Chapter 249: Chapter 248: Learning of a Conspiracy
’This is Top-Grade Monkey Wine! And it seems to be Jade Spirit Wine, brewed from the fruits of a Thousand-year-old Jade Spirit Tree!’
Qin Feng swallowed.
A rich, fragrant aroma of wine filled the stronghold. Many of the apes had drowsy, drunken eyes as a dense Spiritual Qi washed over their bodies. Even as they snored in their drunken slumber, their strength was unknowingly increasing.
This was genuine Spirit Wine!
It possessed immense nourishing effects: it could strengthen the foundation and nourish the essence, bolster True Essence, and even nurture the soul.
This was hugely beneficial to both the Alien Races and Martial Artists alike.
A fiery glint flashed in Qin Feng’s eyes. ’These green-furred monkeys are outrageously wealthy.’
’To waste such Spirit Wine like this!’
Filled with envy, Qin Feng took advantage of the drunken ape guards to slip inside. The stronghold was massive, built in the center of the forest with arrow towers, watchtowers, and several crude Mu Mansions. In the center of the stronghold stood a giant Spirit Tree, where a group of apes were feasting on meat and guzzling wine.
After carefully making his way to the back of the stronghold, Qin Feng overheard some Cyan Wood Apes talking. It seemed the Green Wood King was hosting a banquet for the kings of other ape tribes, along with various elites from the Ape Race.
The tall, cyan-green giant ape sitting imposingly in the center was the Cyan Wood Ape King.
Flanking him were the Red Fire Ape King, the Mountain Ape King, the Iron-Armed Ape King, the Silver-backed Ape King, the Golden-haired Ape, the Strong Dragon Ape King, the Fighting Golden Ape King, and other Kings.
Below them were numerous elites of the Ape Race, each one silently absorbed in enjoying Spirit Fruits.
Qin Feng’s eyesight was so sharp he could even see many golden Jade Spirit Fruits on the low tables before the apes. The fragrance from jar after jar of Top-Grade Spirit Wine filled the air, and the Spiritual Qi was so dense it materialized into peculiar Spirit Flowers.
As many of the powerful apes ate and drank, their auras grew stronger without them even realizing it.
’Their strength is improving by leaps and bounds!’
Qin Feng cursed to himself as he watched. ’I wish I could charge in and slaughter all these fat monkeys right now.’
The sounds of the Ape Kings eating and drinking boisterously carried over from the distance.
After just one distant glance, Qin Feng ducked back into hiding. The weakest of these old apes was a Tier Two Beast King.
’They’re too powerful!’
’A Tier Two Beast King is completely on par with a cultivator in the Sea of Reincarnation Realm!’
Beings at this level had mastered a sliver of Space Power, making them terrifyingly strong. If these old apes hadn’t been completely oblivious to an infiltrator in their midst, Qin Feng was certain he would have already been discovered by their senses.
Qin Feng quickly withdrew, heading for the mountains behind the stronghold. ’This place is too terrifying!’
Before leaving, Qin Feng took one last, silent glance at the giant Jade Spirit Tree in the center of the stronghold.
It was an unbelievable Jade Spirit Tree.
It was immeasurably thick and towered into the heavens. Its roots were as massive as Qiu Longs, its sturdy trunk resembled the body of a True Dragon, and its umbrella-like canopy covered a vast area.
Perfectly round fruits grew on its branches, flickering with wisps of Spiritual Light. Even from hundreds of yards away, he could still smell its subtle, sweet fragrance.
Just by taking a small breath of it, Qin Feng had the illusion that his True Qi was surging violently.
’A Ten-thousand-year-old Jade Spirit Tree!’
Qin Feng was shaken to the core. He desperately suppressed the turmoil in his heart, lest he leak even a hint of his presence.
A hundred-year-old Jade Spirit Tree was a Half-Spirit Wood. A thousand-year-old one was a true Yellow-Tier Spirit Wood. If it surpassed six thousand years, it became a Xuan-Tier Spirit Wood, and one that reached ten thousand years was an Earth-Tier Spirit Wood.
The Spirit Wood before him was so massive and flourishing, and crucially, the Spirit Fruits on its branches had already turned a milky white.
