191: Chapter 191 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (139)

Over thirty people in the field were divided into six teams, locked in a fierce, inseparable battle with a troop of robust monkeys.

Each of those monkeys was a size larger than ordinary mountain monkeys in the outside world. Their grayish-brown fur was as stiff as steel needles, and their claw tips gleamed with a cold light. They advanced and retreated with great order.

Forming small squads of three to five, those in the front row swung their claws to withstand weapons, while those in the back row used the branches to leap and maneuver, specifically targeting weaknesses like the back of the neck and the waist to strike ruthlessly. Their coordination was fluid and seamless, clearly showing signs of training.

Occasionally, large male monkeys that looked like elites would stand on high ground and screech a few times, causing the troop's offensive to suddenly shift, either concentrating their assault or dispersing to harass, catching the human teams completely off guard.

The six human teams wore different attire, making their origins recognizable at a single glance:

On the far left were the people of the Ice and Snow Holy Land, dressed in ice-blue robes. Each of them had a cold expression, and their sword techniques carried a chilling Qi. The leader was a female cultivator with frosty features; whenever she struck, fine shards of ice would fly everywhere. She had about five or six subordinates, and their formation was still relatively orderly.

Next to them were the scions of the Tianwu Imperial Family, wearing bright yellow python robes embroidered with dark patterns, with jade plaques hanging from their waists. The leading young man had an arrogant expression, shouting and cursing at his subordinates from time to time. Only four people remained in their team, looking as though they had suffered significant losses.

Slightly to the right of the center were the purple-robed Disciples of the Great Sun Holy Land. Their fist winds were fierce and powerful, and their bodies glowed with a faint golden light. The broad-faced burly man leading them fought the most fiercely, daring to meet the monkey claws bare-handed. He had five subordinates left.

Further to the right was the team from the Four Seasons Holy Land, wearing green, brown, and white martial attire. Their sword momentum was agile and tricky, but the red-clothed Disciples of the Summer Peak were nowhere to be seen. Their number was also five;

Of the remaining two teams, one was a group of Loose Cultivators in various black robes, striking with sinister ruthlessness and specifically looking for gaps to launch sneak attacks. The tall, thin leader's shifty eyes scanned everywhere, constantly keeping watch on the location of the fruits.

The last team was clad in profound iron armor, their movements fierce and fearless of death, clearly Martial Artists from the military. The bearded leader roared like thunder, his long saber cleaving with formidable force, and he also had five or six subordinates.

At this moment, the battlefield was stuck right on the edge of the red fruit zone. A few more steps forward would be the silver fruit territory.

The fruit trees on the periphery were laden with pigeon-egg-sized red fruits. Their skins were a glowing red, marked with fine, light-colored spiritual patterns. A sweet fruit fragrance wafted with the wind; just taking a breath of it made the True Qi in one's body feel slightly warm.

Looking further into the inner circle, silver-white fruits were dotted among the branches and leaves, glowing with a gentle, warm light, their fragrance a few degrees richer.

At the very top of the canopy in the deepest part of the fruit forest, two or three golden fruits hung indistinctly. Their halos flowed down along the branches and leaves, and their fragrance was so thick it almost condensed into substance. Unfortunately, they were blocked by layers of foliage, making them difficult to see clearly.

The battle was in a complete tug-of-war, pulling back and forth.

Occasionally, when the monkey troop was provoked, a large male monkey would lead with a screech, and the troop would charge forward with bared fangs, their claws striking weapons and sending sparks flying, forcing the human teams to retreat repeatedly.

Having won the upper hand, the monkeys became even more arrogant, squatting on the branches and screeching wildly, beating their chests to show off their power, and even throwing small pebbles down to hit people, looking utterly smug as if they had completely dominated.

But once the human teams stabilized their footing and temporarily joined forces to push forward, they could force the monkey troop back under the fruit trees.

At this point, the monkeys' expressions would instantly change. Their eyes turned red with anxiety, and screeching wildly without regard for the enemies behind them, they turned around and ruthlessly targeted the red fruits on the branches.

