91: Chapter 91 Hidden in the shadows, stealing the Vermilion Fruit!

Liu Kun's gaze swept over the crowd, lingering for a moment on the faces of Core Disciples like Murong Bai, before he continued.

"We should join forces to deal with these five beasts first, then compete for the vermilion fruit based on our own abilities. How about it? As for the distribution, we can discuss it after the Yao Beasts are slain. It's better than being blocked by the beasts here or being wary of each other, allowing others to profit from our conflict."

His words were quite reasonable. Many people showed signs of being moved.

After all, without dealing with the Yao Beasts, no one would get the crimson sun vermilion fruit.

Murong Bai smiled slightly and spoke.

"What Junior Brother Liu said is not without merit. However, these Crimson Crystal Fire Rhinos are powerful, especially at coordinated attacks. We need a plan and unified command to reduce casualties and resolve this quickly."

"Senior Brother Murong is right."

Liu Kun seemed quite wary of Murong Bai as he cupped his hands and said.

"I wonder what brilliant ideas Senior Brother Murong has?"

"I wouldn't call them brilliant."

Murong Bai's gaze swept over the five Crimson Crystal Fire Rhinos, then looked at the terrain at the valley entrance, saying calmly.

"These five beasts seem to be gathered together, but their positions actually align with the Five Elements, allowing them to support each other. Someone needs to pin down their main force from the front to draw their fire; others need to harass from the flanks to distract them."

"We also need people to look for opportunities to attack their relatively vulnerable eyes, bellies, and rears. Furthermore, we must guard against their earth fire breath and charges. I propose that I lead several Core Disciples to take responsibility for pinning down the main force from the front."

"Junior Brother Liu, take Golden Flame Peak and several Inner Sect Disciples with higher cultivation to handle the harassment on the left flank. The rest will be responsible for the right flank and long-range attacks. How does that sound?"

This arrangement seemed fair, but in reality, he took on the most dangerous and exhausting frontal task.

It also showed the responsibility of a Core Disciple.

The pressure on the left flank, which Liu Kun was responsible for, was also not small.

The others were relatively safe.

Hearing this, everyone nodded one after another.

Murong Bai's strength and prestige were enough to convince the crowd.

Moreover, this was indeed a fairly reasonable tactic.

"We'll do as Senior Brother Murong says!"

Liu Kun also nodded in agreement.

Soon, everyone quickly formed teams according to Murong Bai's arrangement.

Ye Chen, Zhao Feng, Duan Tianya, and Liu Qingqing were placed in the "others" team, responsible for the right flank and long-range attacks.

This suited Ye Chen's intentions perfectly, allowing him to preserve his strength and observe the situation.

"In that case, there's no time to lose. Move!"

At Murong Bai's command, his figure was the first to dash out, his white robes fluttering.

Yet he carried a sharp and matchless Sword Intent.

He headed straight for the alpha rhino in the center of the five Crimson Crystal Fire Rhinos—the one with the largest body and strongest aura!

Behind him, several Core Disciples followed closely, each using their own methods to attack the other Fire Rhinos.

"Kill!" Liu Kun also led the people from Golden Flame Peak and charged from the left flank.

"Let's go too!"

The team on the right flank, including Ye Chen and the others, consisted of about a dozen people.

They also launched attacks one after another to harass the Fire Rhinos.

The great battle erupted instantly!

The Crimson Crystal Fire Rhinos were enraged, letting out earth-shaking roars as scorching earth fire spewed from their mouths and noses.

Their thick hooves stomped the ground, causing it to tremble, as they lowered their heads to reveal sharp horns.

They charged fiercely toward Murong Bai and the others coming from the front!

Simultaneously, the crimson crystal armor on their bodies glowed brightly, forming a thick layer of flame shields.

This blocked and annihilated most of the long-range attacks.

Facing the charging alpha rhino, Murong Bai's expression remained unchanged, and at some point, a long sword as translucent as jade appeared in his hand.

With a single thrust, the sword light was like snow, precisely striking the side of the alpha rhino's charging horn.

He actually diverted the direction of that heavy, powerful charge!

