Heavenly Sword Saint
The roar of the Black Iron Bear gradually faded behind Jian Chen.
He continued moving through the forest.
His footsteps were quick but controlled as he followed the route leading back toward Moonriver City.
The trees around him gradually became less dense.
The terrifying pressure that had filled the forest earlier was no longer present.
Only the sounds of leaves rustling in the evening breeze remained.
Jian Chen didn't relax immediately.
He had already experienced how dangerous the Azure Wind Mountains could be.
The Middle-Stage Second-Rank Black Iron Bear had been far beyond his current strength.
If he had chosen to fight it...
The result would have been obvious.
Death.
Jian Chen had no interest in testing whether his life was worth more than his pride.
He continued forward.
His hand occasionally touched the cloth bag hanging from his waist.
Inside were several medicinal herbs he had gathered during his journey.
There was also the beast core of the Wind Fang Wolf.
The trip had already been worthwhile.
He had tested his Flowing Cloud Sword Art against a real opponent.
He had gathered medicinal herbs.
And he had obtained a First-Rank beast core.
Now...
He only needed to return to the clan.
But after walking for several minutes...
Jian Chen suddenly stopped.
A faint fragrance drifted through the air.
His eyes narrowed.
He stood motionless and carefully breathed in.
The fragrance was extremely faint.
Yet there was spiritual energy hidden within it.
"Spirit fruit?"
Jian Chen looked toward the forest ahead.
The fragrance seemed to be coming from somewhere nearby.
He wasn't planning to explore deeper into the mountains.
He had already decided to return.
However...
The source of the fragrance appeared to be along his current route.
After a brief hesitation, Jian Chen carefully followed it.
He moved slowly.
His eyes constantly scanned the surrounding trees.
The fragrance gradually became stronger.
After several minutes...
Jian Chen stopped behind a large tree.
His gaze passed through the branches.
A small clearing appeared ahead.
At its center stood a strange tree.
It was several meters tall.
Its trunk was dark brown and sturdy.
Its branches spread outward beneath the surrounding trees.
The leaves were deep green, but faint blue lines could be seen running through them.
Jian Chen's gaze immediately focused on the branches.
Five fruits hung from the tree.
They were azure-blue.
Each was roughly the size of a fist.
Faint silver patterns covered their smooth surface.
A gentle spiritual aura surrounded them.
Jian Chen's eyes brightened.
"Azureblood Fruits."
He immediately recognized them.
A 1st-class spirit fruit.
It wasn't an extremely rare treasure.
But for cultivators at his current level, it was still valuable.
The Azureblood Fruit could increase cultivation while also nourishing the blood and strengthening the body.
For Jian Chen...
That was exactly what he needed.
His gaze remained on the five fruits.
All of them appeared mature.
Five 1st-class spirit fruits.
This was an unexpected harvest.
But Jian Chen didn't approach.
His expression gradually became serious.
The clearing was too quiet.
There were no birds.
No insects.
Not even the sound of small animals moving through the grass.
Something was guarding the tree.
Jian Chen slowly examined the ground.
Several deep marks could be seen around the tree.
Then...
He noticed something moving.
A faint rustling sound came from behind the tree.
Shua!
A massive body slowly emerged.
Jian Chen's pupils contracted.
A huge python crawled out from behind the Azureblood Tree.
Its body was covered in blue-green scales.
Each scale reflected the faint sunlight filtering through the leaves.
Its body was thick enough to require several people to encircle.
Its head slowly lifted.
A pair of cold vertical pupils swept across the forest.
Jian Chen immediately recognized it.
"Azure Scale Python."
A First-Rank Spirit Beast.
Late Stage.
The python's enormous body slowly coiled around the base of the Azureblood Tree.
It had clearly made the tree its territory.
Jian Chen's expression became thoughtful.
The Azure Scale Python was powerful.
Its physical strength was considerably greater than that of ordinary spirit beasts at the same stage.
Its body was covered in tough scales.
And its greatest advantage...
Was its ability to constrict its prey.
Once trapped within its coils, even a cultivator of similar strength could find it difficult to escape.
Jian Chen didn't intend to fight it.
Not because he couldn't defeat it.
But because there was no need.
He had already spent considerable energy fighting the Wind Fang Wolf earlier.
He had also just escaped from the Black Iron Bear.
Another battle would only waste his strength.
His eyes remained on the python.
Then he noticed something important.
The python's intelligence had not awakened.
Its eyes were cold.
Its movements were instinctive.
It wasn't guarding the fruits because it understood their medicinal value.
It was protecting the tree because it had claimed the area as its territory.
That gave Jian Chen an opportunity.
He didn't need to defeat the python.
He only needed to lure it away.
