Li Kuanglan, without a second thought, lunged forward, releasing a beam of frigid primordial force from her hands, encasing the four-armed warrior in ice. However, the warrior exerted his strength and the ice immediately cracked, spreading fissures throughout.
Shocked, Li Kuanglan instantly closed the distance, slicing open the throat of the four-armed warrior just as he regained his mobility. Yet, the tenacity of the four-armed being was astonishing; even with a slit throat, he still managed to let out a thunderous roar from his chest.
“Oh no!” This was the only thought that flashed through Li Kuanglan’s mind. In the heart of the stone fortress, if the natives were alerted, the consequences would be unimaginable.
A slender figure swooped in from the side, slamming into the wounded native warrior and sending him flying. Ji Tianqing grabbed Li Kuanglan, urging, “Hurry! What are you waiting for?”
Following Ji Tianqing, Li Kuanglan dashed toward the stone wall. The natives reacted swiftly, and in moments, dozens of two-armed natives had blocked their path, with even more emerging from their huts.
Li Kuanglan took the lead, unleashing waves of icy aura, instantly freezing over a dozen natives in front of them. But even for the two-armed warriors, such a wide-spread icy force could only immobilize them for a few breaths.
But even this short duration was enough. Ji Tianqing whipped out a long lash, lassoing it around the natives. Once ensnared, the natives were yanked off their feet, flying into the air and crashing into their comrades or huts below.
The stone fortress turned into a scene of utter chaos. Amidst the turmoil, Ji Tianqing dragged Li Kuanglan, dashing through the throng of natives and escaping toward the stone wall.
At that moment, Li Kuanglan felt a sudden grip on her foot, seized by a native. As soon as the two-armed native grabbed her foot, he fell into an extreme state of excitement, his strength surging. His other hand lunged towards her thigh!
Li Kuanglan kicked fiercely several times, but her foot seemed clamped in iron, unable to shake off the native. Moving quickly, she delivered a flurry of kicks to the native’s chest, the sound of breaking bones filling the air as his chest caved in. Yet, the native, seemingly impervious to pain, grabbed her thigh and with a savage tear, ripped a large gash in her outer armor. Thankfully, the inner armor, far superior in quality, remained intact.
Ji Tianqing, now surrounded by the natives, received multiple heavy blows and was unable to come to Li Kuanglan’s aid.
The two-armed natives, recognizing the two women, fell into a frenzy of bloodlust, hurling themselves at them, intending to overwhelm them by sheer numbers.
Suddenly, the entire stone fortress began to violently shake, causing the highly sensitive natives to stumble. The stone house where Qian Ye was previously located exploded, and the adjacent houses followed suit, as if an invisible mole burrowed through the earth, destroying an entire row of stone dwellings. A speck of light burst from the rubble, piercing through a hut and striking the stone wall before finally stopping. This, however, set off another chain reaction, exploding the huts and flinging countless two-armed natives into the air.
Chaos reigned in the fortress, the continuous explosions agonizing the natives. Seizing the opportunity, Ji Tianqing lashed her whip around Li Kuanglan, pulling her to the base of the stone wall. They grabbed the pre-prepared ropes and pulled, ascending the wall and scaling its top. Without looking back, Ji Tianqing dashed outside.
Li Kuanglan, grabbing onto her, shouted, “Qian Ye is still inside!”
“He can handle himself!” Ji Tianqing, gripping Li Kuanglan, used a surge of strength to lift her off the ground. The two leapt off the wall, fleeing rapidly into the distance.
The stone fortress continued to rumble for a long while. When the gates finally opened and fully-armed natives poured out, they found no trace of the two women.
After running for several kilometers, Li Kuanglan refused to go any further. Ji Tianqing didn’t push, halting on the spot. She wasn’t idle, however, cutting branches and setting up traps around their perimeter, then taking cover alongside Li Kuanglan.
However, the natives did not pursue. The two women, adept at stealth and evasion, had created enough distance to elude pursuit. Moments later, a pale golden light illuminated the sky, and Qian Ye emerged from it. He glanced downward, retracted his wings, and descended between the two women.
Ji Tianqing suddenly recalled something, yelling, “Don’t land!”
