The scorching sun hung high in the azure sky as sunlight pierced through the forest canopy, scattering the sun rays into small shafts of sunlight. Two shadows were moving through the undergrowth, one was completely silent, while the other periodically made rustling and crackling noises as it clumsily made its way through the shrubbery..

“We’re almost there.” Mu Chen glanced upward. The massive cliff was much closer now, almost directly above them.

Zhao Feng was looking left and right as he gripped his spear tightly.

“I don’t see any fruit…” He muttered.

“We have to climb up to the top of the cliff to get a better look.” Mu Chen said as they reached the base of the cliff.

“Climb…up?” Zhao Feng was dumbfounded as he stared up at the cliff..

“We should climb up directly from the front, it's safer than going the longer way.” Mu Chen suggested as he pointed at the nearly 90 degree angle rock face that was at least a kilometer high.

If they went around and climbed up from the other side, it would be easier on them but their chances of encountering danger would increase. Without waiting for Zhao Feng to reply, Mu Chen ran forward and leapt upward, his hands and feet digging deeply into the rock face. He then began to scale the rock face so fast that he resembled some type of human spider.

Zhao Feng gazed up at the treacherously steep rock face, then at the rapidly ascending Mu Chen and sucked in a breath of cold air. Gritting his teeth, he slung his spear over his shoulder and started to climb. Using his spiritual qi, he dug his hands and feet into the rock and slowly made his way up.

Mu Chen arrived at the top within fifteen minutes. Zhao Feng took almost forty five minutes. By the time he reached the top, he was sweating profusely.

“Zhao Feng, what’s wrong?” Mu Chen’s lips curled up slightly.

“I-I’m not so good with heights.” Zhao Feng smiled sheepishly.

“You’re a cultivator that can fly in the sky and command the wind and rain, and you’re afraid of heights?”

“Well…”

“When you reach the Spirit Core realm, you’ll be able to fly in the sky like a bird. What’s there to fear? Come, let’s go look for the Dragon Blood Fruit.”

The two of them started walking, while keeping a lookout.

“Big brother, is the Dragon Blood Fruit red coloured? With skin like dragon scales? Growing on a green-red vine with spiky leaves?” Zhao Feng suddenly asked after a few minutes.

“Yes, how did you know?”

“I see it right there.” Zhao Feng pointed upward.

Following the direction his finger was pointing, Mu Chen spotted a crimson coloured fruit with skin resembling dragon scales. It was growing on a green-red vine with jagged leaves. It was growing right atop a small hill surrounded by vegetation.

“That’s it.” Mu Chen smiled.

“We found it!” Zhao Feng cheered.

The pair quickly ran over to get a better look, leaping over shrubs and rocks. As they got closer, they could make out something else beside the fruit vine that was previously shielded by shrubbery.

It was a large, circular structure around ten meters across that was constructed out of countless branches and twigs. Inside it lay a single massive egg. It was ten times larger than a chicken egg, and was dark brown in color, with azure patterns on its surface.

“Uh…big brother. That looks like-” Zhao Feng’s eyes widened.

“A nest.” Mu Chen’s expression darkened.

“A big nest. For a big bird.” Zhao Feng added.

At this moment, a piercing cry echoed through the sky.

“Skreeee!”

A huge, bird shaped shadow was cast overhead. Zhao Feng instinctively looked up and saw a massive bird demon beast flying overhead. It resembled a hawk, but this one had a twenty meter wingspan. Its beak was razor sharp and its talons were like steel swords. A coat of dagger-like feathers covered the bird’s body.

The bird’s amber coloured eye locked straight onto them, its gaze filled with hostility. Zhao Feng was momentarily stunned as he stared right into the bird’s eyes. A sense of danger washed over him.

“Zhao Feng, run quickly!” Mu Chen’s shout jolted him out of his daze.

Zhao Feng immediately turned and ran. Mu Chen was already running in front, lightning flickering around his body and the Dragon Blood Fruit held tightly in his hands. He had already grabbed it the moment he heard the cry of the demonic beast.

Mu Chen had made an oversight. There was a high chance that a spiritual fruit, especially one that was as rare as the Dragon Blood Fruit would be guarded by a demonic beast, in this case, it was the Sea Forming realm Stormwing Condor!

“Skreeee!” The piercing cry of the demonic bird echoed once more. Flapping its massive wings which caused the trees to shake, the bird descended like a meteor, shooting straight toward them. Its sword-like talons glinted in the sunlight, ready to rip its prey to shreds.

