Chapter 505: Infant Spirit Fruit Acquired

The cave extended downwards, surrounded by solid rock. Soon after, Wang Changsheng emerged into a natural cavern, over a hundred zhang in size.

In the lower-left corner of the cavern stood a pale golden fruit tree, over three zhang tall. Its entire trunk was covered in concentric golden patterns, as if cast from bronze and iron. Its leaves were rhomboid, shimmering like scattered gold. Two golden, radiant fruits hung from its branches, each resembling a tiny, sleeping infant.

"Infant Spirit Fruit!"

Wang Changsheng's eyes gleamed with excitement. However, he quickly pulled a long face. There were only two Infant Spirit Fruits, and according to their previous agreement, he wouldn't get any. These two fruits belonged to Guang Dongren and the old woman in golden robes.

Despite his disappointment, Wang Changsheng also felt a sense of relief. To be honest, if there had been three Infant Spirit Fruits, that would have been the real trouble.

Even if he had managed to get one Infant Spirit Fruit, he wouldn't have slept soundly. Guang Dongren was at the seventh level of Core Formation, while Wang Changsheng was only at the first. Their power difference was too vast. Other items might be acceptable, but an Infant Spirit Fruit, which could increase one's chances of forming a Nascent Soul—would Guang Dongren truly be willing to share one with him? Faced with such immense benefit, the relationship between Wang Changsheng and Guang Dongren might not have lasted.

He released his spiritual sense, carefully scanning the entire cavern, but detected no aura.

As a precaution, Wang Changsheng released two ape-like puppet beasts and sent them walking towards the Infant Spirit Fruit tree.

One step, ten steps, twenty steps…

Just as the ape puppet beasts approached within ten zhang of the Infant Spirit Fruit tree, two thick bolts of golden lightning descended from above, striking the two ape puppet beasts precisely.

Two loud roars sounded, and the two ape puppets shattered into pieces.

A strange screech echoed, and a golden light suddenly descended from above. It was a Four-Winged Golden Sound Centipede, a mid-tier third-rank beast.

The Four-Winged Golden Sound Centipede flapped its four wings, creating loud whistling sounds as it sliced through the air. A large barrage of golden wind blades shot forth.

Wang Changsheng's expression shifted slightly. He quickly summoned his Nine-Curve Divine Sand, forming a yellow shield in front of him.

A series of muffled thuds echoed, but the yellow shield remained motionless.

"Boom!"

A thick bolt of golden lightning suddenly pierced through the yellow shield and, in a flash, struck Wang Changsheng, enveloping his body in a large expanse of golden electrical arcs.

Wang Changsheng gasped, an unbearable pain spreading throughout his body.

A golden light suddenly appeared above the golden lightning, revealing the Four-Winged Golden Sound Centipede.

Just as it was about to attack Wang Changsheng, the yellow shield transformed into a vast expanse of fine yellow sand, which then spun rapidly, materializing into a giant yellow hand several zhang in size, which swiftly slapped towards the Four-Winged Golden Sound Centipede.

Struck by the giant yellow hand, the Four-Winged Golden Sound Centipede was immediately sent flying backward, crashing into the cave wall.

As soon as it regained its footing, a pale golden talisman flew over, transforming into a large pale yellow bowl that inverted over it, trapping it inside.

Wang Changsheng retracted his Nine-Curve Divine Sand and, transforming into a streak of light, flew towards the Infant Spirit Fruits. He looked up and noticed a huge pit above the cave entrance. The Four-Winged Golden Sound Centipede had been hiding there.

A massive roar echoed. Startled, Wang Changsheng hastily plucked the two Infant Spirit Fruits and stored them in his storage pearl.

A yellow light glowed around his body as he attempted to use an earth-burrowing escape technique. However, the earth-burrowing technique failed, apparently due to some metal ore underground rendering it ineffective. He quickly transformed into a streak of light and darted outwards.

As soon as he flew out of the cave, a massive roar sounded, followed by a strange howl. A golden lightning bolt, as thick as a millstone, shot towards Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng quickly summoned his Nine-Curve Divine Sand, transforming it into a yellow armor that protected his entire body.

"Boom!"

The golden lightning struck Wang Changsheng, enveloping his body in a large expanse of golden lightning.

The Four-Winged Golden Sound Centipede transformed into a golden streak and chased after him. Just then, five white ice pythons emerged from the golden lightning, pouncing towards the Four-Winged Golden Sound Centipede.

