195 - We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 195: Though My Senior Brother is Dog-like, He’d Never Stoof So Low as to Fancy You! Mount Hei Yun, located 2,350 miles north of the Wan Dao Sect. This peak towers into the sky and is named for its pitch-black appearance, thus called Mount Hei Yun. Yu Yunwei and her companions entered the heart of the mountain. Initially, their expressions were relaxed, but now they were gradually tense. Mount Hei Yun is home to sixth-grade magical beasts. A mere misstep could provoke these creatures, turning their mission into a disaster, making escape a luxury beyond reach. But they had no intentions of provoking sixth-grade beasts. After all, they were here to collect magic cores to complete their mission, not to court death. Shortly after entering Mount Hei Yun, the group encountered a seventh-grade beast. Together, the five easily brought down the creature, extracting its magic core. According to the mission from Wan Dao Sect, they needed to collect fifty magic cores from eighth-grade beasts and ten from seventh-grade ones. Yu Yunwei did a quick estimate. They would likely need to stay in Mount Hei Yun for about seven days. Not a problem for her. Yu Yunwei wouldn't mind staying even longer if it meant avoiding the face of her dog-like senior brother a while longer. Yet, as days passed, Yu Yunwei found herself more bored by these useless companions than bothered by her senior brother. In several hunting engagements, Yu Yunwei learned the combat habits and magical techniques of Li Nan and the others. She kept mental notes of their personalities and habits. In contrast, Yu Yunwei hid her cultivation of the Illusory Heaven Art, relying only on Blood Demon Blade techniques and talismans for fights. You never know when you might need to take them down, after all. By then, the Illusory Heaven Art would be her ultimate trump card. Fast forward six days, and Yu Yunwei's team had almost gathered all the magic cores, only three cores from seventh-grade beasts remaining. By the next morning, they would likely complete their mission. "Yu Junior Sister, what's wrong? You seem a bit down," Qu Xiaotao asked, smiling as she sat beside Yu Yunwei. These past days, Qu Xiaotao had been working to cozy up to Yu Yunwei, inquiring frequently about Xiao Mo. Yu Yunwei appeared to engage warmly, speaking casually, but in truth, harbored growing disdain for this vixen. Did she not know what this woman was up to? Obviously, she was eyeing a double cultivation session with her senior brother in a few years. Time that seems long for ordinary people is but a blink for cultivators. Yu Yunwei had heard back in Wan Dao Sect that many foundational disciples at Wan Hua Peak were deliberately abstaining from their first double cultivation, waiting for Xiao Mo to mature. "What is it, Yu Junior Sister? Why aren't you speaking?" Qu Xiaotao asked again, eyes curving into friendly arches. "Oh, it's nothing, Sister Qu," Yu Yunwei replied sweetly, "I'm just missing my master and senior brother, and since our mission wraps up tomorrow, I’ll be a bit sad to part with Sister Qu." "I see." Qu Xiaotao patted Yu Yunwei's head. "No worries, when we're back at Wan Dao Sect, I'll visit you at Ye Xue Peak to hang out." "Really? That's wonderful." Yu Yunwei nodded eagerly. "Then I'll show you around Ye Xue Peak with my senior brother." "Thank you, Yunwei." Qu Xiaotao beamed and, after a pleasant chat, returned to sit with the three male cultivators, engaging in small talk. Watching Qu Xiaotao occasionally reveal her fair arms, flirtatiously pinching her collar, and playfully patting nearby men while cooing, "Oh stop it," made Yu Yunwei feel increasingly disgusted. "Ugh, taste matters! My senior brother may be dog-like, but he'd never stoop so low as to fancy you!" she spat silently in her mind. The next morning, everyone was energized, planning to collect the remaining magic cores by daybreak. And indeed, the mission proceeded smoothly. They quickly dispatched three seventh-grade beasts in just two hours. After confirming the count, Li Nan announced, "Mission accomplished, let's return to Wan Dao Sect for debriefing." "Sure." Qu Xiaotao stretched gracefully, her fitted dress clinging to her lithe form, "Seven nights on this mountain, no decent sleep in sight." "Indeed," Yu Yunwei smiled, a trace of disappointment hidden in her heart. Why couldn’t these fools give her an excuse to cut them down? Just as the group prepared to trek homeward, Yan Liu crouched down, observing a weed. "What's up, Brother Yan?" Qin Hai asked out of curiosity. "Everyone, have a look," Yan Liu cleared away the tall grass, "This doesn't seem unusual, but the root is blood-red. My master mentioned a fruit called the Scarlet Moon Fruit that turns nearby grass roots red at ripeness." "Scarlet Moon Fruit?" Qu Xiaotao's eyes sparkled, "I read that it's incredibly beneficial for entering the Cave Abode realm, isn’t that right?" "Exactly!" Yan Liu nodded affirmatively. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's search!" Li Nan’s eyes brimmed with desire. At the late foundational stage, close to the Cave Abode realm, the Scarlet Moon Fruit was irresistible to him. "Let’s go, but caution is vital, treasures like this usually have beasts guarding them." Yan Liu cautioned. Had it not been for this, he would have kept it a secret. But five searching are much safer than one. Each Scarlet Moon tree bears at least seven fruits, making the venture worthwhile. For the next two hours, they scoured nearby landscapes. By afternoon, uncovering layers of shrubbery, their eyes lit up. Just ahead stood a tree roughly three yards high, among its crimson leaves hung seven Scarlet Moon Fruits! "Wait, look!" Qu Xiaotao suddenly pointed at a particular spot among the leaves. No need for Qu Xiaotao's shout—everyone had noticed it. Perched atop the Scarlet Moon Tree was a distinctly different fruit, exuding an enchanting fragrance.