Awooo!

Savage demon aura surged skyward, like smoke torn by a storm.

The Primordial Sky Flood-Dragon, Bloodfeather Demon Butterfly, and Mountain-Splitting Stone Ape—three Nascent Soul beasts—moved like wind over steel.

They snatched two Holy Fruits of Illusory Feathers and one Immortal Phoenix Flame Grass, then vanished beyond the peak like ghosts.

Though beasts, they had spirit; in the Wildbeast Wasteland they take little, not hoard much, like hunters culling clean.

Hurry, together against the beasts! Secure the Holy Fruit and the Flame Grass first! Voices beat like war drums.

Five sacred plants became two in a blink, like petals ripped by gale. Hearts bled, seeing heaven’s gifts squandered in beastly claws.

Those were Nascent Soul beasts; no one dared chase, fear like ice in their gut. Desire fixed on the two remaining treasures.

Out of my way! His shout cracked like thunder on stone.

On the peak, Tianqi Yu fought beside other sect disciples, lightning flashing in their clash with a Golden Core Ninth Tier beast.

His Golden Core might flared like sunrise through fog. In a blink, he turned into a streak of light for the two treasures.

Damn! Don’t let that brat take the lead! Their curses cut like knives through rain.

Nearby cultivators locking horns with beasts watched him streak past, faces draining like clay in a downpour.

They ignored the beasts, flung hand-seals at his back, talons reaching to halt his flight.

Tsk, these pests are in the way. His patience frayed like thin silk.

A sudden palm imprint slammed into his back, like a brand from a forge. His charge hitched; his gaze darkened like storm clouds.

Bloodlust flickered cold as steel in his eyes. The old him would have culled these ants without a thought.

Hmph! Humans, stand down. Under a green vine, a leopard crackling with lightning spoke, voice cold as winter rain.

In a finger’s flick, it blasted several climbers away, like leaves caught in a squall. These Wasteland treasures aren’t yours.

Save the breath; all together! Mid-slope, several Golden Core Fifth Tier cultivators stamped, Spirit Energy quaking like tremors.

They unleashed sect arts like blazing banners and lunged at the thunder leopard, strength hard as iron and ice.

Tianqi Yu followed without flinching, rolling pressure surging like tides under a full moon, stronger than peers.

The Protagonist Lord is a beast. So many Golden Core Ninth Tier monsters, and he just pushes through. That plot armor’s thick as dragon scale.

Beside Du Fei Yu at the foot, Nana Toki watched the vanguard crest the fight, like arrows toward the peak’s crown.

She grabbed her Colossal Axe and leapt, a shadow flying uphill like a hawk riding thermals.

Hey, Azure An, where are you going? His shout trailed like wind.

To kill someone. Her voice was flat as frost.

Du Fei Yu stiffened, like a rabbit seeing a knife. This woman wasn’t normal.

Nana Toki wouldn’t let the Protagonist Lord pocket both treasures, not without paying in fate and cost, like debt to heaven.

Everyone, push! Claim either treasure, and even if we don’t ascend immortal, a Nascent Soul is within reach, like dawn over black sea.

Disciples from all sects forgot Golden Core Ninth Tier terror, Spirit Energy flaring like meteors as they sprinted uphill.

Go! Grab the Immortal Phoenix Flame Grass and the Holy Fruit! Names will sit at the Nascent Soul seat! Their chants rose like surf.

Hand-seals flew like snow. Many behind suffered; the mountain path roared into chaos like a river in flood.

Yet Tianqi Yu still spotted Nana Toki cutting in from mid-slope, like a knife’s first glint.

You, Azure An! His shout rang like a bell on iron.

Surprised to see me? Nana Toki didn’t waste breath. She lifted her Black Great Axe and swung for his forehead, like thunder falling.

I’m in a hurry. Don’t resist. Let me kill you. Her smile was bright as noon on ice.

Boom—!

The mountain path cracked; a deep pit bloomed like a black flower under her strike. Tianqi Yu barely dodged, heart iced over.

