Chapter 35

Meanwhile, deep within the mountains of ferocious beasts, where the celestial fruit was located.

After great effort, Wei Buping and Elder Li of the Lieryang Sect finally killed the powerful horned python. Standing before the massive body of the python, the two finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, we finally killed this beast," Elder Li said, relieved. Even as a ninth-level powerhouse, fighting ferocious beasts in the mountains was fraught with danger. This horned python had severely injured him, and the poison it had injected had not yet been completely removed.

However, a ninth-level powerhouse could match a dragon in combat, and their vitality was equally strong. Despite such severe injuries, Elder Li could still stand as if nothing had happened. Anyone else would have been lying on the ground, unable to move.

"Hmm, it was indeed a troublesome beast," Wei Buping said, bowing slightly.

"Elder Li, if you hadn't used your full strength this time, we would have come here in vain. This horned python has become a spirit, and its entire body is a treasure. Bringing it back to the Lieryang Sect will certainly yield a large amount of medicinal pills. I won't compete with you, Elder. However, the celestial fruit in the cave must belong to me. My disciple has been inside for so long and hasn't come out yet; it's likely that he has met with misfortune."

When Wei Buping mentioned Zhou Feng, he knew that his chances of survival were slim. However, since Zhou Feng was not his own disciple, Wei Buping's face did not show much sorrow.

Great achievements require not being bound by trivialities, and there must be sacrifices. For Wei Buping, these were all necessary costs.

"Right. Let's go in and take a look. The celestial fruit is crucial to the success of our mission; we cannot afford to fail."

The two mutually yielded, leading a few surviving disciples into the cave. At this point, without the continuous spray of poison from the horned python, the outside poison mist had become very light. The two quickly dispersed it with their fist strength.

The cave was winding and twisting. Soon, they discovered Zhou Feng's body, lying on the side of the cave, with all his bones shattered.

"No wonder he didn't come out for so long; he died here," Elder Li said, staring at Zhou Feng's body.

"I originally thought he would go to steal the celestial fruit, but it seems his luck was really bad," Wei Buping said indifferently. In their view, when Zhou Feng entered, he inadvertently encountered the horned python. A single strike from the python's body had shattered his bones and tendons, killing him instantly.

A ninth-level ferocious beast's strength was far beyond what a sixth-level martial artist could match.

"Let's go, let's see how our hard work has paid off," Elder Li said, quickly shifting his gaze and walking deeper into the cave.

Wei Buping followed closely behind.

In the depths of the cave, the two finally saw their target. Seeing the red fruit, both were stunned.

"Elder Wei, is this the celestial fruit you mentioned?" Elder Li asked, pointing to the red fruit.

While the fruit looked good and had significant effects, it clearly did not meet their expectations. In their view, something guarded by a powerful ninth-level horned python should be extraordinary, not so "low-key"!

"This..."

Wei Buping was also stunned. He clearly felt that something was wrong with the situation.

"Elder Wei, are you sure your people saw it clearly? Is this celestial fruit already ripe?"

Elder Li pointed to the fruit, asking doubtfully.

"Indeed, they saw it clearly. There's no mistake..."

Wei Buping said firmly.

"What about your disciple?"

Elder Li asked directly. Asking the party involved was undoubtedly the best way.

"He..."

Wei Buping was stunned again. The disciple who had scouted the path was the one he had abandoned in the forest, left to his own fate. In fact, if he hadn't led the way, he wouldn't have been the first to suffer.

Elder Li sighed, and from Wei Buping's expression, he could guess the disciple's fate.

"Alright, the mission is accomplished. Elder Wei, you should quickly return and report. Perhaps this celestial fruit is different. All its essence is condensed, so we can't feel its power."

Elder Li thought that perhaps they had missed the fruit's ripening period, and its effects had declined.

Wei Buping knew that Elder Li was trying to comfort him. However, some celestial fruits did indeed look dull on the outside but contained immense energy. But such celestial fruits were extremely rare.

"Right, that's the only explanation."

Wei Buping hesitated for a moment and nodded.

The two guarded the cave entrance, surrounded by snake venom. Theoretically, it was impossible for anyone to enter. Even if someone did, why wouldn't they take the fruit as well?

After all, even though the fruit's appearance didn't match the horned python's strength, it was still a celestial fruit and had no reason to be left behind.

"Perhaps this celestial fruit is different."

Wei Buping could only comfort himself. He walked over, plucked the celestial fruit, and turned to Elder Li, bowing slightly.

"Elder Li, let's part ways here."

