Volume One: First Foray into the City Chapter Forty-Nine: The Huixuan Fruit

Helian Ying took quite a while to recover from the shock. He looked deeply at Lu Yi and said, “Do you realize that if you had cut the Hunter’s Mark in the wrong spot, you’d be a dead man right now?”

“If the map had been fake, I’d be dead too. But it wasn’t, and I was right—again.” Lu Yi replied to Helian Ying with a smile.

Helian Ying fell silent.

“Kid, that Mangyou Stone is wasted in your hands. You’re just a mortal now, and keeping that thing around will kill you. Name your price—I want the Mangyou Stone.” Cedric demanded impatiently.

“Why should I? Can you even afford it? Lu Yi, tell us what you want.” Helian Xun immediately retorted, not backing down in the slightest.

“It’s actually simple. As you all know, I’m in a dangerous situation now.” Lu Yi coughed a few times, then looked at Helian Ying. “You once said you could find something to help me, but I’ve found a place even more valuable. Unfortunately, most of what’s here isn’t of any use to me.”

“So, no matter how valuable this Mangyou Stone is, it’s not worth more than my life.

My request is simple: I need something that can immediately increase my strength. Also, I noticed you all can conjure items out of thin air—do you have any spatial artifacts? Can you give me one?” Lu Yi stated his demands without pretense. Business negotiations, after all—start high and bargain down. There’s no benefit in asking too little.

Upon hearing Lu Yi’s words, the three exchanged glances. “You can’t use the spatial items our family has,” Helian Ying said, shaking his head. Lu Yi’s face stiffened immediately.

“My spatial items wouldn’t work for you either,” Cedric added, then continued, “But I can fulfill your first request.” He glanced smugly at the Helian sisters.

Seeing no reaction from them, he went on: “The things that can boost my strength—you surely wouldn’t be able to use them. Likewise, the items that could increase someone else’s strength—which the sisters wouldn’t carry—only someone living in Anvalo, like me, might have such things.”

Cedric’s words stirred excitement in Lu Yi’s heart, but he kept his composure. “Let’s hear your proposal.”

Cedric grinned. “I once created a spiritual imprint for the Dark Magic Cultivation Method. If you use it, you can quickly learn the basics.”

At that, Helian Ying interjected, “Even so, knowing the method isn’t enough—cultivating dark magic takes patience and time. This solution won’t satisfy your urgent need.”

“I understand that, Miss Helian. So I intend to add a premium Soulfruit. Take this fruit, and you’ll rapidly generate dark energy. Then, following the cultivation method, you’ll gain dark magic on the spot.” Cedric spoke with pride.

Lu Yi didn’t know if Cedric’s plan would work, so he looked to Helian Ying and Helian Xun.

“It’s feasible,” Helian Ying said, “but Soulfruit comes from the shadowlands and often carries resentment. If you take it, your soul might be overwhelmed.”

“There’s no perfect shortcut in this world. Kid, given the circumstances, this is the fastest and most reliable way to boost your power.” Cedric looked at Lu Yi with a sly smile.

Helian Ying nodded. “True, but what you’re offering isn’t worth even half a Mangyou Stone.”

Cedric laughed. “Times change. I have what he needs, after all.”

“Is that so?” Helian Ying shot Cedric a sidelong glance, half-smiling.

Cedric hesitated, then chuckled. “The Helian family may be famous, but you wouldn’t carry such things around. You’re not recruiting for your clan everywhere.”

“As you say, we don’t have such items on us.” Hearing Helian Ying’s words, Cedric relaxed. “However,” Helian Ying laughed teasingly, “we do have this.”

Helian Xun produced a stone statue. “This statue not only repels evil spirits, but it can also grant you a one-time death substitute protection if you’re in mortal danger,” Helian Ying explained to Lu Yi.

“Death substitute protection.” Lu Yi’s eyes lit up, but only briefly.

“I can have someone escort you to safety. With the statue, you’ll be secure for a while. Once we finish our business elsewhere, dealing with that issue will be a breeze,” Helian Ying said confidently.

“A breeze?” Lu Yi eyed Helian Ying skeptically. Even Helian Xun’s grandmother was powerless before, yet Helian Ying spoke so lightly.

Helian Xun, a bit embarrassed, explained, “Grandmother could have removed it, but you’re deeply connected to that thing. Ultimately, you’d still be found and haunted. She worried that if she removed it, you’d let your guard down and suffer more.”

“That’s called surviving catastrophe and thriving after—see, you’ve made it this far.” Helian Ying’s words annoyed Lu Yi.

