Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 42: Chapter 41: Falling into a Trap

”Whoosh.”

A massive black shadow swiftly swept over.

Xiao Jing remained unmoved, while Xiao Zhuang, Xiao Zimu, and the other two clan disciples were on high alert as if facing a formidable enemy.

”Fire Devouring Hundred Blades,” Xiao Yi coldly shouted. A Fire Blade flew from his hand, slicing the black shadow in two.

Xiao Jing’s eyes brightened, ”That’s a Second-level Demon Beast, the Iron-Backed Giant Snake, with strength equivalent to a Postnatal First Layer Martial Artist.”

Xiao Yi and his companions had already traveled dozens of miles from the Xiao Family’s Mine and had encountered numerous demon beast attacks along the way.

”This is already the eighth demon beast attack we’ve encountered, isn’t it? Inside the Meteorite Mountain Range, demon beasts indeed run rampant,” Xiao Yi said gravely.

Demon beasts are hostile to human martial artists; they are intelligent, ferocious, and cunning.

Be it large or small mineral veins, areas densely populated by human martial artists rarely see demon beasts.

They are found in places less frequented by martial artists.

Having just left dozens of miles and delving deeper into the Meteorite Mountain Range, Xiao Yi and the others had already seen many demon beasts.

Of course, these demon beasts had varying strengths.

The weaker ones, seeing the large number of people with Xiao Yi, would not hesitate to stay away. Only the stronger demon beasts would seek trouble.

Along the way, they also encountered a few Demon Hunters, some walking alone, others moving in groups, carefully navigating their way through the mountains.

The lone Demon Hunters must possess extraordinary strength.

Demon beast cores and corpses are extremely valuable.

Human martial artists risk danger to hunt and kill for these treasures.

Of course, as the saying goes, ”For wealth, some men will any hazard run,” and many martial artists have met their end inside a demon beast.

In short, within this vast Meteorite Mountain Range, battles occur every second, every minute, every day.

Whether it’s demon beasts fighting martial artists, demon beasts fighting each other, or even martial artists clashing over resources.

Life here is cheap; bloodshed and slaughter are as commonplace as daily meals.

Danger pervades the entire mountain range.

”Young Master,” Xiao Jing suddenly said, ”judging by your proficiency with the Fire Devouring Hundred Blades, it shouldn’t be long before you can condense the second blade, right?”

”Steward Xiao Jing has keen insight,” Xiao Yi replied. ”I am indeed trying to condense the second blade and should succeed shortly.”

Xiao Zhuang and the other clan disciples showed looks of admiration. ”Fire Devouring Hundred Blades is one of our Xiao Family’s most powerful martial techniques. We don’t even have the opportunity to learn it yet, but the Young Master is already preparing to condense the second blade.”

The once considered waste of the family now shined the brightest like starlight in their eyes.

However, they felt no resentment, but instead, their respect for Xiao Yi grew even stronger.

The group continued on their way. Several hours later, Xiao Jing stopped and said, ”We’ve arrived.”

Just then, a figure jumped down from a large tree.

”Steward Xiao Jing, Young Master,” the figure saluted Xiao Jing and Xiao Yi.

This was a member of the Xiao Family’s scouting team, who had been on lookout nearby.

Led by this scout, they went deep into the dense forest for several hundred meters, with scouts from the team jumping down from trees along the way, totaling eight people.

Xiao Yi said indifferently, ”Worthy of the Xiao Family’s scouting team, each one is very vigilant, and their skill at hiding in the dense forest is no small feat.”

Steward Xiao Jing asked with interest, ”Oh? Young Master, do you have experience moving through dense forests?”

”Heh heh, a little,” Xiao Yi casually deflected.

Back on Earth, there wasn’t a hazardous place he hadn’t been to. He had crossed the dangerous Amazon, the mysterious Great Snow Mountain, and the deadly Sahara Desert – naturally, his experience in traversing different terrains was extremely rich.

Suddenly, one of the scouts pointed ahead, excitedly saying, ”Look, that’s the Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit.”

Xiao Yi looked up to see an odd-looking large tree ahead.

The tree was several meters tall, thick with branches and leaves. But what was strange was its fiery red color throughout, even the leaves were red, resembling a flaming sapling.

Amidst the intertwining leaves, there were three red fruits.

The color of the fruits was distinctly different from the leaves.

While the leaves were fiery red, the fruits were blood red.

Those rounded spirit fruits seemed like huge drops of blood, wrapped in layers of blood.

That was the Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit.

At first glance, the three Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruits gave an eerie, intimidating impression that filled one with dread.

”Gulp.” Xiao Zhuang and the other family descendants swallowed nervously, somewhat daunted.

As for Xiao Yi, he still had that calm expression on his face.

Steward Xiao Jing glanced over and thought to himself, ”Worthy of being the Young Master, our Xiao Family’s number one talent, so composed. The first time I saw this Spirit Fruit, even I was startled.”

”Looking at the ripeness of the Spirit Fruit, they should be ready to pick in less than four hours,” Xiao Yi suddenly said.