"Right. You go first. I need to remove the poison from my body. Additionally, this horned python is at its peak. Drinking its blood while it's still hot is highly beneficial. It should also help remove some of the poison in my body. I'll leave after I deal with the python."

The blood of snake-type ferocious beasts was highly beneficial, something other ferocious beasts lacked. However, if the snake blood cooled, its effectiveness would decrease significantly, so it had to be drunk or collected while still hot.

"Right, good. Elder Li, we'll be on our way."

Wei Buping thought for a moment. Since this was the Lieryang Sect's hunting area, and there were other Lieryang Sect's ninth-level elders nearby, there shouldn't be any problems. Moreover, ninth-level powerhouses were not ordinary martial artists; even if they were severely injured, they were still extremely formidable and couldn't be underestimated.

Soon, Wei Buping left with the Wulei Sect's disciples, disappearing like the wind.

Elder Li breathed a sigh of relief and approached the horned python. He drank from a large wound on the python's belly, immediately feeling a long sigh of relief and noticing that his injuries had improved significantly.

"This horned python is indeed highly beneficial. The greatest gain from this trip is this ninth-level horned python!"

Elder Li was in high spirits.

The horned python's effects were stronger than a celestial fruit of the same level. This python could evolve into a dragon, and its entire body was a treasure.

The python's blood, core, bones, and skin were all valuable. Even its venom could be refined into poison to deal with formidable enemies.

"Regardless, let's take the python's core first."

Elder Li thought for a moment and tore open the python's belly with a swoosh. The python's blood was so abundant that it couldn't be drunk entirely, so it would be wasted. The most precious part, the beast core, needed to be taken.

Swoosh!

Elder Li's hands moved like scissors, quickly enlarging the wound. Peeling back layers of flesh, a red, flame-like core immediately fell into his palm.

This beast core was as large as a fist, bright and shiny like a fire-red pearl, clearly extraordinary.

"Ha ha ha, the core of a ninth-level ferocious beast is indeed remarkable. With this core, I have a good chance of advancing to the tenth level!"

Elder Li's face showed his joy. At his level, ordinary beast cores or celestial fruits were no longer useful. Only cores from ninth-level or higher ferocious beasts could be effective.

However, such high-level ferocious beasts were not easy to deal with. Even if they were killed, a significant cost would be paid. Therefore, the Lieryang Sect would mobilize a large number of people for each hunt.

Of course, many people would also die. Top-tier ferocious beasts were not easy to hunt.

Tap tap tap!

Suddenly, a rapid series of footsteps echoed through the cave.

"Someone!"

Elder Li's heart raced, and he immediately put away the beast core. His gaze sharpened, and he looked fiercely toward the entrance.

The other party seemed to have no intention of hiding their footsteps and quickly approached Elder Li's position.

"It's a Wulei Sect disciple."

Elder Li relaxed when he saw the person's attire. This person was wearing Wulei Sect's clothing and was likely one of the disciples Wei Buping had brought.

"What, does your Elder Wei have something else to say?"

Elder Li said, somewhat displeased.

The disciple's head was slightly lowered, and his hair obscured his face. Hearing Elder Li's question, he only said softly:

"Elder Li, our Elder Wei knew you were seriously injured. Before leaving, he asked me to come back and give you something."

As he spoke, the person had already approached Elder Li, holding something in his hands. He extended his hands to hand it over to Elder Li.

"Oh? He's quite considerate."

Elder Li smiled, not thinking much, and was about to take the item from the Wulei Sect disciple.

However, at that moment, Elder Li suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of danger. His expression changed dramatically, and a series of images flashed through his mind. In an instant, he recalled the disciple's quick, low-headed approach.

When the disciple first entered, Elder Li had felt something was off, but couldn't pinpoint what. Now, he suddenly understood, his eyes turning cold, and he shouted:

"Look up!"

"The ninth-level elder is indeed formidable!"

At this moment, Lin Xi suddenly looked up, a strange smile on his face. Almost simultaneously, his hands moved like snakes, lightning-fast, and plunged into Elder Li's chest.

"Ah!"

Elder Li let out a painful cry: "What a bold scoundrel!"

His hands, as large as baskets, like two mountains, struck Lin Xi's chest with a thunderous force. With a loud crack, countless bones broke, and Lin Xi screamed, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His chest caved in, and he flew out like a broken kite, crashing into the cave wall.

Even a ninth-level powerhouse, despite being severely injured, could deliver a counterattack that Lin Xi could not resist. Even though Lin Xi had consumed a celestial fruit and reached the peak of the seventh level, the blow left him severely injured.