Chapter 333: Fighting Feng Chaoyang A Third Time

Luo Xiaoyong left the central mountain and wandered around the hidden realm, encountering a pitifully small number of inferno phoenixes.

Why are there so few inferno phoenixes here? Things are really strange today.

Luo Xiaoyong frowned. He just hoped he could get the Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life and leave this hidden realm as soon as possible.

The Phoenix Sheep Hidden Realm was overflowing with yang qi, so those who practiced the Greater-Yin Cult's method of cultivation wouldn't like it. However, the Greater-Yin Cult insisted on having their disciples temper themselves there. The original purpose had probably been for the disciples to get used to this kind of environment.

After flying out quite a long way from the central mountain, Luo Xiaoyong finally saw more inferno phoenixes, and he was truly surprised by the sight.

Up ahead, hundreds of inferno phoenixes had gathered and formed a cloud of fire. They were crying out angrily as they pursued something.

Curious, Luo Xiaoyong moved to the side to get a better look and saw a beam of white swordlight speeding ahead of the cloud of fire. He noticed that, rather than being chased, it seemed more like the swordlight was leading the flock of inferno phoenixes. When the inferno phoenixes couldn't keep up, the swordlight would pause for a while and wait for them.

Chu Liang?!

Luo Xiaoyong looked at the swordlight and quickly recognized it as Chu Liang's sword—the Dustless Sword.

How does this guy always come up with some new trick?

Luo Xiaoyong followed Chu Liang and watched him lead the inferno phoenixes toward an enchanted formation that was surrounded by a few puppets.

Chu Liang used himself as bait to lure the inferno phoenixes into the formation. Once they were all inside, he activated the formation and killed them.

He’s bullying those foolish inferno phoenixes!

Chu Liang wiped out the flock of inferno phoenixes in just a short time. Then he finally went over to greet Luo Xiaoyong.

While luring the monsters to the enchanted formation, Chu Liang's divine sense had picked up Luo Xiaoyong's presence. However, Chu Liang had been too busy to speak with him.

"Brother Luo, what a coincidence," Chu Liang said with a smile.

"It's not a coincidence at all, is it? This is the only place that had inferno phoenixes," Luo Xiaoyong replied in amazement. "How did you manage to lure over so many inferno phoenixes so easily?"

Chu Liang laughed. "I guess I've just got a gift for it."

A gift for attracting hatred...?

Luo Xiaoyong looked at Chu Liang and nodded in agreement.

This guy is indeed quite outstanding in this regard.

"Oh, are there no more inferno phoenixes around here?" Chu Liang asked, wiping his sweat. "I guess I've gotten rid of most of them then. Brother Luo, why don't you go look for the mountain sheep? I'll go see if there are any inferno phoenixes remaining. Let's divide the work and quickly take the Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life out of this hidden realm."

Luo Xiaoyong nodded. "Alright."

He then turned and left.

...

Chu Liang waited until there were no inferno phoenixes in sight before setting off back to the central mountain's peak. It seemed that he had wiped out all of the inferno phoenixes. If there were even one left, it would attempt to attack him upon sensing his dragon aura.

Meanwhile, Li Shiyi had just returned to the central mountain. The young lady had gone out to hunt a few mountain sheep earlier, but after a long and fruitless search, she returned to the mountain to wait for the others.

Seeing Chu Liang land on the peak, Li Shiyi relaxed.

After seeing a few strange people, Li Shiyi realized that having a stable temperament was a very important character trait.

"Young Hero Chu, do you think all the fire beasts have been wiped out?" Li Shiyi asked.

"They should be, more or less," Chu Liang answered. "Let's see what the other two say when they return."

"Those two..." Li Shiyi said quietly. "They always suddenly start fighting out of nowhere. It's really scary..."

"That's just how the people of the martial world are." Chu Liang grinned. "They're quicker to act out and seek revenge."

Right then, Luo Xiaoyong returned to the mountain peak.

Upon landing, he said, "I think this place is clear of the fire beasts now. Take a look at that rootstock."

Luo Xiaoyong pointed at the thick rootstock of the plant that would produce the Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life.

Turning to look, Chu Liang and Li Shiyi noticed there was golden light slowly climbing up the thick rootstock. This indicated that all the golden essence was returning to the rhizome[1]. Once the golden essence reached the flower of the plant, it would be ready to produce the Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life.

A while later, Feng Chaoyang flew over from afar and landed on the central mountain's peak. His gaze was focused on Chu Liang.

Feng Chaoyang had gone out earlier to search for fire beasts as well as the General's Constellation Orb that was missing from his storage tool. He remembered that he'd had it before entering the hidden realm and during his duel with Luo Xiaoyong. He hadn't used the orb, so he had probably lost it in the hidden realm.

