Martial Arts Overlord-Chapter 670 - 668: The Matriarch Appears!

"Feng Luo, were you able to detect the hidden Blood Essence Demon Vine?" Mu Hui asked.

With Tao Mengran and the other two intervening, Luo Feng immediately felt much more relaxed. At Mu Hui’s inquiry, he laughed and replied, "During my past experiences, I chanced upon a martial arts manual that could discern fluctuations in nearby Yuan Qi."

He certainly wasn’t going to admit that it was due to the strength of his Soul Power.

"I see."

Hearing Luo Feng’s explanation, a hint of envy flashed in the eyes of Mu Hui and his companions.

The ability to sense surrounding fluctuations in Yuan Qi—this martial art was definitely a secret technique!

While such an auxiliary secret technique appeared to have trivial use, that was hardly the case. Being able to sense nearby Yuan Qi fluctuations allowed Martial Artists to detect danger in advance; it was an excellent life-saving technique.

If this secret manual were auctioned, people would kill to get it, even for tens of thousands of second-grade Yuan Stones.

It didn’t matter whether one was a Martial Artist at the Meridian Wheel Realm or the Spiritual Rotation Realm; everyone only had one life to live. None would deem too many life-saving techniques a burden.

The cold-faced young man pursed his lips, wondering inwardly why he didn’t have such good fortune.

With Luo Feng leading the way, the four of them pushed their speed to the limit. Soon after, they had ventured fifty to sixty miles deep into the Blood Demon Forest.

Hmm? Luo Feng raised an eyebrow.

Noticing the change in Luo Feng’s expression, Tao Mengran asked, "Feng Luo, what’s wrong?"

"The Fire Yuan Qi ahead is very concentrated. We should be close to the Flame Fruit," Luo Feng said.

Mu Hui’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "Then let’s speed up!"

"Don’t celebrate too soon." Luo Feng shook his head. "I also sense a powerful Demon Qi. The mother vine of the Blood Essence Demon Vines should also be nearby."

"Really?" Mu Hui looked a little somber. Even with Luo Feng’s help to reach this point, he had already consumed nearly fifty percent of his Yuan Qi.

These Blood Essence Demon Vines were merely offshoots of the mother vine, and their strength was limited. However, the mother vine of the Blood Essence Demon Vines was a true Level Five high-tier Demon Beast! Getting the Flame Fruit wouldn’t be easy.

Tao Mengran also sensed an immense Demon Qi ahead. She looked at Luo Feng, her Daimei furrowed slightly, and suddenly said, "Master Feng Luo, I know this is extremely dangerous, but it’s a rare opportunity, and I don’t want to miss out. If we can get the Flame Fruit, I am willing to compensate you with an additional one thousand second-grade Yuan Stones."

Upon hearing this, Mu Hui was taken aback. He understood why Tao Mengran had made this decision.

Along the way, if Luo Feng hadn’t helped them avoid the Blood Essence Demon Vines’ sneak attacks, they would never have reached this place, let alone attempt to retrieve the Flame Fruit.

Now, facing a Level Five high-tier Demon Beast, they would likely face life-threatening danger! Compensating with Yuan Stones was only right.

Taking a deep breath, Mu Hui said, "I will compensate with three thousand second-grade Yuan Stones!"

"Three thousand second-grade Yuan Stones?" Luo Feng was somewhat surprised. One thousand second-grade Yuan Stones was one thing, but three thousand second-grade Yuan Stones were not an amount just any Golden Palace Disciple could produce. It seems this Mu Hui’s background is also extraordinary.

Tao Mengran glanced at Mu Hui and said, "I’ll pay you back for these Yuan Stones."

Her family was not a wealthy and influential one; one thousand second-grade Yuan Stones was the most she could offer.

Knowing Tao Mengran’s character, Mu Hui could only nod with a wry smile.

Luo Feng grinned as he observed the two.

Seeing Luo Feng remain silent, Mu Hui said, "If Brother Feng Luo thinks it’s too little, you can name your price."

The cold-faced youth, following beside them, said nothing.

