Chapter 864: Someone Got There First

"Does Teacher Zhang have a way?"

Hu Yaoyao and the others exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up simultaneously.

Although One-Yuan Heavy Water was highly attractive to the Sword-Toothed Spirit Tiger, it was far inferior to the soon-to-ripen Red Firefly Fruit. Even though they had come up with ideas, they knew the chances of success were slim.

If the young man before them had a method, that would naturally be best.

"Of course!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"That's great!"

Remembering how this young man had tamed a Purple Sun Beast and over four hundred spirit beasts within an hour, the four were filled with excitement.

"Here!"

Dong Xin and the others each flipped their wrists, producing a jade bottle.

It seemed that for fairness, each had bought a bottle, planning to combine them at the location.

Taking the jade bottle, Zhang Xuan gently pulled out the stopper and immediately felt the water-attributed energy within. His flesh involuntarily trembled, as if wanting to cultivate the third layer of the Five-Shine Golden Body.

"Just wait and see. I'll find a way to lure those two out!"

Knowing this was not the time for cultivation, Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist and stored the jade bottle into his storage ring.

Using such precious One-Yuan Heavy Water to attract the Sword-Toothed Spirit Tiger was too wasteful. Even without it, he had other ways to lure them out.

In fact... he didn't even need to lure them out; with his Soul Spirit, he could extract the entire tree.

Since there was no need to waste it, it was better to keep it for himself, where it would be more useful.

As for the value, he could simply compile a set of insights on breaking through to Half-Saint and give it to them, ensuring all four could break through.

Even if they obtained the Red Firefly Fruit, whether they could break through was uncertain. Helping them achieve a one-hundred-percent breakthrough was definitely a huge gain!

"By the way, what other plans do you have? Let's hear them and see if they're feasible."

Putting away the heavy water, Zhang Xuan continued asking.

"We were thinking of luring those two out, trapping them with a formation, then picking the Red Firefly Fruit and leaving. We haven't prepared anything else..."

Dong Xin said.

"A formation? To trap a peak Cocoon-Sealing realm Sword-Toothed Spirit Tiger, the formation must be at least level six, and it needs to be activated quickly... Do you have such formation plates?"

Zhang Xuan looked at them with doubt.

"Yes! To prevent accidents, each of us prepared one: a trapping formation, an illusion formation, a maze formation, and a killing formation."

Since they were cooperating, there was nothing to hide.

"Although level-six formation plates can trap or even kill the opponent, they require true qi to maintain. Once the true qi dissipates, they become useless... Not very effective!"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Formation plates, though convenient and usable even by those who don't understand formations, have the drawback of relying on true qi to function. No matter how deep a cultivator's reserves, true qi always runs out... Therefore, formation plates are fine for short-term emergencies but hard to sustain over long periods!

The Sword-Toothed Spirit Tiger was powerful; killing it was difficult, and relying solely on trapping to obtain the Red Firefly Fruit would be more troublesome than imagined.

No wonder they sought him out. With their best methods, the success rate probably wasn't even twenty percent.

The group's faces flushed.

They were aware of this situation.

"Teacher Zhang, if you can help us obtain the Red Firefly Fruit, each of us will take only one, and the rest will go to you..."

After hesitating, Hu Yaoyao gritted her teeth and said.

The other three nodded simultaneously.

Coming on their own, their chances of success were so slim that they felt embarrassed to take more than their share.

After all, their goal was to break through to Half-Saint. As long as they succeeded, one or two fruits would have the same effect.

"Let's talk about that after we get the goods..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Discussing distribution before obtaining the item was like planning how to eat a wild goose before shooting it down—unrealistic.

Understanding this reasoning, the group nodded and continued forward.

"Around this bend is where the Red Firefly Fruit is located. Let's be careful..."

After surveying the terrain, Dong Xin couldn't help but remind them.

They acknowledged and held their breath.

Although Zhu Xiu Hua's warning might have alerted the Sword-Toothed Spirit Tiger that someone had entered, as long as their strength didn't exceed the tiger's, it wouldn't be wary. If they hid well and seized the opportunity, their chances of success were still considerable.

"Something's wrong!"

After walking a few steps and about to pass through the narrow passage of the canyon, Zhang Xuan suddenly furrowed his brows.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing him stop, the others dared not move forward.

Without answering their question, Zhang Xuan stepped forward, came behind a rock, and crouched down.

"Look..."

Hu Yaoyao and the others looked down and saw a small pile of fresh soil behind the rock, apparently brought from outside, completely out of place with the ground before them.

"This is..." The group was startled.

"This valley has abundant spiritual energy and a dry climate, clearly without rain for a long time. Yet this soil is fresh and moist... If I'm not mistaken, someone entered before us!"

Zhang Xuan said.

His Eye of Insight could analyze the essence of things. Others might not see anything in this clump of soil, but he could easily discern its origin.

