Chapter 64

The map given by Fat Bighead to Hu Gao completely depicted the terrain of the Longjia Mountain Range. The main body of the Longjia Mountain Range stretched for hundreds of miles, its shape resembling a reclining dragon, with the dragon's head pointing towards Ningcheng! However, Ningcheng was not within the range of the Longjia Mountain Range, but rather like a pillar spewed out by the dragon's mouth.

On both sides of the main ridge of the Longjia Mountain Range, the map used four different colors to divide each side into two regions, and the Flame Valley was marked as a red area on the map. According to Qi Hong, the Flame Valley was filled with fire-attribute beasts, and Hu Gao speculated that the red color on the map did not indicate a high danger level, but rather that the fire attribute in the Flame Valley was particularly strong.

The other three regions were marked with yellow, brown, and blue, plus the green of the main ridge, could they possibly represent the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth?

Hu Gao found his own speculation somewhat laughable, as he had never heard of anything related to the five elements in Totem Continent, and the only things related to it were himself and the blue jade pendant inside.

His thoughts wandered a bit, and Hu Gao shook his head, focusing his mind on the present. The place Fat Bighead had instructed him to go was marked with a small white cross on the map. It was a solitary peak called Huosui Peak, located at the edge of the Flame Valley, near the dragon's head.

Initially, Hu Gao thought the red color of the Flame Valley represented a dangerous area, and he planned to bypass the Flame Valley, directly explore the dragon's head, and then circle around to Huosui Peak.

But now, based on the information provided by Qi Hong, he realized he was completely wrong, and the dragon's head might be the more dangerous area.

Now, Hu Gao decided to enter the Flame Valley, both for the Black Fire Lotus that could refine his body and to reach Huosui Peak.

Thinking of this, Hu Gao couldn't help but feel a stirring in his heart.

Could it be that Fat Bighead knew the Black Fire Lotus had appeared in the Flame Valley and was useful to him, so he sent him to Huosui Peak in the Flame Valley?

What exactly did he want him to retrieve? The Black Fire Lotus? Or the Black Fire Lotus pod?

No, that didn't make sense. Fat Bighead could buy these things at any time and wouldn't need to do him a favor by sending Hu Gao into the Longjia Mountain Range to retrieve them.

While running, Xiao Wu suddenly interrupted Hu Gao's thoughts.

"Boss, there are two late-stage first-rank beasts fighting ahead. However, these two beasts don't have beast cores. Should we go check it out?"

Hu Gao shook his head decisively. "Why bother if they don't have beast cores? It would be a waste of time. No, we won't go."

"Boss, you're wise. I don't want to go either. But these two beasts seem to be fighting over a fruit. I don't know what the fruit is for, but it seems to be only slightly less valuable than the black leaf grass we got last time. But if it doesn't provide me with dragon qi, getting it would be meaningless."

Xiao Wu had a rather indifferent attitude, as they hadn't yet entered the depths of the Longjia Mountain Range, and truly valuable treasures hadn't appeared yet.

"Damn, wasteful brat..."

Hu Gao really wanted to slap Xiao Wu away. The black leaf grass they obtained last time seemed to have low value, equivalent to about two or three thousand gold coins, but when refined by an alchemist, its value increased tenfold.

These seemingly low-value medicinal herbs, when processed by an alchemist, could become extremely valuable. This guy was so indifferent about it.

Hu Gao didn't waste time and moved at his fastest speed toward the direction Xiao Wu pointed, completely concealing his aura.

"Boss, I..."

"Don't speak. Be careful not to expose us and cause the beasts to destroy the fruit."

Hu Gao didn't give Xiao Wu a chance to continue speaking. The Shadowless Sword was already tightly gripped in his hand.

When his cultivation was still at the Sixth Rank of the Condensation Shadow Realm, crossing this distance would have taken him at most ten minutes, even in the jungle, it wouldn't exceed fifteen minutes. Now, after breaking through to the Seventh Rank of the Condensation Shadow Realm, Hu Gao felt his speed had more than doubled. He only heard the wind in his ears and reached the scene in less than six minutes.

"Roar!"

"Boom..."

Two towering beasts appeared in front of Hu Gao, roaring at each other and launching the most ferocious attacks. Many trees broke and fell under their collisions, and there were numerous wounds on their bodies.

These two beasts were a black bear and a giant snake. The black bear was about three meters tall, with pitch-black fur and blood-red eyes, and a single swipe could break a tree that required one person to encircle it.

