In a certain marketplace, three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators sat together, sipping tea and discussing the Dao. One of them suddenly said, "The contest for the Jade Dew Fruit is about to begin. Are you both coming?"
"Of course!"
The other two late-stage Qi Refining cultivators responded eagerly. After all, the reason they'd gathered here was precisely to vie for the Jade Dew Fruit together.
All three of them were at the peak of the Qi Refining stage, and breaking through to Foundation Establishnt was their top priority. The best-case scenario for such a breakthrough would be obtaining a Foundation Establishnt Pill.
Attempting to break through without it carried a very high risk of failure. Unless one was a true prodigy, few Qi Refining cultivators dared attempt it directly—failure could an utter ruin, even death or soul annihilation.
But Foundation Establishnt Pills were extrely rare. Even though the three of them belonged to major sects, the contribution points required to exchange for a pill were simply too high. They would need to grind out sect missions day and night, and even then, they might not earn enough before missing their optimal breakthrough window.
Compared to loose cultivators, having even one path to obtain a Foundation Establishnt Pill was already a great advantage—but disciples of major sects had higher aspirations.
Unless they had no other option, no one with true ambition would willingly waste all their ti grinding tasks and sacrifice their cultivation progress. That was unacceptable for any disciple with real drive.
Now, however, a new opportunity had appeared—one that could yield the primary ingredient of a Foundation Establishnt Pill. Naturally, they would prioritize seizing the Jade Dew Fruit. Once they had it, they could add a few auxiliary ingredients and find an alchemist to refine the pill themselves.
This route was far less costly than trading sect contribution points for a finished pill. Moreover, the Jade Dew Fruit in question was a Tier 2 high-grade material. Pills refined with such a high-quality fruit would be at least of mid-grade quality, and if fortune smiled upon them, perhaps even high-grade.
That was why even so of the sect's most talented disciples would give up the low- to mid-grade pills offered by their sects to fight for a Tier 2 high-grade Jade Dew Fruit. With it, they could produce high-grade Foundation Establishnt Pills that greatly increased their chances of success.
Due to the fruit's value, competition was fierce. Many late-stage Qi Refining cultivators chose to form alliances to improve their odds.
A single batch of Foundation Establishnt Pills could yield two to three pills. If the alchemist was especially skilled, they might even produce four. So if the group worked together to snatch a Jade Dew Fruit and found a good alchemist, everyone would get a pill.
"Let's head out, then."
After settling their plan to act together, the three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators each mounted their swords and flew off toward their target.
They stopped when they were still over ten miles from the destination. There were still a few days left until the fruit ripened, so they planned to wait nearby.
And they weren't the only ones with that idea. Sweeping their senses around, they detected nurous hidden presences in the vicinity—others who had also co to vie for the Jade Dew Fruit.
Nearly all of them were either at the ninth level of Qi Refining or at the peak of the stage. So had particularly deep and restrained auras, clearly not ordinary cultivators—likely elite disciples from major sects.
But everyone was concealing their identities. Unless they recognized each other personally, it would be nearly impossible to tell who was who.
After all, they were here to steal from the Qinglu Sect, a Nascent Soul-level sect. Even though the sect had fallen into decline, it still retained so prestige. To avoid trouble, everyone disguised themselves as rogue cultivators.
This way, even if conflicts broke out, it wouldn't be a direct slap in the face between major sects.
"I wonder how many Jade Dew Fruits there will be this ti," Zheng Shen mused aloud to the other two. If there were more fruits, competition would ease sowhat. But if the yield was low, things could get ugly.
The fruit ripened only once every five years—miss it, and you'd have to wait another five. And how many five-year windows did they have left?
"Doesn't matter. We fight for it. Anyone who gets in the way dies," said one of the others, exuding killing intent.
He was the most desperate of the three, being older and running out of ti to reach Foundation Establishnt.
"Besides, we're all masked. No need to worry about offending so sect genius," the third added, sweeping his gaze over the crowd.
He spotted a vaguely familiar figure—likely a prodigy from his own sect—but who cared about that now? In the face of such a rare opportunity, no one would give way. If anyone dared block his path, he'd kill them without hesitation.
"Exactly. When the ti cos—" Zheng Shen began to say sothing encouraging, but suddenly his gaze shifted. So did those of the other two.
In fact, nearly everyone nearby was now staring off into the distance—at two figures emanating Foundation Establishnt-level auras.
