#102 - Wind and Thunder Fruit
The world within the core space of the Southern Mountain Secret Realm was vastly different from what Jun Wuxie had imagined.
He had assumed that the core space would be even more oppressive and dimly lit than the outer regions.
However, he and Qin Keqing were quite surprised upon arriving.
This world was actually picturesque, with verdant mountains and clear waters, fresh air, and a sense of serenity.
The air was saturated with spiritual energy, and a single breath felt invigorating.
On the vast open plains, lush green grass swayed gently, vegetation thrived, and flowers bloomed vibrantly in the breeze.
In the distance, the mountain ranges stretched endlessly, rising and falling in a harmonious arrangement, while rivers meandered like jade ribbons across the land.
They hadn't seen a single person upon entering, but there were footprints nearby.
Clearly, after entering, everyone had moved on without delay, heading straight for the depths.
No one wanted to waste time; they were all seeking opportunities at the first possible moment.
"Let's go!"
Jun Wuxie and Qin Keqing only glanced briefly at this world before immediately heading towards the depths.
He didn't know where the Phoenix Divine Gold was hidden, but he figured it must be deep within this secret realm.
After traveling for several dozen miles, the sound of intense fighting caught their attention.
Following the sound, they arrived in front of a mountain.
Their gazes simultaneously fell upon the summit of the mountain!
There stood a runic tower; though called a tower, it was actually a rhombus-shaped, deep cyan stone pillar, towering on the peak.
The tower wasn't tall, only about three meters high and roughly one meter in diameter, with six beveled edges covered in runes.
Within the patterns of those runes, energy flowed like wandering lightning.
The power of the runes on the tower converged towards the top, where they interwove into a runic array diagram in the air.
The energy released by the diagram cascaded down, enveloping the runic tower and forming a semi-circular barrier of light with a radius of about three meters, centered on the tower.
Near the runic tower, within the area covered by the barrier, grew a small tree, just over a meter tall.
The leaves of the small tree were a pale silvery-gray, bearing several loquat-sized fruits.
Jun Wuxie and Qin Keqing's gazes instantly locked onto those fruits!
A wisp of lightning occasionally flickered across the surface of the fruits, and the overflowing spiritual energy created a breeze, causing the nearby leaves to rustle against each other, creating a dazzling silver light.
"Four-Star Exquisite Spiritual Essence - Wind-Thunder Fruit!"
Qin Keqing's face lit up with joy.
"What, Four-Star Exquisite?"
Jun Wuxie was shocked, not expecting to see a spiritual fruit of this grade so soon after arriving in the core space of the secret realm!
What was the significance of a Four-Star Exquisite item?
Things of this grade were extremely precious treasures, even for mid-tier forces.
Even in the capitals of various countries, the three major merchant guilds didn't have items of this grade; one would have to go to the Southern Domain Ancient City to buy them, and only with spirit coins.
"Yes, the Wind-Thunder Fruit isn't an ordinary Four-Star spiritual fruit; it belongs to a special category of spiritual essence. Its greatest value isn't for breaking through realms, but rather the Wind-Thunder power it contains. It's a rare and sought-after treasure for martial artists who cultivate Wind-Thunder True Energy!"
Qin Keqing patiently explained, giving Jun Wuxie a greater understanding of spiritual essence.
"No wonder they're fighting over it so fiercely!"
Jun Wuxie hid in the shadows, watching the two people engaged in a fierce battle below the mountain where the runic tower stood.
One wore a sword robe of the Great River Sword Sect. With every gesture, Great River Sword Qi surged forth, like a rushing river, with endless sword energy blanketing the sky, creating an astonishing spectacle.
His opponent was a youth wielding an iron fan. With each wave of the fan, fierce winds arose, sending sand and stones flying, and even rocks weighing tens of thousands of pounds were swept up.
Each wave of the iron fan created violent wind blades that collided with the Great River Sword Qi, resulting in a fiercely contested and evenly matched battle.
"That should be a true disciple of the Wind Cloud Sect!"
Qin Keqing said. The Wind Cloud Sect had two branches, the Gale Stream and the Thundercloud Stream, cultivating Gale True Energy and Thundercloud True Energy respectively!
The one currently fighting the Great River Sword Sect's true disciple was clearly cultivating Gale True Energy.
"Let's quietly climb the mountain and pluck those Wind-Thunder Fruits!"
