At high noon, most martial artists were taking their lunch, while others, having finished eating, sought refuge in the shade to cool down.

"Ah, the Young Master of Azure Lake Island, 'Gu Shiyou,' is out!" Udai rejoiced inwardly. He had been watching the area where the Azure Lake Island contingent was camped and quietly moved closer. At that moment, Gu Shiyou leaned against a low, sprawling tree, holding a long spear, his eyes closed as he rested.

Just as Udai was about to approach, two formidable experts stationed near Gu Shiyou turned cold eyes upon him.

But Udai showed no fear and continued to advance.

It was common knowledge that no one dared approach within ten yards of the resting place of the Young Master, 'Gu Shiyou,' lest they incur the displeasure of the experts from 'Azure Lake Island.'

"Get lost," one of the experts hissed under his breath.

"Young Master," Udai called out instead.

Gu Shiyou opened his eyes, cast a casual glance at Udai, and a faint smile touched his lips: "I don't seem to recognize you!"

Udai lowered his voice. "Young Master, I have a huge secret to tell you!"

"What secret?" Gu Shiyou's interest was piqued, and he walked closer.

Udai chuckled slyly and whispered right in front of Gu Shiyou, "The secret of the Black Fire Spirit Fruit's location!" Gu Shiyou's eyes narrowed, his gaze locking onto Udai like a cold blade. Udai, however, merely offered a simple smile. "Young Master, I am just a nobody. Right now, I don't even possess a single weapon manual, and my internal energy manual is utterly substandard."

Gu Shiyou considered for a moment, then spoke, "What kind of weapon manual do you desire?"

"A Saber manual would be best!" Udai immediately replied. "Like the one I have here."

Udai showed Gu Shiyou the curved saber hanging at his waist.

"A curved saber..." Gu Shiyou smiled. "If what you say is true, well, my guards happen to possess a Human-rank manual, Frenzied Wind Saber, complete with its corresponding internal energy cultivation method."

Udai was ecstatic in his heart.

A Human-rank manual?

In all his wanderings across the world, the only manual he practiced was that substandard internal energy text. As for his saber techniques, he had merely sneaked glances at others practicing and picked up random moves. His current strength... placed him at the very lowest tier among martial artists. Even third-rate martial artists with a few farmer's tricks up their sleeves could pose a threat to him.

"Lead me there first. If the Black Fire Spirit Fruit truly exists, the manual is yours," Gu Shiyou stated.

"Actually, I'm not one hundred percent certain if the Black Fire Spirit Fruit is actually there," Udai admitted, preferring to lay his cards on the table upfront.

Gu Shiyou's face immediately darkened. "Are you playing games with me!"

"No, no!" Udai hastened to clarify. "I accidentally glimpsed Commander Ji Hong and Commander Teng Qingshan of the Guiyuan Sect, along with a woman—the three of them secretly entering a hidden location. They were extremely cautious before going in, appearing very mysterious. They weren't looking for the Black Fire Spirit Fruit, yet they entered such a secluded place. It’s highly likely that's where the fruit is located."

Gu Shiyou's expression softened somewhat.

"Guiyuan Sect..." Gu Shiyou then looked back at Udai. "Where is that hidden location?"

"Young Master, that manual..." Udai insisted.

"Of course, you'll receive it," Gu Shiyou huffed. "A single manual, I don't even hold it in high regard. Once we arrive, I will naturally give it to you."

Udai grinned. "Young Master. You are a person of high standing, and I am just a mere nobody. If you give me the manual now, are you worried I might deceive you?"

Gu Shiyou mused briefly. "Very well! Come with me to our camp first... When we enter the mountains this afternoon, you will guide us there!"

"Yes, yes," Udai readily agreed.

In his heart, Udai was ecstatic: "Hahahaha! I, Udai, have finally obtained a good internal energy cultivation method and a fine saber manual! I can finally turn my fortunes around. That Wang Laosan who humiliated me last time—damn it. Once my saber skills are mastered, I will definitely seek revenge!" With that, he obediently followed the Azure Lake Island men into their camp.

...

That afternoon. There were four people at the bottom of the canyon: besides 'Udai,' there were Gu Shiyou, a slightly stout middle-aged man, and an elderly man with a bald head and a pair of triangular eyes. The black-armored soldiers of the Guiyuan Sect had only staked out the first day, lying in wait in the grass for the gaunt man to appear. Later, to avoid exposure, the black-armored soldiers dared not remain there constantly.

If they were discovered, the fact that the black-armored men were always in the canyon would easily arouse suspicion.

Therefore, they maintained the appearance of searching outside.

"Look, over there!" Udai pointed upwards.

"The hidden cave, where is it?" The elderly man with triangular eyes and a bald head looked up, then leaped as if he were an eagle, soaring onto the cliff face. Grasping a vine, he examined the area briefly and immediately discovered a large cavern concealed behind the hanging foliage. The bald elder nodded down toward the group.

"Hah! There really is a hidden cave. So concealed—it might actually be real."

Immediately, the stout middle-aged man grabbed Udai, tapped the cliff face a few times, and flew into the cave. Gu Shiyou closely followed them inside.

Udai had never ventured in before either. The four of them proceeded with extreme caution, first descending underground through a fissure, then moving through the misty spray to the edge of a lava stream. They dared not rashly enter the dark, unfathomable tunnels nearby, continuing only straight ahead.

They pressed on until they reached the Lava Lake!

