#533 - There are so many things in the world, how can we tell whether they are worth it or not?

Within the Secret Earth, far from the Demon Saint Mountain, lay a small mountain range, only a few hundred meters high. Yet, the surrounding demon energy surged, forming a unique field that subjected anyone entering it to immense gravitational pressure.

At the foot of the mountain range, over a dozen corpses of sea creature beings were scattered haphazardly, with shattered坚冰 scattered across the ground.

Several sea creature beings, covered in wounds, gripped weapons, their gazes fixed coldly on the mountainside.

On the mountain, demon energy condensed into terrifying wind blades, ceaselessly tearing back and forth.

A figure was struggling to climb the mountainside, her long black hair disheveled, blood streaming down her body. Her snow-white dress was stained crimson with blood and riddled with tears.

With only her left arm, she clung to the mountain rocks and soil, climbing step by step, enduring the relentless assault of the demon energy wind blades.

"That damned human woman, what is her background? How can she be so strong!"

Several sea creature beings, looking at the corpses strewn across the ground, blood trickling from their mouths, wore expressions of utter gloom.

"So many of us, yet we couldn't kill her, suffering heavy casualties. What do we do now?"

"Damn it, what else can we do? In our current state, if we force our way up the mountain, we'll probably die up there. Those demon energy wind blades are too terrifying; even that woman can't withstand them, let alone us!"

"But what if she reaches the summit? Wouldn't both Demon Spirit Fruits fall into her hands?"

"Exactly! We can't just stand by and watch. Even if we can't get them, we absolutely can't let a human get them! Those are Demon Spirit Fruits! Fusing with their power can enhance bloodline potential, condense true energy, and increase the intensity of talent growth!"

"Notify the others of our sea race. This time, even if we have to offer the Demon Spirit Fruits with both hands, it's better for them to get them than that human woman!"

After some discussion, the sea creatures made their decision and immediately began transmitting messages using communication jade talismans, while keeping a close watch on the mountain range.

The one-armed woman continued to climb, the summit now not far away, causing the hearts of the sea creature beings to hang in the balance.

At the summit, there was a purplish-red sapling, only a little over a meter tall, with lush foliage. Each leaf was as crystal clear as purplish-red crystal, swaying in the demon energy.

Two apricot-sized fruits grew on the treetop, shimmering with light and covered in natural纹络, like two gems, purplish with a red glow, exuding a mesmerizing fragrance.

On the mountain, demon energy wind blades tore back and forth, leaving wound after wound on the one-armed woman's back, arms, and legs, each strike erupting in a spray of blood.

One side of her veil had fallen away, revealing a blood-soaked face covered in scars.

Her eyes were clear, like ice and snow, yet transparent like crystal, filled with determination, as she climbed step by step toward the summit.

Time passed, little by little.

"Why haven't you arrived yet?"

The sea creature beings were extremely anxious. Seeing that the human woman was only a dozen meters away from the summit, they once again sent messages using jade talismans, urging them on.

"Madwoman, she's a madwoman!"

They were somewhat exasperated. The demon energy wind blades all over the mountain continued to tear at her.

The one-armed human woman had actually forcibly endured the wind blades and persevered until now.

Was there even an inch of her skin and flesh that was still intact?

"Damn it, she's here!"

They were shocked and furious. The human woman had now reached the Demon Spirit Tree at the summit!

She stood up with great effort, allowing the demon energy wind blades to continue tearing at her body, creating splashes of blood.

Her one arm reached out and plucked the two purplish-red fruits.

In that instant, the surging demon energy ceased, receding into the mountain like a tide, and the wind blades vanished as well.

"Quick! Kill her and seize the Demon Spirit Fruits!"

The sea creature beings had not expected that plucking the fruits would cause the demon energy to disappear, and they were immediately overjoyed.

The human woman was too weak at the moment and was definitely no match for them. While the other sea creatures had not yet arrived, it was the perfect opportunity to kill and steal the treasure!

In an instant, they charged toward the summit.

The one-armed woman took a deep breath, drew her ancient sword with a clang, and unleashed hundreds of sword strikes into the void, frost flowers dancing across the sky, and icy energy sweeping through heaven and earth.

A diagram of an ice and snow sword formation condensed in the air, rotating and unleashing boundless icy sword energy toward the sea creature beings.

The chill filled the sky, instantly freezing a hundred miles, and heavy snow fell.

Without stopping, she fled with her severely wounded body.

"Don't let her escape!"

The sea creature beings roared, frantically dealing with the icy sword energy.

At this moment, a large number of sea creatures arrived, witnessing this scene. Their pupils constricted, and without hesitation, they immediately began pursuing the one-armed woman.

The one-armed woman ran ahead, with over a dozen sea creature beings chasing behind her.

Originally, she was stronger and faster.

But now, severely wounded, her body was gradually failing, showing signs of exhaustion, and her speed naturally decreased significantly.

She did not know how far she had fled, and seeing the sea creature beings getting closer and closer, she glanced back, with a trace of regret and a little nostalgia.

She knew that once she was caught, it would mean death.

Just then, the void on the path of the two sea creature beings chasing in the lead suddenly cracked open without warning.

A thin, blood-dripping ancient sword flashed out like lightning.

With a *poof* sound.

The sea creature being in the very front had no time to dodge and was instantly pierced through the forehead.

His eyes widened, his pupils rapidly dilating. He did not even see who killed him before he died.

