C9 Sun Opening Fruit(last part)

"Sun Opening Fruit!"

Wei Lulin gazed in awe at the three red fruits perched atop the fiery little tree in the heart of the cave, murmuring in disbelief.

The Sun Opening Fruit was a natural spirit item of Low Rank Grade Eight. It bloomed once every three hundred years, producing nine flowers each time. Similarly, it bore fruit once every three hundred years, yielding six fruits in total, with three maturing each cycle.

Inherently Yang in nature, the Sun Opening Fruit was rich in Spiritual Force, concealing a faint power of rule within. This made it highly suitable for those seeking to break through to the Great Stage.

The Qi Refining Stage and the Body Refining Stage were merely the foundational steps on the path of cultivation. The true journey began at the stage above Body Refining. While Wei Lulin was uncertain about the specifics of the higher realm, he was well aware that the Wei family patriarch, Wei Bochen, had reached the pinnacle of the Body Refining Stage three years prior.

How else could the Wei family, which traded in medicinal herbs and pills, claim their status as one of the top three families in Yao Country? Their second-place ranking, above the Xie family, was a testament to the patriarch's formidable strength and the Pill Master's influence.

Moreover, within the Wei family, aside from the patriarch at the Body Refining Stage Peak, there were several masters at Level Ten of the Body Refining Stage.

It all made sense now; Wei Ying had brought him here with the intention of harvesting the Sun Opening Fruit.

The Sun Opening Fruit possessed a unique property.

As a Low Rank Grade Eight spirit medicine, its skin also harbored a sliver of the special power of rule. Upon maturation, this power would manifest as an ability to repel any contact with Spiritual Force, even the slightest trace. If exposed to Spiritual Force, the fruit's Spiritual Qi would be rapidly depleted.

For warriors, even those at the Body Refining Stage Peak, it was impossible to exert full control over their internal Spiritual Force. Thus, ordinary individuals, not warriors, were best suited to pick the Sun Opening Fruit.

It was at this moment that Wei Lulin realized the true reason Wei Ying had included him on this journey.

However, for the magical beasts dwelling in the cave, this issue was non-existent. Once the three Sun Opening Fruits ripened, the beasts would simply consume them to aid in their evolution and bolster their strength.

"Let's hold off for a bit. Once the Jiaang family has dealt with the Magical Beast, then we'll make our move!" Wei Ying, initially tense, felt a wave of relief wash over him upon confirming the safety of the three Sun Opening Fruits.

He also felt a stroke of luck that his late arrival might lead to an effortless gain. Otherwise, he and his companions might have been the ones locked in combat with the formidable Magical Beast.

The Red-eye Blood Wolf was a distinct Magical Beast, unlike other pack-forming species. Known as the solitary king of the forest, it lived a life of seclusion. A notorious assassin within the Endless Forest, it was the type of Magical Beast that martial cultivators dreaded encountering.

Given its towering stature of over ten meters and its speed, akin to the wind, the Red-eye Blood Wolf was likely a High Rank Grade Nine. It wouldn't be capable of single-handedly challenging four Body Refining Stage experts otherwise.

Wei Lulin, having never practiced cultivation, couldn't gauge the true strength of the Jiaang family's four experts. Yet, the ongoing struggle suggested they were at a disadvantage, even when combining their efforts, which spoke volumes about the Red-eye Blood Wolf's might.

Considering the Magical Beast's exceptional stamina and potent Spiritual Force, the longer the battle dragged on, the worse the prospects for the Jiaang family's quartet.

"We're out of time. We must resort to our trump card," bellowed a leading expert from the Jiaang family as the Red-eye Blood Wolf grew increasingly fierce. A vibrant red Pill materialized in his hand, and the other three members followed suit, each producing an identical Pill.

"Baoyi, Baoer, Baosan, get ready to strike," Wei Ying instructed, his voice low and urgent, upon noticing the Jiaang family members brandishing their red Pills.

Though the imminent clash was of no concern to Wei Lulin, he couldn't help but feel anxious. Should Wei Ying and his group vanquish the Jiaang family's warriors, the responsibility of harvesting the Sun Opening Fruits would fall squarely on Wei Lulin's shoulders.

Although he didn't own any of the three Sun Opening Fruits, the leaves from the tree were of great benefit to him.

The four experts from the Jiaang family experienced a significant boost in strength after consuming the Pill. Previously at a disadvantage, they swiftly turned the tables. They overpowered the Red-eye Blood Wolf, which was forced into a retreat.

Within a mere 30 seconds, the once formidable Red-eye Blood Wolf was fatally stabbed in the head by the lead expert of the Jiaang family and collapsed, lifeless.

"Now!" As the Red-eye Blood Wolf hit the ground, the Jiaang family's experts' momentum plummeted. Wei Ying and his allies, already poised for action, unsheathed their weapons and surged forward with their Spiritual Force, charging at the Jiaang family's four experts.

Having battled the Red-eye Blood Wolf for over ten minutes and ingested Pills with severe side effects, the Jiaang family's experts were operating at less than a third of their normal strength. Outmatched by the Wei family's four experts, whose strength was on par with theirs, the Jiaang family's experts were clearly outclassed. Within minutes, all four met their end at the hands of Wei Ying and his comrades.

Baosan had already dispatched the ordinary member of the Jiaang family who had been standing guard, using a simple knife before the confrontation with the family's experts even began.

Upon discovering the fallen youth from the Jiaang family, Wei Lulin's eyes sparkled with anticipation. He quickly approached the body and began searching it.

The deceased carried a silver note worth five hundred gold coins and seventeen Spirit Locking Stones of exceptional Spirit Strength. To Wei Lulin's delight, he found a Low Grade Spirit Stone in the embrace of the young Jiaang family member.

Though it was merely a Low Rank Spirit Stone of Grade Ten, it was sufficient to replicate thousands of Meridian Grass. Not to mention the additional five hundred gold coins and seventeen highly potent Spirit Locking Stones.

Wei Lulin swiftly collected the items and turned his attention to Wei Ying and the others.

"Wei Lulin, over here!" Having dispatched the Jiaang family's four experts with minimal exertion, Wei Ying gestured to Wei Lulin, signaling him to join them.

"Eighth Elder!" Wei Lulin knew it was his turn to harvest the Sun Opening Fruit, so without any hesitation, he approached Wei Ying.

"Wei Lulin, this Sun Opening Fruit can aid a Peak Expert at the Body Refining Stage Peak in breaking through their current level. You surely know the proper way to pick it!" Having said that, Wei Ying retrieved three Jade Boxes from a cloth bag about half the size of a backpack and handed them to Wei Lulin.

"Eighth Elder, rest assured, I'm on my way to pick the Sun Opening Fruit now." Wei Lulin accepted the three Jade Boxes and strode toward the Sun Opening Tree.

Yet, on his way to the tree, Wei Lulin discreetly took out a Low Grade Spirit Stone and held it in his right hand. He had another crucial task ahead – to replicate the Sun Opening Fruit without revealing the process.