Chapter 278: Chapter 278: Spirit FireIn just an instant, one person’s head was grabbed, and with a slight press, his skull could be crushed.

    Another’s spear was snatched away barehanded.

    Everyone’s face changed drastically, even the three from the Seven Stars Sect who had been observing without participating had their pupils shrink.

    The middle-aged man who had lost his spear, with his junior brother’s life at stake, felt more fear than hate in his heart.

    Such strength, couldn’t it mean he could leave all four of their brothers here?

    Thinking of this, the middle-aged man cupped his hands and said in a deep voice, "We are not as skilled, we admit defeat. We don’t want the Spiritual Rhythm Dao Fruit anymore, and hope you will spare my junior brother. Though you are strong, you cannot kill us all, especially since there are also disciples from the Seven Stars Sect here. Our master is Tian Xingzi from Li Yang Cave Heaven, we hope you will spare us for his sake."

    "Are you threatening me?"

    Zhong Lin slightly tightened his grip, making the young man under his palm, who was holding a knife, cry out in pain.

    "I wouldn’t dare, your strength is truly high, we admit defeat and have offended you. We are willing to offer compensation, just hope you can spare my junior brother’s life; we would be eternally grateful."

    The middle-aged man finished speaking and took out a jade box from his storage bracelet, placing it on the ground. Inside was a fiery red fruit, and even with the jade box as a barrier, a scorching fire attribute energy could still be felt. It seemed to be another type of heavenly treasure that could help one form a spiritual body.

    "Li Yang Cave Heaven... interesting."

    Zhong Lin slowly released his grip, watching these four leave with an indifferent expression.

    He wasn’t a Martial Artist who would just kill at the slightest disagreement, especially since he was the one who initiated the provocation.

    Though he had taken quite a few heavenly materials and earthly treasures along the way, as long as the other party was sensible and withdrew voluntarily, he wouldn’t make things difficult for them.

    Li Yang Cave Heaven is the sect on Island No.9 of the Luoxing Islands, and its Sect Master is a Yunling Realm powerhouse, Zhong Lin did not wish to offend such a strong adversary.

    In the Seven Star Secret Realm, seizing resources from each other is nothing—it’s the norm. Killing is best avoided; if you must, make sure there are no witnesses.

    After the people from Li Yang Cave Heaven left, Zhong Lin turned his gaze to the three from the Seven Stars Sect.

    The Martial Artist who was just about to make a move earlier broke out in a cold sweat when Zhong Lin’s gaze fell on him.

    Fortunately, he listened to his junior brother and didn’t act. How did such a terrifying figure even enter the Seven Star Secret Realm? A Spirit Sea Realm warrior shouldn’t possess such strength.

    The leader of the group, feeling Zhong Lin’s gaze, also trembled inwardly, cupped his hands and said: "The Spiritual Rhythm Dao Fruit is yours, we shall retreat now."

    With that, he led his two junior brothers and directly took off into the sky, quickly disappearing over the horizon.

    Zhong Lin’s voice sounded in Shi Yunyi’s ear: "Junior brother, I have a great use for this Spiritual Rhythm Dao Fruit, please look for others, don’t blame me."

    Shi Yunyi glanced at Zhong Lin, nodded slightly, but said nothing.

    A little more than half an hour later, the three of them dared to stop on a mountain peak.

    "Brother Zhang, who is that person? Even a Spirit Sea Realm Martial Artist shouldn’t be this strong—is he perhaps a powerful figure who has condensed a spiritual body?"

    The young man with the sword couldn’t help but ask.

    "I don’t know, but his cultivation cannot have broken through to the Spirit Embryo Realm, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to enter the Seven Star Secret Realm. Yun Yi, I saw you stopped Junior Brother Jing earlier—do you know this person?" Brother Zhang asked.

    Junior Brother Jing also glanced at Shi Yunyi. If it wasn’t for Shi Yunyi’s intervention, he would’ve been the first to make a move. With that person’s strength, there was no telling what the outcome would be if he acted.

    Losing face was one thing, but a misstep could cost his life.

    Shi Yunyi still wore a cool expression, a trace of dimness flickering in his eyes. He had thought breaking through to the Spiritual Origin Realm would narrow the gap with his senior brother a bit. However, it seemed the gap was only growing wider.

    Quickly dispelling the dimness in his heart, he shook his head and said: "I don’t know him, it’s just a feeling, a sense that this person is very strong, extremely strong."

    Brother Zhang pondered, "It seems that Yun Yi’s Sword Intent warned you, the profundity of Conception is beyond us ordinary folk. Now it appears that not only in combat does it help in slaughter, but it also heightens the perception of danger beyond the norm."

    Junior Brother Jing also looked at Shi Yunyi with a face full of admiration. Being a swordsman himself, he too yearned to comprehend his Sword Intent, but alas, Sword Intent is something one either understands or doesn’t—admiration alone won’t grant it.

    Within the entire Seven Stars Sect, the premier sect of the Luoxing Islands, including Shi Yunyi, only three have understood Sword Intent.

    Alas, alas indeed!

    On the other side.

    Zhong Lin put the fiery red fruit into his storage bracelet, and then walked towards the Spiritual Rhythm Dao Fruit. Sear?h the Novёl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He reached out to pick the three fruits, and as the fruits withered, the small tree also wilted at a visible speed until it finally turned into a pile of ashes scattered on the ground.

    Zhong Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief. This trip to the Seven Star Secret Realm had been a success, and it had only been ten days.

    "Where to now?"

    "Back."

    "Hmm?"

    "It’s time to make a breakthrough; I’ve been waiting long enough for this day."

    Zhong Lin didn’t continue to gather spiritual medicine but turned towards the cave where the Tiger Demon resided.

    The Tiger Demon’s cave was located on the cliffside, extremely hidden, making it an ideal place for breaking through.

    In the Secret Realm, he had taken too many people’s belongings; although he didn’t kill any who were wise enough, he still worried about retribution from their elders upon leaving, so he had to convert these resources into strength as soon as possible.

    He looked for a large boulder to block the cave entrance, sat cross-legged where the Jade Infant Divine Flower had grown. This place was an eye of the Earth Veins, with extremely dense Primordial Qi, otherwise, it wouldn’t have nurtured such heavenly treasures as the Jade Infant Divine Flower.

    "Hope Master will protect and warn for me."

    Chen Jia emerged from the Soul Nourishing Ring, hovering in mid-air.

    "Breakthrough with peace of mind, do not worry."

    Zhong Lin nodded, not breaking through immediately. Instead, he sat cross-legged, calming his heart and mind.

    Chen Jia stood in the corner, his soul body trembling slightly, intently watching Zhong Lin who was cultivating.

    "...I’ve been waiting for this day as well."

    A little more than half an hour later, Zhong Lin suddenly opened his eyes and took a Spiritual Rhythm Dao Fruit from his storage bracelet to swallow it.

    At this moment, Zhong Lin’s mind was as calm as water, transparent and as clear as crystal, as the Spiritual Rhythm Dao Fruit was consumed, an inexplicable energy surged to his head, merging into his intangible spirit.

    Bang!

    Like oil poured into a flame, the Spirit Fire burst forth.

    The essence of the human body is spirit-energy-mind, and this Spiritual Rhythm Dao Fruit seemed entirely prepared for the "mind." As the medicinal power spread and the Spirit Fire burned.

    At this moment, Zhong Lin felt his "soul out of body," as if he had entered another dimension.