C11 Supreme Spirit Fruit!

"To your right, there's a cave."

Lin Chen glanced over and indeed spotted a very concealed, low cave some distance away. The area around the entrance was in disarray, with freshly turned soil indicating it had been recently unearthed.

Inside the cave, Lin Chen could just make out a small tree, barely three feet tall, its branches and leaves gently swaying. On it hung a vibrant red fruit, somewhat resembling a peach, yet also akin to a peculiar melon-shaped fruit.

"Do you see it? Is that the Supreme Spirit Fruit you mentioned?" Lin Chen asked, his voice tinged with thirst, "But it wasn't on the list. Is it that valuable?"

Chen Wuji let out a sigh and explained, "Here's the thing. Even if you collected every spiritual herb on the list and I refined them into a potent medicinal soup for you, its efficacy wouldn't come close to even half of what the Supreme Spirit Fruit offers! I honestly didn't expect you'd stumble upon such a treasure."

Lin Chen's eyes lit up with fervor.

He might not have understood the fruit's worth, but he knew the value of Chen Wuji's medicinal soup. And now, with Chen Wuji's endorsement of the fruit, how could he not be eager?

He was determined to have it.

"Is there a way to obtain the Supreme Spirit Fruit?" Lin Chen inquired.

Chen Wuji responded, "Certainly! Just sneak over there, grab it, and run."

Lin Chen paused, bewildered, "That's it?"

He glanced at the Supreme Spirit Fruit inside the cave and then at the two powerhouses battling near the entrance. He quickly lost his nerve.

Was this a joke? Two Level 3 Demonic Beasts were locked in a fierce battle over this prize, and he was supposed to steal it right from under their noses?

Near the cave lay a gruesome scene of Demonic Beast carcasses, torn apart and mangled. A wolf carcass lay near Lin Chen's feet, its body severed in half, intestines stretched out and draped over a tree—a ghastly sight. It was clear the beast had met its end while lusting after the Supreme Spirit Fruit, courtesy of the two Level 3 Demonic Beasts.

"Isn't there a safer method?" Lin Chen pressed, not ready to give up.

"As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold. There's no such thing as a free lunch. If you want to snatch the food from the tiger's mouth, you must be prepared to take risks," Chen Wuji stated. "However, you have a significant advantage: the Qi Transformation and Breath Concealment Technique you've just mastered. I discovered this Secret Technique in the cave of a powerful cultivator, and it's truly valuable. Even Level 3 Demonic Beasts will have a hard time detecting you. If you seize the right moment and act swiftly, you stand a chance."

"Let's do this!"

Lin Chen, with determination in his eyes, knew that with less than two months until the Clan Competition, he needed to enhance his strength urgently. To achieve in one month what others might in five or six years, relying solely on his Divine Martial Bloodline was insufficient. While the Divine Martial Bloodline smoothed his path of cultivation, the time required to advance his realm was not to be underestimated.

"Patience is key. Timing is everything. If the right opportunity doesn't present itself, it's better to forgo the risk. After all, we only have one life," Chen Wuji cautioned him.

"Don't worry, I'm aware," Lin Chen assured him.

...

They waited for half an hour, yet the battle between the two fearsome Level 3 Demonic Beasts raged on. Both the Four-toothed Wild Boar and the Giant Tiger were drenched in blood, their bodies riddled with wounds, and blood was everywhere. Despite their injuries, they fought with even more ferocity than at the outset, as if possessed.

"Roar—"

In the midst of their unrelenting battle, an unexpected twist occurred.

A massive black shadow burst forth from the forest, emitting a roar that shook the heavens.

Lin Chen's eyes widened in shock, and he nearly bit his tongue.

It was a bear, standing a colossal four to five meters tall!

Lin Chen was certain he had never seen a bear of such size in his entire life!

"Now things are really heating up. Here comes another Level 3 Demonic Beast!"

Chen Wuji exclaimed with enthusiasm, "The Mountain Bear, a Hunter's worst nightmare. It's a Demonic Beast that no hunting party wants to encounter. With its Bloodline Inheritance, the Mountain Bear is born a Level 1 Demonic Beast and possesses fearsome combat abilities. Among its peers, it's nearly unbeatable."

Lin Chen's eyes widened. "So, to put it simply, pigs and tigers are like commoners, while the Mountain Bear is like nobility, born into a ruling position and suppressing other Demonic Beasts?"

Chen Wuji nodded. "However, this Mountain Bear is still in its juvenile phase..."

Before he could finish, Lin Chen watched in shock as the Mountain Bear erupted with fury, swatting the Four-toothed Wild Boar into the air. The boar crashed heavily to the ground, and when it staggered to its feet, two of its once unbreakable tusks were snapped, its face slightly caved in, the flesh a mangled mess, with one eyeball hanging out.

Lin Chen grimaced. "Juvenile phase?"

Chen Wuji shrugged. "Sometimes, birthright really does matter."

The Multi-Colored Tiger, seeing its formidable adversary crippled by a single blow, had the blood fade from its eyes, revealing a deep fear of the Mountain Bear. It crouched low and emitted a series of deep growls towards the bear.

Meanwhile, the Four-toothed Wild Boar had finally managed to rise, equally terrified, backing away while emitting its own fearful squeals.

"What's going on?" Lin Chen inquired.

"They're communicating," Chen Wuji explained. "It seems the tiger and the boar are negotiating with the Mountain Bear. They're giving up their claim to the Supreme Spirit Fruit in hopes that the bear will let them leave."

Lin Chen's eyes bulged. "Damn! Are Demonic Beasts really that clever?"

Chen Wuji replied with a hint of scorn, "Underestimating Demonic Beasts will lead to trouble. Once they reach the second level, most develop a degree of Spiritual Wisdom. By the third level, they possess nearly the same intelligence as an ordinary human. Many common animals are smart, but Demonic Beasts are on another level."

Lin Chen nodded earnestly, taking the lesson to heart. "But the Mountain Bear should agree, right? After all, if it decides to attack, it'll be facing two opponents at once, leading to a brutal fight."

Chen Wuji gave a knowing smile. "Heh, you're too innocent."

With a mighty roar, the Mountain Bear's bellow reverberated through the forest, its presence seething with unbridled fury. A chilling aura permeated the air, oppressive like invisible blades, suffocating those in its vicinity.

Another roar shattered the tense silence as the majestic tiger signaled to the wild boar behind it. The Four-toothed Wild Boar responded with a roar of its own and charged forward, aligning itself shoulder to shoulder with the tiger to confront the Mountain Bear. In an instant, the two Demonic Beasts, once bitter foes, stood united as allies in battle.

Clearly, the Mountain Bear had no intention of sparing these two formidable adversaries. It was set on claiming both the Supreme Spirit Fruit and their flesh for itself.

The air was electric with anticipation—combat was imminent!

"Why are you hesitating? Now's our chance!" Chen Wuji bellowed to Lin Chen.