C8 Ice Flame Profound Spirit Fruit

Zhang Yu, the least injured among them, pulled out his flint and sparked the torch he had fashioned. In moments, the cave was bathed in light.

The cave had been a fortuitous find during their escape. With Lei Ming and the others seriously wounded, Zhang Yu had made the call for the five of them to take a temporary respite there, allowing time for their injuries to be tended to.

"Mr. Lei, you're all hurt. Focus on healing. I'll head out and hunt something for us to eat tonight," Zhang Yu told Lei Ming.

"Okay, Mr. Zhang, we'll be here waiting. Make it a quick trip and stay safe."

As Zhang Yu departed, Xiaoqi turned to Lei Ming with concern. "Big brother, could he be the one...?"

"Relax. If Mr. Zhang had any bad intentions, we'd be dead already. Would we still be here worrying about it? It's clear that Mr. Zhang is a decent man," Lei Ming reassured.

"Yeah, big brother, I was wrong to doubt his character," Xiaoqi admitted, her head bowed in embarrassment.

"Let's not dwell on that now. Healing our wounds is the priority."

"Right."

...

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu had successfully hunted down a Level 1 Demon Wolf and was now dragging its carcass back to the cave. Truthfully, no one would have blamed him if he had chosen to leave them behind, but he was committed to seeing things through, to help until Lei Ming and the others were back on their feet. A couple of days' delay wouldn't significantly affect his own journey.

As dusk fell, Lei Ming, sensing someone's approach, called out, "Who's there?"

"Mr. Lei, it's me," Zhang Yu replied, stepping into the cave and tossing the Demon Wolf's body next to the fire.

"Oh, it's you, Mr. Zhang," Lei Ming said, visibly relieved.

"Everyone must be starving. Let me skin this Demon Wolf and get it roasting. We'll have some delicious barbecue in no time," Zhang Yu announced.

The aroma of the roasting wolf meat tantalized their senses. As the meat neared perfection, Zhang Yu liberally seasoned it with the salt and spices he had prepared.

"Sizzle!" Drops of oil from the wolf beast's body hissed as they hit the flames, creating a chorus of crackling sounds.

"Here, Mr. Lei, have the first taste. If it's not to your liking, please don't tease me about my cooking," Zhang Yu said, slicing off a piece of the wolf meat and offering it to Lei Ming.

"Haha, Mr. Zhang, I won't hold back then," Lei Ming replied, accepting the roasted meat and taking a hearty bite.

"Mmm, I have to admit, your cooking is quite good, Mr. Zhang—definitely a cut above mine," Lei Ming said between mouthfuls.

"Who could be worse than you? Your cooking is barely edible," Butterfly chimed in after hearing Lei Ming's self-deprecation.

Lei Ming chuckled sheepishly and chose not to respond.

Once everyone had nearly finished their meal, Lei Ming pulled an ancient tome from his pack and said with gravity, "Mr. Zhang, I can never fully repay you for saving my life. This martial arts scroll that Liu Feng was so desperate to obtain—I'm giving it to you now."

Zhang Yu stood up, looking seriously at Lei Ming. "Mr. Lei, you're mistaken. Did you think I saved you all for a reward? You're not giving me enough credit!" he said, feigning displeasure.

"Ah, Mr. Zhang, I meant no offense. I simply wanted to express my gratitude. Plus, I copied the martial arts technique while you were away. Whether I have the original or not makes no difference now," Lei Ming quickly explained.

"Exactly, Mr. Zhang, please accept it. We all agree," the others encouraged.

With a resigned smile, Zhang Yu took the martial arts manual from Lei Ming.

"Shape Moving Shadow Changing," the cover boasted in bold, swirling characters. Curiosity piqued, Zhang Yu flipped it open to discover it was a movement technique of Profound Level Upper Grade—a rarity indeed. No wonder Liu Feng had been so relentless.

Not even his own family possessed a technique of such caliber.

Mastering this martial skill would indeed be like giving a tiger wings.

"Mr. Zhang, we've put together a small mercenary crew—I'm the captain, Butterfly is my wife, this is Xiaoqi, and the quiet fellow over there is Old Mo. There's something I've been hesitant to share, but I think you should know," Lei Ming said with some reservation.

"Go ahead, Mr. Lei, I'm all ears."

"Well, the conflict with Liu Feng arose because we stumbled upon an ancient relic..."

As it happened, Lei Ming's squad, while on a mission, chanced upon a vast karst cave. Upon exploration, they realized it was the final resting place of a revered predecessor. Liu Feng, who was passing by with an attendant, agreed to split the cave's treasures with Lei Ming to avoid complications. Among their findings was an almost ripe Ice Flame Profound Spirit Fruit. Guarded by a Black Scale Venomous Python, a Demon Beast as powerful as a Martial Master, they knew they were outmatched and planned to seek reinforcements. Unexpectedly, once Liu Feng had called in the Liu family's experts, they turned on Xiaoqi in a treacherous attempt to hoard the loot. What followed was a desperate escape, with Lei Ming's team cornered by the Liu family's masters, leading to the fierce battle Zhang Yu witnessed. Ultimately, it was Zhang Yu's timely intervention that saved the lives of Lei Ming's group.

