Chapter 13

Most eye-catching were the Phoenix Spirit Fruits hanging from the branches. Gold, orange, and fiery red, they gleamed in the sunlight like the many-colored feathers of the Phoenix's robe. Their shapes were more wondrous still: each resembled a tiny Phoenix, complete with splendid wings and a long tail that made anyone who saw it marvel.

Ye Qinghui and Ye Qingyao picked just one Millennium Phoenix Spirit Fruit and a few Century Phoenix Spirit Fruits. Then, satisfied, they put away their Storage Pouches and prepared to leave.

They had gained so much on this trip. Never in their lives had they seen so many spiritual treasures, let alone owned them.

But Ye Zhenzhen had no intention of leaving such beautiful, wondrous fruit for anyone else. She promptly coaxed Ye Qingchuan into uprooting the entire Phoenix Spirit Fruit Tree and transplanting it into the Heaven-and-Earth Pearls.

Ye Qinghui: ...

Ye Qingyao: ...

How could their own junior brother and sister have so little regard for fair play? They looked just like bandits!

But the deed was done, and they could not put the whole tree back exactly as it had been. They also knew that if anyone learned they had the Phoenix Spirit Fruits, their treasure would become their crime and they would be everyone's target. They might as well go all the way and erase every trace.

The Illusion Powder in the forest gradually dispersed, and the crowd began to stir. They hurried back among the others and pretended they had not yet woken.

Shen Xingyan and his companions had used a great heap of talismans, including Ice-Sealing Talismans, Suppressing Talismans, and Mind-Calming Talismans. They were the first to regain their senses and had already set off to find the Phoenix Spirit Fruit Tree. Everyone else woke only after the Illusion Powder had completely vanished.

"How did these birds' feathers get singed? They look awful. Who did it?" The crowd looked from one person to another, every face full of confusion. But they quickly came to their senses. Why worry about these ugly, half-plucked birds? They needed to hurry and grab the Phoenix Spirit Fruits.

There truly were many spirit fruits in the area. Besides Phoenix Spirit Fruits, there were Spirit Candle Fruits, Wood Pear Fruits, Fire Phoenix Fruits, and others that aided cultivation or healing.

Their effects fell far short of the Phoenix Spirit Fruit's, but even a fly's leg was meat.

Ye Zhenzhen regretted finishing off all the Illusion Birds so quickly. If the Illusion Powder had lasted a little longer, every spirit fruit tree here would have been hers. Now she could only watch longingly as fruit after fruit went into other people's pockets.

Ah, the sound of a heart breaking.

"Has anyone found a Millennium Phoenix Spirit Fruit?" someone asked.

"No. I haven't even seen a trace of the Phoenix Spirit Fruit Tree."

"How strange. Were the rumors false? We haven't seen a single Earth Ganoderma or Phoenix Spirit Fruit."

Though everyone had picked some other spirit fruits, their effects could not compare with those of Phoenix Spirit Fruits. They did next to nothing to improve cultivation; most were useful only for healing. The crowd grew dispirited and lost interest.

Suddenly, someone realized something. "When we woke up just now, Shen Xingyan and the others from the Kongtong School were already gone. Could they have found it first?"

"Possibly."

"What do you mean, possibly? I'm sure they did."

Just then, Shen Xingyan returned to the entrance of the spirit fruit grove with the other disciples. He had circled the entire area twice without seeing a trace of the Phoenix Spirit Fruit Tree, and he was thoroughly frustrated. When everyone surrounded him and fixed him with covetous stares, his temper flared.

"What are you looking at? I searched this place twice over and didn't see so much as half a Phoenix Spirit Fruit! There clearly aren't any here!" He pulled a branch from a Lost-Path Tree out of his robes. The Lost-Path Tree was a spiritual tree from Mount Zhaoyao; carrying one of its branches kept a person from getting lost. Plainly, he had neither lost his way nor missed any ground while searching for the Phoenix Spirit Fruit Tree.

"How can that be? Where did the Phoenix Spirit Fruit Tree go? And who burned those birds' feathers?"

Many still doubted Shen Xingyan, but his dejected expression did not seem feigned. If it was not him, then who was it? They looked from one person to another, suspicion growing between them.

"I don't think there were any Phoenix Spirit Fruits to begin with. The rumor was a lie." Jiang Kui suddenly stepped beside Shen Xingyan and folded his arms. "If even Young Sect Leader Shen couldn't find them, nobody else will."

Ye Zhenzhen blew bubbles and poked the string of Heaven-and-Earth Pearls around her neck. [Just because you didn't see them doesn't mean they weren't there. Hahahahaha... hic...]

[Such beautiful Phoenix Spirit Fruits, brimming with spiritual energy—and none of you will be lucky enough to see them in this lifetime.]

Everyone, give that save button a tap! Mwah!

It only gets more exciting from here~

Chapter 13

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Beyond the spirit fruit grove, a mountain peak rose into the clouds. Its name was Gathering Spirit Mountain.

At its foot lay a waterfall and a Spirit Spring, wreathed in mist like an immortal realm. Water thundered down from a height of a hundred meters, a magnificent sight. Ripples crossed the crystal-clear spring, where Spirit Fish of every color swam to and fro.

Yet not a blade of grass grew on the mountain. It was lifeless, without the faintest trace of spiritual energy.

"Gathering Spirit Mountain? It looks drab and gray. There aren't any Spirit Herbs or spiritual trees. It's worse than an ordinary mountain. The name doesn't fit," someone questioned.

"Don't talk nonsense. Rumor has it there's Dragonblood Stone at the summit of Gathering Spirit Mountain. It's said to have formed from the blood of an ancient divine dragon. Not only can it strengthen the body, it can also raise cultivation and help break through to the next realm. It's a divine treasure born of heaven and earth. Let's hurry up and get it—even a tiny piece would make this trip worthwhile."

The crowd had meant to rest by the Spirit Spring and drink some of its water to restore their strength. After hearing that, no one wanted to stop; they were ready to head straight up the mountain.

[Big Senior Brother, Zhenzhen wants fish soup! Catch a few Spirit Fish for me, please.]

[The fatter they are and the faster they swim, the tastier they'll be.]

Ye Qinghui: ?

What was Junior Sister plotting this time?

Though puzzled, he stopped without hesitation and drew his sword to spear fish for her. She was his junior sister; naturally, he would pamper her and give her whatever she wanted. Even if she asked for the stars in the sky, he would gladly pluck them down for her.

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