Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 609 - 41: The Core of Yan Fu

It wasn’t just Li Yan; many people, upon hearing Zhao Jianzhong’s words, became more focused, apparently attaching great importance to this topic.

"What does ’natural decay’ mean?"

Cha Xiaodao asked Zhao Xuantan in a low voice.

Just as Zhao Xuantan was about to speak, Miss Mei took the initiative: "The notorious reputation of Sifan mainly stems from their use of the Sifan Master’s ability to peel fruit, recklessly annihilating most of the matter just to get the goose that lays the golden eggs, directly targeting and obtaining the Yan Fu fruit cores. This behavior of Sifan, which completely goes against the will of Yan Fu, is not commendable; on the other hand, the Yan Fu fruit cores possess a massive allure that people find irresistible. Some say that the reason Cao Yuanchao became the only Four Emperors-level Proxy Traveler in the Yan Zhao Club is that he assimilated a fruit core with a single-digit sequence. There are even rumors that each of the Ten Masters has ingested an entire Yan Fu fruit core, allowing them to break through the upper limit of Yan Fu Heritage. After all, as high as the known limits of Yan Fu Heritage are, none can reach the level of the Five Directions Elder, yet there are no less than six Five Directions Elders in the Yan Zhao Club."

Cha Xiaodao softly asked, "I’ve heard rumors before that the superiority and ranking of heritages also vary, with the number one being Human Master Lv Shang, whose potential limit is defined as the Six Ministries Peak. I’m also aware of the Investiture of the Gods, Jiang Ziya, but is his ranking really that high?"

Miss Mei smiled at him: "Because some very highly positioned deities, or commonly known figures like Buddha, Jade Emperor, Pangu, and Nüwa, such lineages of Yan Fu have never been seen nor is their existence even certain. However, the claim that Lv Shang’s heritage is number one is now outdated. It is just that, as one of the earliest members of Yan Fu, many standards are unconsciously based on him. In my opinion, the current number one heritage should be Hou Tu’s."

"And the Yan Fu fruit core you just mentioned?"

Miss Mei shook her head: "Regarding that, I’ve never seen one."

"I’ve heard someone mention it before," Zhao Xuantan spoke up, a touch of melancholy in his expression: "Some small fruits’ cores, although different in shape, are generally precious secrets wrapped in shells, which is why they are referred to as ’cores.’ However, large fruits that decay show even stranger core formations. For example, I know that under the Feather Lord’s command, there is a fruit on the verge of decay; its core is said to be a golden ocean inhabited by terrifying creatures. There have been instances where the core is a tribe of creatures, mountains and storms, or other indescribable things. Even with a thoroughly decayed fruit, the Yan Zhao Club usually has to use ’Eight Hundred Million Earth Endurance’ just to glimpse a trace of the core. Sifan has it much easier; just peel everything away, and whatever remains under the power of Sifan, that’s the core."

"Oh~" Cha Xiaodao nodded in understanding, something suddenly occurring to him: "Based on what you’re saying, if another fruit decays, doesn’t that mean another Yan Fu Master will appear?"

"No."

Miss Mei and Zhao Xuantan said in unison.

"Fruit naturally decaying is very rare. But in the two years since the establishment of the Yan Zhao Club, there have been at least ten or more such incidents, averaging once every three months or so. Many have benefited from this, but they’re still far from reaching the Five Directions Elder level. After all, aside from the Yan Fu Masters themselves, no one knows their secrets. Moreover, we are no longer in the tumultuous era of grand clashes with Sifan. Any fruit that might decay is placed under the protection of the Yan Zhao Club, forbidden from being picked. The harvested cores must also be put to public use; personal appropriation is not allowed. Not to mention anything else, the existence of ’Eight Hundred Million Earth Endurance’ is the greatest benefit gleaned from the cores by the Yan Zhao Club since its establishment."

"Is fruit decay dangerous?"

Cha Xiaodao was intrigued by what he heard.

"Hard to say. Decaying fruit is indeed dangerous, not because it causes any earth-shattering changes, but because all past knowledge of it becomes invalid, and anything can happen."

Zhao Xuantan was ambiguous in his description.

At the second seat, Li Yan’s face turned somewhat rigid.

Reflecting, it had been nearly two years since Li Yan entered Yan Fu. Setting aside the many bizarre occurrences, the two months spent in Kowloon City, both real and surreal, were a rare period of warmth in Li Yan’s journey through Yan Fu.

But now, after so much time, Judy was probably already... 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"About a year and a half ago, without notifying the Yan Zhao Club, Third Eye Global dispatched a Proxy Traveler into this fruit. They managed to find Yu Shu but let her escape, which unfortunately accelerated the decay of this fruit. Since then, the temporal flow inside the fruit has completely synchronized with Heaven Jiazi Nine, which has brought great inconvenience to our work arrangements."

"Snap!"

Li Yan slapped his thigh hard.

He didn’t cause much of a commotion, and no one else paid attention to him.

"What’s wrong?"

Lady Dan asked softly.

"Oh, it’s nothing. Just stretching my legs after sitting for a while."

On the stage, Zhao Jianzhong did not stop speaking, "For this reclamation of the core, the Yan Zhao Club has decided to arrange a reclamation team with about ten people. I will personally lead the team. Members will be selected from the second, third, and fourth seats, as well as from a list of special talents, to join me in the reclamation effort. I want to emphasize that all designated events of the Yan Zhao Club come without extra benefits. Here’s the list, those whose names are called and have any objections, you may communicate with me face-to-face."

"Second seat, Yu Shiqie, Light."

"Third seat, Mo, Yang Zheng."

"Fourth seat, Mei Ling, Cha Xiaodao."

"Special talent list: Ren Ni, Zhao Xin, Jin Ye."

Cha Xiaodao rubbed his nose and sneakily glanced at Miss Mei beside him.

"This reclamation effort is entirely voluntary, if anyone on the list is unwilling, you can raise your objections now. We can coordinate together."

Unexpectedly, Mei Ling furrowed her brows and stood up. She first bowed slightly, then spoke deliberately and slowly, "It would be an honor to join you, Elder, but I have personal matters to attend to, concerning my younger sister. I have already paid my dues to the Yan Zhao Club, and for at least four months, I do not wish to participate in any Yan Fu events. I am truly sorry."

"I understand, I’ll find someone else to take over in private. Anyone else?"

From the second seat, a girl wearing a white cartoon tank top with long twin pigtails, whose aura was very much like Harley Quinn, also raised her hand: "I don’t want to go either~"

Bu Yang from the first seat coughed twice and glared at her.

Zhao Jianzhong glanced at the girl and said indifferently, "Valid reason."

The girl shrugged her shoulders: "The valid reason is, you had us investigate the Eight Sufferings Life Realm before, and now with the addition of Weiyue Yan, we need to create an even larger passage. The workload has significantly increased."

"...Alright, I’ll make further arrangements."

Li Yan spoke up at the right moment, "If possible, I am quite interested in this reclamation work."

Zhao Jianzhong looked at him: "Your reason?"

"I’ve just taken the second seat, contributing to the Yan Zhao Club is only proper," Li Yan said with an unchanged expression.

Zhao Jianzhong nodded slowly: "I’ll consider it."