Chapter Fourteen: When the Crane and the Clam Quarrel, the Fisherman Profits

When Chen Yi saw that plant, his pupils contracted and his eyes shone with excitement. He hurriedly took out his compendium of spiritual herbs and began searching through it. After flipping through more than a dozen pages, he finally found, near the very end, the name and properties of the fruit growing on that plant.

He read: “Heavenly Dragon Fruit, a specialty of the Heavenly Dragon Mountains, formed from the nourishment of a true dragon’s bloodline. The fruit contains a trace of that bloodline; those who consume it can acquire the dragon’s essence, thereby enhancing their potential, deepening their foundation, and improving their innate talent. It is truly priceless. However, the effectiveness of the Heavenly Dragon Fruit is strictly limited by both its age and the cultivation level of the consumer.

“Fruits under a hundred years old are effective for cultivators in the Qi Refining stage. Those over a hundred years benefit Foundation Establishment cultivators. Fruits aged over a thousand years can aid those in the Core Formation or Nascent Soul stages. Rumors of fruits over ten thousand years old have never been substantiated. The older the fruit, the stronger the bloodline power within, and the greater its benefits. Those who possess a rich dragon bloodline may even transform into a dragon and fight above their level.”

Chen Yi’s eyes gleamed with delight as he read this, for what appeared before him was precisely a Heavenly Dragon Fruit of a hundred years—perfect for his needs. The potential to alter his constitution and enhance his talent was invaluable to him; this fruit could change everything. Determined, he resolved to claim it for himself.

Chen Yi had suffered greatly in his cultivation journey due to his frail constitution. Now, faced with a chance to transform his body, how could he not feel a surge of excitement?

However, securing the Heavenly Dragon Fruit would be far from easy, for the three youths and the serpent already fighting over it were all highly accomplished cultivators.

The trio of youths each possessed cultivation at the eighth level of Qi Refining. The Golden Flood Serpent, defending the fruit, was even stronger, at the ninth level. Yet, judging by its weakened state, it seemed either injured or freshly spent from laying eggs.

Noticing the serpent bore no visible wounds, Chen Yi guessed it must be the latter. He soon spotted a golden egg beneath the Heavenly Dragon Fruit—clearly the serpent’s newborn.

Just as Chen Yi made this discovery, the three young men also noticed him and his wolf companion, Howling Sky. Their cultivations far surpassed his own; it was impossible for them not to sense his presence.

“Hey, kid over there, what are you doing here? Get lost now, or we’ll kill you,” threatened the sword-wielding youth, radiating murderous intent.

“Wu Tian, what are you saying?” the bowman interjected with a gentle tone. “Brother, don’t be afraid—we won’t hurt you. See that Heavenly Dragon Fruit? If you pick it and bring it to us, you may leave unharmed. In fact, we’ll even give you one of the fruits.”

Meanwhile, the archer’s words sounded amicable, but Chen Yi caught a flash of murderous intent in his eyes, clearly intending to kill him once the task was done.

The sword-bearing youth seemed to realize something and quickly spoke, “Sorry, brother. I misspoke. Please hurry and pick the Heavenly Dragon Fruit before the Golden Flood Serpent devours them all.”

Yet, what he said and what he thought were worlds apart:

“Once this serpent is dealt with, that boy must die. How could I possibly share such a priceless treasure?”

Hearing the three urge him toward the fruit, Chen Yi knew a rare opportunity had presented itself. He feigned compliance, planning to grab the fruit and flee at the first opening.

He had barely reached the fruit when the Golden Flood Serpent, as if going berserk, launched a fierce attack at the three cultivators, who barely managed to withstand its onslaught by joining forces.

Seizing the moment, Chen Yi quickly plucked the three Heavenly Dragon Fruits and placed them in a white jade box. The box, given to him by the bowman, was carved from pure spirit jade, suffused with gentle spiritual energy. Such a container could seal in the herb’s essence, preserve it, and even enhance its potency—worth at least two spirit stones. Clearly, the trio had come prepared, but their efforts would all end up benefiting Chen Yi.

Within moments, Chen Yi had safely stowed the fruits. With the jade box in his left hand and the serpent egg in his right, he signaled to Howling Sky to prepare for escape, having realized the serpent was close to death.

Fresh from laying its egg and already weakened, the Golden Flood Serpent simply could not withstand the combined assault of three cultivators of similar strength. Yet, before dying, it was determined to drag at least one of its assailants down with it.

Ignoring the sword energy and arrows flying at its body, the serpent charged straight for the unarmed youth, who, practicing some body-tempering art, delivered blows that caused it the most pain.

In a flash, the serpent coiled itself tightly around the youth. Seeing their companion ensnared, the other two launched a flurry of desperate attacks, rapidly depleting their spiritual energy.

Chen Yi, noticing one youth immobilized and the others burning through their strength, nodded to Howling Sky. He then unleashed the Nine Steps of the Golden Swallow technique, sprinting toward Howling Sky’s den.

Howling Sky, sensing the urgency, threw itself into a frenzied dash after Chen Yi, as if aware that even a moment’s hesitation spelled danger.

The two remaining youths, watching Chen Yi abscond with both the Heavenly Dragon Fruit and the serpent egg, turned green with rage. Yet, with their companion still in mortal peril, they dared not pursue him.

Instead, they vented their wrath upon the serpent. In a matter of moments, they hacked the Golden Flood Serpent into three pieces. The ensnared youth crawled free from the carcass and addressed his companions:

“Do not worry. That boy, a mere fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator, won’t get far. Once we recover our strength, we’ll split up and hunt him down.”

“Exactly,” the sword-bearer agreed venomously. “He won’t get far with his abilities. When I catch him, I’ll flay him alive and hang his skin for a lantern.”

With that, the three each produced a prepared pill, sat cross-legged, and began circulating their techniques to replenish their spiritual energy.

An hour later, they rose, fully restored and at their peak. They set off in different directions to pursue Chen Yi. The unarmed youth headed straight for Howling Sky’s den. But were Chen Yi and his companion truly ready to face a foe at the eighth level of Qi Refining?