Jun Wuxie pointed to a nearby, lower mountain, which could provide cover to sneak around to the back of the runic tower mountain.
"Okay, if we're discovered, I'll hold them off while you go pick the fruits. These fruits release Wind-Thunder power when harvested, which will impact the harvester's physical body. You're a body cultivator, so your body is stronger, and you'll be able to harvest them faster!"
"Alright!"
After discussing their plan, the two immediately began to move.
The two true disciples from the Wind Cloud Sect and the Great River Sword Sect were engaged in a fierce and evenly matched battle, completely unaware that anyone was hiding nearby.
A moment later.
Using the mountains as cover, Jun Wuxie and Qin Keqing successfully circled around to the back of the runic tower mountain and climbed to the summit.
"Quick!"
Qin Keqing watched the two fighting below, urging him in a low voice.
Jun Wuxie immediately rushed into the runic tower barrier.
In that instant.
He was startled.
The moment he entered the runic tower barrier, he felt two mysterious forces constantly permeating his body.
One force surged towards his dantian, sealing off the entire dantian with incredible force and dominance!
The second force was very gentle, flowing along his meridians to every part of his body, nourishing him and making him feel warm and comfortable all over.
One sealed and suppressed, the other nourished and repaired.
"Wuxie!"
Seeing him stunned inside the barrier, Qin Keqing couldn't help but urge him again.
Jun Wuxie came back to his senses, rushed to the Wind-Thunder Tree, and began to pick the fruits.
At this moment, the two who were fighting below the mountain finally noticed and simultaneously looked towards the summit.
Their pupils constricted violently, and they both stopped fighting.
"How dare you try to steal from us right under our noses! You truly have a death wish!"
The Wind Cloud Sect disciple roared, stomping his foot on the ground, his entire being shooting towards the summit like an arrow.
"So it's you!"
The Great River Sword Sect's true disciple also rushed to the summit, his eyes filled with uncertainty as he looked at Qin Keqing and Jun Wuxie.
"Miss Qin, this is the Southern Mountain Secret Realm, not the outside world. No one will know what happens here!" The Great River Sword Sect's true disciple sneered, filled with murderous intent, and said, "Miss Qin, if you leave quickly, I won't fight you. I'll only kill Jun Wuxie!"
"Noisy!"
Qin Keqing didn't want to waste words. A flash of light appeared in her hand, and a pair of short blades materialized.
Almost simultaneously, her body disappeared from its original position, leaving behind an X-shaped afterimage as she attacked the Great River Sword Sect and Wind Cloud Sect's true disciples.
Two metallic ringing sounds echoed.
The two blocked Qin Keqing's attacks with their sword and iron fan respectively, but were shaken back several steps, a look of shock appearing on their faces.
"Miss Qin, since you insist on seeking death, today we'll kill you first and then kill that Jun brat!"
The Great River Sword Sect's true disciple sneered repeatedly, as the Great River True Energy within his body surged forth, transforming into endless sword energy, rushing forward like a river.
At the same time, the Wind Cloud Sect's true disciple vigorously waved his iron fan at Qin Keqing several times.
The gale howled, incomparably violent.
The sweeping gale transformed into giant blades, cutting through the sky as they slashed towards her!
Qin Keqing's figure flashed, leaving behind countless afterimages as she wielded her twin blades, countering the sword energy and wind blades. The two sides engaged in a fierce battle.
Inside the barrier.
Jun Wuxie focused on the situation outside while picking the Wind-Thunder Fruits.
These fruits were not easy to harvest.
There were a total of three fruits, and he had only managed to pick one so far!
When harvesting, the Wind-Thunder Fruit would release Wind-Thunder power.
The Wind power could be dealt with, but the Thunder power would instantly permeate his body, causing a brief paralysis, greatly slowing down the speed of harvesting.
"Hahaha! I didn't expect there to be Wind-Thunder Fruits here. It seems that the heavens favor me, Si Nan!"
A very smug laugh came from afar, and two figures instantly landed on this mountain.
"Burning Blade Sect, Si Nan!"
The Great River Sword Sect and Wind Cloud Sect's true disciples felt their hearts sink.
The ownership of the Wind-Thunder Fruit now had another formidable competitor!
Inside the barrier, Jun Wuxie, who was harvesting the fruits, had a cold glint in his eyes.
He didn't expect Si Nan to arrive at this time.
Standing beside Si Nan was Mu Yang Qingya, who was currently looking down at him with a condescending gaze.
