"I'll give you a billion, and you give me seventy percent equity."
"No problem!" Yan Ruxue replied.
Just then, Hong Hu ran over and let out a bark at Ye Tian.
Ye Tian's heart stirred. He said to the two women, "You two look around, I'm going out."
With that, he followed Hong Hu out of the Taoist temple.
"Hu San'er, what's going on?" he asked.
Hong Hu extended its left paw and pointed at the mountain opposite them.
"What happened over there?" Ye Tian inquired.
Hong Hu sprinted forward, and Ye Tian followed closely.
After crossing two mountains, Hong Hu led Ye Tian to a secluded, solitary peak. The peak was over two hundred meters high, with a not-too-large base, resembling a pillar rising from the ground.
"You came all the way for this pillar?" Ye Tian asked.
Hong Hu leaped onto a protruding rock with a light bound. After more than ten consecutive jumps, it actually reached the summit.
Ye Tian's heart stirred. He ascended the mountaintop in a few strides. The summit's area was only a few square meters, covered with some stunted trees and wild grass.
The center of the summit was concave, with some rainwater and soil. A small tree grew there, hidden by the surrounding trees, making it invisible from above.
The small tree was golden all over, no more than thirty centimeters tall, with pale purple leaves. Six purplish-gold fruits, the size of grapes, hung from the tree, emitting a strange fragrance.
Ye Tian's eyes widened. After observing carefully for a moment, he exclaimed, "This is the Golden Sacred Fruit!"
Ancient texts recorded that only soil soaked in the blood of a sage could produce this Golden Sacred Fruit! It was an extremely rare and precious sacred medicine!
He asked Hong Hu, "Hu San'er, when did you discover it? In the last few days?"
Hong Hu shook its head and gestured forward with its paw.
"So, you've known about it all along? This thing only bears fruit once every nine years. Did you get to eat its fruit last time?"
Hong Hu shook its head again, then looked up at the sky with a hint of resentment.
"Someone fought you for the fruit, and you lost?" Ye Tian guessed.
Hong Hu nodded this time.
Ye Tian chuckled, "The one in the sky must be a bird, right?"
Hong Hu nodded again.
Ye Tian glanced at the fruits and said, "These should be ripe in another two or three days. It seems I'll have to stay here and guard them."
He took out his phone and found he still had a signal. He called Yan Ruxue, asking her and Qian Min to return first and that they could meet again later.
After hanging up, he sat beneath the tree to meditate. A small white snake slithered out of his sleeve and coiled around a branch.
Hong Hu lay beside him, its tongue lolling out, quietly watching Ye Tian.
Ye Tian had opened seven spiritual orifices. Next, he could open his second divine orifice, located slightly above the heart, known as the Heart Divine Orifice.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the "heart-spirit" referred to this very location.
While Ye Tian was cultivating, the Jade Emperor Temple also began the renovations around Jade Emperor Flat according to Ye Tian's plan. It was a massive undertaking, requiring significant expenditure. Fortunately, Ye Tian could provide the funds; otherwise, the temple itself would never have been able to raise enough money.
The next day, Ye Tian returned to the temple to retrieve some books and take them to the peak to read. Chen Hui had been in seclusion these past few days, so Ye Tian didn't disturb her, only arranging for meals and water to be delivered to her daily.
On the third day of waiting on the peak, at noon, a crane's cry was heard. A white crane flew in. It was over a meter long, standing almost as tall as a person, with a vast wingspan when spread.
As the white crane descended, it spotted Ye Tian immediately. It made a sharp turn and ascended again.
Hong Hu glared angrily at the white crane in the sky, growling to warn it not to come down again.
Ye Tian also stood up and said, "You ate the fruit last time, and you won't get it this time."
Whether the white crane understood or not, it suddenly swooped down, its sharp talons aiming fiercely for Ye Tian's shoulder. The attack generated a gust of wind that buffeted his face, carrying an astonishing momentum.
Ye Tian remained still. As the white crane lunged, he struck with lightning speed, grabbing its talons and flinging it away.
This white crane was a spiritual creature, and he didn't want to harm it, only to drive it away.
The white crane was startled. After several somersaults in the air, it stabilized itself. It cried out a few more times before soaring away.
Ye Tian glanced at the Golden Sacred Fruits and said, "They should be ripe in another hour or two. Hu San'er, you'll get one this time."
Upon hearing that it could eat the fruit, Hong Hu joyfully hopped a few times on the spot.