The mont the Foundation Establishnt cultivators appeared, the faces of the Qi Refining cultivators lit up with relief. None of them alone had the power to breach the resource site's defenses—it would take Foundation Establishnt cultivators to lead the charge. The rest would follow and seize any fruits that got left behind.
To a Qi Refining cultivator, the Jade Dew Fruit was a priceless treasure. But to a Foundation Establishnt cultivator, it was rely a valuable Tier 2 material.
Still, valuable enough to make the trip worthwhile. A high-grade Foundation Establishnt Pill might be useless to them, but it would be great for their juniors—or fetch a handso price at auction.
"Brother Li, I heard sothing big happened recently at the Qinglu Sect," said one of the Foundation Establishnt cultivators, a gaunt man, as they gazed at the low mountain range ahead.
"It's true. Their inner sect trial was ambushed by an unknown force, and many top disciples were lost," nodded the other Foundation Establishnt cultivator, surnad Li. News like that couldn't be kept under wraps and had already spread far and wide.
"Looks like the Qinglu Sect is clearly on the decline. Maybe this ti, we take all the Jade Dew Fruit," the gaunt cultivator said, licking his lips.
In the past, they might have left a few for the sect out of respect. But now that the sect was clearly faltering, wasn't this the perfect chance to go further? A single Tier 2 high-grade Jade Dew Fruit wasn't a small prize.
"A starved cal is still bigger than a horse. The Qinglu Sect may be weakening, but it's still a Nascent Soul sect at its core…" Li began to reply, clearly hesitant.
But then his gaze turned again—two more Foundation Establishnt auras were approaching from afar.
"What's going on?"
The gaunt cultivator frowned. Normally, once Foundation Establishnt cultivators sensed others of their level present, they would leave. The fruit wasn't worth risking a fight between Foundation Establishnt cultivators.
"Greetings, fellow Daoists!"
The two newcors clasped their hands politely and offered an explanation. "We hold a grudge against the Qinglu Sect. We're only here to kill, not to compete for the Jade Dew Fruit."
But instead of easing tensions, their words put Li and the gaunt cultivator even more on edge. Robbing the sect of so spiritual herbs was one thing. The sect was weak enough now that it might not retaliate.
But openly killing Qinglu Sect disciples? That crossed a line.
And their target—a dying old Foundation Establishnt cultivator and so talentless Qi Refining disciples—was hardly a aningful blow. Killing such people was a laughable form of revenge.
If they truly wanted to strike at the sect, they'd target its rising stars—just like that unknown faction that had ambushed the inner sect trial. That would be real payback.
"That's not right. Could it be that there are important mbers of the Qinglu Sect at this resource point?" Suddenly, the Foundation Establishnt cultivator with the Li surna had a thought. He didn't believe that two Foundation Establishnt cultivators would co all the way here without a reason. They must have received so sort of information.
Thinking of this, the Li surnad cultivator began to reconsider his involvent. If they were truly targeting important mbers of the Qinglu Sect, the Sect would undoubtedly retaliate.
Although they, as Foundation Establishnt cultivators, had disguised their appearances every ti they ca to rob, this was only for show. They were aware that the Qinglu Sect, in its current state, was too busy to deal with them.
But if they truly angered the Qinglu Sect, it wouldn't be hard for them to trace it back to them. While they had backing from their own sect, unless they hid in their sect for the rest of their lives, facing the pursuit of a Nascent Soul cultivator would still make them restless.
For a few Yuluo Fruits, it wasn't worth taking such a huge risk. With this thought in mind, the Li surnad cultivator cupped his hands and said, "In that case, I shall not disturb you any further." With that, he turned and left.
However, the thin Foundation Establishnt cultivator who had co with him chose to stay. "Fellow Daoists, you're really not taking the Yuluo Fruits? Are you serious?"
"Of course!"
The newly arrived Foundation Establishnt cultivators nodded. Their mission was to kill the true disciple of the Qinglu Sect at the resource point, and the employer had offered a very generous reward. Naturally, they wouldn't let the mission fail just for a few Yuluo Fruits. They would never be so foolish as to "pick sesa seeds and lose waterlons."
Furthermore, by giving up the Yuluo Fruits, they would gain the help of a Foundation Establishnt cultivator. That seed like a good deal. It was just that one of them had backed out—truly cowardly.
"Good!"
Hearing this, the thin Foundation Establishnt cultivator nodded. Although he didn't fully trust their words, the declaration was enough. He would find a way to get the Yuluo Fruits later.
