Barrier Breaking Fruit

Looking back now, the Yiyi and Big Tiger duo had shown no intention of killing Lu Ye from the very beginning. Lu Ye had been the one to start the fight.

Even the reason they had come looking for Lu Ye was because he had intruded into Big Tiger's territory and killed far too many ferocious beasts.

They had probably wanted to drive Lu Ye away and, while they were at it, squeeze some benefits out of him.

If Lu Ye had been a cultivator with even a shred of common sense, their plan would have succeeded nine times out of ten.

But events had stubbornly refused to unfold as expected. They had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to bait it, and now Lu Ye had them trapped in the cave, unable to advance or retreat.

As far as Lu Ye was concerned, he did not have to fight Big Tiger to the death. Killing the tiger and eating its flesh would bring him enormous benefits, but if the price he had to pay was too great, the battle would not be worth it.

Still, he had already used up a Fire Serpent Talisman and suffered a wound to the chest. Naturally, he had to get some compensation from them.

A few Storage Bags were not enough to satisfy Lu Ye. They were all locked, so who knew what was inside? Besides, low-level cultivators' Storage Bags did not contain many good things to begin with. Not everyone had a fortune as substantial as his.

"You can take these Storage Bags to Green Cloud Market and find someone to open them. There must be good things inside," Yiyi said anxiously.

"Green Cloud Market?" Lu Ye frowned.

"It's a market where Rogue Cultivators gather. It's only fifty li from here. I can take you there."

"No need!" The reason he had remained in this forest all along was that his cultivation was too low. According to his plans, he would never casually leave this place before reaching the Spirit Stream Realm.

Yiyi was at her wits' end over Lu Ye's utter refusal to yield. She pleaded, "Can't you let us go? We already know we were wrong."

Lu Ye said flatly, "Mistakes come with a price. My patience is limited, so you'd better stop wasting words!"

Yiyi bared her little white teeth. "If we really fight, you won't get off easy either. I don't believe—"

"Is that so?" Lu Ye raised his hand and pulled out another handful of Spirit Talismans.

Yiyi immediately cowered. Looking at that handful of Spirit Talismans, she shrank her neck. She knew they had truly kicked an iron plate this time. With so many Spirit Talismans on him, this man before her had to be an important disciple of some great sect. A few low-level cultivators' Storage Bags truly could not move someone like him.

As though she had made some decision, she sighed and said, "There's one more thing. I'll go get it for you."

Big Tiger seemed to understand what she intended. He immediately turned and let out a roar at her. Yiyi forced a smile and raised her hand to stroke Big Tiger's head. "Wait here for me. I'll be back as soon as I can. Before I return, don't clash with him."

Big Tiger roared again. Yiyi put on a stern face. "Behave!"

Big Tiger had no choice but to lower his head.

Yiyi patted his head again, then turned and disappeared into the rock wall.

Lu Ye and Big Tiger were left to continue their standoff.

However, Yiyi and Big Tiger's exchange had just made Lu Ye realize that this Monster Beast was likely sentient. It made sense—if it were not, how could Yiyi have cooperated with it to frighten those low-level cultivators?

Time passed, and Lu Ye's expression gradually grew grave. Big Tiger, trapped in the cave by him, was becoming increasingly restless. He paced back and forth through the cave, occasionally raising his head to glance at Lu Ye.

Lu Ye smelled danger in the air, making him all the more vigilant.

This time, Yiyi was gone for quite a while. Nearly an hour passed before she suddenly appeared again. Yet something was clearly wrong with her condition. Her body had become somewhat translucent, giving off an extremely weak impression.

Lu Ye frowned. He did not know whether this woman was pretending or had truly suffered some injury, but his attention was soon drawn to the object in Yiyi's hand.

It was a crimson fruit, about the size of a baby's fist. The moment Yiyi brought it inside, a peculiar fragrance filled the cave.

"What is that?" he asked. Though he did not know what the fruit was, his instincts told him it was definitely something good.

Yiyi said weakly, "A Barrier Breaking Fruit."

"What does it do?" Lu Ye asked again.

Yiyi was somewhat puzzled. By all rights, an important disciple of a great sect like Lu Ye should not possibly have failed to hear of the Barrier Breaking Fruit. This was a precious treasure to any Spirit Stream Realm cultivator. But she was in poor condition now and had no energy for idle words, so she explained, "It is used to break through Aperture Barriers."

Lu Ye's eyes lit up. He did not know where Yiyi had found this fruit, but if what she said was true, it would be immensely useful to him. He raised his head and gestured to Yiyi. "Throw... hand it over!"

Yiyi shook her head. "I can give you the fruit, but you must swear a Heaven's Mystery Oath. Invite the Heavenly Mechanism to bear witness that, after receiving the fruit, you will never harm us again."

Even though she was so weak she was nearly asleep, Yiyi had not forgotten their present circumstances. If Lu Ye still meant them harm after getting the fruit, one spirit and one tiger would have no way to leave this place alive.

Lu Ye did not know what a Heaven's Mystery Oath was, but he had heard the phrase "invite the Heavenly Mechanism" once before.

He roughly understood Yiyi's meaning and nodded. "Fine!"

After considering his wording for a moment, Lu Ye said, "Lu Ye, cultivator of Soldier Province, invites the Heavenly Mechanism to bear witness: if Yiyi gives me the Barrier Breaking Fruit, then so long as she and Amber do not take the initiative to provoke or harm me, I will no longer make things difficult for Yiyi or Amber!"

He had thought it would merely be a simple oath, but to his surprise, after his words fell, an invisible and mysterious force descended from the heavens and crashed into the Battlefield Mark on the back of his hand.

That force caused him no harm, yet it gave rise to a strange feeling: if he violated his words, he would surely meet no good end.

This discovery made Lu Ye's heart tighten. He immediately understood that in this world, vows were not mere words—especially a Heaven's Mystery Oath witnessed by the Heavenly Mechanism.

After Lu Ye swore the Heaven's Mystery Oath, Yiyi finally let out a breath of relief. She drifted before Lu Ye and handed him the Barrier Breaking Fruit.

"You're injured?" Lu Ye took the Barrier Breaking Fruit and asked as he looked at Yiyi.

"Mm." Yiyi nodded, then turned to call out to Amber. "Amber, let's go."

The sturdy Amber stepped forward one pace at a time. Lu Ye clutched his Spirit Talismans and retreated from the cave.

A moment later, Amber walked out of the cave. Yiyi plunged into Amber's body and vanished. Big Tiger turned and roared at Lu Ye, then bounded several times and disappeared into the forest.

Watching the direction Big Tiger had vanished in, Lu Ye pondered for a moment before slowly shaking his head. The events of this half day had been bizarre and fantastical, but fortunately, the final outcome was not bad.

Looking at the Barrier Breaking Fruit in his hand, Lu Ye's expression turned fervent. If this thing truly had the effect Yiyi claimed, then reaching the Spirit Stream Realm was right before his eyes!