Joining Forces

Joining Forces...

Qin Wentian's gaze remained fixed on the impressive fruits dangling from the ancient tree's branches. These yellowish-brown orbs exuded an undeniable weightiness, a testament to the tree's absorption of the earth's essence. These were undeniably the Great Terra Fruits.

In that moment, there was no doubt in his mind: this towering, ancient marvel was the Great Terra Tree.

It had taken a century to sprout, two centuries to mature, and another three hundred years to bear the coveted Great Terra Fruits. No wonder the vicinity had turned into a desolate wasteland, with the tree constantly siphoning the earth's essence.

And as for the guardian of the Great Terra Tree, it could be none other than the Great Earth Ox King.

"Human, begone," the Earth Ox commanded with a penetrating gaze that seemed to amplify gravity itself. In an instant, Qin Wentian felt as though even lifting his foot required a Herculean effort. The Mandate of Great Earth pressed upon him with an oppressive force, making his very existence feel weightier than a mountain.

The Ox King had defended this territory for centuries. With the Great Terra Tree finally bearing fruit, it had no intention of allowing humans to plunder its treasures. It had already devoured a few Terra Fruits, and for the rest, it would wait until its newfound strength had stabilized. There was no way it would permit anyone to take them away.

"These fruits are the essence of the Great Earth itself. Ox King, you've already benefited from them. Isn't it a tad greedy to hoard them all?" The young woman chimed in. The Ox King responded with a resounding stomp, causing the earth beneath them to quake. An overwhelming, rhythmic pressure bore down on them, causing every organ in Qin Wentian's body to tremble.

Qin Wentian's expression grew solemn; he couldn't underestimate this opponent.

Demonic beasts possessed potent vitality and formidable physiques. They were inherently superior to humans in terms of strength and defense.

"I'm Ji Xue, and this is my senior brother, Xu Feng. Can we know your name now?" She asked with a playful smile.

"I'm Qin Wentian," he replied.

"Brother Qin, this Ox demon has the ability to create an earthen prison, and its mastery of the Mandate of Great Earth is unfathomable. However, with the three of us working together, we shouldn't have any trouble dealing with it. I'll handle control, you focus on breaking its defenses, and my senior brother, being our powerhouse, will handle the attacks," Ji Xue explained.

"Agreed," Qin Wentian nodded.

"Alright, let's get this show on the road," Ji Xue declared with determination. Her Astral Nova, taking the form of an ethereal chain, was unleashed. The chain swept through the air, and the Ox King recognized its potency immediately. In a fit of rage, the earth quaked as razor-sharp blades formed from the essence of the earth shot forth, aimed at piercing all three of them.

Qin Wentian and Xu Feng swiftly ascended into the sky. But with a furious roar, the Ox King conjured a formidable prison made from the essence of the great earth, enclosing them completely.

"Break!" Qin Wentian and Xu Feng brandished their long spears. Their attacks pierced the very fabric of reality, penetrating the earthen prison. Simultaneously, Ji Xue controlled several menacing swords that materialized and thrust into specific points of the earthen barrier. Within moments, the prison's defenses crumbled with a deafening boom. Her immortal chain shot towards the Ox King, ensnaring it inescapably. It had no means of escape.

The immortal binding chains were like an intangible web, devoid of offensive capabilities, serving solely as a supportive tool. No attack could sever their ethereal grip.

"BANG!" The Ox King ascended into the heavens, dragging Ji Xue helplessly along with it, her strength paling in comparison to the Ox King's might.

"Brother Qin!" Ji Xue screamed. At this point, Qin Wentian had shattered the earthen prison. He soared through the air, exuding an aura of formidable demonic energy. In his hands, a colossal, obsidian-hued sword gleamed.

The Ox King's defenses were formidable, rendering Qin Wentian's Sword Melody's lacerating effects insufficient to defeat it.

The core principle of his Sword Melody lay in its swiftness and precision, favoring speed and sharpness over raw power. While it proved effective against humans, it faltered against demonic beasts renowned for their impregnable defenses, such as the Ox King before him.

Nevertheless, if one considered pure attack power, Qin Wentian possessed the capacity to enhance his strength through the Mandates of Force and Demons. By employing the second-level insights of the Mandate of Force, Void Vibration, his attacks could bypass defenses and deliver devastating blows to an opponent's internal organs, potentially causing fatal harm or executing long-range attacks through vibrational shockwaves.

The Ox King's Achilles' heel lay in its speed, compounded by its inability to move freely due to the Immortal binding chains.

As Qin Wentian charged toward it, the Ox King fixed him with a furious glare, unleashing a thunderous roar. In an instant, Qin Wentian felt an overwhelming force bearing down on him, threatening to bury him on the spot. His strength struggled to break free.

"Truly formidable," Qin Wentian muttered as his body surged with demonic energy. His bloodline's power surged as he executed Stellar Transposition, suddenly appearing before the Ox King and delivering a crushing blow with his colossal sword.

The Ox King's roar of madness echoed as a luminous earthen yellow screen enveloped it, forming its most formidable defense. Ordinary fifth-level Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns wouldn't stand a chance at breaking through.

