Chapter 113: The Spirit Fruit Ripens
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 Establishment was their top priority. The best-case scenario for such a breakthrough would be obtaining a Foundation Establishment 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 mean utter ruin, even death or soul annihilation.
But Foundation Establishment Pills were extremely 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 Establishment 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 time 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 Establishment 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 some 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 Establishment 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 Establishment 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 numerous hidden presences in the vicinity—others who had also come 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. Some 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 some 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 time," Zheng Shen mused aloud to the other two. If there were more fruits, competition would ease somewhat. 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 time to reach Foundation Establishment.
"Besides, we're all masked. No need to worry about offending some 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 time comes—" Zheng Shen began to say something 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 Establishment-level auras.
The moment the Foundation Establishment 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 Establishment 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 Establishment cultivator, it was merely a valuable Tier 2 material.
Still, valuable enough to make the trip worthwhile. A high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill might be useless to them, but it would be great for their juniors—or fetch a handsome price at auction.
"Brother Li, I heard something big happened recently at the Qinglu Sect," said one of the Foundation Establishment 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 Establishment cultivator, surnamed 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 time, 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 camel 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 Establishment auras were approaching from afar.
"What's going on?"
The gaunt cultivator frowned. Normally, once Foundation Establishment cultivators sensed others of their level present, they would leave. The fruit wasn't worth risking a fight between Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Greetings, fellow Daoists!"
The two newcomers 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 some 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 Establishment cultivator and some talentless Qi Refining disciples—was hardly a meaningful 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 members of the Qinglu Sect at this resource point?" Suddenly, the Foundation Establishment cultivator with the Li surname had a thought. He didn't believe that two Foundation Establishment cultivators would come all the way here without a reason. They must have received some sort of information.
Thinking of this, the Li surnamed cultivator began to reconsider his involvement. If they were truly targeting important members of the Qinglu Sect, the Sect would undoubtedly retaliate.
Although they, as Foundation Establishment cultivators, had disguised their appearances every time they came 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 surnamed 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 Establishment cultivator who had come with him chose to stay. "Fellow Daoists, you're really not taking the Yuluo Fruits? Are you serious?"
"Of course!"
The newly arrived Foundation Establishment 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 sesame seeds and lose watermelons."
Furthermore, by giving up the Yuluo Fruits, they would gain the help of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. That seemed like a good deal. It was just that one of them had backed out—truly cowardly.
"Good!"
Hearing this, the thin Foundation Establishment 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 moment, 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 Establishment auras.
"Did He Shaogang send only this many people?"
Sensing the three Foundation Establishment 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 time, He Shaogang had sent a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator along with two early-stage cultivators. This time, 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 arrangement, 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 same. When he first learned that someone 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 mercy and leave some 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 Establishment cultivator who had already lost his ambition, Gu Mo now focused on what He Shaogang would do next.
As time passed, and the date for the Yuluo Fruits to ripen grew closer, Gu Mo finally saw He Shaogang's hidden backup. The three Foundation Establishment cultivators from before had turned into five.
Two more Foundation Establishment cultivators had arrived during this time, 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 Establishment 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 time.
This meant that Wei Yuancai, an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, would have to face five Foundation Establishment cultivators, including one mid-stage.
Just thinking about it felt hopeless.
"Sigh!!"
Finally, Wei Yuancai sighed deeply. When the time came, he would try to find a way to escape with Gu Mo. This resource point was clearly beyond saving.
"Smells 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 immediately. Instead, they looked toward the five Foundation Establishment cultivators. With five of them, the Qi Refining cultivators cursed inwardly. This meant 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 Establishment cultivators leading the charge was that the plunder should go smoothly.
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