Without giving Shang Xie Zhuo time to think, the white-faced monsters began their attack.
One of them lunged towards Duan Shu’s head, aiming to pierce his skull. At the critical moment, Duan Shu finally broke free from their mental coercion and rolled to dodge.
*Swish!*
A deep gash appeared on the ground where the white-faced monster had struck. Its attack missed, and its eyes turned fierce as it continued to grab at Duan Shu.
Normally plump and round, the young master of Penglai Island, whose mobility wasn't hindered, was now in trouble. A miss by a hair's breadth meant a world of difference. Although his movements were still quick, he couldn't match the white-faced monster. His entire back was torn open by its sharp claws, and blood flowed out.
"Presumptuous!"
Duan Jinghong roared in anger. Eager to rescue his son, he raised his hand and unleashed a barrage of spiritual light.
*Boom, boom, boom!*
As the spiritual light shot out, the white-faced monsters dodged nimbly, sending shattered rocks flying behind them. The monsters glared with bulging eyes at Duan Jinghong. Seizing the opportunity, Duan Shu didn't retreat but instead leaped towards the cliff edge ahead.
"Shu'er, come back, don't pick them!" Duan Jinghong's face changed drastically as he quickly warned him.
But Duan Shu didn't listen. The Ten Thousand Year Vermilion Fruit was right before his eyes; how could he give it up?
"Father, cover me! I'll be back after picking a few Vermilion Fruits!" he shouted, his figure plummeting downwards. He clung to the sheer cliff face, stretching with all his might towards a branch of Vermilion Fruit, and with a *crack*, snapped off the branch.
Looking at the seven or eight bright red Vermilion Fruits in his hand, Duan Shu was ecstatic. He exerted force with his hands and leaped up.
Suddenly, two more dark figures attacked. Two white-faced monsters jumped directly from the cliff edge, landing heavily on Duan Shu's shoulders and simultaneously clawing at his face.
Duan Shu instinctively used the branch to block. He suddenly realized they were Vermilion Fruits. But the white-faced monsters had already grabbed the branch. He pulled hard, and the white-faced monsters pulled with equal force. After a brief stalemate, the Vermilion Fruits couldn't withstand such tugging and fell to the bottom of the cliff.
"Vermilion Fruits!" Duan Shu was heartbroken. He abruptly retracted his hand and kicked at the monsters, managing to save the branch.
However, only the last Vermilion Fruit remained on it.
The other disciples of Penglai Island were not as lucky as Duan Shu. Several white-faced monsters attacked simultaneously, their claws like knives, continuously severing their necks, even causing heads to fall.
Duan Shu returned with the last fruit to witness such a scene.
Several white-faced monsters had already shattered the skulls of over a dozen Penglai Island disciples, cupping their heads to their mouths and greedily sucking out their brains. Bodies littered the ground, blood flowed, and the scene was in chaos. Duan Shu's heart pounded violently, and those further away were filled with terror.
"Shu'er, run quickly, don't mind the Vermilion Fruits anymore," Duan Jinghong shouted, regretting it too late. He wished he hadn't gone to pick the Vermilion Fruits, which had caused the deaths of so many disciples, and now even his son was in mortal danger.
From a distance, Su Luo and the others watched with grim expressions.
"We need to leave this place quickly, otherwise, once those Mo Yao have finished eating the brains of those people, they will come and attack us," she nodded to Li Tianjue, and the two of them immediately led the rest of the Qing Xu Tian people towards another mountain path.
Shang Xie Zhuo saw this and said nothing more, leading his disciples to follow closely.
Madame Yao Guang glanced a few times, showing no intention of rescuing them. She elegantly clasped her hands in front of her and said lightly, "We don't need to risk our lives. Dai'er, let's go quickly."
Wen Dai'er responded, "Yes, Mother."
Four Tian Ji followed behind and also left in the direction of Su Luo and the others.
Duan Jinghong's face changed drastically as he shouted, "Everyone, wait! Why are you leaving? We are all on the same path, how can you stand by and do nothing!"
