C15 Spirit Fruit
The Deathabyss was fraught with peril, teeming with spirit beasts at every turn.
True to its ominous name, it was a land of death.
No one who ventured here stood a chance of returning alive.
Yet, as with all places of danger, there were opportunities for rare encounters.
Within this chasm, countless precious herbs sprouted.
But these herbs were always under the watchful eye of guardian beasts. The more valuable the herb, the more likely a powerful spirit beast stood vigil.
These guardians were relentless, refusing to let any outsider encroach upon their territory.
With Jiang Xiaoxiao's assistance, Ye Han managed to sit up slowly, his blood continuing to seep out, staining his already filthy clothes crimson.
Despite his wretched appearance, his gaze was filled with unwavering resolve. The agony clouded his consciousness, yet it also sharpened his awareness.
The sting of humiliation, the experience of defeat, was unbearable, but it etched a profound understanding in his heart.
Weakness was not an option.
"Are you okay? Why won't the bleeding stop?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao's concern was evident as she looked at Ye Han, who was severely wounded, yet the bleeding persisted.
Ye Han's condition had deteriorated even further.
"It's nothing!"
Ye Han reassured Jiang Xiaoxiao weakly, urging her not to fret.
But Ye Han was acutely aware that the wound wasn't merely bleeding; it was the result of Lei Ba's palm strike to his back.
Lei Ba practiced a sinister technique, imbuing his strikes with immense force and a particular effect that made healing incredibly difficult.
Even with severe injuries, the bleeding would not cease, leading to death from blood loss.
This was why Lei Ba had confidently abandoned them in the Deathabyss, knowing full well that Ye Han, in his current state, would not survive.
Ye Han recognized the gravity of his condition, yet he remained composed. Having once been a master of pill refinement, he was confident in his ability to treat such wounds, despite the weakness of his current body. Stopping the bleeding was well within his means.
He sealed several acupoints and produced a Blood Replenishing Pill he had concocted himself.
He swiftly popped the blood-replenishing pill into his mouth. While it could rapidly restore his vitality for the time being, it would be problematic if the wound itself didn't heal.
Jiang Xiaoxiao sat anxiously beside Ye Han, sensing that he harbored many secrets, yet her concern for him was palpable.
Despite his grave injuries, his eyes shone with an extraordinary brightness.
In them, she saw an intense yearning for life.
"Ye Han, tell me what you need. Even if I can't do much, I can at least gather some herbs for you," she offered.
Feeling utterly useless just sitting there, Jiang Xiaoxiao directly asked Ye Han if he needed assistance.
"Search the nearby area!"
"Don't stray too far; we're not sure what's out there," Ye Han replied, catching Jiang Xiaoxiao's worried gaze. He knew she was concerned about him, so he gently instructed her to stay close. If danger arose, he wouldn't be able to come to her rescue.
"Don't worry, I'll stay close by. If anything happens, I'll call out loudly," Jiang Xiaoxiao assured him, picking up her weapon and heading out to scout the vicinity. Dusk was falling, and with nightfall would come increased peril.
She was eager to find a secure spot nearby to safely make it through the night.
But her concern for Ye Han's condition meant she stayed within a close radius, hoping to find a safe haven.
Given that Ye Han was in no shape to fight, self-preservation was a challenge.
Her anxiety mounting, she searched the area swiftly.
She eventually discovered some useful herbs. Despite the dangers lurking, such potent remedies were abundant here.
A sense of relief washed over Jiang Xiaoxiao's face; the situation wasn't as dire as it could have been.
At least she had found herbs that could aid in Ye Han's swift recovery.
Intent on finding a secure location, she explored a bit further and stumbled upon a narrow cave.
It was small but large enough to shelter two people.
It wasn't ideal, but it would suffice for the night's circumstances.
Jiang Xiaoxiao scanned the area once more, ensuring there were no signs of spirit beasts nearby.
Jiang Xiaoxiao felt a sense of relief as she dispersed some powder in the area, effectively repelling any spirit beasts and preventing them from coming near. After completing this task, she noticed a radiant red fruit perched high upon a cliff. The fruit emitted a peculiar glow that was impossible to overlook.
A look of delight washed over Jiang Xiaoxiao's face; she hadn't expected to stumble upon such a treasure in this place. It was as if the universe had handed her a pillow just as she was about to doze off. She scanned the surroundings and, seeing no sign of danger, she gripped her weapon and began to scale the steep cliff, which was littered with oddly shaped rocks.
Climbing swiftly, Jiang Xiaoxiao drew ever closer to the fruit. Despite having already checked for dangers, a growing sense of unease took hold of her—the special fruit, known for its healing properties, was not going to be easy to obtain. Surely, a guardian spirit beast must be lurking nearby.
In that moment, Jiang Xiaoxiao couldn't afford to entertain any distractions; her sole focus was on securing the fruit for Ye Han. With this fruit, she knew Ye Han's wounds would heal much faster. Biting down on her resolve, she climbed faster, and as she neared the fruit, she became aware of a peculiar scent wafting through the air, luring countless others to its presence.
Jiang Xiaoxiao's gaze became vacant, fixated solely on the fruit's enticing luminescence. It was as if nothing else existed for her but that fruit. She lost all sense of the danger around her, her attention captured entirely by the red fruit.
In her single-minded pursuit, she failed to notice the green snake coiled around the fruit tree. Its color perfectly camouflaged against the bark, the snake would remain undetected by anyone who didn't venture close to the tree. This striking fruit tree, with its alluring fruit, had remained unpicked solely due to the vigilant protection of the spirit snake.