Human Clan Defender

"What an apt phrase, 'everyone relies on their own skill'!"

Fu Yue pursed her lips with a smile and glanced at Yun Dingtian and the others before shifting her gaze back to Xun Qu.

"Defender Xun, we are both from the Demon-Subduing Division. Why resort to fighting before the enemy? It would be better if we joined forces to eliminate the outsiders first. Then, as our own people, we can slowly negotiate the distribution, don't you agree?"

As soon as her words fell, the expressions on Yun Dingtian's and Yin Zizhen's faces tightened.

That was exactly what they feared: the members of the Demon-Subduing Division teaming up and excluding the two of them.

Although Grandmaster Peak martial artists were not weaker than Defender Envoys, for the two of them to go against the five Defender Envoys present would be a joke.

Just as everyone's gaze fell upon Xun Qu, the Defender Envoy of Mountain-Breaking City merely gave Fu Yue a detached glance.

"If we're contending for the Spirit Fruit, then let's compete for it. What's the point of all this talk? If I were to join forces with you to eliminate them, then once we turn around, I'd likely be the one eliminated, wouldn't I?"

"You jest, Defender Xun. We are colleagues, after all. Why should we fall out over such a trivial matter?"

"If that's the case, then I want three Longevity Fruits. Are you, Defender Fu, willing to part with them?"

A sneer touched Xun Qu's lips.

He wasn't a naive three-year-old. He didn't believe a single word she said.

Though outwardly the Demon-Subduing Division might seem united, in reality, everyone had their own selfish desires.

In the face of profit, there were no true allies to speak of. Especially when it came to the Longevity Fruit—a treasure that could significantly alter the fate of a Defender Envoy—they were even less likely to relinquish it easily.

Upon hearing this, Fu Yue's smile froze.

Xiao An and the others' expressions also darkened.

Seeing this, Xun Qu spread his hands. "You see? You aren't even willing to give a verbal promise, so what else is there to discuss? I am the only Defender Envoy from Mountain-Breaking City here. To be honest, if there were no outsiders, I might not stand a chance against all of you."

Shen Changqing watched Xun Qu with a peculiar expression.

In his memory, this Defender Envoy of Mountain-Breaking City was typically mature and composed, not one to act impulsively. He was far from the sharp, aggressive man he appeared to be now.

Either Xun Qu has hidden his true nature deeply, or the Longevity Fruit is simply too important to him! Shen Changqing reflected.

Between the two possibilities, he leaned towards the latter. Regarding character, while deeply scheming individuals certainly existed, Shen Changqing trusted his judgment; Xun Qu didn't seem the type to be adept at concealing his true self. Therefore, the only explanation was that the Longevity Fruit held immense significance for him.

Normally, speaking so brazenly from a position of weakness, as Xun Qu was, would undoubtedly risk making him a public target.

However, in the current situation, being forthright might not necessarily draw everyone's hostility, while being timid wouldn't necessarily be advantageous.

Regardless of how boldly anyone acted, the objective for everyone present remained the same: to seize the Longevity Fruit.

As Xun Qu finished speaking, the scene fell silent for a moment.

Time passed. The fluctuations of Spiritual Energy around the crystal fruit tree diminished, yet the fragrance emanating from the Longevity Fruits grew increasingly potent.

Inhaling the rich aroma, some felt the stirrings of temptation and could no longer restrain themselves.

Soon, an elder, an air of fading life about him, stepped forward from the crowd and charged towards the Longevity Fruits.

He was a Grandmaster nearing the end of his lifespan.

He had entered the Heavenly Realm solely to seize an opportunity.

If he failed to obtain a Longevity Fruit, he wouldn't have many days left to live. Therefore, despite being surrounded by powerful figures, he had no choice but to take the risk.

"Courting death!"

A cold glint flashed in Fu Yue's eyes. With a wave of her right hand, a length of red satin shot from her sleeve like a striking viper, coiling towards the elder.

Seemingly sensing the danger, the elder flipped in mid-air to dodge the red satin's attack. Simultaneously, the longsword on his back unsheathed itself, unleashing a fierce burst of Sword Qi that instantly severed the satin.

Then, with a light tap of his toes, he propelled himself towards the Longevity Fruits.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, but it was over in the blink of an eye.

Fu Yue hadn't expected her attack to be so easily thwarted.

Seeing him about to claim a Longevity Fruit, she abandoned all pretense of saving face.

BOOM!

A black aura billowed around Fu Yue, like an emerging Demon God, outlining her graceful figure and making her resemble a terrifying enchantress.

She thrust out a delicate hand, and a black Palm Gang shattered the air as it struck.

Sensing the terrifying threat from behind, the elder had to abandon his attempt to seize a Longevity Fruit. Instead, he swung his sword, unleashing his full might in an overwhelming torrent of Sword Qi.

Such powerful Sword Qi!

Shen Changqing's eyes flickered as he observed the Sword Qi the elder unleashed.

Despite appearing ancient and on the verge of death, his strength was by no means weak. He searched his memories, trying to recall if he had ever heard the elder's name.

Just then, Xun Qu's voice sounded in his ear.

