Soul Emperor Martial God-Chapter 41 - 40: Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit

The clansman glanced at the surrounding disciples, his face showing some hesitation and gravity.

The Fourth Elder understood and said, "Let’s discuss this inside the Council Hall."

Xiao Yi had intended to leave but was pulled into the Council Hall by the Sixth Elder.

Members of the Xiao Family in the Meteorite Mountain Range, some were mining Purple Cloud Iron, others were dispatched as scouts.

The duty of these scouts was to forge paths deeper into the mountain range, firstly to see if they could encounter Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and collect them, and secondly to check for other Purple Cloud Iron Ore Veins.

The Murong Family and Jiang Family also had such scouts.

The Meteorite Mountain Range was vast, covering an area more than ten times the size of Purple Cloud City, much of which had never been trodden by human martial artists.

This clansman was a deacon from the Xiao Family, a Postnatal Seventh Layer Martial Artist, as well as the captain of the scouting team, named Xiao Jing.

"Steward Xiao Jing, why so cautious?" asked the Fourth Elder.

Xiao Jing bowed respectfully to the two elders before reporting, "This past month, our scouting team has been exploring to the east of the Xiao Family’s Mine."

"Just two days ago, roughly a hundred miles from here, we discovered a hidden forest that contained a plant..."

Xiao Jing paused, then declared in a grave tone, "A Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit."

"Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit?" both the Fourth and Sixth Elders exclaimed in unison.

Even Xiao Yi’s eyes brightened at the mention.

The Great Elder had entrusted him with a manual on refining medicine, which recorded many rare Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

The Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit was among them and classified as Third-grade, a top-grade one at that.

It was more than ten times more precious than the Source Cultivating Vermilion Fruit, another Third-grade Heavenly Material.

The Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit could be used in Alchemy and consumed directly. A martial artist who consumed it would experience the cleansing and refining of their meridians; its immense medicinal power could help martial artists easily increase their cultivation. It was an exceedingly rare Spirit Fruit.

Unfortunately, the Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit was very elusive and scarce in quantity.

It had been decades since such a precious Heavenly Material had appeared in Purple Cloud City.

"When will the Spirit Fruit mature?" asked the Fourth Elder urgently.

After a moment of thought, Xiao Jing answered, "According to my observation, it should be no more than three days."

"Only three days left?" The Fourth Elder became anxious, "Then why did you come back? You should have stayed there to guard it. What if it’s devoured by some demon beast?"

Xiao Jing quickly replied, "The Fourth Elder can rest assured, the members of the other scouting teams are currently guarding it. Moreover, I made a thorough check before returning, and there was no trace of other demon beasts."

The Sixth Elder rolled his eyes at the Fourth Elder and said, "Xiao Jing is famously cautious. What’s the rush for?"

"Nonsense." The Fourth Elder retorted, "That’s the Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit we’re talking about. Who wouldn’t be envious?"

Xiao Jing," the Fourth Elder turned to Steward Xiao Jing, "you’ve rushed back here to request assistance, right?"

"Yes," Xiao Jing said, "That place is, after all, over a hundred miles from our Xiao Family Camp, and I fear accidents may occur on the way back."

"Right," the Fourth Elder nodded, "The Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit is indeed a treasure, and we must be careful. Xiao Jing, then you choose some helpers from among the clan’s disciples."

"Huh? Choose from the clan’s disciples?" Xiao Jing was startled and questioned with surprise, "Aren’t you elders going? Or perhaps, the other deacons of the clan could go."

Xiao Jing was always cautious; he had hoped that the Fourth or Sixth Elder would accompany them. With Innate Martial Artists present, they would be assured of absolute safety.

Even at a minimum, having Postnatal Martial Artists from the family accompany us would make the journey back safer.

But a group of family disciples, at most at the Ninth Layer of Mortal Realm, if we really run into danger, they won’t be able to help at all.

