Translator: CinderTL
At that moment, Fang Qingge stepped forward slowly, his complexion now considerably rosier, indicating his injuries were no longer critical.
"I propose we each employ our own methods to retrieve the fruit," he said. "Whoever succeeds shall claim it as their own, and no one else may contest their claim. Any attempt to do so will be met with collective force. What do you all think?"
As he spoke, his gaze lingered meaningfully on Xu Sanyan.
With Yuan Anping's death, Xu Sanyan was now the cultivator with the highest cultivation level present. Moreover, his strength was undeniable; he had fought Yuan Anping to a standstill for a hundred rounds, proving his capabilities.
If the group didn't unite against him, Xu Sanyan would become the next Yuan Anping.
Fang Qingge had no intention of relinquishing the two fruits, so he had no choice but to rally the others to pressure Xu Sanyan.
Jingyi glanced at Xu Sanyan and nodded slightly. "This humble monk agrees."
Qi Liang also nodded. "Very well."
His forces had suffered heavy casualties in the recent battle, including the tragic death of his fellow holy son, Fang Xiang. Jiang Qinqin had survived, but she was severely wounded.
On the other side, Tu Wanshan, Wei Xunzhi, Lu Wang, and the others voiced no objections, nodding in agreement.
Luo Qingwei remained lost in grief over her brother's death, unresponsive to her surroundings. As a result, the Harmonious Mountain Praying Dao Sect's authority temporarily fell to Luo Changtian's junior brother.
As for Shangyin Mountain, the original group was already relatively small, and repeated battles had further reduced their numbers. Moreover, Huan Xi'er and Mo Xianxian had no interest in contesting the fruit and had already departed.
Everyone present agreed with Fang Qingge's proposal. Xu Sanyan saw no need to stubbornly oppose them and nodded with a smile.
"Brother Fang's reasoning is sound. I have no objections."
"Excellent!" Fang Qingge clapped his hands. "Then it's settled."
He glanced at the corpses strewn across the ground and sighed. "This secret realm has claimed too many lives. I sincerely wish to avoid further bloodshed. A peaceful resolution is the best outcome."
Jingyi shook his head, pressed his palms together, and softly chanted Buddhist scriptures.
The death toll was staggering—roughly seventy to eighty percent of the participants. Never before had so many perished in a secret realm expedition.
Nearby, Lin Fan stood behind Zuoqiu Yi, awkwardly wiping his hands on his trousers. He wanted to comfort her but didn't know how to begin.
Zuoqiu Yi knelt before the bodies of her Third Sister, Fourth Sister, and Fifth Sister, silently sobbing, her eyes red-rimmed.
Zuoqiu Chen forced back her own tears as she prepared the bodies for burial. The remains of Fifth Sister Zuoqiu Yu were too fragmented to be fully reassembled; she could only try to piece them together as best she could.
"Let's go..."
Zuoqiu Chen pulled Zuoqiu Yi to her feet, and the two led the remaining members of the Zuoqiu Clan away into the distance. As for the two fruits, they made no further attempt to claim them.
Zuoqiu Chen knew in her heart that such treasures were beyond their reach. Of the seven sisters, only three remained. Her sole focus now was protecting her two younger sisters.
Perhaps... perhaps there are more than three of us left...
Zuoqiu Chen recalled the telepathic message her third sister, Zuoqiu Hui, had sent before her death. She glanced sideways at Zuoqiu Zhen, secretly tucking this matter away in her heart. They would investigate it thoroughly with the clan elders after escaping.
Zuoqiu Zhen lowered her head and silently followed behind.
"Zuoqiu Yi..."
Lin Fan watched Zuoqiu Yi's retreating figure, wanting to say something. But his lips moved soundlessly, and he ultimately lowered his arm in resignation.
Zuoqiu Yi paused, slowly closed her eyes, and spoke without turning back, "This humble one's surname is Zuoqiu. I must thank Young Master Lin for his timely rescue. If you ever require assistance, you may seek me at the Zuoqiu Clan of Huai Lake. We will never forget this debt of life."