Feng Chaoyang then searched everywhere he had been in the hidden realm prior to noticing it was gone, but he couldn't sense it anywhere.

That meant it was very likely Chu Liang or Luo Xiaoyong had stolen it using some secret method when they made physical contact earlier.

Consequently, Feng Chaoyang stepped forward and asked them, "Have either of you seen—"

"We've all seen that the plant is about to produce the Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life. If you still want to duel with me, we can fight for the fruit after it has been produced," Chu Liang said. "There's no need for unnecessary fighting before that."

Feng Chaoyang waved his hand, gesturing that wasn't what he wanted to talk about. "No, I just wanted to ask you—"

"No problem." Chu Liang interrupted Feng Chaoyang again. "You're just asking if I'm willing to accept your challenge, right? I'll definitely have a great battle with you later."

Feng Chaoyang said anxiously, "That's not what I want to talk about! I lost—"

"You lost the face of the Celestial King Sect, right? Brother Feng, you don't have to think that way. Our sects have a friendly relationship, but you picking a fight with me does indeed tarnish your sect's reputation a bit. However, it's normal to be hot-blooded and impetuous when you're young. As a disciple of the Mount Shu Sect, I won't harbor enmity toward my friends from the Celestial King Sect because of this."

"Seriously!" Feng Chaoyang uttered in exasperation, unable to keep up with the silver-tongued Chu Liang. He stomped his foot anxiously and said, "I'm looking for my—"

Whoosh.

A brilliant flash of light burst forth from the Phoenix Sheep Flower, radiating countless rays of golden light outward. It was as if some exceptional, one-of-a-kind treasure was about to emerge!

"The Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life is emerging!" Li Shiyi exclaimed in surprise.

The four of them were drawn to the light. After all, their primary goal was to obtain the Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life, an ultimate-grade spirit plant for breaking through to the fifth realm.

While watching the fruit emerge, they all distanced themselves from each other. They were observing and guarding against one another because they might become competitors in the very next second!

The Phoenix Sheep Flower bloomed with golden light, revealing a fruit. The fruit instantly expanded in size, drooping downward. It became a golden fruit with mysterious ancient veins. Then it dropped to the ground heavily with a quiet, dull thud.

The gazes of the four people were immediately on alert! The fight for the fruit began!

Chu Liang shook his wrist, hurling out a Chain of Resentment.

Whoosh.

Feng Chaoyang was about to turn into divine light and fly toward the Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life. However, just before he did that, he glanced at the others and saw Luo Xiaoyong was glancing at him right at that moment too.

They found themselves looking straight at each other.

Flames of anger ignited in Luo Xiaoyong's eyes. "What are you looking at?"

Hearing that, Feng Chaoyang got angry too and replied, "So what if I'm looking at you?"

"Look at me again, and see what happens."

"Bring it on!"

"Take this!"

With just a few words, the two young men were suddenly started fighting again. Luo Xiaoyong was fighting Feng Chaoyang a third time!

This time, Luo Xiaoyong and Feng Chaoyang were already familiar with each other's divine abilities, so they targeted each other's weaknesses right from the start.

Luo Xiaoyong raised his hand, and a thicket of icy thistles and thorns burst up from the ground. They protected him and prevented Feng Chaoyang from forcing him into close combat.

Feng Chaoyang responded by launching two of the General's Star Wheels. That fully illuminated the sky and prevented Luo Xiaoyong from using Stealing the Sky and Replacing the Sun.

Their fight quickly became intense, leaving only Chu Liang and Li Shiyi to compete for the Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life.

Despite being a competition, it wasn't a fierce one. Chu Liang had already flown forward the moment that the Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life landed. Li Shiyi, on the other hand, had been startled by the sudden fight between the other two and ended up falling slightly behind.

The young lady wasn't fond of fighting, but attacking Chu Liang was all she could do to hold him back.

Li Shiyi activated her sword seal with a clang, and a wall of swords suddenly appeared in front of Chu Liang. Nevertheless, that didn't hinder him in the slightest.

There was a whoosh of wind, and Chu Liang disappeared, reappearing ten zhang away. He'd used Dimension Compression!

Chu Liang plucked the Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life off the plant and turned around.

Smiling at Li Shiyi, Chu Liang asked, "Miss Li, do you still want to fight me?"

Li Shiyi blinked, "No, thanks."

Her shoulders sagged with fatigue.

The young lady's delicate little face was filled with confusion as she watched the two people who had gotten angry over a glance fight with blind rage.

Li Shiyi sighed and said, "I just want to go home."

The martial world... is so exhausting.

1. Rhizome(https://www.britannica.com/science/rhizome): horizontal underground plant stem capable of producing the shoot and root systems of a new plant. ☜