Chapter 105 Mental Damage Compensation
"Hurry up, everyone. Time waits for no one. If you delay any longer, you'll really die."
Xia Feng spoke earnestly, then smiled at Gongsun Ze. "Especially you, Gongsun Ze. Hand over what you took from the treehouse."
"Xia Feng, do you really want to make an enemy of the Black Moon Church?!"
Gongsun Ze suppressed the fury in his throat and shot a dark glance at Cha Naxue. "Let's work together! I have a way to break his formation!"
The woman in the snow-patterned skirt glanced at Gongsun Ze, then tossed the small pouch at her waist into the formation.
"I don't have any spiritual materials on me, just two first-level Spirit Storage Fruits."
Xia Feng caught the cloth pouch embroidered with snowflakes and opened it. Inside were two cherry-sized fruits emitting a milky white glow.
He nodded. "These will do."
Spirit-Injecting Fruits enhance mental power, while Spirit Storage Fruits increase spiritual pressure capacity.
Though not as rare as Spirit-Injecting Fruits, Spirit Storage Fruits were still far from easy to obtain.
"Now, it's your turn." Xia Feng turned his gaze to Gongsun Ze.
"You're robbing me!"
"Robbing?"
Xia Feng considered himself a man of noble character and lofty morals—how could he possibly commit robbery?
He looked at Cha Naxue. "We've known each other since childhood. What would you call what I'm doing?"
"..."
Cha Naxue stared at Gongsun Ze, her expression blank. "He's exercising legitimate self-defense after being bullied by villains, while also collecting reasonable compensation for mental distress and psychological trauma."
Everyone: "?"
"Ah?" Xia Feng was stunned. Shouldn't you have said I'm collecting protection money?
You're making me sound shameless.
"That's right!" Xia Feng spread his hands. "You heard her, Gongsun Ze. I'm a reasonable man. You can keep your clothes—just hand over everything else!"
Truthfully, Xia Feng hadn't planned to take something like the Moon Goddess' Tear-Infused Fruit. But since he'd stumbled upon the silver key, he had no choice but to reluctantly confiscate it.
And according to Number Seventeen's intel, Gongsun Ze had obtained the Summoning Wood. He wasn't sure if the man had brought it with him, but he intended to extort every last valuable item from him.
Chen Xingdao and Cai Kuihua stared at Xia Feng with odd expressions.
Cai Kuihua felt that Xia Feng was both incredibly strong and shameless—a true role model worth emulating.
At first, he'd been somewhat resentful. Sure, Xia Feng was more handsome, more talented, and wealthier than him—but what else did he have?
Why did the Xuanwu Bureau hold him in such high regard?
Now, he understood. Xia Feng was also far more shameless than him—and that was crucial!
He, too, wanted to be like Xia Feng—to cast aside dignity and become a true powerhouse!
This kid's face is thicker than mine. I can't compete. Chen Xingdao also secretly admired him.
The Taoist Master had been certain this mission was doomed to fail. Yet Xia Feng had pulled out the silver rod, slotted it into the table's hole, and completely reversed their fortunes.
This young man never failed to surprise him.
Gongsun Ze glared at Xia Feng, his expression dark. He'd never imagined this damned Disaster Realm would have an extra key.
He looked up at the bark-faced old man silently watching from a distance and snapped, "Mijia Beast! Why didn't you mention this key in your rules?!"
The old man scoffed. "I never said the other keys had no additional functions. If you're stupid, don't blame me."
"!" Gongsun Ze was so angry he laughed but couldn't be bothered to argue further.
After all, once Anubi arrived, this beast would be devoured—it wouldn't live much longer.
But was he really going to let himself be extorted by this Xia Feng?
Gongsun Ze's expression flickered uncertainly. The Summoning Wood only needed half an hour to grow into a Summoning Tree—now, only a few minutes remained.
Once the wood fully transformed, the resulting energy surge would undoubtedly draw Xia Feng's attention.
They must not discover the Summoning Tree in the distance. If they deduce my plans, it'll be disastrous.
Fine. It's no great loss. This Xia fool will die soon enough anyway. Gongsun Ze suppressed his fury. Let the idiot prance around a little longer.
Once Anubis arrived, he'd capture Mu Qingtong and vent his rage properly.
Lowering his gaze to hide the glint in his eyes, Gongsun Ze tossed a necklace into the barrier and said flatly, "Here. Your so-called 'mental damage compensation.'"
Cha Naxue's eyes tracked the arc of the necklace until it landed in Xia Feng's palm—a silver chain adorned with a teardrop-shaped aquamarine, its luster vivid under the dim light.
Xia Feng gave it a cursory glance, found it unremarkable, and pocketed it. "Where's the Spirit-Injecting Fruit? Hurry up. No stalling."
Though he knew Xia Feng's fate was sealed, the extortion still rankled. Gongsun Ze's face darkened as he flung both the fruit and a corpse into the barrier.
"Take it all. Didn't you want Wen Zaiye's body? Here, have it!"
Cai Kuihua caught the reeking corpse with a grimace.
Xia Feng snatched the azure-blue fruit—its resemblance to a blueberry was superficial at best.
So this is the Spirit-Injecting Fruit? He examined it, and a prompt surfaced in his mind:
[Spirit-Injecting Fruit]
Effect: Moderately enhances the consumer's spiritual power.
Boost Range: 2–3 Socs (varies by the consumer's soul condition).
Soc—the unit for measuring spiritual power.
[For context:
Ordinary people & novice spiritualists: 1–5 Socs.
First-tier spiritualists: 10–20 Socs.
Second-tier spiritualists: 20–30 Socs (exceptions exist for those wielding spirit weapons or attire that amplify spiritual power). ]
Xia Feng nodded, satisfied—but he had no intention of consuming it himself.
His gaze slid to the woman in the black dress beside him, lips quirking into a smile.
Mu Qingtong tensed. That look… He's plotting something.
"Why are you staring at—"
"Eat this."
Before she could finish, Xia Feng shoved the fruit into her hands.
Mu Qingtong: "?"
Everyone else: "???"
"You're… giving me the Spirit-Injecting Fruit?" Though her spiritual power was already formidable, she knew its rarity.
Xia Feng's tone was earnest. "You gifted me a Soul Stone last time. Consider this repayment."
Cai Kuihua nearly choked. Soul Stones are market commodities. Spirit-Injecting Fruits are priceless. How is this equivalent?!
"I refuse." Mu Qingtong thrust it back into his hands.
She saw through his pretext. This wasn't gratitude—it was pity.
He knows I wield a spirit weapon, yet offers this? Is he mocking its inadequacy?
Her eyes narrowed. This man… needs a beating. All she wanted was to finish this mission and leave.
Xia Feng's eyelid twitched at her glare. What's her problem now? I didn't even provoke her!
His intention was purely pragmatic: Mu Qingtong's high base stats would maximize the fruit's 2–3 Soc boost.
Although 2 and 3 don't seem much, every bit counted.
Fine. He stashed the fruit away, resolving to force-feed it to her post-mission.
(End of Chapter)