"That is the Sword Elder; his original name has long been forgotten. He holds considerable repute in the Jianghu and is particularly distinguished for his accomplishments in the Sword Dao. Unfortunately, it seems all his talent was channeled into the Sword Dao, causing his other cultivation aptitudes to lag. Now, at over a hundred years old, he is still lingering at the Late Stage Grandmaster realm."

Late Stage Grandmaster!

Shen Changqing nodded slightly.

Truthfully, anyone who could reach the Late Stage Grandmaster realm possessed terrifying talent. However, everything had to be viewed from different perspectives. Within the Demon-Subduing Division, for instance, almost all who became Defender Envoys reached the Late Stage Grandmaster realm in their thirties or forties. By comparison, the Sword Elder, still at the Late Stage Grandmaster realm in his hundreds, indeed had rather poor talent.

At that moment, under Shen Changqing's gaze, the Sword Elder was already engaged in combat with Fu Yue.

Even though he was only a Late Stage Grandmaster martial artist, his exceptional mastery of the Sword Dao meant he wasn't at a significant disadvantage, even when facing a Defender Envoy.

The longsword hummed softly, then, in an instant, its cry transformed into a clear, resonant peal that echoed between Heaven and Earth.

The Sword Elder held his sword, his expression impassive as he faced Fu Yue. "I do not wish to fight the Demon-Subduing Division, but my lifespan is nearly at its end. I must obtain a Longevity Fruit. I hope Defender Fu will do me the courtesy and not make things difficult."

His tone was neither humble nor arrogant, showing no disrespect for Fu Yue, nor any fear due to her status as a Defender Envoy.

"Courtesy?" Fu Yue sneered. "Sword Elder, you are old. In the Jianghu, you might be considered a martial arts senior, but in my eyes, you are merely a decrepit old man on the brink of death. What makes you think you have the right to ask for my courtesy? There are many powerful experts here today; you don't even rank among them!"

"Then forgive my audacity!" A sharp glint flashed in the Sword Elder's murky eyes.

The next moment, the sword he had held ready finally descended.

There was no vast sword light, no earth-shattering Sword Intent. Even the resonant sword cry that had filled the Heavenly Realm vanished.

No extraordinary phenomena occurred; it was merely the simplest of sword strikes. Yet, this single strike caused Fu Yue's expression to change drastically.

Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!

A profound terror gripped her heart. It felt as though, facing this sword, even she, a Defender Envoy, might perish.

Because of this, Fu Yue could only retreat.

At the same time, Yun Dingtian roared, "Sword Elder, I'll assist you!" He stepped out and launched a palm strike at Fu Yue from behind.

As Yun Dingtian made his move, another Defender Envoy from Baiyue City, who had been holding back, finally couldn't restrain himself.

"Yun Dingtian, you dare!"

A palm wreathed in black energy crashed violently against Yun Dingtian's.

Two destructive forces erupted outwards. Then, as the powerful rebounding force struck him, Yun Dingtian sidestepped, using this force to move as swiftly as Jinghong, darting towards the Longevity Fruits.

All along, his true target had been the Longevity Fruits.

Attacking Fu Yue was merely a feint. Using the rebound force combined with an explosion of his own power, Yun Dingtian's speed reached an incredible peak.

Just as his hand was about to touch a Longevity Fruit, Xiao An, who had been biding his time, made his move.

"If you want the Longevity Fruits, you'll have to get through me first!"

As the Sword Elder made his move to seize the Longevity Fruits, the previously stable situation instantly spiraled out of control.

Many from the Jianghu began vying for the Longevity Fruits.

Among those present, many were not as powerful as Yun Dingtian or Xiao An. But everyone harbored a gambler's hope.

With so many powerful experts embroiled in the chaos, they hoped for a chance to fish in troubled waters.

Securing a single Longevity Fruit meant adding ten years to one's lifespan.

How many decades does a person have in a lifetime? Therefore, even a single Longevity Fruit was enough to drive those present into an uncontrollable frenzy.

Watching the battle unfold, a black aura emanated from Xun Qu, and his clear, distinct eyes gradually turned crimson.

He didn't act immediately, however. Instead, he turned to Shen Changqing.

"Elder Shen, when the time comes, focus on seizing the Longevity Fruits. Take as many as you can, and don't worry about anything else. No matter which of us gets the Longevity Fruits, our priority is to leave this place immediately. Once we're out of the Heavenly Realm, even if you have Longevity Fruits on you, they wouldn't dare to try and rob you."

"Alright!" Shen Changqing nodded solemnly.

He understood Xun Qu's meaning.

Within the Heavenly Realm, factional power and influence held little sway. It was a place for contesting opportunities, where the strong prevailed and the weak perished. Even if someone was killed, as long as no evidence was left behind, it wasn't a major issue.

After all, the Heavenly Realm only existed for a limited time. Afterward, it would recede into the void, hidden from sight.

But the outside world was different. Even if one managed to destroy a corpse and erase all traces, some clues would inevitably remain; achieving absolute perfection in such a cover-up was impossible.

Then, if the matter were investigated and uncovered, the consequences wouldn't be so simple.

These were unstated rules, but everyone understood them clearly.