In the Misty Lake Canyon of the Cangya Mountains, within a residence occupied by numerous minor demons, the atmosphere was mixed. Some demons snored loudly as they slept, while others indulged in food and drink.


    "When will this endless guarding of the spirit fruit tree finally end? Back when we started, we could at least come and go as we pleased. But for the past year, we''ve been forbidden to leave the Misty Lake Canyon! I''m going crazy from being stuck here."


    "Bear with it. It''s only May—we have until the end of the year."


    "What kind of spirit fruit tree is this, anyway? It’s got so many of us guarding it, and even the White Tiger King of Black Wind Ridge in Zhenshan County has been called in?"


    "The White Tiger King only arrived in the past two weeks. It must be a critical time now. Everyone, stay vigilant and don’t ruin the Water God’s plans. If you mess things up... hmph, you''ll regret it when you''re turned into a demon servant."


    "Yes, yes, understood."


    The minor demons all nodded in agreement.


    Rumors had spread: in the past, offending the Water God might have resulted in death. But now, those who angered him were often turned into demon servants. According to other demons who had assisted in the process, the transformation was excruciatingly painful, with many victims collapsing and dying from the torment.


    Inside a quiet chamber in the demon-occupied residence, incense burned, filling the room with its fragrance. A painting of a tiger descending a mountain hung on the wall.


    In the center of the room sat a stout man cross-legged on a cushion, barefoot.


    "Hiss... hiss..." Black mist swirled over his body, rising from his skin in wisps before being inhaled back through his nostrils.


    This cycle of exhalation and inhalation continued for a long time until the man opened his eyes. His golden, slit-pupiled eyes glinted briefly before returning to a human-like appearance.


    "According to Senior Brother Water God’s calculations, the Millennium Ice Jade Fruit will ripen this month. Just a little longer," the man muttered coldly. He rose and opened the door, stepping into a tranquil courtyard. Though the residence housed dozens of demons, they only occupied a small portion; the rest was reserved for the White Tiger Great Demon.


    In the corner of the courtyard lay two massive axes, each larger than a typical house.


    The stout man walked over, his hands growing white fur and enlarging into tiger-like claws. He grabbed the axe handles effortlessly and lifted the weapons.


    "Magnificent treasures," he said with a grin, looking at the axes in his hands. "It wasn’t easy obtaining these."


    Indeed, it hadn’t been easy. Each axe weighed 1,800 pounds. The materials needed to forge such weapons were rare and precious, resulting in divine weapons of extraordinary quality. For comparison, the sword carried by Qin Yun—renowned for its craftsmanship—was only a little over ten pounds. These axes, by contrast, required a fortune in materials, even making the White Tiger Great Demon wince at the expense.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    He had forged one axe first, then spent 30 painstaking years and countless resources to create the second.


    With both axes in hand, the White Tiger Great Demon exuded an unmatched aura. His reputation as the fearsome ruler of Black Wind Ridge was well-deserved.


    Although the axes fell short of true magical artifacts, they were still formidable weapons. To the White Tiger Great Demon, they were better suited to him than most magical treasures. For someone like him—originally a white tiger that became a demon and later ascended to innate demon status—these heavy axes complemented his immense strength perfectly. Even human cultivators at the Void Core level would be wary upon seeing him wield them.


    "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..." The demon swung the axes leisurely, each motion as effortless as if they weighed nothing.


    In the Misty Lake Canyon, four figures stood vigil around the Millennium Ice Jade Fruit Tree: Qin Yun, Yi Xiao, Jia Huairen, and the demon servant, Uncle Qian.


    Suddenly—


    As if in the blink of an eye, the tree, which resembled a sculpture carved from ice, underwent a startling transformation. The lone green fruit on the tree turned a brilliant red, its surface glowing with a purple sheen. The entire fruit now looked like a giant ruby.


    "The Millennium Ice Jade Fruit has ripened!" Qin Yun’s heart leaped. Yi Xiao, Jia Huairen, and Uncle Qian all tensed up as the moment they had been waiting for finally arrived.


    "Be careful, Qin," Yi Xiao warned telepathically.


    "Understood."


    Without hesitation, Qin Yun pulled out an invisibility talisman and channeled his true essence into it. The talisman disintegrated instantly, forming an invisible shield that cloaked him completely, adhering closely to his body. The moment it activated, he became entirely invisible to the naked eye.


    Simultaneously, Qin Yun activated two speed-enhancing talismans tied to his legs.


    Harvesting the fruit required speed! He couldn’t afford to hold back.


    Though the process seemed slow in description, activating the talismans took only a split second.


    "Go!"


    With a light step, Qin Yun darted forward.


    Yi Xiao, Jia Huairen, and Uncle Qian watched as Qin Yun vanished before their eyes. However, both Yi Xiao and Uncle Qian could sense his presence nearby through their spiritual perception and see traces of his life force using their mystical vision.


    The invisibility talisman mainly worked against ordinary sight.


    "Huairen, prepare to assist. Things are about to get intense," Uncle Qian said gravely via telepathy.


    Jia Huairen, though nervous, maintained a calm exterior and replied telepathically, "Uncle Qian, what should I do?"


    "When Qin Yun retrieves the fruit, we’ll focus on helping him escape the canyon. Stay close to me, and follow Yi Xiao’s orders. When she says to flee, we run immediately. Don’t worry. Though there are over a hundred demons here, with Qin Yun and Yi Xiao, escaping won’t be a problem. Also, remember to use your magical artifact—it has some power, so don’t hesitate to wield it."


    "Understood," Jia Huairen replied.


    Meanwhile, Qin Yun moved cautiously. He avoided creating strong winds that might alert the demons.


    "Steady," he thought, suppressing his aura and moving silently toward the Millennium Ice Jade Fruit Tree at only a third of his maximum speed.


    Nearby, over a dozen minor demons stood guard around the tree.


    One demon sniffed the air, its nose twitching as it turned toward the tree. Its eyes widened in shock upon noticing the fruit’s transformation. "Look, look! The spirit fruit has ripened!"


    The other demons, some dozing off, immediately snapped to attention and stared at the tree.


    "It’s ripe!"


    "The spirit fruit has ripened!"


    The scent of the fruit was intoxicating, stirring a primal urge to devour it. However, the demons knew better than to act on such impulses.


    "Finally, the fruit has ripened. Our time here is almost over."


    "Wait here. I’ll report to the White Tiger King."


    Excitement spread among the demons as one of them dashed off toward the residence.