Chapter 27 The Tree

Later that day, the group continued to traverse through the 10,000 Beasts Forest, reaching closer and closer towards their goal. "We're extremely close now, so get ready." Wang Haotian stated as they all held their weapons tightly.

Soon Yang Yu's gaze fell onto a tree, it wasn't big but it wasn't small either, it was 3 meters thick and stood 5 meters high. It stood in a clearing 100 meters in radius, and it began exactly from the centre of the tree.

Yang Yu found something odd about it. 'That tree, its surrounded by a pool of blood, and its leaves, they're a dark red.' Yang Yu thought as the trio beside him looked on in shock. "What happened to it?" Wang Haotian asked in shock, but no one answered.

A few seconds later though, Yang Yu heard laughter, the laughter of an old man. "This, this is too great!" Yun Zhu laughed as he gazed at the tree. 'What's the issue?' thought in annoyance, he didn't want this whole trip to have been for nothing.

"No issue at all, in fact only benefits. Due to the tide, multiple beasts must have found the tree and had a brawl over it, we can assume this because of the blood that pooled next to the tree. Since the fruit was nearly formed, the tree must have greedily absorbed all the nutrients, and because of this, had a qualitative change. Now not only will it double strength, but will also increase the consumer's stamina by about 20%." Yun Zhu observed, hearing this Yang Yu nodded, but the trio on the side weren't as happy.

"This, they better not be ruined." Wang Haotian fumed as his expression soured. Even Chen Feng was frowning deeply, and Zhao Shen was grinding his teeth in rage. "Don't worry, I've read a few books, this is actually beneficial, it will not only increase you strength, but increase your stamina on top of it, by about 20% if I recall correctly." Yang Yu explained to them.

They calmed down on hearing this but were still filled with some doubt. "Are you sure Junior?" Zhao Shen asked with hope. "The manuals worked didn't they?" Yang Yu remarked as they all nodded.

"Well I'll take your word for it then, its not like its your fault anyway." Wang Haotian said before walking towards the tree. "Either way, they should have ripened." Wang Haotian stated as they all nodded, before following along.

Soon they reached the pool of blood around the tree, exactly 4 fruits hung from it as the group gazed at them in excitement. "I call 1st dibs on the next batch of fruits." Yang Yu said as they all nodded. "After your help Junior, I wouldn't mind if you take all the fruits of the next batch!" Zhao Shen declared in happiness.

"Agreed, I'd even be willing to give you the fruit right now, but sadly we really need to plant that tree." Wang Haotian remarked, as he got read to grab the fruits.

"ROAR!"

Suddenly a shout resounded as a huge beast ran towards the group. "What the." Yang Yu said as he gazed at the gargantuan running towards them.

It was a gorilla 5 meters tall, 3 meters long, its hair completely silver and its eyes blood red. The gorilla had 2 massive fangs protruding from its mouth and its expression was livid.

"Silver Backed Blood Ape." Wang Haotian muttered in visible concern as he unsheathed his sword. Yang Yu quickly grabbed his spear, Chen Feng nocked 3 arrows, and Zhao Shen got his axe out, ready to fight.

In a matter of seconds the ape was in front of the group, its fist swinging down. Yang Yu stood there in shock barely being able to react, when suddenly one of them moved.

"Toppling Mountain Charge!" Zhao Shen roared with his axe in a defensive position. Immediately the Ape's fist smashed onto the axe, creating a shocking reverberation.

Zhao Shen was pushed back, his body shaking as he nearly fell into the pool of blood. Chen Feng didn't let this opportunity slip though, as he shot his 3 arrows flying towards the Ape's arm.

"CLINK!"

They had no effect though, as they simply bounced off its body. Although it wasn't effected, the Ape was enraged by this provocation. "Fuck! Spread out!" Wang Haotian commanded.

Immediately Chen Feng grabbed Yang Yu and ran a distance away, while Zhao Shen ran to the side of the Ape. Wang Haotian didn't move though, as they stared each other down.

The Ape was not having it though, letting out a roar before charging towards Wang Haotian. Seeing this he rolled to the side causing the Ape to charge into the blood pool.

"ROARRR!"

It was beyond mad now, as it got up from the blood pool, it slammed its fists onto the ground in front of it, before shooting itself up into the air, flying above the group.

Seeing this, Chen Feng aimed his arrows for the Ape's eyes, imbuing them with qi before shooting them towards the Ape's head.

"WOOSH!"

They flew through the air hitting into the Ape's forehead, barely missing its eyes. Two streams of blood now trickled down the Ape's face blocking its eyes. Due to this the Ape could barely see and as it fell it reached for the sky, not knowing what had occurred.

"BOOM!"

The Ape fell into the ground, creating a massive crater. "NOW!" Wang Haotian screamed as he charged towards the ape. Zhao Shen also ran towards it with his remaining strength.

"SHHK!"

"CLANG!"

As the dust settled, Wang Haotian's figure, along with that of Zhao Shen and the Ape could be seen. Wang Haotian's sword was millimetre deep into the Ape's forehead, while Zhao Shen's axe was on the ground.

"DIE!" Wang Haotian declared as as he put all his strength into the sword finally piercing into the Ape's head, killing it. The Ape's corpse soon slumped to the ground.

"Finally." Wang Haotian said as he dropped to the ground. "W-What Grade was it?" Yang Yu asked in shock. "2." Chen Feng simply replied as Yang Yu stood there in awe.

"You're alright?" Wang Haotian asked Zhao Chen, gazing towards his friend. "Just a couple scratches, nothing important." Zhao Chen replied.

"We should grab the fruits a leave, or else beasts might make their way here." Chen Feng said as Wang Haotian nodded. "Don't worry, I can move." Zhao Chen reassured them as he wearily got up.

"I'll grab the fruits then." Chen Feng said while walking towards the tree. Once there he hopped up and quickly grabbed the fruits. "Can you store them?" Chen Feng asked as he looked towards Yang Yu.

"Sure, just toss them here." Yang Yu said, before Chen Feng threw the fruits towards him. Immediately Yang Yu stored them all before heading towards Wang Haotian and Zhao Chen.

"Here, some healing medicines." Yang Yu said while handing them a porcelain bottle each. "Thanks Junior." Zhao Chen said accepting the medicine. Wang Haotian shook his head on seeing it though. "Don't worry I am fine, I just used a bit of qi, I'll recover in a flash." Wang Haotian responded.

Hearing this Yang Yu nodded and kept the medicine away. Soon after Wang Haotian recovered his qi, and Zhao Chen could move, and they began to leave the area.

"Oh? What do we have here?" A young man sporting blood-red robes said as he crouched on a tree branch. A few seconds later a look of enlightenment flashed on the young man's face as he grinned.

"Ah, Sky Spirit Sect, good thing I ran into you lot then." The young man said as he jumped off the tree branch. "Master will be pleased if I kill 4 Inner Disciples while running around." He said as he unsheathed his long sword with an evil grin.