"BREAK!" Qin Wentian's voice was cold as his immense black sword crashed against the defensive screen. His attack carried the will of his Mandate of Swords, infused with terrifying sharpness. Instantly, potent vibrational shockwaves filled with razor-edged force shot out, shattering the screen of light, causing it to crumble.

While Qin Wentian managed to breach its defenses, his attack only inflicted minor harm on the Ox King. Yet, at this critical moment, Xu Feng, who had been lurking in the shadows, seized the opportunity. Like lightning, he descended from the skies, his long spear already piercing through a new screen of light and into the Ox King's eyes, reaching its brain. The Ox King's anguished howls filled the air as it thrashed about, causing the surrounding earth to tremble violently in its death throes.

Withdrawing his spear, Xu Feng retreated alongside Qin Wentian. The once-mighty Ox King's aura weakened, its eyes reflecting reluctance before it finally collapsed onto the ground, lifeless.

"Phew, it's finally over," Ji Xue sighed in relief. This demonic Ox King had proven to be a formidable adversary. Even with her senior's immense strength, they had struggled to kill it. She hadn't anticipated that Qin Wentian would possess such power, capable of breaking through the demonic ox's defenses in a single strike, providing them with the opportunity for victory.

"Remarkable," Ji Xue commended Qin Wentian. He remained silent. Meanwhile, Ji Xue and her senior turned their attention to the tree, their expressions suddenly shifting. The little snowy puppy lay on the ground, having already plucked two Great Terra Fruits and was currently devouring one of them.

Qin Wentian rolled his eyes, reflecting on how the mischievous Little Rascal had begun to sneakily enjoy the fruits while he risked his life in battle.

Xu Feng's figure flickered as he landed by the tree and started plucking the Great Terra Fruits. Ji Xue followed suit. Then, she turned to Qin Wentian and proposed, "There are seven fruits in total. Are you agreeable to dividing them this way? Three fruits for you and your puppy, while my senior and I each take two."

Xu Feng frowned slightly upon hearing this, but he didn't voice any objections. Considering the Blood Shadow Herb incident, he remained silent. Obtaining the Great Terra Fruits wasn't particularly beneficial for them; their true value lay in trading.

However, at that moment, a strong gust of wind swept through the area, bringing with it seven to eight figures. The leader of this group noticed Xu Feng and Ji Xue, and his eyes gleamed strangely.

"Brother Xu Feng and Lady Ji Xue, who would have expected to find you in this hidden realm?" The leader greeted them politely.

The others behind him examined Qin Wentian with a sense of recognition. Following a brief exchange of voice transmissions, the leader's gaze shifted to Qin Wentian, his eyes gleaming with a sinister intent. It was this young man who had crossed paths with Shang Yue in the Treasure Seizing Assembly and had a run-in with Jin Zhan and Yin Cheng. Surprisingly, he had managed to sneak past the guards and enter the hidden realm.

"Xie Yu from the Ecliptic Sect," Xu Feng acknowledged, casting a wary eye on the young man leading the group. These individuals hailed from the Ecliptic Sect, a prominent force in Xuan King City. Xie Yu, one of the standout geniuses of his generation, was among them. It appeared that the major powers of Xuan King City had converged on this hidden realm.

"Brother Xu Feng, we stumbled upon an incredibly valuable treasure within this hidden realm, but it came at the cost of over ten of my comrades' lives. Now that we've encountered you two, how about joining forces?" Xie Yu proposed. Qin Wentian and the others couldn't help but notice the unstable and fluctuating auras of these newcomers, a clear indication that they had recently endured a fierce battle.

Xu Feng and Ji Xue exchanged a silent, knowing glance. Xu Feng then inquired, "What exactly is this treasure?"

"I can't say for certain yet, but it's located within a meteor stone mine. Strangely, the astral energy from the Yuan Meteor Stones in the mine has been entirely absorbed, turning the mine into a stone mountain with a naturally formed cavern. Inside that cavern, we encountered several immensely powerful demonic beasts guarding something. My comrades all fell in the battle against those beasts," Xie Yu explained, his words hanging heavily in the air.

Xu Feng and Ji Xue's expressions darkened. Their suspicions had been confirmed: the meteor stone mine had been discovered by others. Ji Xue had been wounded during their previous attempt to infiltrate it, a direct result of their reckless approach. This time, after her injuries had healed, they reentered the hidden realm with a more cautious strategy.

"If those demonic beasts are as formidable as you say, even our combined forces might not be enough," Xu Feng probed further.

"That location won't remain hidden for long. Others will undoubtedly find it soon. When the major powers discover it, they may propose an alliance due to the pressure, but if an invaluable treasure indeed emerges and internal strife breaks out, teaming up with both of you now serves as my insurance," Xie Yu candidly explained. These individuals were all shrewd thinkers, making it easier to engage in an honest discussion for mutual benefit.

"Agreed," Xu Feng consented, intrigued by the prospect of uncovering this hidden treasure.

"Brother Qin, would you also consider joining us?" Ji Xue turned to Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian pondered for a moment before nodding. If Xie Yu and his group couldn't access the treasure, it would be naive to think he could do so alone. Ji Xue possessed a kind and considerate nature, making her a trustworthy ally. Furthermore, he held the spatial brush, his ultimate insurance policy. Even in the face of danger, Qin Wentian had nothing to fear!