Outside the valley.
The two men fled for their lives, running who knew how far. They only stopped when they could run no longer.
At last, A Liang, having escaped with his life, broke down. He sank to the ground and wailed, "Brother Jin, Third Brother and the others are all dead."
Brother Jin panted heavily and tried to comfort him. "A Liang, don't grieve. This is the fate of those of us who gather herbs."
"It's all my fault. If I hadn't found that damned place, they wouldn't have died! I got them killed."
A Liang's face was full of guilt and remorse.
As he spoke, his eyes reddened. The more he thought about it, the more he hated.
He gritted his teeth. "Brother Jin, I'm going to kill that giant snake and avenge them!"
"You've gone mad. That giant snake isn't something ordinary people like us can deal with."
Brother Jin shook his head in refusal.
"I'm not mad. Just because we can't do it doesn't mean nobody else can."
A Liang clenched his fists.
Brother Jin's expression changed. "What are you planning to do?"
"You said the Blood Spirit Fruit was a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure. If we spread the news about it, it'll surely draw a lot of powerful people. When they get here, that giant snake will be done for."
A Liang's eyes were already filled with hatred.
He didn't notice that the look in Brother Jin's eyes had turned terribly dark.
"Then we'll be able to avenge Third Brother and the others."
As if imagining the giant snake being slain, A Liang spoke with excitement.
"That's certainly a good idea."
Brother Jin lowered his head, lost in thought.
"You think it'll work too, Brother Jin? That's great!"
Hearing that Brother Jin agreed, A Liang said happily.
"Let's head down the mountain now and spread the news..."
Behind him, Brother Jin suddenly rose and clamped a hand over A Liang's mouth.
As A Liang stared at him in disbelief, Brother Jin drove a dagger into his heart from behind.
"A Liang, don't be so stupid in your next life."
Brother Jin sneered. The coldness in his eyes was utterly unfamiliar to A Liang.
"W-why?"
A Liang's breathing grew weaker and weaker.
"The Blood Spirit Fruit can only belong to me!"
He shoved A Liang over, crouched down, and pulled the dagger from his body.
He wiped the blood from the blade with A Liang's clothes, then hacked down some branches and casually covered the body with them.
Once he was done, Brother Jin quickly disappeared into the mountain forest.
But he didn't notice that not long after he left,
A Liang, despite having been stabbed through the heart, had strangely gotten back to his feet.
He stared in the direction Brother Jin had vanished.
A Liang's expression was utterly savage.
Outer reaches of the Qinghe Mountain Range.
A staggering figure, drenched in blood, struggled to reach the Li Family's medicinal herb shop.
When he saw a shop assistant approaching, he stumbled and fell to the ground.
"Help... help me. I found... the Blood Spirit Fruit."
With that, his head lolled to one side.
He passed out.
Green Maple Valley.
Li Family grounds.
"Dong!"
"Dong!"
"Dong!"
The solemn, resonant toll of a bell rang out from the tower, echoing without end.
Hearing the bell, the elders all looked grave. They dropped what they were doing and hurried to the family Council Hall.
By the time they arrived at the Council Hall, Li Xinge had already been seated at the head of the table for quite some time.
With the last elder's arrival, the doors of the Council Hall slowly closed.
"Elders, this is urgent. We can't afford to waste a single second, so I had no choice but to summon you with the bell!"
Li Xinge spoke with a solemn expression.
"Just now, news came from my Li Family's market. Someone discovered a Blood Spirit Fruit in the Qinghe Mountain Range!"
His words struck like thunder on a clear day.
The elders were so shocked that they all stood up at once.
"Could it be the legendary third-tier spirit fruit, the Blood Spirit Fruit?"
The Third Elder spoke, breathing hard. The other elders stared intently at Li Xinge as well.
"Indeed!"
Li Xinge nodded.
The Third Elder took a deep breath. "Family Head, the Blood Spirit Fruit Tree flowers once every ten years, bears fruit once every ten years, and takes another ten years to ripen. The Blood Spirit Fruits it produces contain immense Qi and Blood power."
"Qi and Blood Realm Cultivators can improve their cultivation by eating one. For Body Realm Cultivators, eating one can greatly increase their chances of breaking through to the Qi and Blood Realm."