Jian Chen quietly examined his surroundings.
Soon...
His eyes landed on something several dozen meters away.
The remains of a spirit beast lay beneath some trees.
Most of the corpse had already been eaten.
But a considerable amount of flesh remained.
A faint smell of blood lingered around it.
Jian Chen's eyes flickered.
An idea appeared in his mind.
He slowly moved away from his hiding position.
The Azure Scale Python immediately sensed movement.
Its head turned.
Jian Chen stopped.
The python stared toward his location.
He remained completely still.
After several breaths...
The python slowly lowered its head.
Jian Chen continued.
He reached the corpse and carefully tore away a large piece of meat.
The smell of blood immediately became stronger.
The python's tongue flicked through the air.
Its head turned toward the source.
Jian Chen picked up a small stone.
Tap!
The stone struck a tree several meters away.
The python raised its head.
Jian Chen threw another stone.
This time...
The sound came from farther away.
The python's body slowly shifted.
Its tongue flicked again.
The smell of blood had attracted it.
Jian Chen carefully carried the meat farther away from the clearing.
Then he threw it deep into the forest.
The python remained beside the tree.
For several breaths, it didn't move.
Its instinct told it to protect its territory.
But the smell of fresh blood was difficult to ignore.
The python slowly moved forward.
Its massive body slid across the ground.
Jian Chen watched quietly.
The beast continued moving toward the meat.
Finally...
It disappeared between the trees.
Jian Chen's eyes sharpened.
"Now."
His body moved.
He entered the clearing.
His movements were quick but controlled.
He reached the Azureblood Tree.
Five fruits hung from the branches.
Jian Chen carefully picked the first.
Then the second.
Third.
Fourth.
Fifth.
All five were placed safely inside his cloth bag.
He didn't damage the tree.
A spirit tree capable of producing 1st-class spirit fruits was valuable.
Destroying it would be foolish.
Jian Chen stepped away.
Then...
Hiss!
A strange sound came from the forest.
His expression changed slightly.
The Azure Scale Python had returned.
It had apparently discovered the bait was nothing more than a distraction.
Its enormous body emerged between the trees.
Its cold eyes immediately landed on the Azureblood Tree.
The five fruits were gone.
The python froze.
Then its head turned.
Its eyes locked onto Jian Chen.
Hiss!
The python's body suddenly surged forward.
Jian Chen turned and ran.
He had expected this.
He didn't fight.
He moved through the trees at full speed.
Behind him...
The Azure Scale Python chased relentlessly.
Its enormous body crashed through bushes and smaller trees.
Jian Chen changed directions repeatedly.
He didn't need to defeat it.
He only needed to create enough distance.
After several minutes...
The python finally stopped.
It had lost sight of him.
Jian Chen was already far away.
He waited behind a large tree.
Only after confirming that the python wasn't following did he continue toward Moonriver City.
His hand touched the cloth bag.
Five Azureblood Fruits.
A faint smile appeared.
The fruits were only 1st-class.
To the powerful cultivators of the Divine Realm, they were nothing special.
But Jian Chen wasn't in the Divine Realm anymore.
For his current cultivation...
They were extremely useful.
His thoughts began calculating their effects.
"The Azureblood Fruits can increase cultivation..."
"They can also strengthen the body."
His eyes flickered.
"If I use them properly..."
"They should be enough to help me open at least two more meridians."
He wasn't finished.
His gaze shifted toward the herbs inside the same bag.
Several of them could complement the Azureblood Fruits.
If he combined them properly...
Their effects could be maximized.
Jian Chen's expression became thoughtful.
"With the fruits..."
"And the medicinal herbs..."
"I should be able to prepare something capable of helping me open about four new meridians."
Four.
A sharp light flashed through his eyes.
If he succeeded...
His ability to absorb spiritual energy would increase considerably.
His cultivation speed would also rise.
More importantly...
His foundation would become stronger.
But Jian Chen didn't allow himself to become careless.
He had already experienced the pain of opening meridians several times.
He knew exactly how dangerous the process could be.
Resources could increase his chances.
They could strengthen his body.
But there was still no absolute guarantee.
Everything depended on preparation.
Jian Chen lightly touched the cloth bag.
"These resources must be used carefully."
He continued walking.
The sky was already beginning to darken.
Far ahead...
The lights of Moonriver City gradually appeared.
Jian Chen looked toward the city.
His eyes became calm.
The annual examination was approaching.
There wasn't much time.
But now...
He had found another opportunity.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Four more..."
He murmured softly.
Then his expression became serious.
"Let's see how far I can go before the examination."
Jian Chen continued toward the city.
Behind him, the Azure Wind Mountains slowly disappeared beneath the darkness.