At the same time, his left hand formed a seal, and an ice-blue ring of light spread out.

It slightly suppressed the raging earth fire around him.

The other Core Disciples also displayed their Divine Abilities, battling the other Fire Rhinos.

Although they couldn't kill them quickly, they kept them firmly pinned down.

The attacks from Liu Kun and the others on the left flank also caused a lot of trouble for the Fire Rhinos, drawing part of their fire.

Ye Chen, on the right flank, did not use his full strength.

He only used the ice scar sword to swing out streaks of condensed ice and fire Sword Qi, harassing the Fire Rhinos' relatively weak joints and hind legs.

Most of his attention was focused on observing the battle.

Especially on Murong Bai, Liu Kun, and those three crimson sun vermilion fruits.

Under the intense combat fluctuations and the roasting earth fire, the golden-red glow on the surface of the vermilion fruits grew brighter and brighter.

The fragrance they emitted also became increasingly rich and enticing; they were clearly accelerating their ripening!

"Soon..." Ye Chen thought to himself.

Once the vermilion fruits ripened, the current balance would be instantly broken, and that would be when the true struggle began.

He had to be prepared.

...

At the entrance of Chi Yang Valley, the battle was fierce.

Five Peak third-rank Crimson Crystal Fire Rhinos.

Under the siege of Murong Bai, Liu Kun, and dozens of Elite Disciples from the inner and outer sects, although they were fierce, they were gradually being suppressed.

The flame shields on their bodies gradually dimmed under the continuous attacks.

Many cracks and scorch marks appeared on their crimson crystal armor, and blood seeped out.

They let out roars of pain and anger.

Murong Bai's sword technique was exquisite; the sword light was like snow, yet it carried a bone-chilling coldness.

It could even faintly counter the Fire Rhinos' earth fire power.

He didn't use his full strength, pinning down the alpha rhino with ease, but his gaze occasionally flickered toward the three nearly ripe crimson sun vermilion fruits.

Liu Kun's offensive was even more explosive, wielding a crimson long saber as blazing blade Gang swept across.

He fought on equal terms with another Fire Rhino, his eyes also staring heatedly at the vermilion fruits.

Ye Chen, Zhao Feng, and the others continued to harass from the right flank.

Although they didn't give it their all, they caused constant trouble for the Fire Rhinos.

Ye Chen's primal chaos Sword Qi was particularly special, always finding the gaps in the flow of the Fire Rhinos' shields.

It left shallow wounds and continuously wore down their demonic power.

"Roar—!"

The alpha rhino, repeatedly missing its attacks under the restraint of Murong Bai's exquisite sword technique,

and being constantly harassed by the others around it, finally became completely enraged.

It suddenly reared up on its hind legs and slammed its front hooves heavily onto the ground!

With a boom, several huge cracks suddenly split the ground with it as the center.

Scorching, viscous crimson lava shot out from the cracks like fountains, attacking everyone around indiscriminately!

At the same time, it opened its mouth and spat out an even thicker, almost dark-gold terrifying pillar of fire, heading straight for Murong Bai!

This was its innate Divine Ability—Earth Fire Burst!

"Watch out for the earth fire!"

"Quickly, retreat!"

Everyone cried out in alarm, dodging and defending one after another.

Some Disciples who were a bit slow to react or had lower cultivation were hit by the splashing lava and tongues of flame, their protective true essence shattering.

They screamed as they were injured and retreated, and the scene became somewhat chaotic for a moment.

Facing that dark-gold fire pillar, Murong Bai's expression also grew a bit more serious.

The jade sword in his hand glowed brightly, and complex ice-blue runes appeared on the blade.

With one slash, an incredibly condensed ice-blue Sword Gang collided fiercely with the dark-gold fire pillar!

"Boom—!!"

The duel between ice and fire erupted with an earth-shattering explosion, and the airwave even flipped a layer of the surrounding ground.

Murong Bai's figure swayed slightly as he drifted back several yards, his face turning slightly pale; clearly, he had also consumed a significant amount of energy.

The alpha rhino was even more shaken by the counter-force, staggering back with its aura significantly weakened.

But with this strike, the group's siege formation was disrupted.