At the resource point.
Wei Yuancai felt the aura outside the formation, his face serious. He had encountered this kind of situation before and had already prepared to offer up a few Yuluo Fruits to avert disaster.
In a few days, the sect's deacon would arrive to collect the Yuluo Fruits. By then, it would be two against three, and the intruders wouldn't dare to be too excessive.
"Master Gu."
Wei Yuancai arrived at the spiritual field covered by the formation and gently touched it.
"What's the matter?"
After a mont, Gu Mo's figure appeared.
"Master Gu, how many Yuluo Fruits should we give to deal with those people?" As the highest-ranking person at the resource point, Gu Mo needed to give approval regarding the distribution of the Yuluo Fruits.
"No need, I will handle it."
Gu Mo waved his hand and then glanced outside the resource point. Soon, he sensed three Foundation Establishnt auras.
"Did He Shaogang send only this many people?"
Sensing the three Foundation Establishnt cultivators from afar, Gu Mo couldn't help but shake his head. He knew very well that after He Shaogang's previous failure in attempting to ambush him, the opponent wouldn't give up so easily.
The best opportunity for another attack would be when the Yuluo Fruits ripened and the resource point was surrounded.
But last ti, He Shaogang had sent a mid-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivator along with two early-stage cultivators. This ti, however, there were only three early-stage cultivators.
"Could there be another plan?" Gu Mo thought to himself. He didn't believe He Shaogang had made such a simple arrangent, but no matter what He Shaogang had planned, Gu Mo was unafraid.
"Sigh."
Hearing Gu Mo's words, Wei Yuancai couldn't help but show a helpless expression. He understood that a talented true disciple like Gu Mo would never voluntarily offer up the Yuluo Fruits.
Back in the day, he himself had been the sa. When he first learned that soone was targeting the resource point, he had been furious, wishing to slay all the intruders. But soon, Wei Yuancai was harshly proven wrong by reality. In the end, he had no choice but to offer up the Yuluo Fruits, hoping that the intruders would show rcy and leave so behind.
"Hope this Gu Mo won't be too harshly struck," Wei Yuancai thought quietly.
Facing overwhelming power, choosing to compromise was the best course of action. Stubbornly resisting would only lead to injury.
"The sect sent this true disciple to this resource point; they probably want him to temper his mindset," Wei Yuancai thought, finally understanding why the sect had sent a true disciple here.
Ignoring the sighing Wei Yuancai, the old Foundation Establishnt cultivator who had already lost his ambition, Gu Mo now focused on what He Shaogang would do next.
As ti passed, and the date for the Yuluo Fruits to ripen grew closer, Gu Mo finally saw He Shaogang's hidden backup. The three Foundation Establishnt cultivators from before had turned into five.
Two more Foundation Establishnt cultivators had arrived during this ti, one of them being mid-stage. Seeing this, Gu Mo nodded in satisfaction. Now, this was more like it.
Otherwise, if there had only been three early-stage cultivators, the fight would have been too boring. Now, with four early-stage and one mid-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivator, it would justify Gu Mo's year-long preparation for the plant-based defense.
"It's over!"
In contrast to Gu Mo's calmness, Wei Yuancai looked ashen. He knew that with so many strong cultivators arriving, the Yuluo Fruits would likely not be spared.
And there was even worse news. The sect's deacon, who was supposed to collect the Yuluo Fruits, had been attacked by unknown cultivators on the way and would not arrive on ti.
This ant that Wei Yuancai, an early-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivator, would have to face five Foundation Establishnt cultivators, including one mid-stage.
Just thinking about it felt hopeless.
"Sigh!!"
Finally, Wei Yuancai sighed deeply. When the ti ca, he would try to find a way to escape with Gu Mo. This resource point was clearly beyond saving.
"Slls good!"
One day, an enticing fruit fragrance wafted from the low mountain peaks and reached the greedy gazes of those outside. Everyone knew that their target, the Yuluo Fruits, had ripened.
But no one acted imdiately. Instead, they looked toward the five Foundation Establishnt cultivators. With five of them, the Qi Refining cultivators cursed inwardly. This ant that the Yuluo Fruits left for them would be few, and a brutal battle for the fruits was inevitable.
However, the benefit of having five Foundation Establishnt cultivators leading the charge was that the plunder should go smoothly.
(Show your support and read more chapters on my Patreon: [email protected]/psychopet. Thank you for your support!)
Reviews
All reviews (0)