Chapter 76: Cue to Ripening
"It doesn’t matter." Yu Nianzhen said.
He sat on the rock, and Jiang Yue sat across from him.
"I am interested to know what wine he gave you."
Jiang Yue moved a chess piece and his brow furrowed in concentration.
However, he wasn’t thinking about the game.
He was thinking about the wine and the black-clothed young man.
No matter how he thought about it, the black-clothed young man was too unusual.
If anyone else had experienced the same thing as Yu Nianzhen, Jiang Yue would not believe them.
He would think the other was trying to shirk responsibility for killing so many people.
However, Jiang Yue believed Yu Nianzhen completely.
Since the other had told him about the black-clothed youth, Jiang Yue believed that such a person really existed.
"I got the feeling that he wasn’t bad. The wine shouldn’t have any bad effects."
"Let’s hope so."
After saying that, a happy smile appeared on Jiang Yue’s lips.
"You can also break through to the qi transformation realm as soon as we leave the thousand herbs garden."
"En."
Although Yu Nianzhen agreed with Jiang Yue, he seemed a little distracted.
"What’s up?"
"I don’t think I should break through in the sect."
After the first time, Yu Nianzhen knew that he would experience a thunder calamity when breaking through.
Five years ago, his master solved the matter by closing the mountain and lying to the sect.
However, that kind of solution would not work a second time.
"That makes sense, but where can we go?"
Jiang Yue was also worried about the matter.
When he was questioned five years ago, the sect had believed his words because his cultivation was low, and he was new to the sect.
If it was discovered that he had lied, things would turn ugly.
Jiang Yue didn’t want things to turn bad unless there were no other options.
"Ideally, we can find a remote island." Yu Nianzhen said, but a frown marred his face.
A remote island meant they would be far away from land and the eyes of powerful cultivators.
However, a remote island was also dangerous.
If the island was not protected by a powerful array, they would be attacked by powerful sea beasts.
Other than sea beasts, some cultivators liked to cultivate on islands.
If one of them saw the tribulation lightning and decided to investigate, it could be dangerous for them.
Jiang Yue also thought this, and he also frowned.
His mind considered countless possibilities, and he eventually arrived at one.
"We should go to the border guard arena."
Yu Nianzhen raised his eyebrow in question, and Jiang Yue continued.
"Although I didn’t go to the border guard arena in the last five years, I have learned a little more about the border guard faction."
He was about to explain what he knew when a fragrance invaded his nose.
The fragrance was like blood.
However, the smell of blood was mixed with a herbal and flowery scent.
Overall, the scent was pleasant, and he couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
"This..."
Jiang Yue was surprised.
When the scent entered his body, it flowed through his meridians and sunk into his flesh.
Soon after, a low cracking sound was heard from within his body.
"The dragon-scaled fruit is about to ripen."
Yu Nianzhen stood up and looked at the fruit.
At first, the fruit was the size of an apple.
Now that it was about to mature, its size had doubled, and it had begun to release a fragrance.
"Be careful."
As soon as the fruit began to release the fragrance, the surrounding cultivators became more alert.
Even though they were afraid of Yu Nianzhen, the allure of the dragon-scaled fruit was too much.
Before, most of them weren’t motivated enough to fight.
After all, even if they killed the person who was guarding the fruit, they couldn’t pick the fruit right away.
If that was the case, it was best to wait until the fruit was ripe before doing their best.
When Jiang Yue was about to respond to Yu Nianzhen, he felt a chill on his neck.
In the blink of an eye, a whip appeared in his hand, but Yu Nianzhen was faster.
He took a step and moved beside Jiang Yue.
A sword had already appeared in his hand, and he swung it lightly.
Soon after, a loud clang was heard, and a needle fell to the ground.
The needle was ten centimetres long and was slightly thicker than a strand of hair.
"Tang clan?" Yu Nianzhen wondered when he saw the needle.
Although it was not exclusive, each of the sixteen regions specialised in certain cultivation methods.
