C6 He Was Caught

Duan Hao gracefully alighted atop the head of the giant ape, encased in ice. Sheathing his Cold Soul Sword, he casually flicked open the fan at his waist and gave it a nonchalant wave.

"A mere beast, and you dare challenge my Junior Sister..."

His boast lasted but three seconds before the sound of cracking ice interrupted him.

"Crack, crack..."

Perched atop the giant ape's head, Duan Hao's cool demeanor vanished in an instant. He was about to leap away when the ape, breaking free from the ice, snatched his foot.

"Thud!"

Duan Hao was slammed onto the ground, his hair coming undone and splaying out wildly.

"You brute, dare to harm me?!"

Enraged, Duan Hao hurled the sheathed Cold Soul Sword with tremendous force, as if channeling magical power through it.

"Thwack..."

The sword, still in its scabbard, was a magical weapon and easily pierced the giant ape's body.

With eyes blazing, Duan Hao approached the now defenseless giant ape and withdrew the Cold Soul Sword from its flesh. In a flash of the blade, the ape's head was severed from its body.

The woman turned away, reflecting on her Senior Brother's priorities—his pride seemingly more important than his life. The giant ape had disrupted his moment of bravado, and naturally, it faced his wrathful retaliation.

Yet, his response seemed excessively brutal...

Bloodthirsty, Duan Hao advanced towards the three Demonic Beasts sprawled on the ground, intent on finishing them off.

But the woman intervened, "Senior Brother, it's not easy for wild beasts to cultivate. To take their lives so lightly would invite divine retribution. Let's just take the Snake Saliva Fruit and leave..."

Though reluctant, Duan Hao heeded her advice.

At the mention of the fruit, Qin Biao, concealed behind a rock pillar, suddenly grew anxious.

I've been waiting here for such a long time. How can I just let you take it away so easily?

To leave or not to leave, that is the question...

If I leave, it's very likely that I'll fall at the hands of the two outside. Duan Hao alone can't defeat them, not to mention the woman following him whose depth is unknown.

But if I don't leave, all this time I've waited, the opportunity for which I've risked my life, will have been handed over to someone else on a silver platter. Anyone would feel aggrieved to let it go so easily.

Fortune favors the bold. I have to take the plunge!

When a person dies, they die with dignity. If they don't die, they live on forever!

Anyway, once I grab the fruit, with my speed, I might still be able to escape from their clutches.

"Senior Brother, the Snake Saliva Grass is hard to come by. Let's just take the fruit and leave the roots intact. Who knows, in many years, it might even have the chance to evolve into Dragon Saliva Grass!" As Duan Hao was about to uproot the plant, the woman behind him called out a reminder.

"Understood," Duan Hao acknowledged, attempting to delicately pluck the fruit.

But a sudden flash of white light blinded him, and he felt a sharp pain across his face. Something whizzed by, and the Snake Saliva Fruit, along with half of the plant beneath, vanished without a trace.

"What was that!" Duan Hao cried out, clutching his face.

It was none other than Qin Biao!

Qin Biao had already devised a plan to snatch the fruit and make her escape as she watched Duan Hao reach for the Snake Saliva Fruit.

Her plan was simple... to eat the fruit on the spot, then use Duan Hao as a stepping stone, leveraging her extraordinary leaping ability to spring out of the cave entrance.

As Qin Biao soared through the air, her heart swelled with boundless hope at the sight of the cave opening just within reach.

Once outside the cave, with her agility, the sky would be the limit!

But in an instant, Qin Biao's hopes were shattered.

Without any visible movement from the woman, as if gliding through the air, she positioned herself right at the cave's exit, blocking the way.

"You clever little creature," the woman said with a chuckle as she observed Qin Biao's cheeks bulging with fruit.

Yet, despite Qin Biao's adorable appearance, she didn't let her guard down. With a flourish of her long sleeves, she cast a net-like spell that enveloped Qin Biao.

Qin Biao, determined, drew a sharp knife from his waist and lunged at the woman's gown.

Rip!

The woman's sleeve tore slightly, creating just enough space for Qin Biao to slip through.

"Ah, you even know how to use tools. You must have developed some intelligence..." the woman gasped, her hand covering her mouth in surprise.

"This time, I definitely can't let you escape..." she muttered, producing an object resembling a talisman.

With a flash of light from the talisman, she hurled it towards Qin Biao.

"A spirit talisman?" Duan Hao exclaimed from behind.

Given Duan Hao's reaction, such talismans were evidently rare, and he was puzzled as to why the woman would use one on Qin Biao.

As soon as the talisman made contact with Qin Biao, it burst apart, forming an invisible net that tightly ensnared him.

Thud!

Qin Biao hit the ground hard, the impact nearly causing him to spit out the Snake Saliva Fruit from his mouth.

"Little one, there's no need to be scared. Just spit out what's in your mouth, and I won't harm you," the woman said as she approached Qin Biao with slow steps.

Duan Hao, standing nearby, suggested harshly, "Junior Sister, why not just kill this creature and take the Snake Saliva Fruit ourselves?"

But what Duan Hao was really thinking was: This creature dared to mar my handsome face; I certainly won't forgive it!

The woman shook her head, "This little one must have had some extraordinary encounter to have developed such intelligence. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so cunning, hiding behind the rock pillar until we were about to harvest the fruit. A Demonic Beast capable of evolving into a Spirit Beast might be even more valuable than the Snake Saliva Fruit itself."

Duan Hao disagreed. He seized Qin Biao, gripping his mouth, intent on forcing it open.

Whimpering, Qin Biao stubbornly refused to open his mouth, not even when his jaw was dislocated from the pressure.

"Kid, if you don't want to die a painful death, spit it out now," Duan Hao snarled menacingly at Qin Biao.

The Snake Saliva Fruit was not just crucial for the sect's mission; it was a matter of Duan Hao's personal pride. Failing to secure it would surely invite mockery from his peers upon his return.

Such humiliation was unthinkable!

"Senior Brother..." A woman began, attempting to interject some reason, but ultimately, she held her tongue.

With a look of scorn, Qin Biao met Duan Hao's gaze, resolute in his defiance. He wasn't just holding on—he was actively forcing the fruit down his throat.

Despite the fruit being as large as an adult's fist, Qin Biao was determined to swallow it whole.

This fruit, bought with my very life, will not be yours—even if it chokes me to death!

Qin Biao's face turned a shade of crimson as he struggled with the fruit, nearly suffocating.

"You still think you can swallow it?" Duan Hao's fury escalated. He seized Qin Biao by the neck and delivered a brutal punch to his stomach.

Qin Biao's abdomen convulsed from the fierce blow, yet the fruit remained unyielded, swallowed instead of spat out.