"Gurgle~~" Blinding white lava spurted out like a fountain, centered around a massive black stone in the middle of the lake. The boiling heat caused the four people standing by the lava lake's edge to break out in sweat.

The stout middle-aged man looked at the 'Black Fire Spirit Fruit' resting on the black stone with immense delight. "Hahahaha! It is the Black Fire Spirit Fruit! It really is the Black Fire Spirit Fruit!"

A cold sneer appeared on the bald elder's face. "Hmph, the Guiyuan Sect got lucky to discover this place first! However, this Black Fire Spirit Fruit belongs to our Azure Lake Island." Just then, a voice rang out, "Three esteemed sirs, I have one thing to say." A slightly trembling voice sounded.

The three turned to look; the speaker was none other than Udai, the informant.

"This man needn't be kept alive," the bald elder was already preparing to strike.

Someone who knew such a secret—silencing him was the best way to ensure secrecy.

"Three esteemed sirs of Azure Lake Island! Earlier, fearing you might silence me to eliminate witnesses, I took a precaution." Udai gave an awkward smile. "If I do not make it back alive tonight... the secret of the Black Fire Spirit Fruit's location will surely be discovered and spread!"

The complexions of Gu Shiyou and the other two changed drastically.

"Sirs, spare my life, I judged you with a petty mind!" Udai pleaded. "If I return, this news will absolutely not get out!"

"Hmph," the bald elder snorted coldly.

In this day and age, no one was a fool! Any one of the three—the bald elder or Gu Shiyou—could easily kill Udai. But now, they dared not. None of them knew what secret measures Udai might have put in place. If the news truly spread later, all their efforts would have been in vain.

"Our people from Azure Lake Island are certainly trustworthy," the bald elder huffed. "However, you must remain in the Azure Lake Island camp until the Black Fire Spirit Fruit ripens."

"Fine, fine," Udai nodded repeatedly.

"Martial Uncle, Martial Grand-master!" Gu Shiyou gazed at the Black Fire Spirit Fruit, his eyes burning with desire. "The Guiyuan Sect also knows the Black Fire Spirit Fruit is here. What if... the Guiyuan Sect people try to snatch the Black Fire Spirit Fruit from us?"

"They dare!" the white-haired bald elder sneered. A chilling light flashed in his triangular eyes. "A mere Guiyuan Sect dares to contend with our Azure Lake Island? If they are truly unwise, we will deal with them ruthlessly. If they attempt to seize the Black Fire Spirit Fruit, they deserve to die because they were weaker. Three dead men—does the Guiyuan Sect dare to challenge our Azure Lake Island?"

Gu Shiyou and the stout middle-aged man could only nod in agreement. Although this expedition was publicly announced as being led by Gu Shiyou, the true foremost master among them was Gu Shiyou's Martial Grand-master, 'Du Jiu.'

...

At this moment, Teng Qingshan, Ji Hong, and Guan Lü were climbing up the great fissure, rapidly sliding down the interwoven vines.

Total darkness.

Whoosh!

The three landed successively, catching the familiar scent of sulfur, and moved into the white mist.

"Qingshan, I think in a few more days, the Black Fire Spirit Fruit will be nearly ripe," Ji Hong walked along, speaking with a smile plastered on his face. He was clearly in high spirits.

"Mhm, we just need to endure these few days carefully, and we'll have a real chance at the Black Fire Spirit Fruit," Teng Qingshan and the others moved forward steadily.

...

Gurgle~~

The lava flowed slowly, and the scorching air surged outwards.

Gu Shiyou wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Martial Grand-master, Martial Uncle, let's head back for now."

"Come here twice every day from now on," the white-haired bald elder said, also turning around. The three of them, along with Udai, started walking back the way they came. But after just a few steps, they saw the figures of Teng Qingshan, Ji Hong, and Guan Lü appear within sight around a bend ahead. The Azure Lake Island group—the three of them—froze in place.

Teng Qingshan's trio also froze!

Udai looked between the two groups and gaped dumbfounded!

"They actually came in at this time!" Gu Shiyou hadn't expected the opposing party to arrive at the same moment.

Although the three from the Azure Lake Island side were surprised, they at least had some mental preparation.

But Teng Qingshan's group had absolutely none. In their eyes, the Black Fire Spirit Fruit was already within their grasp, and at this critical juncture, people from Azure Lake Island had inserted themselves into the situation.

"People from Azure Lake Island are here too!" Ji Hong's face changed dramatically.

"This is troublesome now," Teng Qingshan frowned.

"Hahahaha..." The white-haired bald elder began to laugh. "Ji Hong, you have good luck! You managed to find this place too. However... our Azure Lake Island discovered this spot over half a month ago. Finding it first means first possession—this Black Fire Spirit Fruit should belong to our Azure Lake Island!" Gu Shiyou and the stout middle-aged man stood flanking the bald elder.

"Du Jiu!" Ji Hong roared. "You entered half a month ago? I ask you, how did you descend the fissure that is a full hundred zhang deep?"

The bald elder was momentarily stunned; they had descended using the vines!

"Du Jiu, you don't even blink when you lie! Those vines were woven by our men!" Ji Hong's voice was loud as he stared at the bald elder. Udai watched the two sides argue and thought to himself, The vines were woven by their people. How could the Azure Lake Island men have entered earlier than the Guiyuan Sect members? Lying, and being called out immediately!

The bald elder's face instantly became unsightly.

"The vines were woven by our people, so naturally, the first ones here were my Guiyuan Sect members," Ji Hong said coldly. "You just said it yourself: finding it first means first possession!"