That naked killing intent felt like a feud beyond heaven, a blade that wanted his name. She truly meant to kill him.

Peak Lord Azure, I’ve no enmity with you. Why draw blades at me? Did you forget the elders’ words? His tone was tight as bowstring.

True, no enmity. I just don’t like your face; why can’t I kill you? Her laugh rang like silver bells.

As for the elders… once you’re dead, no one tattles on me. Her eyes held winter light.

Tianqi Yu said nothing, thoughts cold as slate. This woman definitely had issues.

He rallied his remaining Spirit Energy, stopped engaging her, and sprinted for the summit like wind over ice.

Her mind ran strange rails; best avoid a clash, like walking around a cliff at night.

Hey! Don’t run! Wait for me! She chased with the axe, a storm hounding a ship.

Don’t go for that Holy Fruit or Flame Grass. Let me send you to hell for Mengpo soup, warm as fog.

Best deal at my shop—miss it, and you’ll never find another! Her taunts fluttered like paper kites.

Hey! Can you hear me? Her shout skipped like stones on water.

Cultivators behind her were stunned, like birds stilled mid-flight. What grudge did this girl have with that man?

With the Holy Fruit and Flame Grass shining like twin moons, she plays at chase. Madness biting like frost.

At the foot, Du Fei Yu watched in silence, like a reed in wind. Tianqi Yu might be odd, but Azure An was sick to the bone.

Two figures chased across the summit, hawk and hare weaving, while others grappled beasts and let Nana Toki run wild.

Whoosh—

In an instant several figures broke a Golden Core Ninth Tier line like thunder splitting rock, feet stirring Spirit Energy like dust devils.

They lunged for the Holy Fruit and Flame Grass behind the beast, hands reaching like nets.

A Golden Core Second Tier disciple was about to succeed, like a palm closing on light.

Swish! Swish!

Two silhouettes dropped from the sky like falcons. They seized the vine’s Holy Fruit and the earth’s Immortal Phoenix Flame Grass.

Azure An! Give me the Holy Fruit and the Flame Grass! Tianqi Yu’s fury smoked like a forge.

He had worried about prying eyes, planning to lure her aside and end her, like cutting a knot quietly.

Who knew she’d flip mid-chase and pluck both treasures instead, like a magpie stealing shine?

Who can withstand that? His breath burned like fire under armor.

He felt his intellect clearly insulted, like a fish slapped on a cutting board.

Why should I hand them over? Didn’t we all agree—ability claims the prize? Her grin shone like sun through clouds.

You let me steal a march because your brain lagged; how’s that my fault? The treasures sat light in her hands like fruit.

The air turned strange, like mist hiding cliffs. Several Golden Core Ninth Tier beasts, once repelled, seemed ready to contest again.

Yet they fled raggedly, like beaten dogs, for reasons hidden like roots under stone.

Around the peak, a ring of silent cultivators hemmed Nana Toki in, like a tightening noose.

What, everyone wants to rob me? Her eyes narrowed, smile fox-sly, winter-still.

Azure An, that’s your name, yes? From the crowd stepped a scholarly cultivator, plain as bamboo yet gaze burning like coals.

Azure girl, fate meets us in this Wasteland. Either treasure is a heaven-sent chance. You hogging both seems unjust, by feeling and reason.

Right. The Holy Fruit and Flame Grass are once-in-a-millennium chances here, stars rare as phoenix feathers.

You’re merely Foundation Establishment, yet want both. Is there no law under heaven? His words fell like hail.

So, I get these by luck, and that makes me guilty? Her smile cooled like moonlight on snow.

The cultivation world never lacks scum, weeds in spring. Her tone carried frost.

A commoner’s not guilty, but holding jade invites crime—you understand, don’t you? His voice smoothed like water over stones.

And you’re only Foundation Establishment. How could you refine both? Hand them to the most capable; it benefits all, like rain over fields.

And if I don’t? Her voice turned playful, a cat’s paw over silk.

Then you die. His reply snapped like a trap in the dark.