“This is…”
Li Feng stared blankly at the spot not far off. A mere three inches from him stood a peculiar plant, its form twisting like a fledgling eagle, rendered with lifelike detail. Atop its beak trembled a single fiery red fruit.
“Is this a Xuan Yuan Fruit?”
Ecstasy bloomed across Li Feng’s face. He had never imagined encountering a Xuan Yuan Fruit here. This too was a heavenly treasure, albeit inferior to Zhu Fruit or Golden Cicada Fruit. Yet it remained a rare and precious find.
Li Feng finally understood why the giant ape had attacked him on sight. The beast had been guarding the Xuan Yuan Fruit, and his arrival had made it think he intended to steal it.
“What luck.” Excitement lit Li Feng’s features. He had entered the Ten Thousand Great Mountains on the first day and already stumbled upon a Xuan Yuan Fruit. Even if he found no Golden Cicada Fruit this trip, the Xuan Yuan Fruit alone would suffice to advance him to the third level of Qi Refining.
At that moment, a pleasing fragrance wafted from the Xuan Yuan Fruit. Evidently, it had ripened, shifting from its unremarkable state to emit this captivating aroma.
Li Feng inhaled but a single breath of the scent and felt every pore in his body open, a wave of utter refreshment washing over him. His heart thrilled. Better to arrive early than to arrive precisely on time. The difference between a ripe and unripe Xuan Yuan Fruit was night and day.
With this in mind, Li Feng wasted no time and approached the Xuan Yuan Fruit. As he drew nearer, the fruit’s fragrance grew ever thicker.
Reaching the plant, Li Feng produced a jade box.
Heavenly treasures like the Xuan Yuan Fruit could not be stored casually. Born of the world’s spiritual energy, if treated like common items, they risked losing their essence.
Thus, before entering the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, Li Feng had prepared several jade boxes precisely for storing such treasures. He had not expected to use one so soon.
Without hesitation, Li Feng plucked the Xuan Yuan Fruit. Fearing its aroma might draw other ferocious beasts, he placed it swiftly into the jade box and departed the spot.
Li Feng moved with haste, his body swaying lightly. With a stamp of his foot, he covered ten metres in a single bound. Another stamp, and his form vanished into the forest depths.
Under the moonlight, the Ten Thousand Great Mountains lay in profound stillness. Upon a hillside, a pile of firewood crackled, sending sparks skyward. A rabbit, roasted golden-brown, turned steadily on a spit. Li Feng chewed on an unidentified wild fruit, his gaze fixed upon the flames, his mood one of buoyant excitement.
To gain a Xuan Yuan Fruit on the first day in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains meant that even a modest yield in the days ahead would render the journey worthwhile, Golden Cicada Fruit or no.
Of course, this did not imply that heavenly treasures in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains came easily. Li Feng’s acquisition of the Xuan Yuan Fruit stemmed from sheer fortune. Had he not encountered the giant ape, or arrived a day earlier, he would never have spotted it.
In this primeval forest, who would notice an unremarkable plant?
Moreover, even upon discovering the Xuan Yuan Fruit, overcoming the giant ape would have proven a nigh impossible feat.
Luck, in truth, was a form of strength.
For martial artists, those blessed with great fortune were destined for extraordinary achievements.
Li Feng did not count himself among the greatly fortunate, yet securing the Xuan Yuan Fruit this time left him feeling his luck had held.
“Who goes there!”
Suddenly, Li Feng bellowed, springing to his feet. His gaze pierced the woods ahead, a flying knife materialising in his hand at the same instant.
Thud-thud-thud…
Footsteps approached. Soon, two figures emerged before Li Feng: a man and a woman, both in their early twenties. The man was handsome and dashing, the woman beautiful as a flower.
“Who are you?” Li Feng eyed them warily. To appear in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains marked them as no ordinary folk.
“I am Ge Feng. Greetings to this friend.” Ge Feng had not expected the one tending the fire here to be a youth near his own age. Surprise flickered in his eyes as he regarded Li Feng.