The pressure on the five Fire Rhinos was greatly reduced, and they let out fierce roars, actually showing signs of a counterattack.

However, right at this chaotic moment,

the fruits at the top of the three crimson sun vermilion fruit plants suddenly erupted with a dazzling golden-red light!

A rich, inseparable scorching exotic fragrance instantly filled the entire valley, even suppressing the smell of blood and burning!

The fruits were crystal clear, as if golden lava were flowing inside them.

They emitted a surging vitality and incredibly pure ultimate yang spiritual power!

They were completely ripe!

Everyone's gaze instantly shifted from the Fire Rhinos to those three enticing fruits!

Greed, desire, and heat almost became tangible.

"The vermilion fruits are ripe!"

"Grab them!"

No one knew who shouted first, but the already fragile Alliance collapsed instantly!

The few Disciples closest to the vermilion fruits had only the golden-red fruits left in their eyes, and they pounced forward recklessly!

Fire Rhinos, fellow Disciples—at this moment, nothing else mattered!

"You're looking for death!"

The five Fire Rhinos guarding the vermilion fruits were even more enraged when they saw someone actually daring to touch their treasures.

Two of them, which were less severely injured, immediately turned their targets.

They spat out scorching earth fire at the pouncing people while lowering their heads to charge fiercely!

"Pfft! Ah—!"

Screams rang out.

The two Inner Sect Disciples in the lead were instantly swallowed by the earth fire, their protective true essence like paper.

In the blink of an eye, they turned into human torches, their shrill screams coming to an abrupt halt as they were turned to charcoal.

Another person was pierced through the chest by a Fire Rhino's horn and tossed away, their fate unknown.

But their deaths failed to stop the greed of the others.

Even more people's eyes turned red as they pounced toward the vermilion fruits from all directions, using various means to attack the blocking Fire Rhinos.

They even attacked each other to fight for the best position!

The scene was completely out of control as a chaotic battle erupted!

Murong Bai's eyes turned cold, and he no longer held back.

His figure flickered, and as if teleporting, he bypassed the chaotic crowd and the Fire Rhinos' interception.

He appeared before one of the vermilion fruit plants and reached out to grab it!

His speed was so fast it was astonishing.

"Murong Bai, don't even think about keeping them for yourself!"

Liu Kun roared and unleashed his movement technique, slashing a crimson Blade Gang toward Murong Bai.

At the same time, his other hand reached for another vermilion fruit.

"Boom!"

Without even looking back, Murong Bai delivered a backhand sword strike, precisely striking the weak point of Liu Kun's Blade Gang and knocking it aside.

Simultaneously, he had already plucked that crimson sun vermilion fruit and placed it into a specially made jade box.

His movements were as fluid as floating clouds and flowing water, clean and efficient.

Liu Kun's strike missed, but he took the Opportunity to close in on another vermilion fruit.

He swung his blade to force back a competitor and was about to harvest it.

"Senior Brother Liu, why don't you let this Junior Brother have this vermilion fruit?"

A sinister, feminine voice suddenly rang out.

A figure holding an iron fan appeared ghost-like beside Liu Kun.

The iron fan unfolded, fanning out several sharp yin winds that attacked Liu Kun's back directly toward his heart.

It was the "Phantom Fan Scholar," Bai Yu!

He had actually been lurking nearby and chose this moment to suddenly attack.

Caught off guard, Liu Kun hurriedly brought his blade back to block, but the yin wind invaded his body; he groaned as his movements stiffened.

Bai Yu took the chance to hook the iron fan, intending to pluck the vermilion fruit.

"Get lost!"

Furious, Liu Kun ignored his injuries and forcefully circulated his true essence, sweeping his blade in a horizontal slash that forced Bai Yu back.

The two were instantly locked in combat; the vermilion fruit was within reach, yet neither could get their hands on it.

An intense battle also broke out in front of the third vermilion fruit.

Several capable Inner Sect Disciples and one Core Disciple were attacking each other, fighting incessantly.

The Fire Rhino guarding this fruit was also temporarily forced back by their joint efforts.