In the Sea Cloud region, most cultivators awakened origin tools that were especially suitable for water-related techniques.
As for the ghost valley, most cultivators cultivated ghosts.
The ice palace preferred ice-related techniques, and the beast region used beasts to fight or beast transformation techniques.
In the same vein, most cultivators in the region ruled by the Tang clan cultivated hidden weapons.
If Yu Nianzhen was not mistaken, the needle that attacked them was one of the most common hidden weapons of the Tang clan.
"Looks like we can’t take the fruit easily." Jiang Yue said.
However, there was no worry or fear in his voice.
If Yu Nianzhen had not broken through to the ninth level, Jiang Yue would have been a little worried.
Now that he had broken through, there was no need for worry.
All they needed to do was remove the obstacles and obtain the dragon-scaled fruit.
"It should ripen in less than an incense stick."
Yu Nianzhen looked around and counted thirty people.
Initially, everyone was scattered in the other three banks.
However, as soon as the fruit began to release fragrance, they circled to the eastern bank.
"Fellow Taoists, why don’t we kill them and then share the spoils?" Someone shouted.
"How to share the spoils? There is only one dragon-scaled fruit." Someone else shouted.
"Have you forgotten, there is a medicine field at the bottom of the lake."
"Is there a dragon-scaled fruit at the bottom of the lake?"
The atmosphere went silent for a moment.
Indeed, there was no dragon-scaled fruit at the bottom of the lake.
Even if they banded together to eliminate Yu Nianzhen and Jiang Yue, only one person would get the dragon-scaled fruit.
However, they were all from different regions and forces.
Even if they were from the same region, no one wanted to sacrifice for others.
"How about this, whoever takes his head will take the dragon-scaled fruit but will not have a share of the medicine field." The person pointed at Yu Nianzhen while he spoke.
When they heard this, the others fell into another silence.
Although they wanted the dragon-scaled fruit, there were other ways to make up for its effects.
Also, the herbs at the bottom of the lake may not be less valuable than the dragon-scaled fruit.
At this time, the person saw that the gathered cultivators were quite moved, and he added oil to the fire.
"This person is too arrogant. No matter what, he can’t be the one to get the dragon-scaled fruit." He once again pointed at Yu Nianzhen in disdain.
When Jiang Yue heard the conversations, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
"In our previous life, no one in the Yu group dared to go against you. It seems that your luck has turned, and the masses are finally rising to crusade against you."
Yu Nianzhen smiled when he heard Jiang Yue’s teasing.
However, his face soon became expressionless.
"Don’t waste my time, hurry up and come." Yu Nianzhen shouted.
The dragon-scaled fruit was about to mature, and he didn’t want to be fighting when it did.
Although the picking procedures weren’t too particular, the fruit needed to be picked within five breaths after it ripened.
If it wasn’t properly stored within that time, it would begin to lose its medicinal effect with every breath.
After three hundred breaths, the fruit’s effect would be halved.
At that point, the effect of the dragon-scaled body tempering pills refined from the fruit would be equal to ordinary body tempering pills.
"You are too arrogant." Someone shouted when they heard Yu Nianzhen’s words.
However, they also had the same knowledge that Yu Nianzhen did.
They knew it was best to settle the fight before the fruit matured.
Otherwise, the dragon-scaled fruit would go to waste.
"Fellow Taoists, are we in agreement? Whoever takes his head will take the fruit."
"I will pass." A voice said.
Soon after, a black shadow flashed away. In another moment, six needles flew towards Jiang Yue and Yu Nianzhen.
This time, Jiang Yue was ready.
He swung his arm, and a whip rushed to block the needles.
However, the needles this time were unlike the previous one.
When they met Jiang Yue’s whip, they radiated a silver light and slightly dived to escape the whip.
Because of their size, the needles were extremely fast and flexible.
By the time he shook his arm to manoeuvre the whip again, the needles had already arrived in front of Jiang Yue.
When he saw that he couldn’t block, he flew backwards.
At the same time, Yu Nianzhen swung his sword, and watery ripples appeared in the air.
