Dashing Student Chapter 1369 1369: Black Water Three Heroes

"Can this item be taken? If it can be transplanted elsewhere, would we not be able to continue harvesting the Xuanyuan Immortal Embryo Fruit?"

Chen Nan gazed at the fruit tree, merely as thick as a thigh, and became lost in contemplation.

After considerable thought, he decided against it; after all, the precious nature of the Xuanyuan Immortal Embryo Fruit implied that cultivating it would be exceptionally arduous.

Leaving it in this location might allow him to obtain the Immortal Embryo Fruit once more in a hundred years.

Just then, Zhong Ling rushed in, exclaiming, "Master, those vines have all withered!"

Turning to face his anxious young disciple, Chen Nan offered a fond smile, "You, why are you so hasty?"

"Heh, I was simply worried about you, Master," Zhong Ling giggled. "By the way, Master, what exactly are these vines?"

Chen Nan provided an explanation, and only then did Zhong Ling grasp the situation. "Master is now commencing the gathering of spiritual materials for the Breaking Infant Pill. Are you intending to advance to the Nascent Soul Realm?"

"Then in the future, will I have a Nascent Soul Realm expert supporting me?"

Chen Nan tapped a knuckle on her head. "Relying on others is never as effective as relying on oneself. I am still quite a distance from the Nascent Soul Realm, and if you persistently anticipate my protection, you will never mature."

"Then I shall never grow up and will always remain Master's little disciple," Zhong Ling declared, clinging to Chen Nan's arm. Her playful demeanor made it difficult for Chen Nan to maintain a stern expression.

"Very well, let us search the vicinity for any other Spiritual Medicine. If we can assemble the ingredients for the Breaking Infant Pill, it would indeed be wonderful."

Regrettably, their hopes were somewhat misplaced; securing the Xuanyuan Immortal Embryo Fruit had already surpassed Chen Nan's expectations. While other Spiritual Medicine existed in this vicinity, and their ages were substantial, their ranks were of a lower grade.

It appeared that the Spiritual Medicine previously cultivated here had already been harvested, and what Chen Nan and his apprentice discovered were merely the residual traces left behind.

"Little snake, where shall we proceed next?" Chen Nan retrieved the little snake from Zhong Ling's embrace.

The tiny serpent seemed disinclined, appearing displeased that Chen Nan had interrupted its slumber, yet it nonetheless activated its Treasure Eye, indicating a direction for Chen Nan.

...

Beyond the relic's confines, a cultivator held a Communication Jade Talisman, establishing contact with those within the relic.

"Excellent! There are indeed valuable items within this relic. My junior brother, who is inside, has already discovered a piece of Star Meteorite Iron, which serves as material for forging Sixth-grade Spiritual Artifacts!"

This individual proclaimed with palpable excitement.

Other cultivators possessing Communication Jade Talismans swiftly initiated contact with individuals inside the relic, receiving prompt replies one after another.

With the exception of those who had perished within, everyone else had reaped some form of reward, mentioning the surge of red light and the discovery of the Library Pavilion.

Dreams of sudden wealth filled everyone's minds.

At that moment, a cultivator who had been standing guard outside the relic abruptly rose. He bore a resemblance to a butcher, featuring a sizable belly covered in dark hair.

Even the Spiritual Artifact he wielded was a Bone Cutting Knife.

A grin spread across his face, revealing a set of yellowed teeth. "Haha, hearing that all of you have obtained something brings me joy. When they emerge, do not forget to offer us a tribute with the items acquired from the relic!"

Beside him, two additional cultivators emerged, casting predatory smiles toward everyone positioned outside the relic, clearly harboring intentions of reaping without labor.

Unable to gain entry into the relic, the employment of supernatural cultivation to seize and plunder was indeed a viable strategy.

"Who do you presume to be? We are cultivators from Bright Light Island. Do you dare to provoke us? Do you wish to continue living?"