"Someone entered?" Their expressions changed.

The main reason they were so intent on this Red Firefly Fruit was that no one else knew about it—it was exclusive information. Once outsiders learned of it, obtaining it would be much harder.

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan nodded. "Judging by the freshness of the soil, they entered less than ten minutes ago... and there are probably two of them. The stronger one has already reached the Half-Saint level."

"You can... tell their strength too?"

The group was stunned.

The soil was still damp, so they could deduce the time of entry, but how could he tell their strength? From this clump of soil alone?

"On our way here, we saw no traces, indicating they must have flown in. Since they flew, they must have released true qi. They paused here, leaving marks on the ground, so their strength can be deduced."

Zhang Xuan said calmly.

Half-Saints can barely fly, but without opening the Aerial Acupoint, their flight is unstable, and true qi easily leaks out.

If they hadn't paused here, he might not have seen anything. But since they did, deducing their strength was simple.

"Impressive..."

The group was filled with admiration.

Though they were also master teachers, they were far inferior to the one before them in observing details.

"A Half-Saint coming... Could they destroy the fruit?" Xue Zhenyang's face changed.

If a Half-Saint flew directly in, the Sword-Toothed Spirit Tiger would surely be on alert. If it destroyed the fruit, their trip would be in vain.

"Don't worry about destruction yet. Let's first see who entered ahead. If they get the fruit, it's the same as destruction..."

Hu Yaoyao shook her head.

She spoke the truth.

If the people ahead obtained the Red Firefly Fruit, could they snatch it by force?

As master teachers, if they were caught robbing treasures and their identities exposed, their careers would be over.

The group nodded and quietly moved forward. After rounding a winding passage, an open area appeared before them.

It was several thousand square meters, as if carved out by immense force. At the end, on a steep cliff face, was a huge cave where the Red Firefly Fruit should be.

Under the illumination of his Eye of Insight, he could see a rich spiritual energy occasionally surging out from within.

"There are indeed people!"

Dong Xin frowned.

Following her gaze, they saw two figures standing behind a rock outside the cave, apparently doing something.

"One Half-Saint, and one about our strength, peak Cocoon-Sealing realm!"

Long Cangyue discerned their strength and looked at Zhang Xuan with utmost admiration.

It matched his deduction exactly.

"Their... master teacher robes? Why are they different from ours?"

Xue Zhenyang frowned.

They then noticed the two people's clothes—both were grayish-blue, different from the usual loose master teacher robes, shorter and more fitted. The master teacher badges on their chests were too far to see clearly, but unlike the usual warm, ocean-like badges, these had a sharp edge; staring too long seemed to prick the eyes.

"Even if they're different, the unique imprint of a master teacher badge can still be sensed. They are also master teachers... but probably not from Hongyuan Empire. I've seen and know all the experts from the academy and the Master Teacher Pavilion!"

Long Cangyue said.

"Yes!" Xue Zhenyang and the others nodded.

They were elites of the master teacher academy. If these two were from Hongyuan Empire, they would surely recognize them. Since they had never seen them before, they must be from elsewhere.

This mountain range extended beyond Hongyuan Empire, so it was normal for master teachers from other places to appear.

"Since we're all master teachers, there's not much contention. Whoever gets the treasure first keeps it. But once obtained, no snatching is allowed. Even if someone wants to, they must follow the master teacher's specific rules..."

Dong Xin said.

When different master teachers encounter the same treasure, regardless of methods, whoever gets it first owns it!

Killing for treasure is not permitted.

Otherwise, fighting to the death over an item—how could a dignified master teacher face teaching and educating?

Of course, if one fails to obtain it and still wants it, they can negotiate with the owner through master teacher means—buying or competing... But if the other party disagrees, there's nothing to be done.

"We must get the Red Firefly Fruit first to have the initiative. Otherwise, if they get it, we're basically out of luck..."

Hu Yaoyao's expression turned serious. Just as she was about to continue, she frowned: "What are they doing?"

Hearing her, the group looked and saw the two not rushing into the cave but staying behind a rock, taking out something like a long incense stick, quietly lighting it, and using true qi to blow the smoke into the cave.

"If I'm not mistaken, it should be... Soul-Stirring Incense!" Dong Xin recognized it.

"Soul-Stirring Incense?"

Hu Yaoyao and the others frowned.

"It's a substance that can induce hallucinations in the soul. Once inhaled, one falls into illusions and cannot extricate themselves. They're probably trying to hallucinate the Sword-Toothed Spirit Tiger and then snatch the Red Firefly Fruit!"

After explaining, Dong Xin's brows knitted into a knot, her eyes full of doubt: "But... this thing affects friend and foe alike. Whether human or beast, anyone who inhales it will hallucinate. They lit it directly—aren't they afraid of being affected themselves?"