With these words, she strode away.
But from an angle hidden from Lin Fan's view, a few crystalline tears stained her robes.
Lin Fan's heart clenched sharply, as if he had lost something precious, leaving a lingering ache in his chest.
Lin Fan gazed wistfully at the sky, as if he had finally understood something...
The demonic sect will never be accepted by the world, he thought. Even if I've never done anything wrong, I'm still branded by my origins.
"Heh..." Lin Fan chuckled bitterly, watching Zuoqiu Yi depart.
No one cared about their tangled emotions; all eyes were fixed on the two fruits.
Wei Xunzhi glanced up, then scrutinized the jade-like branch before turning her gaze to Xu Sanyan and the others, refraining from any rash moves.
Though the Wei Clan had preserved their strength most completely, they were also the weakest faction present. Wei Xunzhi's cultivation level was unremarkable; even with the Five Great Sects severely weakened, she couldn't compare.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please proceed," Xu Sanyan said with a faint smile, his eyes calmly sweeping over the crowd.
Jingyi pondered for a moment, then bowed slightly. "Then this humble monk will attempt first."
With a flick of his robes, he retrieved an object from his storage pouch and tossed it to the ground. The object unfurled in the wind, instantly transforming into a stone golem taller than a man.
Xu Sanyan's eyes widened. The golem bore a striking resemblance to the Stone General he had wielded earlier, sharing the same ingenious craftsmanship.
"Go!" Jingyi commanded softly. The stone golem lumbered stiffly toward the branch, its movements awkward yet surprisingly swift.
Everyone watched in silent anticipation, torn between wanting it to succeed and wanting it to fail.
They hoped for success because it would prove the fruits could indeed be harvested. They feared success because they didn't want the fruits to fall into someone else's hands.
Jingyi, focused entirely on controlling the golem, remained oblivious to the shifting expressions around him.
Xu Sanyan observed intently, gradually noticing the golem's unusual nature.
The golem emitted no trace of spiritual power, appearing truly like a stone brought to life. Yet without spiritual power, how could Jingyi control it?
Xu Sanyan couldn't fathom it, but a flicker of hope ignited within him. Perhaps this thing could actually pluck the fruits.
With that thought, he silently retrieved a bottle of medicinal pills from his storage pouch, crushed the bottle in his hand, and swallowed the pills in one gulp.
He was preparing to act.
No matter what it took, he would claim at least one of those fruits!
No matter what methods he had to employ!
As the golem slowly approached the branch, everyone held their breath. This was the same spot where the ghost soldier had been dissolved earlier, proving the golem had entered the branch's defensive range.
If it succeeds...
The crowd's thoughts diverged.
Thud... thud...
The stone golem stepped into the Jade Tree's protective range. Jingyi's eyes flashed with relief—it was safe!
Xu Sanyan's gaze flickered as he frantically refined medicinal pills to replenish his spiritual power.
Fang Qingge glanced at Xu Sanyan, his thoughts unreadable.
With such a treasure so close, it was impossible not to be tempted. No one could resist the desire to possess it.
The stone golem climbed onto a branch of the Jade Tree, using both hands and feet to ascend. Its hand brushed against a verdant leaf, causing it to flutter downward.
All eyes followed the falling leaf.
Whoosh!
The leaf, as if weighing ten thousand kilograms, plummeted from the branch and slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash.
Boom!
Dust billowed into the air as a deep crater formed instantly.
A dazzling emerald light reflected off something crystalline within the pit.
"It's been taken..."
Qi Liang's eyes narrowed. If a leaf could be removed, then surely the fruit could be as well.
Beside him, Tu Wanshan pressed his lips into a thin line, recalling his father's warning:
"If you see that ancient tree, never approach it!"
But Venerable He Yu had added another instruction:
"If anyone manages to take anything from the ancient tree, you must seize it for yourself!"
(End of the Chapter)
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