Bright Light Island was regarded as a considerably large island within the adjacent seas, boasting a substantial number of cultivators, and frequently receiving a cordial reception wherever they traveled.

However, the butcher-like cultivator merely smirked. "Oh? Bright Light Island? Is your Island Master Chen Heng, the very one we once forced to his knees, begging for his life and offering all his possessions?"

"Who are you? How could our Island Master possibly have been brought to his knees by you?"

"Us? Have you perchance heard of the Black Water Three Heroes?"

"Gasp! It is you?!"

Evidently, the notoriety of the Black Water Three Heroes instilled a profound sense of dread in many.

Chen Nan, filled with curiosity, instinctively inquired of Gao Xue, positioned beside him, "Who are these Black Water Three Heroes?"

Gao Xue's expression turned somewhat grim. "They are three notorious bandits on the Righteous Alliance's wanted list, known for their reckless use of cultivation."

"Our leader is that rather stout fellow, Zhang Xiao. His cultivation is at the Eighth Layer of the Golden Core Realm. The two flanking him, Feng Yu and Jiang Yi, are both at the Sixth Layer of the Golden Core Realm. They are quite renowned as independent cultivators in this vicinity."

"I understand," Chen Nan responded slowly, a subtle smile gracing his lips.

Gao Xue, unable to contain his rising anger, interjected, "Are you not going to teach them a lesson? They are far too arrogant, seizing the Heavenly and Earthly Treasures we painstakingly acquired in the Secret Realm. Why should they simply hand everything over to him?"

"There's no need for haste; let's bide our time a little longer!" Chen Nan maintained a composed demeanor.

A significant number of cultivators were evidently intimidated by the reputation of the Black Water Three Heroes. Their past exploits were widely known, and, astonishingly, they had even managed to evade capture when the Righteous Alliance dispatched a cultivator at the Great Perfection stage of the Golden Core Realm to hunt them.

None of the assembled cultivators possessed a cultivation level surpassing Zhang Xiao's, prompting many to reconsider any confrontation and choose to withdraw.

Nonetheless, a few individuals felt a sense of deep unwillingness. After all, relinquishing all their gains from the secret relic without retaining even a sliver was an outcome they found exceedingly difficult to accept.

"What about the Black Water Three Heroes? If we band together, couldn't we possibly overcome them? Do you truly intend to surrender everything you've obtained from the relic?"

One cultivator indignantly stood up, his voice ringing out in defiance.

Zhang Xiao cast his gaze upon the outspoken cultivator and offered another grin, his tongue flicking across the Bone Cutting Knife he held. A cruel expression contorted his features.

"Heh, your courage is indeed commendable. It seems our previous leniency has emboldened you to defy me!"

His eyes suddenly narrowed, emitting an overwhelming aura of murderous intent. Crimson blood energy enveloped him, and the Bone Cutting Knife in his grasp abruptly ascended into the air.

The blood energy ensnared the Bone Cutting Knife, morphing it into a ferocious crimson beast that lunged directly at the defiant cultivator.

"I am not afraid of you!"

The cultivator shouted in anger, summoning his Spiritual Artifact to defend. However, his artifact was instantly shattered upon impact with the blood beast. The beast then viciously slammed into him immediately afterward.

When the crimson light of the blood energy faded, the cultivator lay defeated and helpless on the ground. The Bone Cutting Knife was impaled through his chest, having completely drained his Essence Blood.

The blood-red markings on the Bone Cutting Knife pulsed briefly before returning to Zhang Xiao's hand.

His ruthless method of killing without hesitation left the surrounding cultivators utterly dumbfounded. He then let out a harsh laugh, positioning himself before the relic and plunging the Bone Cutting Knife into the earth.

"Now, does anyone else harbor any objections? I merely desire your possessions, not your lives. You should consider yourselves fortunate, hahaha!"

"Boss is mighty!" His two subordinates swiftly rallied behind him, showering him with fervent praise.

But at that very moment, an ill-timed voice cut through the air.

"I object!"