Some clenched their claws tightly, causing bright red juice mixed with fruit pulp to splatter all over the ground.

Others grabbed a cluster of fruits and pulled violently, tearing them down along with the branches and leaves, smashing them to pieces against the rocks.

Still others held the fruits and munched on them noisily, getting juice all over their faces, spitting the chewed bits into the mud. They would rather ruin them than leave even half a fruit for the humans.

The human side was even more chaotic.

Every time they forced the monkeys back to the fruit trees and were on the verge of picking the fruits, the "allies" who had just been fighting side by side would instantly turn on each other.

Just moments ago, when the young man in the imperial python robe reached out to grab the outermost cluster of red fruits, the tall, thin Loose Cultivator beside him flipped his hand and sent a blast of Qi toward his wrist, forcing him to retract his hand to defend, causing the fruit within his grasp to swing back into the foliage.

The female cultivator of the Ice and Snow Holy Land had just shaken off two pouncing monkeys and leaned over to reach for a fruit on the edge of the silver fruit zone when the broad-faced burly man of the Great Sun Holy Land raised his hand and punched the tree trunk beside her, shaking the entire tree and causing the fruits to sway wildly, ensuring no one could harvest in peace.

While everyone was trying their best to harvest the fruits, they also had to guard against underhanded strikes from those around them. Having to deal with monkey claws on one hand and watch out for stray arrows on the other, they fought with tied hands and feet.

Often, just as they advanced two steps, they would be pushed back by the monkeys' counterattack because they were dragging each other down.

After tossing and turning for a long time, not only did they fail to seize many intact fruits, but everyone also ended up with some injuries. The ground was littered with trampled red fruits and a few drops of wet blood, presenting a scene of utter mess.

Leaning against a tree trunk, Chu Shi watched the chaotic and foul scene in the field, his brow furrowing even tighter.

He had long known that the fruit forest was a chaotic battlefield, but he hadn't expected it to be in such a state of disarray.

It was obvious that as long as the various parties temporarily joined forces to completely drive away the monkey troop first and then distribute the fruits according to their strength, it would be a win-win situation for everyone.

Yet, everyone insisted on working at cross-purposes, preferring to waste away and suffer losses together rather than allow others to gain even a tiny bit of advantage.

"How did it become such a mess?"

He rubbed his temples, turned his head to look at Qiu Yang beside him, and asked in a low voice.

"They are all Disciples from major forces, so they should have some sense. Has no one proposed to first team up to drive away the monkeys before dividing the fruits?"

Hearing this, Qiu Yang gently shook his head with a helpless smile on his lips. He parted the leaves in front of him before speaking:

"Senior Brother Chu, you think too highly of them. Not everyone possesses your tolerance and foresight.

"This Temporal Secret Realm looks like a pure benefit with no fatal danger, but who among those who entered isn't a competitor?

The spiritual fruits in this forest may look plentiful, but when you actually calculate it, only the golden fruits at the center can allow someone to make a Breakthrough to the Late Stage of the Copper Bone Realm in a short period.

Currently, there are six teams on the surface with six leaders, all wanting to make a Breakthrough as soon as possible to get a share of the spoils at the snow mountain.

Not to mention there are also solo players like us hiding around, waiting to fish in troubled waters.

Even the other Disciples in the same team might not necessarily be free of thoughts of fishing in troubled waters."

He then paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd that had once again been pushed back by the monkeys due to infighting over the fruits, and continued in a flat tone.

"This is, after all, a struggle for their Dao path, concerning whether they have a chance to make a Breakthrough to the Silver Marrow Realm before the age of a hundred and become True Disciples of their respective forces.

Furthermore, the monkeys are constantly destroying the fruits. By the time the troop is actually driven away, who knows how many will be left.

No one dares to gamble on another's character. After all, for many people, watching others get benefits is more painful than not getting any themselves.

One thing led to another, and it ended up in this miserable state."