Samadhi True Fire erupted from his sharp beak, blanketing a hundred li in every direction.

It poured down in a frenzy, and the scorching heat set the Flame Spirit Fruit Tree below ablaze.

The Fire Maple Trees turned to ashes as well!

"I'm doomed! I'm going to die!"

The Fire Spirit Monkey cried out in alarm.