"It's an exceedingly rare treasure. Our Li Family absolutely cannot let this opportunity slip by!"
The other elders nodded in agreement.
The First Elder added, "Family Head, we should prepare as quickly as possible. Otherwise, once the news gets out, it'll be difficult for us to get our hands on the Blood Spirit Fruit."
"The First Elder is right. By then, it won't just be the local powers. Even forces from outside the area will come to grab a share."
Li Xinge pondered for a moment. "According to the herb gatherer who discovered the Blood Spirit Fruit, only he and another herb gatherer knew about it."
"The other herb gatherer wanted to keep the Blood Spirit Fruit for himself and attacked him by surprise. The man was lucky enough to survive."
"Since that herb gatherer wants the Blood Spirit Fruit all to himself, the news probably won't get out for a while."
"Even so, we should act at once."
"Please give the order, Family Head!"
The elders cupped their fists.
"The Blood Spirit Fruit is of great importance, and we must make absolutely certain of success. I'll go myself, with the First Elder, Fourth Elder, and Sixth Elder!"
"Yes!"
"The Second Elder will remain with the family. Choose forty elite members from the Hall of Law Enforcement to accompany us!"
"I'll see to it at once!"
"Elders, there's no time to lose. Make your preparations, and we'll leave in fifteen minutes!"
"Yes!"
Fifteen minutes later, dozens of mounted riders disappeared into the darkness under cover of night.
A little over an hour later.
Dust-covered, Li Xinge and the others arrived at the Li Family's medicinal herb shop on the edge of the Qinghe Mountain Range.
The shopkeeper had been waiting for them for some time.
"Greetings, Family Head!"
"Spare me the formalities. Where is he?"
Li Xinge waved a hand and got straight to the point.
"He's in the back courtyard, being treated for his injuries!"
The shopkeeper replied respectfully.
"How many people know about the Blood Spirit Fruit?"
"Two apprentices and one shop assistant!"
The shopkeeper wiped the sweat from his forehead as he answered.
"Execute them all!"
Li Xinge's expression was icy.
"Yes, Family Head."
Entering the back courtyard, they saw A Liang lying on a bed, his face pale.
A physician beside him was treating his wounds.
"Doctor, we don't need you here anymore. You can go."
"But he..."
Seeing Li Xinge's dark expression, the physician quickly swallowed the rest of his words.
He hurried out of the room in three quick strides.
After the doctor had left...
Dressed in black, Li Xinge looked down at A Liang from above.
He asked, "Did you see the Blood Spirit Fruit with your own eyes?"
Faced with the imposing young man, whose authority brooked no doubt, A Liang quickly answered, "Y-yes!"
"Where is the Blood Spirit Fruit?"
Li Xinge pressed him.
"In the depths of the Qinghe Mountain Range... behind a waterfall... in a valley."
"Do you remember the way?"
"N-not very well."
A Liang answered nervously.
Li Xinge furrowed his brow. Behind him, an elite Li Family guard immediately drew his blade.
"My lord, I know... that man definitely remembers the way!"
A Liang hurriedly said.
"The one who attacked you?"
"Yes, my lord. He led us into the mountains. He knows the area like the back of his hand!"
"Good."
"Do you know his full name and where he lives?"
"This humble one knows them both very well."
A Liang's eyes were filled with hatred. At that moment, only two words filled his mind: revenge!
"Lead us there!" Li Xinge ordered.
"Yes... my lord."
A Liang struggled to get up from the bed, but accidentally reopened his wound.
The blood that had just stopped began gushing out again. The excruciating pain in his chest drenched him in cold sweat.
Behind him, the Sixth Elder pulled a porcelain bottle from his sleeve, stepped forward, and sprinkled its powder over A Liang's chest.
A miraculous sight unfolded: A Liang's wound began to scab over and heal at a visible speed.
A Liang stared, dumbfounded. In disbelief, he touched his chest. It didn't hurt at all.
This made A Liang hold Li Xinge in even greater awe.
"If you dare deceive me, I'll make you wish you were dead."
Li Xinge spoke expressionlessly.
A Liang shuddered and hurriedly replied, "I wouldn't dare. I swear everything I've said is true."
"See that it is. Now, take us to this so-called Brother Jin of yours!"
Before you continue