Urban Immortal Cultivation Supreme

However, to Zhu Bufan's surprise, the root system of the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit Tree was very developed and incredibly sturdy. When Zhu Bufan tried to pull it out, he failed to uproot it.

"Ah!"

Zhu Bufan felt astonished and couldn't help but put more strength into it.

Only when Zhu Bufan exerted about half of his strength did he start to feel the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit Tree beginning to wobble, prompting him to increase his effort.

Plop...

Finally, the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit Tree was pulled out by Zhu Bufan.

The tree's roots were devoid of any soil, very clean, with a majority as thick as fingers, and the rest were as fine as hair strands, tangled in a bundle, resembling a head covering.

"Something's not right!"

Weighing the tree, Zhu Bufan discovered the problem; the root section accounted for the majority of the tree's weight, which was disproportionate to the rest of the tree.

Zhu Bufan hastily untangled the messy roots of the tree.

Thump...

Suddenly, something fell from the cluster of fluffy roots and dropped into the pond.

With quick reflexes, Zhu Bufan caught it midway.

"So cold!"

The clear water of the pond, with mist entwined, showed no sign of its frigidity without contact. The moment Zhu Bufan touched the water, it felt as though thousands of steel needles pierced into his arm, causing his arm to stiffen and lose flexibility, as if it had frozen.

With a slight circulation of his Inner Qi, the sensation instantly dissipated. Zhu Bufan didn't care much about this, as all his attention was now focused on the egg-sized blue Crystal Stone in his hand.

This blue Crystal Stone emitted a dazzling blue radiance, chaotic and opaque within, yet despite this, the stone felt not the slightest bit cold but was instead warm and smooth to the touch.

"This is it!"

Feeling the familiar Energy Fluctuation, Zhu Bufan realized that the blue glowing crystals scattered on the ground around him originated from the same source as the Crystal Stone in his hand.

"The old man must not know this exists. Since the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit grew its roots around it, its value must be no less than the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruits!" Zhu Bufan thought.

Afterwards, Zhu Bufan checked the pond once more and, finding no other gains, carefully wrapped the blue Crystal Stone thrice to the left and thrice to the right, and placed it in his bosom.

Without wasting any more time, Zhu Bufan immediately ran full speed towards the cave's exit.

While still a considerable distance from the cave entrance, Zhu Bufan could already feel the slight tremors of the ground and the clashing sounds of energies, along with occasional roars of Fierce Beasts...

Upon reaching the entrance, Zhu Bufan cautiously concealed his own Qi and peered out.

Little did he know, as he poked his head out, two pairs of eyes—four eyes total—instantly fixed on him, as if they had been waiting there all along.

The sharp gaze from those eyes made Zhu Bufan shudder involuntarily, instinctively tucking his head back in.

Of course, among these eyes, one pair belonged to the man in black, who had a hopeful glint in his gaze.

He had been searching for the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit for fifteen long years, and not long ago, at a great cost, he finally obtained the information that the fruit might exist within the Dream Ice Forest of the Endless Ice Field. Therefore, ignoring the perilous reputation of the four deadliest places, he ventured here.

But to his relief, before he truly delved deep into the Endless Ice Field, he discovered the existence of the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit through a Golden Whiskered Rat, which filled him with immense joy. However, awkwardly, even without entering deep into the Endless Ice Field, the strength of the Fierce Beast guarding the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit was nearly equal to his, maybe even slightly stronger.

He had fought the Fierce Beast no fewer than ten times, but he could never gain a substantial advantage, let alone enter the cave. Intimidation didn't work, and neither did bribery; the unknown Fierce Beast, at most, would only leave the Ice Cave by two zhangs, not bothering with his provocations or baiting with food.

Several days later, he was surprised to discover that the strange Fierce Beast was reaching the point of advancement. Although the Fierce Beast's strength would soar following its advancement, it would certainly be an insurmountable foe for him, making the prospect of obtaining the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit even more impossible. However, during the time of advancement, the Fierce Beast's strength would decline significantly, and for him, this was the best and last chance.

Yet, he had still underestimated the strength of the Fierce Beast. Although the Fierce Beast had weakened due to advancement, it remained fiercely strong, guarding the entrance unwaveringly, making it completely impossible for the man in black to enter the Ice Cave.

But just when the man in black was losing all hope, Zhu Bufan suddenly intruded, giving the man in black a glimpse of hope.

"Senior, the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit is in our possession!" Seeing the burning gaze of the man in black and the Fierce Beast's eyes filled with Killing Intent, Zhu Bufan had to state his position right away—he was afraid that, if he hadn't secured the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit, the man in black would abandon him to be the Fierce Beast's prey.

Upon hearing this, the man in black instantly showed an expression of joy, his actions becoming brisk and powerful.

However, the Fierce Beast was quite different—its blue eyes erupted with threads of blood, fixing their gaze straight on Zhu Bufan.

"Vile creature, we have already obtained the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit, why persist in this place? Go back!" The man in black pushed back the Fierce Beast, exclaiming victoriously.

Even so, the Fierce Beast kept its eyes locked sternly on Zhu Bufan, not relaxing in the slightest.

"What's the matter? Can't let go? It makes sense, after all, consuming the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit would allow one to completely unlock spiritual intelligence, with the potential of advancing cultivation to even transform shape!" laughed the man in black.

But the words of the man in black fell on deaf ears to the Fierce Beast, whose gaze remained solidly fixed on Zhu Bufan, unchanging.

According to the man in black, the Fierce Beast cared about the Seven-orifice Exquisite Fruit, but Zhu Bufan felt that wasn't the case, for within those azure eyes, he saw a hue identical to that of the blue Crystal Stone.

"This Fierce Beast is actually concerned about the blue Crystal Stone!"

Observing the bloodshot eyes of the Fierce Beast, a thought abruptly surfaced in Zhu Bufan's mind—strange, yet it felt so real.

"Kid, let's go!" shouted the man in black.

With a sudden retreat, the man in black flung his ample black robe, wrapping Zhu Bufan inside, and then shot up into the air.

This lightning-fast action took not only Zhu Bufan by surprise but also the Fierce Beast—it paused for a mere moment before its tentacle fiercely slapped upon the ice, with its massive body shooting up like a cannonball.

Midair, the Fierce Beast's energy was exhausted, and at the peak of its ascent as it was about to fall, the remaining thick tentacle shot out desperately, hurtling towards Zhu Bufan.

"Hmph, still playing the same tricks!" The man in black yelled fiercely as a fiery red Inner Qi burst forth, tangling behind him into a pair of grand wings.

As the man in black released the fiery red Inner Qi, Zhu Bufan felt the Cold Ice Internal Energy inside him churn wildly, moving with extreme difficulty, overwhelmed by an intense heat that rushed over him—it was so hot that Zhu Bufan felt suffocated, a profound sense of unease enveloping him.