“Shit!” Zhao Feng yelled as he ran with all his might, combining the power of both his bodily strength and spiritual qi to boost his speed to the maximum. He was barely keeping up with Mu Chen, who was also running with all his might.

The two of them were rapidly nearing the edge of the cliff. The demonic bird beast was also getting closer and closer, its talons were only a few meters above their heads. It was a matter of seconds before it got them.

“Zhao Feng, jump!” Mu Chen shouted.

“Jump?! Jump down?!” Zhao Feng’s eyes almost popped out.

“Jump!” Mu Chen shouted and jumped off the cliff. His hand grabbed onto Zhao Feng’s arm, pulling him along with him.

“Ahhhhhhh!” Zhao Feng screamed at the top of his lungs as he went off the edge.

Swoosh! The demonic bird’s talons sliced through the air where Zhao Feng had been earlier, literally missing Zhao Feng by a millimeter. Fury burning in its eyes at its fruit being stolen, the beast flapped its wings once more, ascending into the air.

It once again descended, its talons reaching out, aiming to gouge these two fruit thieves.

“It's coming back!” Zhao Feng yelled as he fell through the air. They were both falling through the air, helpless. Easy pickings for the demon bird.

“Zhao Feng, use your spear!” Mu Chen called out.

"That's right!" Reacting instantly, Zhao Feng reached back, retrieved his spear and stabbed it into the rock face in one swift motion, abruptly slowing their descent while leaving a deep groove in the rock. The muscles in Zhao Feng’s arms strained as he gripped on tightly to the spar shaft. He gritted his teeth in pain but managed to hold on.

With one hand grabbing onto the spear. Mu Chen sent a massive amount of spiritual qi rushing into his arm as his fist shone a brilliant gold.

With a shout, he punched out with all his might. A faint image of a golden fist covered in shining sacred text appeared in the air in front of Mu Chen, flying forward and smashing directly into the rock face. The air trembled and with a loud boom, a hole around two meters wide was instantly carved into the cliff face. The solid rock had been ground to dust by the sheer force of that blow.

If anyone had seen this, they would be shocked. Such power was only possible at the Sea Forming realm, where one could extend their qi outside of their bodies.

Using Zhao Feng’s spear to redirect the direction of the fall, the two of them flew straight into the hole, crashing heavily into the rock wall at the back, causing it to collapse into a pile of rubble.

“Damn…” Zhao Feng groaned in pain as he rubbed his head.

“It's coming for us again!” Mu Chen warned.

The Stormwing Condor had missed them once more. It let out an angry cry as it flapped its wings and flew up, hovering just outside the cave. It came straight toward them, its razor sharp beak aiming to rip them into pieces. The bird’s beak that was like a lethal weapon stabbed left and right haphazardly, while Zhao Feng and Mu Chen frantically tried to dodge while retreating. If that beak struck them, they would likely get a piece of meat ripped out of their body.

“Come on, this way!” Mu Chen’s hand shot over as quickly as lightning and grabbed Zhao Feng’s collar, pulling him deeper into the hole. He had noticed that the rock wall at the back had collapsed from the impact of their entry, revealing a tunnel that went further into the cliff. They were in luck!

The two of them quickly entered the pitch dark tunnel, leaving the Stormwing Condor screeching angrily at its prey once again escaping its clutches. After it realized it would not be getting anything today, it left after letting out one last angry screech.

“Phew, we’re safe!” Zhao Feng slumped to the ground and leaned back against the wall.

Mu Chen sat down beside him, his face slightly pale.

“Big bro, are you alright?” Zhao Feng asked with a look of concern.

“Small matter. Just used too much qi.” Mu Chen let out a deep breath as he leaned back as well. That move he had used earlier was the Demon Vanquishing Fist, but when Mu Chen had used it previously, he was only using a fraction of its actual strength.

This time, he exerted himself and forcefully increased its power to the Sea Forming level, where one could extend their spiritual qi outside of their body. A saint ranked technique was powerful, but also consumed a lot of spiritual qi. If Mu Chen did not possess the supreme spiritual qi as well as superior qi quantity, he would have died from overexertion.

“It was worth it though, we got the Dragon Blood Fruit.” Zhao Feng glanced over at the crimson red fruit in Mu Chen’s hands.