Luo Feng shook his head. "Since I promised to help you obtain the Flame Fruit, I will not go back on my word. As for the Yuan Stones, just give what you can afford."

Luo Feng believed that even if he were to ask for ten thousand second-grade Yuan Stones right now, Mu Hui would likely agree without hesitation. However, that would undoubtedly be taking advantage of their predicament.

Mu Hui was willing to brave the perilous Blood Demon Forest for Tao Mengran without hesitation; he was a man of integrity, worth befriending.

Mu Hui’s gaze froze for a moment, not expecting Luo Feng to answer like this. Then, he cupped his fists solemnly and said, "I, Mu Hui, will engrave this favor in my heart!"

BOOM!

At that very moment, the ground nearby suddenly caved in, and a dozen or so dark-red vines, each as thick as a water bucket, shot out.

"Watch out!" Luo Feng warned.

However, the dark-red vines moved with incredible speed, leaving fiery red afterimages in the air as they closed in on the four of them in an instant.

The tip of each vine split open, revealing rows of sharp, blood-red fangs.

POP!

One vine snapped at the cold-faced youth’s Protective Gang Energy, tearing a large gap in it.

WHOOSH!

From within the blood-red maw, a smaller, thinner vine shot out, fast as lightning, straight for the cold-faced youth’s throat.

"Ah!" The cold-faced youth’s face turned ashen with fright, and he froze on the spot.

At the critical moment, a cold light sliced through the air.

SLICE!

The blade light severed the dark-red vine. A shrill scream echoed through the forest as the cut vine thrashed wildly on the ground. Viscous, blood-like sap gushed from the wound, and a pungent, bloody odor filled the air.

Staring at the hideous dark-red vine on the ground, the cold-faced youth swallowed hard, casting a grateful glance at Luo Feng. All previous dissatisfaction vanished as he said, "Th-thank you..."

Luo Feng’s expression was calm as he sliced another dark-red vine with his knife, his brows furrowing slightly as he said, "Be careful. These vines can devour Gang Qi."

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Several dark-red vines, sensing Luo Feng was the greatest threat, suddenly lunged at him in unison.

"Feng Luo, be careful!" Tao Mengran tried to come to his aid, but her path was blocked by three dark-red vines.

Seven or eight dark-red vines instantly closed in on Luo Feng, their terrifying, fang-filled maws gaping wide, ready to swallow him whole.

"Trying to eat me?" A cold sneer touched Luo Feng’s lips. He abruptly plunged his Rage Flame Knife into the ground, his entire right arm turning crimson as he threw a punch. "Explode!"

BOOM!

An intense burst of fire erupted. Fiery, crimson light radiated outwards from Luo Feng, and all the approaching dark-red vines exploded, filling the air with a scorched, acrid smell.

"Water Cloud Cave Sky!"

Tao Mengran’s dress billowed as she joined her left index and middle fingers, swiping them thrice across her sword’s blade.

Three massive vortexes of Sword Qi spiraled out, slamming hard against the dark-red vines.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Horrifying sword marks were torn into the dark-red vines, but they were not severed.

SQUEAK...

The injured dark-red vines shrieked and retracted into the ground.

Tao Mengran’s Daimei creased slightly, a look of vexation in her eyes as she gently bit her red lip. If I weren’t injured, how could I have let these demonic vines escape...

The remaining scattered vines were swiftly eliminated by the four of them working together.

"These dark-red vines can actually devour Gang Qi! Is this really the Level Five high-tier Demon Beast, the Blood Essence Demon Vine?" Mu Hui stared at the demon vine corpses on the ground, his brow deeply furrowed. As far as I know, the Blood Essence Demon Vine isn’t this powerful.

"No use thinking about that now. The Fire Yuan Qi fluctuations ahead are very strong. Let’s go!" Luo Feng tapped his foot on the ground and shot like an arrow into the depths of the dense forest.

Tao Mengran and Mu Hui exchanged a glance, each seeing shock and admiration in the other’s eyes.

