Screw it—first grab the Immortal Phoenix Flame Grass and the Holy Fruit of Illusory Feathers, mend the shadowed wound, then talk about anything else.

Tianqi Yu lifted his gaze, eyes climbing like ivy back to the twin treasures perched on the mountain’s crown.

At the same time.

Bzzz bzzz bzzz—

The ground shivered like a drumskin underfoot, and a rich tide of Spirit Energy streamed toward the five heavenly treasures glinting on the peak.

“Look—that’s the Holy Fruit of Illusory Feathers!”

Heads tilted up. On a single green vine hung three red buds wrapped in tender leaves, small against the jungle of twining stems. As Spirit Energy trickled in like mist, each tiny bud slowly unfurled, revealing green, unripe fruit.

“Worthy of its title as a Spirit Energy treasure. Even a Nascent Soul powerhouse would need ages to absorb this gathered aura.”

“No wonder the elders said getting either one is pure luck. Put this in front of anyone and their eyes will burn.”

Before the words fell—Kreee—!

A crisp avian cry rang from the summit, and a searing aura burst out like a sunflare. People flinched, Spirit Energy flaring into shields; weaker disciples went pale as their energy scattered like torn silk.

“What a domineering surge. What is that?” Golden Core cultivators who barely held the wave looked up. Beneath the vine with the three Holy Fruits, two vivid scarlet herbs had sprouted out of nowhere.

Nine-lobed leaves fanned upward, and fine flames danced on each blade, like tiny phoenix tailfeathers swaying in hot wind.

“As the old tales say, the Immortal Phoenix Flame Grass formed from blood shed by the ancient Fire Phoenix clan. It holds endless life force, able to help fallen cultivators rebuild their bodies, reborn in nirvana. Seeing it today, it truly staggers the mind.”

The crowd below roiled like a stirred ant nest. Many searing gazes locked onto the five treasures poised upon the peak.

To rebuild a body, to be reborn—for cultivators grinding through long years, that’s a get-out-of-death card by another name.

“Looks like we’re in for a brutal fight today.” Du Fei Yu eyed the ring of cultivators itching for battle. His eyes blazed like torches, warlust climbing. “I wonder where Old Brother Shen is. Months have passed; who knows how far he’s pushed his realm.”

“You still have time to pine for others? Peak Master Du, your heart’s too big.”

A cool voice drifted in from behind, like a breeze off cold water. With that familiar yet strange tone, Du Fei Yu’s pupils tightened.

“You. Azure An!”

“Hey, timing beats being early, Peak Master Du. We meet again.” Nana Toki stood amid the crowd, black combat garb sharp as a raven’s wing.

Du Fei Yu: “...” Damn. Why is this woman everywhere? Azure An is like a shadow that won’t fade.

But still…

“You really are a freak.” Du Fei Yu stared, half shocked. “Only two months, and you pushed through two minor realms. You must’ve found that tempering pool.”

“Thanks to you, I did. Its effect wasn’t bad. But I’ve got a question.” Nana Toki’s smile was easy as spring light, yet Du Fei Yu felt no warmth rise for it. “What question?” This woman never brings good news.

“If you had a map to the tempering pool, why didn’t you use it yourself? Why hand it to me?” Nana had tasted the pool and knew its value to cultivation.

Du Fei Yu giving it away stuck like a thorn.

“Eh? Just for that?” Du Fei Yu blinked, then spread his hands with a helpless shrug. “You think I didn’t want to? That thing only tempers the flesh. For spell cultivators like us, it’s pointless. Better to cultivate Spirit Energy honestly than chase side paths.”

Nana Toki: “...” Calling body refinement a side path, sure.

Rumble—

Rumble—

While they chatted, the summit shook again. The gathered Spirit Energy had swollen to a terrifying torrent, pouring as visible light into the Holy Fruit of Illusory Feathers and the Immortal Phoenix Flame Grass. The once small green fruits ballooned to the size of a baby’s head, and the Flame Grass flared with beastly might, its aura skyrocketing like a phoenix reborn in fire.

The sight struck every cultivator at the foot of the mountain into a hush of awe. Then, as the waves eased, rich medicinal fragrance drifted out from both treasures like warm steam.

