LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 45: I Killed Him
The scenery changed.
When Su Zhan opened his eyes again, he found himself in an immense forest.
The trees were enormous, mostly reaching dozens of meters high, and specks of sunlight filtered through the cracks in the leaves.
Glancing back, he could see the entrance of the spatial passage several miles away, occasionally witnessing ripples and fluctuations in that area of space.
"According to the information, the spatial passage will only be open for three days. If I can't return within three days, I'll have to stay here and wait for the next ten years!" Muttering to himself, Su Zhan didn't want to waste time. He took out the information and maps about the Dark Star Forest and carefully examined them.
The maps of the Dark Star Forest from the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect were drawn by talented individuals who had safely returned from the forest throughout history. They were quite rough, and if one happened to venture into an area that wasn't marked on the map from the beginning, the map would be practically useless.
After all, the Dark Star Forest was so vast that those maps only represented the paths taken by previous explorers. If Su Zhan wasn't on those paths, they wouldn't be of any use.
After a thorough examination of all the materials regarding the Dark Star Forest, Su Zhan found a map that closely resembled his current location.
"If it matches, according to the map, I just need to head southeast for thirty miles to encounter a Star Element Fruit tree."
Su Zhan's gaze fell on the spot marked on the map where the Star Element Fruit tree was located. He was about to follow the map and verify the route when he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps crunching dried leaves ahead.
Looking up, it turned out to be Hua Yiyi.
Su Zhan pondered for a moment and said to Hua Yiyi, "If you can provide clues about the Star Element Fruit tree, I can ensure your safety and we can gather the Star Element Fruit together."
Hua Yiyi paused, and upon hearing Su Zhan's words, she chuckled. Originally, she had intended to exchange pleasantries with Su Zhan, but now it seemed that Su Zhan lacked even basic self-awareness. Such a person would only be wasting her expressions, even with pleasantries.
"No need. I have already agreed to act together with Brother Ye. Among those who have entered the Dark Star Forest this time, Brother Ye's strength is among the top. I will be fine with him." Hua Yiyi glanced at Su Zhan and revealed a faint smile. "As for you, Su Zhan, good luck!" After saying that, she walked past Su Zhan without stopping for a moment.
Su Zhan smiled and continued on his way.
Originally, considering the friendship of Chen Changfeng with Song Shanhai, if Hua Yiyi had any clues about the Star Element Fruit, he wouldn't mind acting as her protector for a while. But now, since she didn't even regard him highly, he naturally wouldn't insist.
Besides, throughout the whole time, Su Zhan didn't have any good impression of Hua Yiyi.
"It's indeed the same route!"
After walking for a while and confirming that the clue was correct, Su Zhan felt delighted. He infused his Wind Boots with his true qi and swiftly headed towards the target location.
It was not impossible to fly in the Dark Star Forest, but due to some peculiar reasons, the true qi consumed during flight would be ten times greater than outside. Moreover, the Star Element Fruit trees were usually short in height, and unless the fruit was about to ripen, it wouldn't emit a medicinal fragrance. If one flew in the air, it was highly likely to miss some Star Element Fruit trees along the way.
Furthermore, flying in the air would easily expose one's position, attracting the attention of demonic beasts and other martial artists. Therefore, unless in special circumstances, the martial artists entering the Dark Star Forest would never choose to become a target for everyone and the demonic beasts by flying in the sky!
Martial artists in the Martial Master Realm could move at extremely high speeds when their true qi surged, not much slower than flying. It didn't take long for Su Zhan to reach the target location.
After searching for a while, he finally found the Star Element Fruit tree that was just over a meter tall. The trunk of the tree was completely black, and the leaves were a dark green, but the Star Element Fruit had a crystal-like texture and a deep blue color.
"Most of the Star Element Fruit trees are guarded by demonic beasts until the fruit ripens. Surprisingly, this one isn't. It seems that I am indeed lucky." Muttering to himself, Su Zhan approached the tree and his gaze fell on the Star Element Fruit the size of an egg.