The giant snake was about six to seven meters long, covered in earth-colored scales that gave off a golden luster. It occasionally opened its huge mouth, revealing sharp fangs, which made the black bear very wary. Its steel-like tail also produced a sharp whistling sound as it lashed out, scattering grass and trees.

From the fierce aura they emitted, they were definitely at the late-stage first-rank level, not something ordinary high-rank Condensation Shadow Realm martial artists could handle. Only peak Eighth Rank Condensation Shadow Realm martial artists could break through the defenses of late-stage first-rank beasts.

Hu Gao stopped about a hundred meters away from the fighting beasts, quietly observing them, marveling at their strength. However, his gaze soon shifted to other directions.

This search didn't last long. His eyes fixed on a branch of a tree about ten meters tall.

To be precise, they fixed on an orange-red fruit on the branch.

He could sense a strange energy fluctuation coming from the fruit. When this energy was released, he could clearly feel his own yuan force becoming more active.

However, he didn't know what kind of fruit it was or if it could be eaten raw.

But one thing was certain: this was no ordinary fruit and might be a valuable treasure.

Better to take it than to miss it. He had to get it.

Hu Gao looked at the two beasts still fighting fiercely. They seemed to be evenly matched, making it difficult to determine a winner.

"If they keep fighting like this, something unexpected might happen. I might as well go up and finish them off, then take the fruit and leave. But since they are still some distance from the fruit, I can just take the fruit and leave first."

After the sprint, Hu Gao had a clearer understanding of his speed. After a brief consideration, he made his decision: take the fruit and run, saving the effort of dealing with two beasts without beast cores.

Without hesitation, Hu Gao's figure darted out like lightning, quickly approaching the orange-red fruit.

The fruit was on a branch of a large tree, which was about thirty meters away, slightly farther than the distance between the two beasts and the tree.

Hu Gao wasn't sure if he could take the fruit and leave before the beasts reacted, but he didn't mind. If necessary, he would just use some force to take care of them.

"Roar!"

"Hisss!"

Hu Gao clearly underestimated the beasts' concern for the orange fruit. As soon as he moved toward the tree, they reacted, roaring and pouncing toward the tree.

"Are these beasts really looking for death?" Hu Gao looked at the beasts with some annoyance. He didn't plan to attack them, but they insisted on forcing him to.

"Hmm? Someone else?"

At that moment, he sensed a subtle aura fluctuation from a nearby direction, and this aura was quite strong.

A slight smile appeared on his lips. Hu Gao decided to ignore this person for now and focus on getting the fruit.

His speed was much faster than the beasts, and he reached the base of the tree first. He then lightly stepped on the ground, leaping high into the air, and extended his right hand, about to pluck the fruit.

The two beasts finally reached the base of the tree and roared in anger. The black bear slapped the tree with its broad paw, and the giant snake leaped high, preparing to launch a powerful attack on Hu Gao.

"Crack!"

The black bear's powerful slap broke the tree, which was as thick as a person's embrace, and it fell to one side.

"Trying to stop me? You underestimate me too much."

Seeing the tree fall and the fruit falling in another direction, with the terrifying whistling sound and the stench of the beasts behind him, Hu Gao remained calm. He stepped on the air, his red yuan force flowing, and his speed increased. Like a meteor, he shot toward the treetop, extending his hand and grabbing the fist-sized orange-red fruit.

"Indeed, a good thing!"

As soon as he grabbed the fruit, Hu Gao clearly felt his yuan force surge. He knew this orange-red fruit was no ordinary thing, but he wasn't sure of its specific effects.

Hu Gao wasn't worried. Since Xiao Wu said the fruit was almost as valuable as the black leaf grass, he believed that after being processed by the alchemist in the Hu family, it would become a precious pill like the Green Body Pill.

"Roar!"

Behind him, a sharp roar echoed through the air, and the giant snake, about six to seven meters long, leaped up four to five meters, opening its massive mouth and lunging at Hu Gao.

"Little snake, you want to bite your grandpa? I'll give you a lesson."

Hu Gao turned his cold gaze and drew the Shadowless Sword, releasing a burst of sword qi that quickly formed a sword qi storm, slicing through the air and striking the giant snake's head.

"Clang..."

The giant snake's head was quite hard, and the sword qi storm failed to leave any marks. Instead, a series of clear sounds echoed, and its already blood-red eyes became even more fierce. Hu Gao's attack had fully unleashed its ferocity.