”Eh.” Steward Xiao Jing reacted, and with a smile, he said, ”Yes, originally I thought these fruits would need at least two more days to mature. However, you are an Alchemist, Young Master, and you’re much more familiar with these Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures than I am.”

In the dense forest, visibility was inherently limited. If Xiao Jing and his group had not happened upon this large tree, it’s likely that outsiders would never discover its existence.

Xiao Yi and his group could only wait patiently in the dense forest.

About four hours later, Xiao Yi heard a disturbance.

He looked towards the sound and saw that the earth beneath the big tree had undergone a strange change.

A large patch of soil around the tree instantly turned into a bloody red mud. From within the mud, waves of Blood Qi began to rise.

The Blood Qi bubbled up like bubbles, emitting a ’popping’ deep sound.

After rising from the mud, the Blood Qi automatically slithered and coiled around, eventually wrapping around the tree trunk.

The trunk instantly turned from fiery red to a bloody red.

Then after, even the leaves also turned bloody red.

Xiao Zhuang and the others showed panic on their faces and exclaimed in surprise, ”Why is the soil bleeding? And that big tree, it’s absorbing this Blood Qi.”

Xiao Yi shook his head and said in a deep voice, ”No, what’s really absorbing the Blood Qi are those three Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruits. It’s just absorbing through the trunk and leaves, in the end, it will all condense onto the fruits.”

Xiao Yi continued, ”Blood Qi rising from the soil, merging into the tree, the three Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruits becoming increasingly bizarre and blood-red, this is a sign of their maturity.”

”Can we pick them now?” Steward Xiao Jing asked excitedly.

”Yes,” Xiao Yi nodded.

However, just as Steward Xiao Jing was about to make a move, Xiao Yi suddenly grabbed him, ”Don’t act rashly.”

”What’s wrong?” Steward Xiao Jing asked in confusion.

Xiao Yi pointed ahead, his sharp eyes had spotted a few faint footprints, ”What’s with those footprints?”

Steward Xiao Jing relaxed his expression and said, ”I thought the Young Master was worried about something else. Those footprints might be from other team members who came close before.”

”Impossible.” Xiao Yi’s expression turned serious and he said, ”Those footprints are shallow, I almost missed them. Clearly, someone has been there and then deliberately covered their tracks.”

”That’s why those footprints are so faint, leaving only a slight trace.”

Steward Xiao Jing also looked and asked the team members behind him, ”Did any of you come close to there?”

Those team members quickly shook their heads and said, ”No, the Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit is of great importance, without your orders, Captain, how could we dare to approach recklessly?”

Hearing this, Xiao Yi was instantly shocked and said, ”This proves that someone discovered these three Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruits before us.”

Steward Xiao Jing furrowed his brows and said, ”Never mind that, to avoid further complications, I’ll pick them now.”

”Don’t be impulsive,” Xiao Yi shouted in a low voice, trying to pull Steward Xiao Jing back.

However, Steward Xiao Jing was a Postnatal Seventh Layer Martial Artist, his speed was too fast. Ignoring Xiao Yi’s warnings, he leaped forward.

”The Young Master doesn’t need to be too cautious, perhaps you misread it. I’ll come back as soon as I’ve picked them, nothing will happen,” Steward Xiao Jing said with a laugh as he leaped out.

Xiao Yi was always cautious, his observational skills and keen intuition far surpassed Steward Xiao Jing, he would never misread the situation.

Sure enough, just as Steward Xiao Jing was nearing the big tree, about to pick the fruits.

Something behind the big tree suddenly let out a sharp hiss. Immediately after, a colossal creature appeared.

It was a giant python, all over silver, with an impressive aura, clearly not a kind beast.

”Not good, that’s a Third-level Demon Beast, a Silver-Backed Demon Python, its strength is no less than that of an Innate Martial Artist, retreat quickly,” Xiao Yi shouted.

Steward Xiao Jing was no fool, upon seeing the Silver-Backed Demon Python, even without Xiao Yi’s reminder, he immediately began to retreat.

The Silver-Backed Demon Python immediately gave chase, its gaping maw capable of swallowing Steward Xiao Jing in one bite.

”Damn it, you guys wait here, I’ll go save Steward Xiao Jing,” Xiao Yi ordered and leaped out immediately.

”Fire Devouring Hundred Blades.” Xiao Yi launched a Fire Blade.

The Fire Blade, emitting intense high heat, struck the Silver-Backed Demon Python and made it pause, slowing down its speed. Steward Xiao Jing took the opportunity to retreat even faster.

Just then, suddenly, a figure flashed behind the big tree. The figure moved quickly, plucked the three Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruits in an instant, and then made a swift escape.

”Who’s that?” Xiao Yi was startled.

”It’s Murong Qianjun,” Steward Xiao Jing yelled angrily.

”Hahaha.” The figure was none other than Murong Qianjun, who had disappeared for some time, as he escaped while laughing, ”A bunch of fools, if it weren’t for you attracting the Silver-Backed Demon Python, I wouldn’t know how to pick these three Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruits. Hahaha.”