The four—Ye Chen, Zhao Feng, Duan Tianya, and Liu Qingqing—did not rush forward the moment the vermilion fruits matured.

They stayed a bit further away, and with Ye Chen signaling them secretly, they suppressed their impulses.

"Brother Ye, what should we do? If we don't go now, it'll be too late!"

Duan Tianya said anxiously, his eyes turning bloodshot as he watched the chaotic battlefield and the decreasing number of vermilion fruits.

Zhao Feng and Liu Qingqing also looked toward Ye Chen.

Ye Chen's gaze calmly scanned the battlefield.

He specifically noted Murong Bai, Liu Kun, Bai Yu, and the circle of people fighting for the third vermilion fruit.

He whispered.

"Rushing in now will only make us a target for everyone and get us caught in the melee; the gains won't make up for the losses. See that third vermilion fruit? The strengths of the competitors there are relatively even; for now, none of them can overcome the others."

"We wait—wait for them to both be wounded, or for the moment someone lets their guard down after succeeding."

He paused, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"Our target is the person who gets the vermilion fruit, not the ownerless fruit tree."

The three including Zhao Feng felt a chill in their hearts upon hearing this, and then they understood.

Rather than risking their lives in the melee, it was better to be the fisherman who reaps the rewards at the end.

This was dangerous, but with the strength of the four of them—especially with Ye Chen's presence—there might be a chance.

The four quietly moved toward the edge of the battlefield, using rocks and heat haze to hide their figures.

They restrained their auras to the limit, staring intently at the fight for the third vermilion fruit.

There, the battle was fierce.

One Core Disciple was the strongest; he had already injured two people and was about to reach the vermilion fruit.

But the other three Inner Sect Disciples had also gone berserk, launching a joint fierce attack to trap him tightly.

The Fire Rhino guarding this spot was also heavily injured by someone taking advantage of the Chaos, and it fell to the ground, unable to get up.

However, other Fire Rhinos were still rampaging nearby, posing a significant threat.

"Now is the time!"

Unable to win after a long struggle, a ruthless look flashed in the Core Disciple's eyes.

He suddenly took out a crimson Talisman and spat a mouthful of essence blood onto it, causing the Talisman to ignite instantly.

It turned into a hideous fire python that pounced on the three people besieging him!

The power of this Talisman was astonishing, comparable to a strike from the sixth layer of the Sea of Wheels!

"Not good! It's the 'Flame Python Talisman'!"

The faces of the three attackers changed drastically, and they each used their own means to defend or dodge; their formation was instantly broken.

The Core Disciple took the Opportunity to flicker forward, grabbing for that gold-red vermilion fruit!

"Now!"

Just at the moment his fingertips were about to touch the vermilion fruit.

Ye Chen, who was long prepared, had a sharp light flash in his eyes.

The "Soul-Shocking Spike" from his brow was silently activated, shooting directly at the back of the Core Disciple's head!

At the same time, he pushed his "Phantom Step" to the limit, his body turning into a blurry gray shadow.

He rushed from the side toward the Core Disciple and the vermilion fruit!

He was so fast that he actually left faint afterimages behind him!

"Who?!"

The Core Disciple felt a sharp pain in his Divine Soul and his vision went black; his motion to grab the vermilion fruit involuntarily stiffened as he was filled with horror.

However, although Ye Chen's "Soul-Shocking Spike" injured his soul and slowed his movements, it failed to stop him completely.

He was a Core Disciple after all, and his soul was not weak; he continued to endure despite the sharp pain.

His right hand continued to reach forward, and he was about to grab the vermilion fruit.

"Leave it!"

At this critical moment, a sharp crimson Blade Gang slashed from the side toward Ye Chen's back like a venomous snake!

The one who attacked was actually Liu Kun, who had just forced back Bai Yu and was temporarily unable to fight for the second vermilion fruit!

Seeing that Ye Chen intended to be the fisherman reaping the rewards, he immediately attacked in anger, attempting to stop or even kill Ye Chen!

"Brother Ye, watch out!"

Zhao Feng and Duan Tianya were shocked and furious; they wanted to rescue him but it was already too late.

