"Swish!"
A streak of white light, invisible to the naked eye, unsheathed with a clang, striking directly at the apex of the white tree. The sound of branches snapping was heard, and then a fruit rolled down from the crown of the tree. It fell for a long time before finally landing on the ground, rolling to the teenager's feet. It was a fiery red fruit, as large as a fist.
"Fiery... fiery red..."
A cavalryman's face turned red: "My heavens, it's the only fiery red fruit at the crown of the tree. What kind of luck does this Lin Zhao have..."
"A fiery red fruit!"
A disciple from the academy's eyes showed envy. "If one could consume this fruit, the Upper Five Realms would be within reach, wouldn't they? I heard Lin Zhao has already delved into the martial path. If he eats this fruit, the Sea Stepping Realm will be a certainty. Perhaps if his resilience is strong enough, he might even become a legendary Eleven Realms Celestial Origin Realm, or even aspire to the Twelfth Realm Rebirth Realm..."
"This Lin Zhao fellow!"
A teenager holding a green fruit gritted his teeth in hatred: "This kind of person... actually receives such favor. Why is this happening? It makes me so angry!"
"Hmph..."
A remarkably beautiful girl holding an orange fruit looked at Lin Zhao with an increasingly complex gaze. This scruffy boy who ran back and forth between Baiyuxi and the back street every day actually received the only fiery red fruit. This was truly a monumental stroke of fortune. Her previous attention had only been on the scions of the noble families from the front street – the Huang, Zhao, Su, and Chen families. She had thought that as someone born a commoner, if she were to become a Dao companion to these young masters from the aristocratic families, she might be able to rise step by step in the future.
But now she felt she was wrong, that she had been wrong from the start. She should have seized the opportunity and interacted with Lin Zhao. With her looks, if she had gone to Lin Zhao's home, shed her clothes, and offered herself, could this boy have resisted? He likely couldn't. If that were the case, with this boy's simple honesty, he might have shared half a fruit with her, and the Upper Five Realms would have been secured!
What was the concept of the Upper Five Realms? Tianchi Ridge had no one in the Upper Five Realms. The highest-cultivated individual, Chu Huaixi, was merely at the Tenth Realm of the Middle Five Realms, the Sea Stepping Realm!
Someone in the Upper Five Realms would be like a god in Tianchi Ridge, able to manipulate anyone at will!
Thus, the girl's eyes were filled with regret. Looking at Lin Zhao's appearance now, he was simply so handsome that it made her heart ache with longing and her mouth water.
...
"This..."
Qin Suihan stood frozen, awkward in his indecision.
Chu Huaixi also looked astonished and said through a mental connection: "What... what should we say? That sword... seems a little strange... By the way, I saw Lin Zhao carrying a sword last time; it should be the same one. Could it be..."
Qin Suihan coughed and said, "Well, well, this sword was originally his fortune. If it was this sword that earned him his fortune, it seems understandable. It can be considered reasonable!"
"Hahaha~~~"
Chu Huaixi couldn't help but want to laugh. This scholar, usually appearing refined and rigid, seemed to have his rules bent for Lin Zhao, allowing such a concession.
"Lin Zhao!"
Chen Yu stepped forward several paces and said with a smile, "What are you waiting for? The white tree bestowed this fruit upon you. Quickly pick it up and accept it!"
"Mm!"
Lin Zhao felt as if he had won the lottery. He quickly picked up the fiery red fruit and held it in his hands with great reverence.
...
"The ceremony is complete!"
At this moment, the old gentleman in scholarly robes struck the ground heavily with his cane and said in a deep voice, "The white tree fruits obtained by everyone have not yet merged with the world's spiritual脉. This will require three days, until the fruits are fully ripe, before they can be consumed!"
"Mm!"
Chu Huaixi also slowly rose, his powerful aura as a Sea Stepping Realm martial artist radiating out. He let out a low roar, "Everyone must remember that the white tree's bestowal is a gift from heaven. No one is allowed to seize another's fruit. What the white tree bestows upon someone is theirs. If anyone dares to forcefully take it, do not blame the Tianchi Army for showing no mercy. Anyone who dares to defy this will be an enemy of our Tianchi Army!"
"Yes, Commander Chu!"
Everyone nodded in unison.
...
At noon, the coming-of-age ceremony was thus completed. The boys and girls, each holding a white tree fruit, were led home by their respective elders. Lin Zhao, however, carefully tucked the fruit into his embrace and left the premises.
Behind him, the old gentleman in scholarly robes, leaning on his cane and surrounded by several academy disciples, walked to the doorway. As he was about to cross the threshold, he seemed to remember something and immediately turned around, bowing deeply in the Confucian style towards Qin Suihan, who was reading under the tree. "Sir, are you well here? Many old friends at the Wenlin Jixia Academy eagerly await your return day after day."
Qin Suihan smiled faintly, "The years in the mortal world are very good. You all go about your business; do not mind me."
"Yes, Sir."
...
At noon, in the ancestral home.
Lin Zhao carefully placed the fruit on the desk, then lit a fire to cook. He ate with Xiao Shitiao when he returned. In the afternoon, he solemnly put the fruit in his embrace, then practiced boxing with Xiao Shitiao. The fruit could not be eaten within three days, otherwise, the immense spiritual energy would burst his spiritual apertures and Qi sea. Especially his fruit, which was infused with immense fortune and spiritual energy. If he ate it too early, he might be the first to die.