“The Holy Fruit of Illusory Feathers and the Immortal Phoenix Flame Grass are ripe!”

Almost at once, every cultivator’s eyes reddened. Violent Spirit Energy burst from their dantian like geysers, and bodies swarmed toward the peak like locusts to grain.

“Charge!”

Disciples of every sect tangled in chaos. Foundation Establishment or Golden Core, all fought madly for the Holy Fruit and Flame Grass. As the rush swelled, the slope became a gallery of brutal wounds.

Those allowed into the Wildbeast Wasteland aren’t all rule-abiding saints. Some spoiled, vicious brats will do anything to get their way.

Hidden among them, Tianqi Yu’s Spirit Energy surged underfoot like lightning. He blasted past obstacles, crippling anyone in his path from the shadows, leaving bodies tumbling, life or death unknown.

“Looks like I’ll take the first prize!”

Stronger than Tianqi Yu by several tiers, Du Fei Yu almost reached the summit, hand outstretched for the Holy Fruit. Suddenly, a streak of black flashed. Caught off guard, Du Fei Yu was swatted back more than thirty feet.

“Azure An! What the hell are you doing!”

Boom—

Before his words fell, the spot he’d just occupied collapsed into a gaping hole. Waves of savage beast-qi stormed in from the far side of the peak like a breaking tide.

“Not good—beasts!”

“Heavens, why are there so many?!”

“A Primordial Sky Flood Serpent, a Blood-Feather Demon Butterfly, a Mountain-Splitting Stone Ape… There are three Nascent Soul beasts alone!”

“Everyone, fall back!”

The front-line disciples skidded away, faces dark as storm clouds, staring at the array of monsters on the summit.

Beyond the largest three Nascent Soul beasts, six or seven Golden Core peak beasts stalked the ridge.

Crude, crushing beast-qi rolled down the slope like a landslide, leaving many disciples white as bone.

“You still think I’m trying to harm you?” Nana Toki crossed her arms and shot a look at the dust-covered Du Fei Yu. “You judge a gentleman with a petty heart.”

Du Fei Yu: “...” Who could’ve predicted this mess?

“These beasts were likely drawn by the aura of the Holy Fruit and the Flame Grass. If we want those two treasures, we have to break through this.”

“How about we join forces now, drive off the beasts, then settle the winners among us?”

Disciples from weaker sects made the suggestion, but few agreed. “Who knows if someone will hand over the treasures after grabbing them? You want us to lead the charge—why don’t you go first?”

“Exactly! Those are Nascent Soul beasts. Early stage or not, they’ll make us choke. And there are three!”

In moments, the mid-slope erupted into argument. Nana Toki enjoyed the chaos like watching sparks jump; so long as the Protagonist Lord didn’t get the Holy Fruit, she’d rather see beasts eat them.

“Stop bickering! Join up against the beasts. If the Flame Grass and Holy Fruit get split up while we squabble, we’ll be left with nothing!”

Tianqi Yu went all in. He moved first, Golden Core Stage aura surging like fire, and charged the peak. Seeing a mere Golden Core rush ahead alone, several others gritted their teeth and followed.

“Move! Faster! Don’t let those clowns get lucky and snatch the Holy Fruit and Flame Grass from the beasts!”

“Tsk… that Protagonist Lord is really a pain.” Watching cultivators race after Tianqi Yu, Nana’s pretty face darkened like a storm.

Let the beasts have them, wouldn’t that be nice?

But no, they just had to grab.

“Hm? Why aren’t you jumping in?” Still standing with arms folded, Nana side-eyed Du Fei Yu. “Don’t you want to break into Nascent Soul? Those two heavenly treasures would help.”

“Sure, treasures are great, but my life matters more.” Du Fei Yu brushed dust from his sleeves and offered a bitter smile. “The gap between Golden Core and Nascent Soul is huge. If there were one beast, I might try. Three is too risky. And there are plenty at Golden Core. The Longarm Demon Ape before left me a heavy shadow. I’m not joining this death march.”

“Heh, didn’t expect you to be clever, once in a while.” Nana arched a brow.

Du Fei Yu: “...” What do you mean once in a while? I’ve always had a brain.