H. Chapter 12

"The Flame Baby Fruits are due to ripen in three to four days according to our sects estimations. My fellow sect disciples must have already arrived in the city, and they will be entering the Blazing Parasol Valley soon." Lan Yue said to Qin Jia.

"We have enough time to prepare. But will your sect members share the fruits with an outsider?" Qin Jia asked her. The fifth grade spirit treasure, Flame Baby Fruits are very rare and valuable, a powerful sect like Phoenix Jade palace doesn't need outsiders help, and they might not be ready to share the fruits.

"Our sect will share these Flame Baby Fruits. During the early days of the Phoenix Jade Palace, our strength was not as influential as it is now, we competed with others for power. Blazing Parasol Tree is one of the resources our sect tried to gain control over. In the end, all the groups compromised and let the disciples compete. Even now, we had to follow this arrangement because of a sect with equal standing as Phoenix Jade Palace." Lan Yue explained while they are flying in the sky. Six sect disciples of Phoenix Jade Palace are following her. There are two True Qi Realm cultivators and four Qi Transformation Realm cultivators.

"Are there going to be enough Flame Baby Fruits?" Qin Jia asked.

"Qin Jia, you don't need to worry, there will be at least a minimum of 100–120 fruits ripening during this period. And this trip for Flame Baby fruits is a task for us, Core sect disciples. Only a few core disciples with a team of 5 to 7 were allowed to participate in this task. Moreover, the disciple who grabs the most Flame Baby fruits will also get an additional reward from the sect along with the usual credits. We are serious about this task for many reasons. Disciples can also seek help from others for this task. You will be only joining my team and not my other senior brothers'. With our small team, everyone can get a better share of the fruits. We will decide how to share the fruits at the end." Lan Yue assured him.

"So it's a task from your sect, I don't mind helping you. You can decide our share of Flame Baby Fruits, I trust you." Qin Jia said to her. With his strength he can grab as many as he wanted.

"Thank you, Qin Jia." Lan Yue replied with a sweet smile.

"Is it because of Miss Su that you arrived in this city ahead of others?" Qin Jia asked her.

"Yes, Junior sister Su was in trouble and asked for my help. Yao Shi's family as a backing in my sect. I was busy dealing with him since I have arrived here." Lan Yue replied, her voice tinged with irritation.

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"I can help you if you need it." Qin Jia said to her in a gentle voice. Lan Yue's lips bloomed into a happy smile after listening to him.

"I don't want to trouble you, Brother Qin, it's just a small matter. But I will surely trouble you when I need any help." Lan Yue denied him.

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"Where did you get the map? We didn't see any Spotted Fire Grass along the way." Su Maoxian asked Liu Ye uneasily.

"The cultivators from all factions will pluck those Spotted Fire Grass. This obstructs those who follow the trail of Spotted Fire Grass to reach the Blazing Parasol Tree." Liu Ye explained to him. "So we are following a map from a trusted source."

"Who gave you the map?" Asked Su Maoxian.

"I am not saying." Liu Ye raised his cheeks to form a smile and dropped them. He was looking at the map being generated by the system.

The system can generate a small map by scanning his surroundings. It can detect the auras in the surrounding environment and make a map. It shows the trees, plants, rocks as dots of different colours and adds a layer on top of it which shows the aura of different elements. Liu Ye is following the fire and wood element auras that created an obscure pattern of a trail.

"We haven't come across many people." Su Maoxian said. "Others with map should have crossed us, isn't it?"

"They might be flying if they have a map." Liu Ye answered. "Some might not even care to remove the Spotted Fire Grass."

"What if someone without a map stops and threaten us?" Su Maoxian asked with fear.

"You are a coward, Su Maoxian." Liu Ye jeered at him. "I thought you are brave when you helped the patrol guards."

"We are going to a place with many True Qi Realm and Qi Transformation realm cultivators. We are far behind them. And there's no Brother Qin to save us if we encounter a fight." Su Maoxian retorted with indignant.

"We won't be in trouble." Said Liu Ye.

Suddenly a fierce growl from a beast disrupted their conversation. Su Maoxian immediately stood in front of Liu Ye and warned him. "Be careful Liu Ye, we might have entered the territory of wild beast."

"The beast should be weak. There's no Qi in the growl." Liu Ye analysed.

"Okay, but let's wait and get away from here without attracting its attraction." Su Maoxian replied. "I am still recovering from my injury and can't use my full strength. It will be difficult for us if I have to fight it in my present state."

"Okay, I will also think of a way to get away from here." Liu Ye answered. He checked the map to see the presence of any beast in the range of five metres, but didn't find any beast.

"Can you hear the footsteps of the beasts?" Liu Ye asked Su Maoxian in a low voice.

"No." Su Maoxian replied. He is a cultivator at Acquired Qi Realm and can hear the sounds of the beast from further distances than Liu Ye.

"Let's retreat and go around this place instead." Liu Ye suggested.

"Fine." Su Maoxian agreed and slowly turned around. They walked slowly without making a noise. Suddenly, Su Maoxian exclaimed. "Damn, Liu Ye, I can hear the footsteps of a beast moving towards us."

He turned around and got ready to fight the beast.