Cedric realized Helian Ying’s offer was better than his and laughed awkwardly. “Having power in your own hands is better than relying on others, don’t you agree, Lu Yi?”

“You’re right,” Lu Yi nodded, then added, “but if I can guarantee my safety, I don’t urgently need more power.”

Cedric’s face stiffened. He twitched, then said, “I know your preferences. I can—”

“What did you say?” Helian Xun and Helian Ying shouted in unison. Cedric trembled and swallowed his words.

“The Mangyou Stone has already been split by Lu Yi. Why don’t we take a block each at our own offer? How does that sound, Lu Yi?” Helian Xun suggested.

“Agreed.” Lu Yi pretended to ponder, then nodded.

Helian Ying and Cedric cheerfully collected their Mangyou Stone pieces. Helian Xun looked around. “What’s wrong?” Lu Yi asked.

“Weren’t we told that Zock’s fiancée’s remains are here? Why haven’t we seen them?” Helian Xun kept searching.

Lu Yi froze. The dream resurfaced in his mind—the skeleton might be Zock’s fiancée’s. Could it awaken and possess Helian Xun?

“Come here, there’s writing at the bottom of the chest,” Cedric suddenly said.

Lu Yi shivered. Was the dream about to come true?

“Huiyuan Fruit—Zock actually cultivated a Huiyuan Fruit tree!” Helian Ying exclaimed, reading the inscription. “And there’s detailed information as well.”

“Huiyuan Fruit? What’s that?” Lu Yi asked Helian Xun.

“A treasure!” Helian Xun’s eyes sparkled. “It can activate your bloodline energy and extend your lifespan. It’s said one can take it three times in a lifetime: the first time for twelve years, the second for six, the third for two—so twenty years in total.”

“Lifespan!” Lu Yi was shocked. With this, he could fulfill his promise to Katerina! He didn’t need to see everyone’s excitement—he was determined to go through with it himself.

They moved the chest, and just as described, a staircase appeared beneath, leading down. The three were first to descend.

Lu Yi brought up the rear. He glanced back and saw a snake, baring its fangs, carved into the chest’s bottom. With the help of his magical eye, he scanned the pattern, but nothing seemed amiss. Meanwhile, Helian Xun called from below for him to hurry.

Lu Yi answered as he descended, soon reaching a smaller chamber below.

A small fruit tree stood quietly, bearing eighteen unripe fruits. Beside each fruit were two trumpet-shaped objects—one black, one white.

Cedric pointed at the trumpets. “As the inscription says, pour blood with light energy into one, and blood with dark energy into the other. With enough years, the Huiyuan Fruit matures. Then, using mortal blood to nourish it, you remove the side effects from forced ripening.”

Cedric finished, looking at Lu Yi. Helian Ying and Helian Xun also watched him.

“What?” Lu Yi felt uneasy under their gaze. He’d been examining the environment, which matched his dream exactly.

“I really believe you have some kind of premonition now. Otherwise, why insist on bringing Xun along?” Helian Ying remarked, moved. Helian Xun nodded vigorously.

Lu Yi thought to himself: Well, fiction becomes reality. I have no premonition—I just deduced from the signs that this place was dangerous and wanted more backup for safety. He couldn’t help but feel a little proud.

Following the instructions, they ripened eighteen fruits. Lu Yi had to shed a lot of blood; without advanced medicine, he’d surely have died from it.

The three parties split the fruits evenly. Cedric urged Lu Yi to sell him some, but Lu Yi refused.

When Lu Yi examined the Huiyuan Fruit, the city’s prompt matched Helian Xun’s explanation. But it also warned him that he shouldn’t take it—his bloodline was too weak and it would waste the opportunity.

Lu Yi sighed, packed the fruit, and stored it in the temporary team space. Then Helian Xun screamed, “She’s here!”

Lu Yi rushed over to find Helian Ying and Helian Xun crouched beside a skeleton, exactly as he’d seen in his dream.

Lu Yi’s scalp tingled and cold sweat ran down his back.

“So this is Zock’s fiancée? She doesn’t seem to be human,” Helian Xun said, reaching out.

“Don’t touch her!” Lu Yi shouted and lunged at Helian Xun.

Helian Xun and Helian Ying looked at Lu Yi in confusion. As Lu Yi’s hand landed on Helian Xun’s shoulder, intending to pull her away, his magic eye suddenly pulsed. Instantly, he felt paralyzed—a sense of suffocating despair overwhelmed him. It was as if, if he continued, he would be lost forever.