Chapter 26: The Discovery of the Holy Spirit Fruit

Deep within the Horned Dragon Mountain range, a group of cultivators was trekking forward, seemingly in search of something. Leading them was Mo Xiu, the senior disciple of the One Origin Sect.

Hidden within the God-Hidden Forest are three reclusive powers: the One Origin Sect, the Illusion Moon Valley, and the Dragon’s Lair. Their immense strength allows them to remain firmly rooted in this forest. The region’s abundant spiritual energy and rich cultivation resources have facilitated their growth, leading them to avoid contact with the outside world. Perhaps only the sect masters or ancestors of the great sects are aware of their existence.

Mo Xiu’s objective for this excursion was the Holy Spirit Fruit. Once it reaches ten thousand years of maturity, it becomes a low-grade Emperor-tier spirit fruit. It is incomparably precious to those at the Saint realm and remains useful even to those at the Emperor realm.

Upon reaching the depths of Horned Dragon Mountain, Mo Xiu and his group discovered a seven-thousand-eight-hundred-year-old Qilin Herb. Just as they prepared to harvest it, a party from the Illusion Moon Valley arrived. The herb was of vital importance to both sides; it is the primary ingredient for the Qilin Pill, a peak Heaven-tier elixir capable of cleansing the marrow and elevating one’s cultivation realm. With a spirit herb of this age, they could keep it for their own use, unlike the ten-thousand-year Holy Spirit Fruit, which would have to be surrendered to the sect elders.

Neither side was willing to yield, and a battle erupted.

An Miaoling, who was nearby, heard the commotion and rushed over. She hid behind a tree to observe. Eventually, she realized they were fighting over the Qilin Herb. She was tempted, as she was only a step away from the third level of the Creation Realm, and this herb was exactly what she needed to breakthrough. However, she did not rush in, opting instead to wait for the opportune moment. Since both leaders were at the Semi-Saint realm, she knew that if she intervened, they might turn their combined efforts against her, as she was an outsider.

Half an hour later, the leader from the Illusion Moon Valley was severely wounded. Outmatched, he retreated in humiliation. Just as Mo Xiu prepared to harvest the Qilin Herb, An Miaoling appeared beside it. She formed a hand seal, conjuring a binding formation to trap the herb and prevent its escape, then quickly sealed it and tucked it away into her storage ring.

Seeing this, Mo Xiu roared in anger, "Who are you to dare snatch a treasure from my One Origin Sect?"

An Miaoling was unfazed. "Heavenly treasures belong to whoever finds them first. I have it, so it is mine." With that, she turned to leave.

Relying on his superior cultivation, Mo Xiu quickly gave chase and blocked her path. "You have successfully angered me," he declared, unleashing the aura of a first-level Semi-Saint.

An Miaoling frowned. "And what if I have?"

"I'll give you a choice: hand over the Qilin Herb and spend the night with me, and I will spare your life."

An Miaoling abruptly drew her Ice Glass Sword. "First form of the Annihilation Sword Technique: Breaking the Heavens!"

Feeling the power of the strike, Mo Xiu’s expression shifted, and he unleashed his strongest move: "The Origin-Returning Blade!"

Boom! The energies of the two attacks canceled each other out. An Miaoling moved gracefully, closing the distance for close-quarters combat, knowing that was where the advantage of her Emperor-tier weapon lay. Mo Xiu saw through her intent but remained unafraid, confident in his own melee skills. However, the moment they clashed, he realized something was wrong with her sword. A single strike had damaged his mid-tier Heaven-grade blade. Greed flared in his eyes; he suspected her weapon transcended the Heaven-tier, likely a "Semi-Emperor" grade—a rank between Heaven-tier and true Emperor-tier, possessing materials comparable to low-grade Emperor weapons but lacking the refinement to be a true Emperor-grade artifact.

Mo Xiu retreated and began chanting a secret technique: "Origin-Returning Qi Gathering." Spiritual energy from the surroundings surged toward him. An Miaoling remained unconcerned; with her peak Emperor-tier weapon, she did not fear him even if he boosted his strength to the second level of the Semi-Saint realm.

"Second form: Piercing Yin and Yang!" An Miaoling unleashed an even more powerful strike. Black and white gases swirled around the Ice Glass Sword as she slashed at Mo Xiu.

Despite his boosted strength, Mo Xiu’s attempt to counter with his blade was futile. The Ice Glass Sword, wreathed in black and white energy, sheared clean through his weapon. Losing his balance, Mo Xiu was left exposed. An Miaoling seized the opportunity, flicking her sword in a backhand motion and severing his arm.

Clutching his bleeding stump, Mo Xiu begged for mercy. "I was wrong, Great Heroine! Please, spare me!" Faced with death, his dignity meant nothing.

At that moment, An Miaoling seemed to revert to her former self as the Ruthless Empress. Her cold eyes radiated a sense of absolute disdain, causing Mo Xiu to retreat in terror, unable to speak. Seeing him in this state, she did not finish him off but simply turned and left. Having spent so much time with Qin Tian, her personality had softened; otherwise, she would have killed him without hesitation.

An Miaoling found a secluded spot and began refining the medicinal power of the Qilin Herb. Guided by its essence, the surrounding spiritual energy gathered toward her. She successfully broke through to the third level of the Creation Realm. Her next goal was the Semi-Saint realm. Although her cultivation speed was already faster than in her previous life, she hungered for more, for in this life, there were people she wished to protect.

Elsewhere, Mo Xiu took a pill to heal his wounds while his fellow disciples guarded him. Once stable, he sent a message to the Grand Elder of the One Origin Sect, knowing she was nearby. Before long, a beautiful woman appeared. Seeing Mo Xiu’s severed arm, she frowned and asked, "Who did this? Was it someone from the Dragon’s Lair?"

Mo Xiu shook his head, trembling with indignation. "It was a young girl. She seems to be after the Holy Spirit Fruit as well. I beg you, Grand Elder, find her and avenge me." The woman nodded slightly and led Mo Xiu away.

Meanwhile, An Miaoling continued her search. Three days later, she caught the scent of a strong medicinal fragrance. Following it, she discovered an ancient tree bearing fruit that emanated a profound aura. With her experience as an Empress, she immediately recognized it as a Holy Spirit Fruit nearing its ten-thousand-year maturity. Sensing that the ancient tree was a Saint-level entity, she quickly notified Qin Tian and waited.

A short time later, the beautiful woman arrived with the one-armed Mo Xiu. The woman inspected the tree; seeing it was not yet time to harvest, she was in no rush. She scanned the surroundings and soon spotted An Miaoling, appearing beside her in an instant.

Mo Xiu pointed at her. "Grand Elder, she is the one who severed my arm! You must seek justice for me!"

The woman’s expression turned cold. "Why did you attack a disciple of my sect?"

An Miaoling cast a cold glance at Mo Xiu, regretting that she hadn't killed him. "His mouth was foul," she replied, offering the explanation only because the woman was a Saint-level expert.

"You severed his arm just because he said a few words to you?" The woman looked displeased.

An Miaoling remained silent, and the woman’s expression darkened. "It seems I must teach you a lesson on behalf of your elders." She flicked her hand, and an invisible wave of spiritual energy rippled through the air, streaking toward An Miaoling.

An Miaoling drew her Ice Glass Sword and slashed with force, blocking the blow. The woman’s expression turned strange, and her gaze fixed on An Miaoling’s sword. "Show me your sword."