Shang Xie Shaoqing looked back and said, "Island Master Duan, you are the ones who want to snatch the Vermilion Fruits. We don't want them, so why should we stay here and wait to die?"
Seeing everyone about to leave, Duan Jinghong panicked and shouted, "Everyone, I promise that these Vermilion Fruits will be shared equally! As long as you help me kill these..."
Before he could finish, terrifying roars echoed. The white-faced monsters had charged over.
Duan Jinghong had no choice but to fight back fiercely. Several elders of Penglai Island also gripped their swords tightly, fighting continuously. Soon, many more disciples died, and even the young island master, Duan Shu, received a deep gash on his abdomen, his body covered in blood.
Su Luo and their group, however, continued to move faster, trying to distance themselves. The Dragon Hound, carrying Bai Qi, leaped continuously, charging up the mountain along another path.
After traveling rapidly for over an hour, they finally stopped.
The sounds of fighting could no longer be heard from behind. The dense forest was deep and quiet again. Shang Xie Zhuo finally breathed a sigh of relief and ordered a temporary rest.
Su Luo, however, did not relax. She continued to survey the surroundings, as if sensing something.
Li Tianjue walked to her side and asked in a low voice, "Luo Luo, what's wrong? Have you discovered something again?"
"There's a fluctuation, very faint. It seems someone passed by here just now." She looked at the surrounding wild grass and vines, trying to find some traces. Suddenly, her eyes moved, and she walked towards a cluster of thorny bushes.
A piece of torn cloth was caught in the bushes, seemingly left behind by someone whose clothes were snagged as they passed by.
Su Luo took the torn cloth and handed it to Li Tianjue.
Li Tianjue took the torn cloth and frowned, "It does look like someone passed through here before us, leaving these traces unintentionally. But who could it be?"
"Someone took the same route as us. If this is a coincidence, it's too much of a coincidence, isn't it?"
But as they searched further, there were no other traces, not even footprints or signs of being trampled. The torn cloth seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
Just then, Tang Xiaoguo excitedly pointed ahead, "Look, what is that?"
Everyone looked up and saw another patch of bright red Ten Thousand Year Vermilion Fruits, growing under a large tree ahead. Compared to the patch by the cliff, these were more numerous and all fully ripe.
Chu Tianshu was overjoyed, "I didn't expect there to be more here. Are there no Mo Yao this time?"
Due to their previous encounter, everyone was very vigilant, carefully inspecting for a long time. They only found a few piles of dry droppings, with no sign of Mo Yao or any demonic beasts.
Shang Xie Zhuo also became excited but did not order his disciples forward. He looked at Li Tianjue and Madame Yao Guang and said, "Since we have found the Ten Thousand Year Vermilion Fruits, it means it is everyone's opportunity. How about we pick them all and then divide them equally?"
Madame Yao Guang said lightly, "I have no objections."
Li Tianjue glanced at Su Luo and also said calmly, "Since Sect Leader Shang Xie has said so, our Qing Xu Tian has no objections."
Shang Xie Zhuo had an elder lead a disciple to pick them. Madame Yao Guang gestured for two Tian Ji to come forward. On the Qing Xu Tian side, Lu Jixing led Tang Xiaoguo to pick the Ten Thousand Year Vermilion Fruits. Everyone was orderly, with no sign of competition.
This patch of Vermilion Fruits was of excellent quality. It took everyone fifteen minutes to finish picking them. In total, there were forty-eight, each the size of a walnut, emitting a fragrant and enticing sweet aroma.
Each party received sixteen fruits, and there were still a few unripe green ones that were not picked.
"This is a great harvest, not bad, not bad!" Chu Tianshu smiled brightly, his eyes sparkling at the pile of Vermilion Fruits before him.
Just as everyone was happy, footsteps were heard in the dense forest. Duan Jinghong arrived with dozens of injured disciples, carrying the blood-soaked Duan Shu.
Upon seeing everyone dividing the Vermilion Fruits, Duan Jinghong's expression became grave as he said, "Good! We were fighting desperately against monsters, and you didn't help, but instead are here enjoying the Vermilion Fruits?"