"Now, what I'd like to propose is a partnership, Mr. Zhang. Once we've healed, we'll take down the python together and share the Ice Flame Profound Spirit Fruit equally. Your combat prowess is impressive, second only to mine, despite your modest realm," Lei Ming proposed earnestly.

On the Vast Dragon Continent, spirit medicines are ranked from one to nine. Take, for instance, the Horned Dragon Root Zhang Yu obtained from the Ape Demon's lair—though it's an eighth-grade spirit medicine, its rarity and potent effects elevate its standing, rivaling that of a ninth-grade. The Ice Flame Profound Spirit Fruit, a Grade Four spirit medicine, may not compare to the Horned Dragon Root, but its benefits for breakthroughs and foundational strength are unmatched. For mercenaries who daily dance with death, such a fruit is more valuable than even a Profound Level Upper Grade martial skill. Unlike martial arts, which require innate talent and other factors to master, spirit medicines can be consumed directly for their benefits, albeit at the cost of some potency without proper refinement into pills.

After a brief contemplation, Zhang Yu accepted the offer. Grade Four spirit medicines were a rare find in Yishui Town, and the Ice Flame Profound Spirit Fruit was especially suitable for him as he was currently establishing his foundation. Such spiritual medicines were typically found deep within the Demon Beast Mountain Range, a place only accessible to martial cultivators of high levels. He, on the other hand, had a long way to go before he could venture there.

"Very well, Mr. Zhang, please wait here while we heal our injuries. We should be fully recovered in no more than two days," Lei Ming declared.

"Alright, Mr. Lei, you all rest up in the cave. I'll stand guard tonight." Zhang Yu didn't give Lei Ming and the others a chance to object and quickly made his way outside.

As late autumn set in, the chilly breeze outside brought clarity to Zhang Yu's thoughts.

He quietly retrieved the package he had snatched from Liu Feng and began to inventory its contents by the light of the moon.

Inside, he found five Level One Demon Crystals, three Level Two, and astonishingly, three Level Three Demon Crystals, along with one Level Four Demon Crystal. A Level Three Demon Beast was on par with a Martial Master, while a Level Four could challenge a Great Martial Master. Zhang Yu lamented Liu Feng's avarice; despite having amassed such wealth, he still couldn't resist pursuing Lei Ming and his companions, a true case of reaping what one sows.

The remainder of the loot consisted of various low-level Medicine Pills and spirit herbs, their potency diminished due to age, and thus less valuable.

"Still, it's all a windfall. Not bad at all."

Selecting five Level One Demon Crystals, Zhang Yu recalled his recent discovery. Holding a Demon Crystal in his palm, he activated the Creation Divine Arts, and the Creation Jade Disc began to automatically absorb the spiritual energy, transferring a third of it back to him. This process had enabled Zhang Yu to progress rapidly, and he had now reached the intermediate level of the Martial Mortal Realm.

As the First and Second Level Demon Crystals crumbled to dust, Zhang Yu felt the spiritual energy within him reach a saturation point, and he ceased the absorption.

"There's nothing quite like the feeling of strength," he mused, gazing up at the luminous moon overhead.

In just a flash, two days had flown by. Lei Ming and his companions had fully recovered from their injuries, and Zhang Yu had been vigilant in their defense while continuing his own cultivation. Though brief, the two days had yielded notable improvements.

"Brother Zhang, I won't forget your kindness these past few days. If you ever need anything, just give me a shout. I'll be there," Lei Ming declared with gravity.

"You're too kind, Mr. Lei. Now that everyone's in good shape, we should set out," Zhang Yu responded promptly.

"Let's get moving!"

With that, Lei Ming charged ahead, taking the lead with Zhang Yu right on his heels. Xiaoqi, Old Mo, and Butterfly trailed behind, all making their way toward the cave harboring the Ice Flame Profound Spirit Fruit.

...

After about an hour's journey, Lei Ming came to an abrupt halt, pointing ahead and announcing, "Brother Zhang, we've arrived."

Zhang Yu peered forward, scrutinizing the area, and indeed spotted a cave entrance, partially concealed by intertwining vines.

"Typically, limestone caves are carved out by the persistent flow of underground water within the mountains. Over time, the mountain wall must have collapsed to reveal this opening, and the vines have kept it hidden from discovery," Lei Ming elucidated.

"Alright, let's head inside, Mr. Lei."

"Forward!" Once Lei Ming squeezed through the cave's mouth, Zhang Yu and the rest followed suit, each slipping into the cavern.

Inside, Zhang Yu was greeted by an unexpected sanctuary. The entrance, seemingly modest from the outside, opened up just steps within. A fissure at the cave's core allowed beams of sunlight to pierce through, banishing any hint of gloom. The gentle murmur of a hidden stream added to the sense of an unearthly haven.