The sea creature being with roughly the same speed as him suddenly stopped, intensifying his defensive secret techniques and cautiously looking around.

The blood-dripping ancient sword only flashed briefly before disappearing.

He also did not clearly see who had attacked.

At this time, a bone-chilling wisp of coldness swept over, and he suddenly looked up at the sky.

The blood-shimmering sword tip rapidly expanded in his pupils. In his horrified eyes, it pierced in through his mouth with a *poof*, piercing through his entire body.

"Who dares to kill my sea race 天骄!"

In the rear, over a dozen sea race experts witnessed this scene from afar, all filled with fury.

However, the blood-dripping ancient sword disappeared, the void healed, and the attacker never showed himself.

Soul Hunting Hall!

Seeing such a scene, the one-armed woman's heart sank.

She would rather die at the hands of the sea race than fall into the hands of the Soul Hunting Hall.

"Hurry and leave!"

Just as she was preparing to fight to the death against the people of the Soul Hunting Hall, a cold female voice suddenly came from the void beside her.

She was about to draw her sword, but suddenly retracted it.

For some reason, she did not sense any hostility or killing intent from the other party.

In the next moment, she was pulled into the void and disappeared before the eyes of the sea race.

"Where did she go?"

The sea race stopped, their faces ashen.

"Just now, who exactly attacked and assassinated two of our sea race experts?!"

They looked at the two corpses, and thinking of the previous scene, their eyes flickered uncertainly.

"It's somewhat like the people of the Soul Hunting Hall. This kind of assassination method is the Void Assassination Art that only extremely high-status people in the Soul Hunting Hall can cultivate!"

The sea creature beings who had been attacked by the icy sword energy arrived and said in a cold voice.

"What do we do now? That woman has disappeared, and it will be difficult for us to find her踪迹 again!"

"She can't escape. She killed too many of our sea race, and within a few days, she will have a special aura on her body. Someone among us must know the art of tracking. She will be discovered soon, but you have no time to heal. I simply cannot deal with so many people by myself."

A woman in black robes, with a slender figure, helped a blood-covered, one-armed woman out of a rift in space.

"What is your purpose?"

The one-armed woman's voice was somewhat hoarse, but although weak, she still held her sword in front of her, staring coldly at the black-robed woman.

"I just wanted to save you, but it seems I can't. You killed too many sea creatures, and there will be a special aura mark left on your body. Some of them must know the art of tracking, and they will soon discover your踪迹, but you have no time to heal. With me alone, I can't deal with so many people."

The black-robed woman's voice was cold, and her eyes were the same, but there was no trace of killing intent.

"Are you a Soul Maiden?" The one-armed woman said: "Why do you want to save me?"

The black-robed woman did not deny her identity, saying: "You are very important to him. I need him to owe me this favor so that I have a chance to talk to him face to face."

Hearing this, the one-armed woman's delicate body trembled slightly, and the sword in her hand fell to the ground with a clang.

She hurriedly covered her scarred face and turned her back to the Soul Maiden, saying in a low voice: "You're wrong. I'm dispensable to him, just a stranger."

The Soul Maiden did not speak, but quietly looked at her back, the cold expression gradually showing a slight fluctuation, and after a while, she said: "Why do you have to be like this? If he knew, he would definitely feel sorry and sad…"

"Would he?"

The one-armed woman touched her missing right arm, then touched her scarred face, the sentence constantly echoing in her mind. She said to the Soul Maiden: "I'm just an ungrateful person, no one will feel sorry and sad. It's you, the Soul Maiden of the Soul Hunting Hall, your behavior is difficult to understand. You want to talk to him face to face, what is your purpose?"

"I want him to help me escape the Soul Hunting Hall, only he can do it."

"What?" The one-armed woman was stunned for a long time, and said: "You said you want to leave the Soul Hunting Hall? Do you think I would believe you? You must think it's too difficult to kill him, and want to use this method to get close to him, confuse him, and then set up a killing trap to take his life?"

"He is far smarter than you imagine. It’s almost impossible to scheme against him in that way. If I were to meet him, he would certainly eliminate any possibility of being schemed against."

"Then why did you leave the Soul Hunter Hall?"

"Because I have my own will and don't want to be used as a tool. The reasons are too numerous to explain. You should leave quickly. I can help you hold them off for a while. Whether you survive or not depends entirely on yourself."

The one-armed woman turned to look at the Soul Maiden, gazing into her eyes for a long time. Finally, she made a decision, took out a Demon Spirit Fruit, and said, "Help me deliver this fruit to him. Just say it's your sincerity in wanting to talk to him. Don't mention that it came from me."

"Feeling like you've reached a dead end, you ultimately chose to trust me, just for a sliver of hope to deliver this fruit into his hands. Is this why you disregarded everything to pluck the Demon Spirit Fruit? Wanting to help him improve his talent and growth potential, is it worth it for you to do this?"

"In this world, many things happen. What is worth it and what isn't? It's just a matter of willingness."

The one-armed woman's eyes welled up with tears, and she said, "I know you're going to bring up the matter of you saving me, but please don't say that I gave you this fruit. Also, please tell him, I'm sorry, but if I could do it all over again, I would still do the same thing…"

After the one-armed woman finished speaking, she turned and left.

A teardrop fell with the wind the moment she turned.

The Soul Maiden looked at the back of her hand, where it felt a little wet and cool.

It was that woman's tear, and her heart was suddenly touched.