This Star Element Fruit was about 80% ripe, and even the aroma of the spiritual fruit was quite faint. Its effect was naturally not as good as a fully ripe Star Element Fruit . However, Su Zhan wasn't one of the demonic beasts in the Dark Star Forest who could wait inside the forest until it fully ripened. Therefore, without hesitation, he plucked it from the tree.
In total, he picked two Star Element Fruits and stored them in his storage space.
Time is limited in the Dark Star Forest, and unless one feels they have obtained enough Star Element Fruits, few people would choose to waste precious time refining them.
Su Zhan took out the information and maps, but after examining them, he found no useful clues. He furrowed his brow and decided to choose a random direction for further exploration.
"So, you were the one who reached this Star Element Fruit tree before me, my first target?" At that moment, a rough male voice sounded.
Ahead, a young martial artist with a height of nearly two meters and a bronze skin tone appeared. His gaze swept over the Star Element Fruit tree and fell upon Su Zhan. He spoke coldly, "So it's you, the waste from the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect ! Considering the relationship between me and your sect's top talent, Qi Yang, I'll spare your life if you drop the Star Element Fruit ." As he spoke, the imposing aura of a peak Martial Master erupted from the young martial artist. Threads of flames began to wrap around his body, and extremely pure fire attribute true qi circulated within him.
"Yan Xiu from the Fire Cloud Sect of the Lie Kingdom." Su Zhan's gaze slightly narrowed as he recognized this young martial artist, one of the powerful individuals mentioned by Xia Qihai.
"You actually know me? It seems that my reputation as a genius has spread throughout the fifteen kingdoms, hahaha!" Yan Xiu burst into laughter, but then his smile faded. "Since you know my name, why don't you run away?"
Su Zhan's gaze turned cold. "I've taken the Star Element Fruit. If you want it, come and get it."
"You won't shed tears until you see the coffin!" Flames surged on Yan Xiu's body as a crimson long blade appeared in his hand. He sneered, "If it were Qi Yang from your Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect, I might have shown some restraint. But you, an unknown person who has never appeared among the geniuses of the Fifteen Kingdoms, dare to challenge me? Very well! Today, I will see why the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect would send a waste like you, a mere initial-stage Martial Master, here!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Xiu's body suddenly charged forward. A ten-story-high flame blade aura descended vertically as he slashed down!
"Whoosh!" The powerful force compressed below generated a fierce howling wind.
Su Zhan's expression remained unchanged as he infused his true qi into the Extreme Sun Sword and struck out with a slash. The sword unleashed a stream of starry sword aura!
The moment the sword aura and blade aura collided, the flame blade aura had already dissipated into nothingness, while the remaining sword aura continued to slash towards Yan Xiu.
"What?!" Yan Xiu's pupils contracted, his face changing drastically. He hastily held his long blade horizontally and madly released his true qi to defend with all his might.
"Bang!" In the next instant, Yan Xiu was sent flying backward, crashing into a giant tree and falling to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth. That high-grade Profound weapon of a long blade was shattered in the process.
Such powerful sword aura… Is this person really just an initial-stage Martial Master?
When he recalled the terrifying sword aura that shattered his formidable blade aura effortlessly, Yan Xiu was filled with shock. As he saw Su Zhan approaching with his sword in hand, he felt his body covered in goosebumps, overwhelmed by fear.
While walking forward, Su Zhan spoke, "You asked me earlier why Qi Yang didn't come. Well, let me tell you now. The reason he didn't come is that he's dead."
Yan Xiu was momentarily stunned, shaking his head repeatedly, his face filled with disbelief.
"Qi Yang is dead? That's impossible! He is the number one genius of the Xia Kingdom, the White Dragon Saint Body. With the protection of the powerful individuals in the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect and his invincibility in the same realm in the Xia Kingdom, how could he die? Who could have killed him—"
"I killed him."