“Ji Hong!” Gu Shiyou spoke with a smile, “My grand-master just teased you casually, and you blurted it out—you fabricated that vine story! Hmm… It seems that only your Guiyuan Sect and my Qinghuzhou Island know the location of this Black Fire Spirit Fruit now! That makes things easier. Your Guiyuan Sect should stop contending with us. After this is over, our Qinghuzhou Island will certainly reward you handsomely.”
Ji Hong’s expression darkened: “Young Island Master, that’s poorly put! Does my Guiyuan Sect look like it’s short of silver?”
The bald elder’s face turned icy cold as he snapped, “Ji Hong, I’m being reasonable with you, don't mistake kindness for weakness! I, Du Jiu, state this clearly right here: this Black Fire Spirit Fruit and Black Fire Spirit Root belong solely to Qinghuzhou Island. Your Guiyuan Sect won’t get so much as a single leaf! If you continue to press the issue…”
A frigid glint flashed in the bald elder’s triangular eyes, and with a sharp clang, he drew the two short blades from his waist.
“Ji Hong, I advise you to turn around and leave obediently.” The bald elder held one short blade in each hand.
…
Ji Hong’s expression was grim, while Teng Qingshan and Guan Lü exchanged a look.
“‘Life-and-Death Blade’ Du Jiu! Ranked seventeenth on the Earth Ranking, and the master of the Qinghuzhou Island Master!” Teng Qingshan knew the opponent’s identity clearly. In terms of sheer strength, Teng Qingshan never paid much mind to this Life-and-Death Blade ‘Du Jiu’; in the top twenty, Teng Qingshan’s single Cycle Spear could certainly slay him.
However…
This man was the master of the Qinghuzhou Island Master! The current Island Master of Qinghuzhou was a Xiantian expert, a formidable figure dominating Yangzhou.
Who would dare kill his master?
“Old Man Du Jiu!” Ji Hong sounded somewhat annoyed.
“Ji Hong. Considering the connection we had when we were younger, I’ll give you a way out. Don’t think I won’t strike! Among the three of you, the strongest should be that ‘Teng Qingshan,’ right? Hmph, killing Meng Tian showed some skill, but compared to me, you’re worlds apart!” The bald elder said coldly, “I’ll count to three. If you still haven't left by then, don’t blame me for being merciless!”
Life-and-Death Blade Du Jiu. He was absolutely a figure known for his brutality and ruthlessness.
Who in the world didn’t know this?
“Commander.” Teng Qingshan and Guan Lü both looked toward Ji Hong.
Ji Hong gritted his teeth.
Teng Qingshan felt a pang of anxiety in his heart: If Ji Hong really yields the Black Fire Spirit Fruit to them, obtaining the Black Fire Spirit Root will be difficult! I’m confident I can kill Du Jiu, but… Ji Hong doesn’t know I possess this strength! Yes, Ji Hong was unaware of Teng Qingshan’s true capabilities.
“One!” Du Jiu called out coldly.
The immediate situation forced Ji Hong to grit his teeth and shout, “Let’s go!”
“Go?” Teng Qingshan was slightly agitated.
“Ji Hong, Commander Ji! We thank your Guiyuan Sect then. However… I don't wish for word about the Black Fire Spirit Fruit’s location to spread the moment we leave. If the news leaks, I can only suspect you people.” Gu Shiyou’s voice traveled over. “That would ruin our relationship.”
Ji Hong had indeed been contemplating leaking the location once they were outside.
After all, they wouldn’t have any solid evidence against him.
But upon hearing Gu Shiyou’s words, Ji Hong suddenly spun around, fixing his gaze on Gu Shiyou and Du Jiu: “Old Man Du Jiu… one shouldn’t push people too far! You’ve been ruthless today. But… Hmph, being this excessive in life always brings retribution!”
“Retribution?” Du Jiu’s triangular eyes swept over Teng Qingshan and the other two with venomous intent, “Just the three of you!”