According to Qin Feng’s knowledge, the fruit of a hundred-year-old Jade Spirit Tree was white. A thousand-year-old tree produced red fruit, and a tree over six thousand years old produced light-gold fruit.
Only the fruit of a Jade Spirit Tree over ten thousand years old was milky white.
’This Jade Spirit Tree is definitely more than ten thousand years old.’
’I have to take it with me! I absolutely must take it!’
Qin Feng roared internally.
Forcibly suppressing his greed, Qin Feng turned away. He didn’t dare look any longer, afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from revealing a hint of hostility and attracting the attention of the terrifying Ape Kings drinking beneath the tree.
That would be extremely dangerous. Tier Two Beast Kings possessed extraordinary abilities, and their intuition was exceptionally sharp. A single glance might be enough to draw their attention.
In the mountains behind the stronghold, after navigating a narrow, winding path, Qin Feng was surprised to see a line of Cyan Wood Apes carrying jars of Spirit Wine toward the main camp.
In the middle of the path, a tall ape bellowed, "Hurry up, you clumsy fools! If the Kings can’t drink their fill, I’ll have your heads!"
"Yes, Chieftain!"
Several cyan-furred, hairy-faced apes wearing large tunics and carrying Battle Banners on their backs nodded repeatedly.
"Be careful not to break any, or the King will have your hides!"
Hiding behind some boulders, Qin Feng watched the monkeys carry out jar after jar of Spirit Wine from the rear of the mountain and thought to himself.
’Could it be that these monkeys brew their wine here in the back of the mountains?’
Qin Feng’s eyes darted about as a plan began to form.
’I should do something about this,’ Qin Feng thought.
Just as Qin Feng was about to sneak toward the brewing site, a conversation between several apes caught his attention. He froze and shrank back behind the boulders.
"Chieftain, isn’t our Cyan Forest Banquet held only once every hundred years? This one seems to be a few years early!"
"What do you know? An Elder from the Ape God Temple has shown us great favor and specifically granted this Cyan Forest Banquet!"
"But Chieftain, why is it early? Our tribe’s Cyan Forest Banquet has a tradition thousands of years old. It’s always been once a century, and we always invite the Ape Kings and the elites of every clan. This time feels different. Besides, we even brought out a jar of the Ten Thousand Years Jade Spirit Brew! That’s the signature Spirit Wine of our Cyan Wood Tribe!"
"I heard just one small sip can boost your strength immensely, equal to several years of hard cultivation!"
"It’s such a treasure! Even though our Cyan Wood Clan is in charge of brewing on the Holy Mountain, we only manage to produce a jar or two every few hundred years. Why would we be willing to bring one out now?"
The Old Ape chided, "You little whelps! Don’t ask about things you’re not supposed to know!"
One of the apes was particularly quick-witted. He bowed obsequiously and said, "Chieftain, there are no outsiders here. Please, just tell us! I heard the reason the Cyan Forest Banquet was held early is because of some major clan business!"
"Is our Ape Race going to war with someone?"
"Enough. Stop prying. The King has given strict orders that not a word of this gets out!" the Old Ape’s voice was low, and his gaze swept over them, sharp and bright.
Seeing the nervous looks on the young apes’ faces, the Old Ape added reassuringly.
"However, you don’t need to worry. This matter doesn’t concern you. It’s mainly for the clan elites. They have a major battle coming up against some Two-legged Sheep!"
"This Cyan Forest Banquet is being held for them, to help these elites increase their strength so they can overwhelm the other races and bring glory to our Ape Race!"
"Alright, no more questions. You’d better take what you heard today to your graves. Otherwise, Laozi won’t spare you little whelps!"
After a few more reprimands, the apes departed.
A moment later, Qin Feng emerged from behind the Stone Mountain.
His eyes flickered as he watched the apes’ retreating figures. ’A major battle... what battle?’ he mused. ’Are these Barbaric Alien Races preparing for war with All Stars Academy?’
’No, that’s not right. After All Stars Academy established the Three Circles, its many Arrays were linked to form a Ring Stronghold. Plus, with experts from the Star Sect permanently stationed in the Barbaric Wilderness, these Alien Race powerhouses shouldn’t stand a chance!’
Suddenly, a thought struck him, and Qin Feng was shocked. ’Could they be targeting the Hidden Dragon Points Competition?’