“Ge Feng?” Li Feng committed the name to memory, then asked gravely, “Who are you, and why do you appear here?”
In the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, ferocious beasts posed grave threats, yet humans were far more treacherous. Li Feng now stood some dozens of li from the mountains’ edge, a realm overrun by beasts. For these two to reach this place marked them as far from commonplace.
“This is my younger sister, Ge Ying. We spotted the firelight here and came to investigate.” Ge Feng replied.
“Is that so?” Li Feng’s gaze bored into Ge Feng, as if seeking any trace of deceit.
“Oh, come now, why are you like this? We have told you plainly. Do you still doubt us? Who are you, anyway? Why are you here? Are you here for the trials too?” Ge Ying pouted.
“Little sister.” Ge Feng’s tone held a note of reproach. Friend or foe, he could not yet tell. How could she so casually mention the trials?
Ge Ying realised her slip and stuck out her tongue sheepishly.
Trials?
Li Feng’s eyes narrowed, his gaze settling upon the pair. “You have come to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains for trials. Evidently, you are disciples of some ancient martial sect?”
Sects served as vital conduits for martial inheritance. In his previous life, Li Feng had encountered numerous sect disciples. In this life, he had met only Zheng Haoyuan, who seemed affiliated with some sect on Tianmu Mountain.
Li Feng had not expected to encounter sect disciples here as well. Ge Feng regarded him with evident caution, yet Ge Ying plainly lacked guile. Li Feng trusted nine parts of her words.
“Which sect do you hail from?” Li Feng knew nothing of this era’s sects, yet before Ge Feng and his sister, he betrayed no ignorance.
“We are of the Ge family, not disciples of any sect.” Before Ge Feng could speak, Ge Ying answered.
Ge Feng could only sigh inwardly at his sister’s ways. He knew her to be forthright and unguarded, yet to reveal even this to a stranger…
Thus, he merely watched Li Feng with heightened vigilance.
For Li Feng to venture here alone marked him as no trifling figure. If Li Feng intended harm, Ge Feng could only fight desperately to shield Ge Ying.
The Ge family?!
Li Feng pondered. Among China’s eight great aristocratic clans, none bore the name Ge. Could this Ge family then be of the first-rate clans?
“I am Li Feng.” Li Feng introduced himself.
“Li Feng? So you are Young Master Li.” Ge Feng cupped his hands towards Li Feng.
Even as Li Feng spoke his name, he watched the Ge siblings intently. If they were first-rate clan scions, they could not possibly be ignorant of him. Yet upon hearing his introduction, the Ge siblings’ faces remained utterly calm, showing no anomaly. This led Li Feng to suspect either masterful dissimulation or genuine unfamiliarity.
If the Ge siblings truly knew not his name, then plainly the Ge family was no first-rate clan. This puzzled him. If not first-rate, then what were they?
At a glance, Li Feng could tell the Ge siblings were no ordinary folk. They were martial artists, their strength inferior to his yet not by much. For them to possess such power at their age meant the Ge family could not be weak. Thus, this was why Li Feng speculated they hailed from some notable clan.
“Chance encounters are fated. Please, sit.” Li Feng smiled and reseated himself.
“This…” Ge Feng hesitated, but Ge Ying seized his arm and pulled him down, saying, “Big brother, it is rare to meet another soul in these Ten Thousand Great Mountains. Do you truly wish to return to the trees?”
Ge Feng was helpless against his sister.
Li Feng took up the roasted rabbit, drew his dagger, and divided it into three portions, offering one to each of the Ge siblings. “Here, have a taste.”
Ge Ying snatched hers and began eating.
“Little sister…” Ge Feng’s expression shifted. One must guard against others; he had not expected his sister to trust a stranger so implicitly.
Li Feng smiled, aware of Ge Feng’s concern. He took his own portion and ate as well. Between bites, he asked, “What exactly do you mean by these trials of yours?”