“Martial Uncle-Master!” Guan Lü whispered softly.
“Commander!” Teng Qingshan also called out anxiously, feigning deep exasperation. Teng Qingshan was only a seventeen-year-old youth. Seventeen was an age full of fiery passion; even the most composed young man would find it normal to lose his temper at this point.
Teng Qingshan certainly didn’t want to turn back now; he was determined to secure that Black Fire Spirit Root: It would be best if we could fight now. If Ji Hong refuses, then obtaining the Black Fire Spirit Root will have to be done secretly.
Ji Hong’s face darkened: “Qingshan, Guan Lü, let’s go!”
Teng Qingshan and Guan Lü could only suppress their feelings and follow behind Ji Hong.
…
Gu Shiyou, Du Jiu, and their third companion all chuckled. The man standing aside, Wu Dai, kept a flattering smile plastered on his face.
“Senior Du, you are truly formidable. The Guiyuan Sect people actually left just like that,” Wu Dai flattered.
A hint of smugness surfaced on the bald elder’s face.
Ever since his disciple reached the Xiantian realm and became the Qinghuzhou Island Master, his own status had soared. Coupled with his ranking among the Earth Ranking experts, his position on Qinghuzhou Island was extremely high. He had grown accustomed to arrogance; who dared provoke him?
“Hahaha, Boss, the Black Fire Spirit Fruit is just ahead!” A very faint laugh drifted from the distance.
The three from Qinghuzhou Island froze.
They all turned to look in another direction. One must know that the lava lake flowed in two directions; Teng Qingshan and his group had arrived at the lake via the lava stream channel on the left. But the voice now came from the right side.
“Someone entered from this side?” The bald elder was momentarily stunned.
“Wu Dai.” Gu Shiyou looked at Wu Dai.
“I, I don’t know!” Wu Dai shook his head repeatedly. This was his first time entering the underground area; how could he know what lay at the end of the other passage?
The bald elder lowered his voice, “Don't worry about that now; let’s go over there first.”
Immediately, the three from Qinghuzhou Island moved stealthily toward the right. This passage was visibly wider than the left one. Although the path was winding, its spaciousness meant that after only a few dozen zhang, the Qinghuzhou group spotted another party ahead.
The two groups were separated by about fifty zhang!
“It’s Qinghuzhou Island! Run!” one person from the other group suddenly shouted loudly, and immediately, that group scattered in panicked flight without hesitation!
“Kill them!!!” The bald elder roared in anger and immediately charged forward rapidly. Gu Shiyou and his martial uncle immediately rushed after him. The group fleeing in the distance were moving at only average speed, whereas the Qinghuzhou side consisted of peak Houtian experts who rapidly closed the distance.
…
Ji Hong, Teng Qingshan, and Guan Lü, who were initially fuming and walking back along the path, naturally heard those two shouts.
“It’s Qinghuzhou Island!”
“Kill them!”
Teng Qingshan, Ji Hong, and Guan Lü exchanged glances!
“There’s another group,” Guan Lü said blankly.
“Go back!” Ji Hong gave a low command, and the three immediately turned around and rushed back toward where the Qinghuzhou party had been.
**
They ran all the way.
“They’re fighting ahead!” Although the path was winding, Teng Qingshan could already hear the sounds of battle not far away. In terms of speed, the three from Guiyuan Sect were about equal to the three from Qinghuzhou Island. However, since the Qinghuzhou three were engaged in combat with the other party, their speed naturally slowed down. Soon—
Teng Qingshan and the others clearly saw the scene of the battle ahead.
“Boss, hurry and flee!” one burly man shrieked. Even as he was struck by a blade, he tightly gripped the leg of the Qinghuzhou martial uncle.
Whoosh!
With a forceful kick, the martial uncle coldly stomped down, shattering the burly man’s skull. Red and white matter slowly oozed out. Then, the martial uncle quickly continued his pursuit.
“Third Brother!” The Boss, who had already fled dozens of zhang away, looked back, tears streaming down his face.