The Fourth Elder shook his head and said in a deep voice, "The high-ranking martial artists of our three families are all keeping an eye on each other, once we make any unusual moves, it would draw the attention of the elders from the other two families. Moreover, the mine is more important, the Sixth Elder and I cannot leave easily."

"Other Deacons are the same, tied down by the affairs at the mine. So, you can only choose from among the family disciples."

The Sixth Elder also said, "The Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit is indeed precious, but its effect on us Innates is limited. Even if we get it back, it’s for the young disciples to consume. Better to take this opportunity to let them gain some experience."

"If the Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit is safely brought back, credit them for the successful escort, and the Spirit Fruits are theirs. If they fail, it’s just that they lacked the opportunity."

The two elders spoke one after the other, but their eyes were all on Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi gave a bitter smile and said, "It seems you intend for me to take on this tough task."

"Correct," the Fourth Elder smiled and said, "Although there might be dangers on the way back, it won’t be too severe. At most, there will be attacks from demon beasts, or some troublesome Demon Hunting Teams looking to cause trouble."

"I’ve heard that yesterday you made Murong Xuan spit blood with a single punch, and alone, you took down more than a hundred disciples of the Murong Family. This proves that your strength is at least at the level of the Postnatal Second Layer, if not the Third. You should have no problem handling those troubles."

The Fourth Elder wore a confident expression.

"Alright," Xiao Yi nodded and asked, "When do we set out?"

The Fourth Elder said, "Let’s set out now, and take Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Zimu with you. Among the young disciples of our family, these are the few who are not injured."

"Both of them are also at the Mortal Realm Ninth Layer, it would be best if they could break through to Postnatal on this venture. Even if they don’t break through, gaining some experience is also good."

"Alright," Xiao Yi answered, rising to leave to find Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Zimu.

Steward Xiao Jing watched Xiao Yi’s retreating figure, thinking to himself, "I’ve only been out scouting for a month, and I didn’t expect Young Master Xiao Yi to be such a talent. At such a young age, to have the strength to rival the entire young generation of the Murong Family, truly formidable."

Watching Xiao Yi walk away, Steward Xiao Jing was about to follow when the Fourth Elder grabbed him.

Steward Xiao Jing looked puzzled.

"Listen carefully, Xiao Jing," the Fourth Elder suddenly dropped his smile, his face grave and serious.

Seeing the Fourth Elder so serious, Xiao Jing was initially startled, then immediately listened attentively.

In a low voice, the Fourth Elder said, "While I don’t think there will be much danger on the way back, just in case, I still have to instruct you. On this journey, the Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit is a small matter, Xiao Yi’s well-being is a big one. If you really encounter insurmountable danger, rather lose the fruit than fail to bring Xiao Yi back safely."

Steward Xiao Jing said, "Rest assured, Fourth Elder, I understand. Young Master is our Xiao Family’s number one talent, I naturally won’t let anything happen to him."

"Hmm," the Fourth Elder waved his hand and said, "Go on."

Steward Xiao Jing left, and the Sixth Elder jokingly said, "If you’re so worried about Xiao Yi, why let him go?"

"Idiot," the Fourth Elder scolded, "If we don’t let him face dangers and be tempered, how can he grow? If we really confine him, that’s not protecting him, it’s killing his talent."

"Refining medicine, Martial Arts, no matter which one, he is more than enough to make other so-called geniuses feel ashamed and look up to him. Without a doubt, Xiao Yi will be the hope of our Xiao Family’s next generation, I naturally have to be extremely cautious. However, with Steward Xiao Jing going, I am quite at ease."

...

After locating Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Zimu, Xiao Yi found two other disciples at the Eighth Layer of Mortal Realm to accompany them.

Together with Steward Xiao Jing, they hurried over a hundred li to the east.

Little did Xiao Yi know, this journey would bring upon him the most serious crisis he ever faced since arriving in this world.

The deep mountain range, the endless paths and wild forests, seemed like a giant maw ready to devour, dangerous and utterly unsuspecting.

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