Thus, after obtaining a fiery red fruit, Lin Zhao continued his life as usual, practicing boxing, fishing, and so on. However, when he walked on the back street, he felt that people's gazes towards him had changed. This was indeed the case. From the moment he obtained that incredibly precious fruit, Lin Zhao was destined to become one of the targets of adult attention, the birth of a quasi-genius was a foregone conclusion.
...
Late at night.
Within the territory of the Great Shang Dynasty, a range of mountains stretched endlessly, piercing the clouds. The world was already covered in ice and snow, and all things lay dormant. Yet, a rich spiritual energy still flowed through the mountains. This was a sorcerer's formation, capable of trapping spiritual energy within the mountains and preventing it from leaking out, like a grand formation solidifying the foundation. Such a grand undertaking, few sects in the world could achieve.
This entire spiritual and picturesque mountain range belonged to a sect, the Qinglan Sect.
At this moment, it was already late at night.
But the peaks of the Qinglan Sect were brightly lit. In the majestic and sprawling palaces atop the main peak, a group of people with long-lasting breaths and extremely high cultivation gathered in the main hall. Seated above were the Sect Master Qin Yi, the Deputy Sect Master, two Elders, four Protectors, and several high-ranking Advisors. In addition, there were two personal disciples of the Sect Master, who were quite handsome and had high cultivation. Following them was a woman in a green dress, none other than Zhao Yan.
"Is the news confirmed?"
The old Sect Master Qin Yi raised his eyebrows and asked.
"Ancestor, it is from the Flying Fish Decree from my family, absolutely confirmed,"
Zhao Yan cupped her fists. "According to the time, yesterday was indeed the day for the coming-of-age ceremony in Tianchi Town, so it cannot be wrong. The red fruit at the crown of the white tree, there has only been one in decades. This fruit contains unimaginable fortune and spiritual energy. For a young, outstanding individual to consume it, they would at least reach the Upper Five Realms!"
"Is that so..."
Qin Yi frowned. "However... this matter still requires careful consideration. Tianchi Ridge... is far more complex than you imagine. Just like Qin Suihan, who disciplined you slightly last time, this scholar... his background is utterly unknown. We have sent people to inquire in the Great Shang Dynasty, even tracing information to Wenlin, but we have never been able to find this person's name on any register."
Zhao Yan said, "Ancestor, Qin Suihan is merely bullying people with his status. His cultivation... at most, he is only at the Eleventh Realm True Return Realm, certainly not the Divine Transformation Realm. And you, Ancestor, are already at the Twelfth Realm. Coupled with the two Elders and several Advisors, one Twelfth Realm, two Eleventh Realms, plus several Star River Realms, what is there to fear? Tianchi Town is hardly a dragon's lair or a tiger's den."
"Junior Sister Zhao!"
A young man with a handsome appearance stepped forward and said with a smile, "Actually, there is no need for forceful acquisition. We can also use our wits... Master, this disciple is willing to make a trip to the Snow Region Tianchi and purchase this fruit from that boy named Lin Zhao for our Qinglan Sect. If it doesn't work, there is still time. Master can personally lead the many experts of our Qinglan Sect to descend upon Tianchi Ridge, and then we shall see if Qin Suihan and Chu Huaixi will yield."
This young man was none other than Qin Ruo, the chief disciple of the Qinglan Sect, a direct descendant and personal disciple of Qin Yi.
...
"Good!"
Qin Yi nodded with a smile. "Then Ruo'er, you shall go first. We will wait for your news at the Qinglan Sect. Do not be stingy with the Flying Fish Decree's money. This time, take one hundred gold minnows with you. If that boy named Lin Zhao is uncooperative, kill him with a sword. All consequences will be borne by our Qinglan Sect."
"Yes, Ancestor!"
Qin Ruo turned around with a smile. "Junior Sister Zhao, shall we depart?"
"Mm!"
Zhao Yan smiled slightly, her face full of mirth. With Qin Ruo accompanying her, the journey would be much more secure. Firstly, Qin Ruo's own cultivation was extremely high. At the age of thirty-nine, Qin Ruo was already a Star River Realm sword cultivator, and he had the potential to further improve. As long as he could break through, Qin Ruo would be a rare young Sword Immortal in the entire world. With such a person accompanying her, both Chu Huaixi and Qin Suihan would be wary. After all, the entire Qinglan Sect stood behind Qin Ruo. This time, it was a heaven-sent opportunity for her to avenge herself and the Zhao family.
After Qin Ruo received one hundred gleaming gold minnows from the Deputy Sect Master, he left the mountains with Zhao Yan on their swords. Amidst the wind and snow, he looked at Zhao Yan with a particularly overt gaze. In fact, everything had its price. If Zhao Yan wanted the senior disciple brother to help her regain her honor, was it possible without paying a certain price?
"Senior Brother."
Zhao Yan smiled charmingly. "We will rush to Tianchi Ridge overnight. If the matter is successful, why don't you stay an extra night at my separate residence in Tianchi Ridge? Junior Sister makes excellent tea. I hope Senior Brother will give Junior Sister an opportunity to serve you~~~"
Qin Ruo's gaze swept over her chest and hips. Female cultivators were indeed extraordinary, especially someone as delicate and soft as Zhao Yan. Serving the sect on this mission had its benefits.
Since they were both clear-headed, there was no need to spell things out.