“Boss, hurry and flee,” the others intercepted them fearlessly. That Boss clearly possessed excellent lightness skill and immediately fled at top speed.
Gu Shiyou was anxious to chase, but those men intercepted them without regard for their own lives. These bandits were desperate outlaws, and their methods were vicious. Some threw lime powder, others hurled hidden weapons, and some even clung to them suicidally. Even facing elite bandits who threw their lives away in interception, the speed of the Earth Ranking experts was affected.
Spurt!
Spurt!
Blood sprayed. The three from Qinghuzhou Island finally broke through the obstruction of a dozen men. They could no longer see the silhouette of the Boss and could only chase downward along the path.
“The T-Junction!” The three from Qinghuzhou Island stopped at the junction, looking at the two paths ahead, unsure which way to pursue.
“Haha, Old Man Du Jiu. That bandit leader’s lightness skill wasn't much worse than yours. With a band of desperate men to block us, he certainly escaped,” Ji Hong said as the three from Guiyuan Sect arrived. Ji Hong felt an immense sense of satisfaction: “Man proposes, but Heaven disposes! You Qinghuzhou Island are simply not destined for this!”
Looking at the three from Guiyuan Sect, the three from Qinghuzhou Island merely snorted and then turned to leave.
“There’s another passage!” Teng Qingshan exclaimed in amazement.
Guan Lü said coldly, “There should be another passage! The cavern entrance we came through was only a little over one zhang high. The Scarlet Scale Beast should be over two zhang tall now. When it was young, it could enter through our passage, but once it grows, it can’t use that route anymore. Therefore, there must be a wider passage!”
Teng Qingshan suddenly realized.
Right!
The Scarlet Scale Beast definitely needed to reach the Black Fire Spirit Fruit, so there had to be a passage wide enough for it.
I didn't even notice that before! Teng Qingshan thought privately.
“But that’s good too,” Teng Qingshan secretly rejoiced. “When the scene is chaotic with so many people involved, it will be easier for me to act. With my methods, amidst the chaos, obtaining the Black Fire Spirit Root will be a sure thing.”
…
A sturdy man with three small braids sticking out of his head emerged from the surface of the pool, his eyes bloodshot: “Third Brother, Ah Hu… all of you, ah!” These sworn brothers had all lost their lives for him, their Big Boss. The sturdy man’s eyes were crimson as he gritted his teeth and hissed, “Qinghuzhou Island! If this grudge is not avenged, I will not rest in peace! Hmph… Black Fire Spirit Fruit, you people will never monopolize it!”
…
In the evening, Teng Qingshan and a large group were eating at the foot of the mountain.
Just then, a voice was heard from nearby: “Have you heard? Someone discovered an underwater passage in the deep pool beneath the mountain peak with the Flying Monkey Stone, west of Flame Mountain. After entering the underground passage, you eventually find a wide underground tunnel. Walk for two or three li, and you will find a lava stream; walk another two li, and you’ll be at the location of the Black Fire Spirit Fruit.”
“Flying Monkey Stone? We passed that when we were searching last time. I even took a bath in that large deep pool. That big deep pool? There’s an underwater passage at the bottom?”
“The information is detailed and accurate. Many people are already heading over to check it out.”
“Let’s go check it out right away.”
…
Teng Qingshan, Ji Hong, and Guan Lü exchanged glances.
“The entrance to this other passage is at the bottom of a pool,” Ji Hong sighed.
“This news must have been leaked by that ‘Boss.’ So many people know in just two or three hours; the rumor spread incredibly fast,” Teng Qingshan mused, while Guan Lü nodded with a serious expression: “It seems… that monopolizing the Black Fire Spirit Fruit and Black Fire Spirit Root will be difficult for anyone.”
Once this news spread widely, one thing was certain.
The contest for the Black Fire Spirit Fruit would erupt into a free-for-all melee!
Experts in the open and hidden masters alike would truly make their move once the Black Fire Spirit Fruit ripened!