The white ice pythons were incredibly fast, instantly appearing before the Four-Winged Golden Sound Centipede.

"Explode!"

A cold male voice rang out. The five white ice pythons exploded almost simultaneously, transforming into a vast expanse of white frigid air that enveloped the Four-Winged Golden Sound Centipede.

The Four-Winged Golden Sound Centipede's body rapidly froze, causing it to fall from mid-air.

Two strange screeching sounds echoed, and two golden lights appeared on the horizon. Before the golden lights even touched the ground, two immensely thick golden beams of light descended from the sky, striking the golden lightning.

Boom!

A deafening roar reverberated, and the golden lightning intensified dramatically.

Loud whistling sounds filled the air. Densely packed golden wind blades descended from high above, eagerly plunging into the golden lightning.

After three breaths, the golden lightning vanished, leaving behind a massive, charred pit on the ground, with no human figure to be seen.

The three Four-Winged Golden Sound Centipedes, in a fit of rage, unleashed a torrent of golden lightning, destroying several towering trees.

Inside a hidden mountain cave, Wang Lin sat cross-legged on the ground, his face pale, eyes closed, and aura weak.

After a moment, he opened his eyes, his expression grim.

"Damn it, they're chasing me again. Old Scoundrel Shangguan, one day, I will reclaim my position as Sect Master of the Nine Nether Sect."

Wang Lin muttered to himself. He flipped his hand, producing a palm-sized black jade disc, on which runes flickered, emitting spatial fluctuations.

He chanted several incantations into it. The black jade disc then emitted a vast expanse of black ethereal light, engulfing his body.

A moment later, the black ethereal light dispersed, and Wang Lin was gone.

In a peach blossom forest, Guang Dongren and the old woman in golden robes stood beneath a peach tree, their brows furrowed.

"Hmph, it's been three days, Fellow Daoist Guang. The person you found is simply too unreliable. Fortunately, I had a contingency in place for him, but it's a pity about those two Infant Spirit Fruits."

The old woman in golden robes spoke with a tone of regret. Had she known this, she would never have agreed to let Wang Changsheng collect the Infant Spirit Fruits. If Wang Changsheng broke his oath and died, it wouldn't matter. But with the Infant Spirit Fruits lost, obtaining them again would not be so easy.

"Perhaps Fellow Daoist Wang encountered an accident. I believe he wouldn't secretly take the Infant Spirit Fruits. Besides, didn't he swear an oath on the 'Book of Fiendish Ghosts'?"

Guang Dongren defended Wang Changsheng. Wang Changsheng had a family to consider, and the consequences of secretly taking the Infant Spirit Fruits would be severe. He was more inclined to believe Wang Changsheng had encountered danger.

"Hmph, the Celestial Wolf Secret Realm is about to close, and the exit teleportation is random. As for the 'Book of Fiendish Ghosts,' even if he breaks his oath, it won't immediately take effect. If a Nascent Soul cultivator helps him resolve it, it might not be impossible to undo it."

The old woman in golden robes' tone was full of resentment. If Guang Dongren hadn't vouched for him, she would never have let Wang Changsheng collect the Infant Spirit Fruits. Now, with nothing to show for it, she was filled with immense regret.

"I believe he wouldn't monopolize the Infant Spirit Fruits. Let's wait a bit longer!"

If Wang Changsheng had secretly taken the Infant Spirit Fruits, Guang Dongren certainly wouldn't have let it go. However, if Wang Changsheng were to share one with him, that would be a different matter entirely.

"Fellow Daoist Guang, you two aren't conspiring to set a trap for this old woman, are you?!"

The old woman in golden robes said with a grim face, a cold glint flashing in her cloudy eyes.

"Madam Jin, please don't slander me. If I intended to do such a thing, would I still have met up with you? Besides, Fellow Daoist Wang wouldn't joke with his own life. Who knows if the restriction from the 'Book of Fiendish Ghosts' can even be undone?"

To be honest, Guang Dongren had indeed considered that idea. However, the risk was too great, and Wang Changsheng might not have agreed. If the 'Book of Fiendish Ghosts' restriction couldn't be undone, Wang Changsheng would be in serious trouble.

Just then, a sharp whistle sounded from Guang Dongren's embrace. He pulled out a golden orb from his robes—the Mysterious Moon Mother-Child Pearl.

Guang Dongren's face lit up with joy: "Fellow Daoist Wang has arrived! He kept his word."