Ye Chen acted as if he didn't hear the Blade Gang attacking from behind.

In his eyes, there was now only the crimson sun vermilion fruit within reach!

His left hand swung back violently, and several "vajra talismans" and "Ice Wall Talismans" already held in his hand were activated simultaneously.

They formed several hasty defenses behind him.

At the same time, he pushed the Hunyuan True Essence in his body to the limit, gray light flowing over his skin as he prepared to tank the hit!

"Boom! Crack!"

The crimson Blade Gang shattered the ice walls and broke through the shields of the vajra talismans, and the remaining force struck heavily against the gray light on Ye Chen's back!

Ye Chen groaned as blood leaked from the corner of his mouth; a burning pain came from his back, and his protective true essence fluctuated violently.

But his forward momentum actually became a bit faster by borrowing the force of that strike!

Like a stone being swatted away, he crashed toward the Core Disciple and the vermilion fruit with even greater speed!

"What?!"

The Core Disciple had just slightly recovered from the soul pain.

He then saw Ye Chen, covered in blood and pouncing like a mad tiger.

In his shock and anger, he couldn't care about picking the vermilion fruit and subconsciously slapped a palm toward Ye Chen's face!

"Die!"

Ye Chen's eyes were cold; he neither dodged nor avoided the strike, and the ice scar sword in his right hand was already prepared.

Facing the incoming palm, he stabbed out with his sword! It was still the "Primordial Chaos Destruction Stab"!

But this time, he concentrated all his power into a single point, striving for a quick resolution!

"Puff!"

The Chaos sword tip made contact with the opponent's palm silently.

The Core Disciple's protective true essence and palm were like snow meeting a blazing sun, instantly pierced and disintegrated!

The sword tip passed through the palm, bringing a spray of blood, and its momentum remained undiminished as it stabbed toward the opponent's throat!

"No—!"

The Core Disciple's soul almost left his body; he wanted to dodge, but Ye Chen's sword was too fast and too strange.

And the distance was too close!

"Chih!"

The tip of the ice scar sword stopped three inches from his throat.

The cold Sword Qi made his skin crawl with goosebumps, and the shadow of death instantly loomed over him.

"Hand over the vermilion fruit, or die."

Ye Chen's voice was cold and devoid of emotion; blood was still leaking from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were sharp as knives, locking onto the opponent.

The wound on his back had stained his clothes red, but the hand holding his sword was as steady as a rock.

The Core Disciple's face was pale, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

He could feel the strange power on the sword tip that seemed able to disintegrate everything.

As well as the undisguised killing intent.

He knew that if he dared to say a single word of refusal, blood would surely splatter in the next second.

The vermilion fruit was good, but one needed a life to enjoy it.

"Here... take it!"

Trembling, he used his uninjured left hand.

He pulled the crimson sun vermilion fruit he had just plucked and hadn't yet had time to store from his robes and threw it to Ye Chen.

Ye Chen caught the fruit with his left hand; it was warm to the touch, and the surging vitality and spiritual power refreshed his spirit.

He hesitated no more, sheathed his sword, and retreated rapidly while shouting.

"Brother Zhao, Brother Duan, Junior Sister Liu, let's go!"

Zhao Feng, Duan Tianya, and Liu Qingqing were already prepared; they immediately followed upon hearing him, and the four merged and rushed toward the valley exit!

The entire process, from Ye Chen's sudden attack to stealing the fruit, forcing back the Core Disciple, and their merging and retreat.

It took only two or three breaths of time, happening so fast it was dazzling.

It wasn't until the four of them were dozens of yards away that the people in the valley finally reacted.

"Little beast! Leave the vermilion fruit!"

Liu Kun trembled with rage; his angry strike.

Not only had it failed to stop Ye Chen, but it seemed to have helped him instead.

This was simply a great humiliation! He raised his blade to give chase.

"Junior Brother Liu, forget it."

Murong Bai's voice rang out faintly; he had already put away his own vermilion fruit.

He was staring calmly at the direction in which the four of them had disappeared.

"It's just one vermilion fruit; in the Secret Realm, opportunities are more than this. Besides, that Ye Chen... is quite interesting."