"Fearless in the face of all evil, unperturbed by myriad changes; this must be what the Elder meant by ’Heart as firm as a blade’," Tao Mengran said softly.

Mu Hui nodded slightly. "Feng Luo... When we get back, we absolutely must find out more about him."

After this brief exchange, they said no more and used their Qinggong to pursue him.

As they ventured deeper, the surrounding temperature soared. Although the four of them were Spiritual Rotation Realm Martial Artists, they could still feel an oppressive heat wave washing over them, which their Protective Gang Energy could barely block. The ground beneath them had turned a dazzling, brilliant red.

At this moment, Luo Feng came to a sudden halt. Just as Mu Hui was about to ask why, his gaze shot forward, and he couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

About a hundred meters ahead stood a tree over ten meters tall.

The tree was entirely a crystalline, crimson red. Its trunk seemed to be made of crystal, and clusters of blood-red flames burned on its branches like leaves, an exceptionally strange sight. And at the tips of these branches were egg-sized fruits!

The fruits were crystal clear, radiating a brilliant fiery light that bathed the entire area in a dazzling, blood-red glow.

"Crystal tree, fiery leaves, a hundred-meter fiery glow... these are Flame Fruits! There are so many Flame Fruits!" Mu Hui’s eyes shone with joyous surprise.

Even Luo Feng, with his usually calm disposition, couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

Transparent fruits adorned the fiery tree; a quick estimate suggested there were nearly a hundred of them!

A single Flame Fruit was equivalent in value to a top-tier fourth-grade Spirit Pill. Because it was an extremely rare material for fifth-grade Spirit Pills, a single fruit would fetch at least one thousand second-grade Yuan Stones at auction.

All told, these Flame Fruits were worth over one hundred thousand second-grade Yuan Stones—a fortune sufficient to tempt even a Martial Artist at the fifth stage of the Spiritual Rotation Realm or higher!

As far as Luo Feng knew, the Purple Sun School’s savings over ten years didn’t amount to this many second-grade Yuan Stones.

For a moment, everyone’s heart began to race.

BOOM!

At that very moment, an earth-shattering rumble erupted. A small hillock, two to three hundred meters to the left of the Flame Fruit tree, suddenly split open with large, thick cracks.

ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!

A series of terrifying roars burst from the fissures, soaring to the heavens, the sound causing the ground to tremble violently.

"Not good! It’s the Blood Essence Demon Vine mother! Mu Hui, go get the Flame Fruits!" Gazing at the cracking hillock, Luo Feng frowned slightly, gripping his Rage Flame Knife tightly. This is the first time I’ve ever felt such terrifying Demon Qi.

"Okay!" Mu Hui knew time was of the essence. He activated his Yuan Qi at full power, leaping like a large bird to the side of the Flame Fruit tree, and began harvesting.

ROAR!

The roars suddenly grew fiercer. With a deafening crash, the small hill burst open from the center, and a monstrous, humanoid tree-like creature appeared in their sight.

The monster was a hundred zhang tall, like a colossal mountain obscuring the sky and sun. Its body was entirely composed of thick vines that lashed out violently in all directions. Each strike on the ground left a terrifying fissure, making the earth tremble and the mountains sway.

These vines included blood-red ones, the dark-red ones they had encountered earlier, and a type of black vine they had never seen before.

"Th-this... this is..." The cold-faced youth’s eyes widened, his face filled with terror. The right hand gripping his Mysterious Steel Lance trembled faintly.

Tao Mengran’s expression was also grim. "Such powerful Demon Qi! This Blood Essence Demon Vine is already a peak Level Five Demon Beast and is on the verge of breaking through to become a Level Six Demon Beast!"

Facing the colossal monster, Luo Feng felt as insignificant as an ant. Glancing to the side, he saw that Mu Hui had finished harvesting the Flame Fruits and said in a low, serious voice, "Let’s get out of here."

A peak Level Five Demon Beast was equivalent to a fifth-stage Spiritual Rotation Realm expert. Moreover, this Blood Essence Demon Vine mother was about to advance to become a Level Six Demon Beast.