But in the great maelstrom, who could say when one could rise or descend? Startled, Qian Ye slowed his descent but still landed. The ground beneath his feet gave way, sharp wooden spikes springing up, viciously piercing his thighs. One spike nearly hit a critical area.
Even the daring Qian Ye broke out in a cold sweat. Ji Tianqing and Li Kuanglan rushed to help, hastily removing the spikes. Blushing, they inspected his wounds and, seeing only minor punctures, relaxed.
Their reactions, however, differed. Ji Tianqing seemed contemplative, while Li Kuanglan, relieved, harbored a new doubt.
Finally free of the two women, Qian Ye couldn’t help but laugh and sigh. Exhausted from his escape via void blink, he inadvertently triggered Ji Tianqing’s trap. Her traps, compared to his, were deviously effective. To this moment, Qian Ye still felt a chill in a very sensitive area.
Ji Tianqing asked, “Did you get anything?”
Qian Ye nodded, holding out two white fruits. “There were originally seven or eight on the tree, but they might have been spooked last time and harvested the almost-ripe ones, leaving just these two.”
Ji Tianqing examined the fruits, sighed with relief, and said, “Good, just enough to last the night. We have one more day.”
Qian Ye nodded, asking, “How do you feel?”
Ji Tianqing pointed in a direction, saying, “We’ve run quite a distance. The gravity has definitely changed. If I’m right, that direction has weaker gravity, suggesting the original fortress might be there. What about you, Qian Ye?”
Qian Ye agreed, “I sense the same thing.”
Li Kuanglan asked, “Should we return or keep exploring?”
Ji Tianqing replied, “Return, of course! Without these white fruits, we won’t survive the night here.”
That made sense. The white fruits, cherished by the natives, were also rare. With the limited supply, they should hurry to the initial passageway or at least find a safe place to spend the night.
“Of course, on the way back, we should gather as many resources as possible. Who knows, we might find something extraordinary!”
Qian Ye mused, “Do you think these white fruits, and the wine, could be the most precious treasures?”
Ji Tianqing perked up, “What do you mean?”
“After consuming the white fruits, some medicinal properties linger. During the day, these properties fortify our bodies, making us stronger. More importantly, they enhance our vitality,” Qian Ye explained carefully.
“Enhance vitality? Meaning…?” Li Kuanglan gasped.
Ji Tianqing nodded, “Exactly, prolonging life. These white fruits seem to be the ultimate elixir of longevity. Though we don’t know their full potential, they are undoubtedly powerful. Even a decade or two isn’t out of the question.”
Li Kuanglan added, “If we could take one back, the King of Longevity would offer his entire fortune for it!”
The King of Longevity, nearing the end of his days, was a well-known secret. In recent years, he rarely ventured out, focusing all efforts on extending his life, requiring ever-increasing tributes. Yet, neither the imperial court nor the aristocratic families complained, doing their utmost to support him. For the empire, the presence of the kings was essential. If the King of Longevity passed, only the King of the North would remain.
Though currently the strongest human, Zhang Boqian’s rapid progress in the realm of the kings threatened his position. Even with the imperial court’s vast resources, no one dared predict the future. An additional king, even an aged one, was irreplaceable strategic power. Just his presence in the capital was invaluable.
The King of Longevity had exhausted all known means to extend his life. These white fruits, even if only adding a few years, were priceless.
Realizing the value of the fruits they’d consumed, both Li Kuanglan and Ji Tianqing regretted their earlier actions. Young and indifferent to longevity, they now saw the immense value. Li Kuanglan’s cherished freedom could become an added condition.
With the King of Longevity’s endorsement, no one would dare force her into marriage. Those who could surpass him would never stoop to such measures.
Ji Tianqing’s true desire remained a mystery, but it seemed equally attainable with the fruits.
Silence hung between them, and they sighed simultaneously, glancing at each other before turning away.
Qian Ye broke the silence, “If the white fruits prolong life, what about the wine?”
Ji Tianqing composed herself, “The wine does prolong life, but less noticeably. Its primary effect seems to enhance procreation. It’s likely the essential for the four-armed natives to bear children.”
Disappointed, Qian Ye realized the wine’s value diminished. Still, even a slight extension of life was valuable.
Ji Tianqing exclaimed, “I know what to do with the wine!”
“What?” Both Qian Ye and Li Kuanglan were puzzled.
“Sell it to the demons!”
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