Two full days passed with Wei Shen ensconced in his rocky crevice, like a patient spider weaving its web in the darkness. He felt no boredom or impatience; those were emotions for the weak, and he had transcended them long ago. He observed, analyzed, waited. He consumed a little water and the crumbs of dried meat he had preserved, maintaining the "Blood Qi" in his body in a state of calm, continuous circulation, ready to be unleashed at any moment.
The "Serpentine Mist Valley" below him seethed with suppressed tension. The groups of cultivators from the various sects – the anxious "Fallen Leaf Sect," the arrogant "Crimson Flame Palace," the outwardly calm "Jade Cloud School," and the coarse "Grass Blade Sect" – had taken their positions, each group eyeing the others with undisguised suspicion and hostility. Verbal skirmishes would erupt from time to time, sarcastic words or veiled threats breaking the heavy silence of the valley.
"The air here… has become much heavier," Wei Shen noted on the third morning of his observation. It wasn't just ordinary mist; the air itself was increasingly saturated with a pure and sweet spiritual energy, as if the entire valley were breathing a strange, alluring fragrance. "The treasure… is approaching the moment of full maturity."
And suddenly, in the heart of the dense mist that shrouded the valley's center, where everyone's gaze was focused, a flash of brilliant light erupted!
It wasn't an ordinary flash, but a multi-colored light, crimson as a dragon's heart, golden as the first rays of the sun, and sky-blue as the deepest seas of imagination. This light pierced the mist for moments, revealing its source.
There, on the branches of an ancient, twisted tree that looked as if made of polished black crystal, hung a single, unique fruit. It was the size of a child's fist, its color a deep ruby red, gleaming with an inner luster. Its surface wasn't smooth but was covered in what resembled miniature, delicate dragon scales, shimmering with rainbow hues with every slight movement of the surrounding mist. A faint golden aura surrounded the fruit, and an indescribable fragrance, carrying with it the promise of power and life, spread throughout the valley, causing all who inhaled it to feel a slight spiritual euphoria.
"Spirit Dragon Fruit!"
A single cry, filled with greed and eagerness, erupted from one of the "Crimson Flame Palace" disciples, shattering the oppressive silence that had fallen over the valley for moments after the treasure's appearance.
That was the spark.
In the next moment, chaos exploded.
There was no longer any trace of anticipation or caution. The "Crimson Flame Palace" disciples charged first, like a ball of red flame, towards the crystal tree, their weapons radiating fiery Qi light, their eyes gleaming with avarice.
"Stop, you scoundrels! This treasure is ours!" roared an elder from the "Grass Blade Sect," brandishing his broadsword and ordering his disciples to attack.
"By the heavens, this treasure appeared in our school's sphere of influence! We won't allow anyone to seize it!" a calm but firm voice retorted from the direction of the "Jade Cloud School," and their disciples began to move gracefully, forming an offensive and defensive formation simultaneously.
As for the disciples of the "Fallen Leaf Sect," they appeared the most hesitant and anxious. They were fewer in number and generally weaker in strength. But the sight of the legendary "Spirit Dragon Fruit" before their eyes was an irresistible temptation. They advanced cautiously, trying to avoid direct engagement, searching for any opportunity that might arise.
In a few moments, the quiet "Serpentine Mist Valley" transformed into a true battlefield. The sounds of clashing weapons, Qi explosions, cries of anger and pain, all mingled with the roars of spiritual beasts that began to awaken at the valley's edges due to this sudden chaos.
Wei Shen watched all this from his rocky hiding place. He didn't move, nor did he show any intention of intervening in this initial melee.
"Exactly as expected," he thought coldly. "Greed is the best catalyst for chaos, and chaos is the best cover for a skilled hunter."
He could see the "Spirit Dragon Fruit" swaying gently on its branch, as if indifferent to all the blood that had begun to flow for its sake. It was still out of everyone's reach, protected by an aura of pure spiritual energy.
The battle was fierce and random. Disciples from different sects clashed with each other, while others tried to reach the crystal tree. Wei Shen saw one of the formidable "Crimson Flame Palace" disciples, who appeared to be at the seventh level of Qi Condensation, blasting his way through with a volley of fireballs, only to be suddenly attacked from behind by two "Grass Blade Sect" disciples wielding long, serrated swords.
He also saw a female disciple from the "Jade Cloud School," moving with incredible agility, evading attacks and delivering precise strikes with her thin sword, which resembled a moonbeam. She was trying to reach the fruit, but her path was blocked by a wall of disciples from other sects.
As for the "Fallen Leaf Sect," they were in a pitiful state. They were attacked from several directions, and several of their disciples fell injured or dead in the first few minutes. It was clear they were the weakest link in this conflict.
"Let them exhaust each other," Wei Shen whispered to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Let them show all their cards, all their techniques, all their weaknesses. The cunning fox always waits until the hunters are tired and their prey scattered."
He focused his attention on the "Spirit Dragon Fruit" itself, and on the strongest cultivators who were trying to reach it. He analyzed their fighting styles, the strength of their Qi, searching for the perfect moment—the moment the fruit was about to fall into someone's hand, or the moment when everyone had exhausted their energy and become more vulnerable to a sudden attack from the shadows.
Minutes passed like hours. Blood was shed, and corpses began to litter the valley floor. The white mist was now stained with patches of crimson red, and the scent of death mingled with the fragrant aroma of the spiritual fruit.
Suddenly, amidst the chaos, one of the "Crimson Flame Palace" elders—an old man with a long white beard and eyes as red as embers, who appeared to be at the peak of the eighth level of Qi Condensation—managed to break through the ranks of defenders and reach the crystal tree. He stretched out his trembling hand towards the "Spirit Dragon Fruit."
At that moment, everyone held their breath.
But before his fingers could touch the fruit, a beam of silver-white light shot out from the direction of the "Jade Cloud School" and struck the elder's arm forcefully, causing him to retreat, screaming in pain.
"This treasure is not for you alone, Elder Huo!" a young, strong, and confident voice shouted from among the "Jade Cloud School" disciples. "It must be shared fairly, or no one gets it!"
The battle erupted once more, this time fiercer and more concentrated around the crystal tree.
Wei Shen watched all this with eyes as cold as ice. He had seen his opportunity take shape. The chaos was at its peak, and the strong ones were busy fighting each other. And the "Spirit Dragon Fruit" was still there, glowing enticingly, waiting for someone daring enough to take it.
"Now…" Wei Shen thought, feeling the "Blood Qi" in his body begin to circulate rapidly, like a vortex of dark energy preparing to explode. "The wolves have tired themselves out enough. It's time for the fox to appear… and reap the fruits."
He began to move slowly from his hiding place, a shadow among shadows, his eyes never leaving that precious fruit which was the core of this bloody conflict.
The dance of destinies had reached its climax, and Wei Shen was about to deliver his decisive strike.