Chapter 111: Swallowing the Fruit Whole

Jiang Yan flew at an astonishing speed, leaving a remarkable arc in the low sky as he streaked past like a blur.

He held the red fruit in his hand, examining it carefully but finding nothing unusual.

In the wild, one must not eat things recklessly.

However.

“Comfort is reserved for the dead.”

Jiang Yan swallowed it in one gulp.

[System Log Updated]

“You have consumed a Red Luo Fruit. Its medicinal potency and toxicity are eroding your body. Your poison resistance has slightly increased, and your physical functions have slightly improved.”

Jiang Yan felt a burning sensation all over his body as a powerful medicinal force rampaged wildly within him, posing no small danger.

He found a secluded spot to sit and refine the energy. In less than ten minutes, the medicinal force within him dissipated completely, and the Aperture Point in his chest was significantly illuminated.

“Not bad. Looks like I need to speed things up.”

Jiang Yan soared into the air and continued searching for other targets.

The man from Golden Radiance Academy had mostly recovered from his injuries and muttered to himself as he walked, “What a pity. That Red Luo Fruit was at least fifty years old. If I had taken it back and handed it to the alchemists to extract the toxins, it might have helped me refine the remaining half of my Aperture Point.”

“Ah, but the Red Luo Fruit contains potent poison. Could that guy have swallowed it directly?”

As he spoke, he chuckled to himself. “I must be out of my mind, fantasizing like this and hoping to defeat him this way.”

“Better to work hard and seek Opportunities to grow stronger, then defeat him fair and square in the future!”

…

Along the way, Jiang Yan discovered another Red Luo Fruit. He swiftly killed the guardian beast, plucked the still-unripe fruit, and swallowed it whole.

This Red Luo Fruit was clearly not yet mature, with stronger toxicity and weaker medicinal effects. It offered little help for Aperture Opening but significantly boosted Jiang Yan’s poison resistance.

“Ugh… a bit sour. Won’t eat this again.”

Jiang Yan grimaced and vanished, leaving only a brutally slain Fierce Beast on the ground.

With the aid of [Eagle Eye], Jiang Yan could quickly spot useful scenes even while flying at high speeds. Half an hour passed, and Jiang Yan consumed two more unknown fruits in succession, successfully refining one Aperture Point completely.

Jiang Yan didn’t recognize the two fruits either, but he swallowed them whole anyway, and his poison resistance increased by another large margin.

“Hmm, it seems all the fruits here carry some level of toxicity. Does that mean no one dares to consume them immediately after obtaining them?”

Jiang Yan’s eyes shone with startling brilliance, as if he had discovered a new world.

He flew even faster.

“Heavenly treasures belong to the capable. I, Jiang Yan, am no exception.”

“Hey, we’re from the same academy! How could you steal this?”

Jiang Yan: “Nonsense! The principal just said appropriate competition is allowed. Clearly, you weren’t paying attention. Punishment: go find a Spiritual Plant yourself!”

“As for yours… hehehe…”

“Stay away from me!”

…

Jiang Yan swallowed a medicinal herb resembling ginseng in one gulp and suddenly felt a surge of energy within him, as if magma were rushing straight to the crown of his head.

“Excellent stuff!”

Jiang Yan refined it instantly.

The second Aperture Point was directly opened more than halfway! However, Jiang Yan could clearly sense that the medicinal potency of this herb was at least three times stronger than the earlier Red Luo Fruit.

Under such intense searching, more students fell victim.

Student: “What are you doing! I fought hard against a Fierce Beast to obtain this Green Vine!”

Jiang Yan: “Nonsense, it was clearly me who worked hard to find you!”

Student: ???! |ʘᗝʘ|

Once again, he swallowed it in one gulp. The green vine melted in his mouth, its medicinal potency instantly filling his body.

Ten minutes later.

“Finally refined the second aperture. Time is tight, I need to hurry.”

Jiang Yan flew at full speed, leaving only a fleeting shadow streaking across the sky.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the secret realm.

A thin, small man paced in the forest, while ahead of him, a man wearing the Silver Radiance Academy uniform sat slumped on the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably.

“You… don’t come any closer!”

“Senior, relax. We are fellow disciples, why would I harbor ill intentions toward you? Relax, I’ll be gentle~”

Pei Qin had already approached the man sitting on the ground, his black-and-white eyes gradually filling with a crimson hue.

Behind him, a dark purple vertical pupil slowly rose.

“No! Don’t come closer! Ah…”

…

“Mmm… what a wonderful body~”

Pei Qin wore an intoxicated expression, as if savoring some rare delicacy.

The eyeball floating behind him drifted in front of him, complaining somewhat pitifully: “Pei Qin, they all taste bad. Let’s go find that man, please~”

Pei Qin gently stroked the smooth eyeball and said calmly:

“It’s not time yet. I… probably still can’t defeat him.”

“But don’t worry.” He affectionately promised. “Darling, as long as I devour everyone here, I should be able to defeat him.”

“Hehe, I knew you were the best to me. Let’s go quickly then!”

That slender back gradually faded into the distance, eventually disappearing into the dense wilderness.

…

Outside the academy.

Inside the vice principal’s office.

Two men sat together chatting leisurely.

“Old Lan, you finally decided to come back. Since you left last year, you haven’t returned more than a few times, right?” the vice principal teased.

“Hehe, I’ve been researching the Human Race Martial Dao. You have to see many things with your own eyes to have a say, otherwise no one would believe the ‘Human Race Martial Dao’ I compiled.”

“Hahaha, true. You old thing, usually when I tell you to cultivate, you don’t. Instead, you just hold a book and read all day. I thought you were just putting on an act, but I didn’t expect you to actually achieve something.”

Lan Shuli chuckled along, but his smile remained superficial, with something deeper seemingly hidden in the depths of his eyes.

“By the way, how has that guy from Blue Star been performing lately?”

Lan Shuli suddenly shifted the topic to Jiang Yan.

“Hey, speaking of that Blue Star kid, I was just about to tell you. You say, a mere one-aperture Martial Artist like him actually managed to conquer the 91st floor of the Myriad Stars Tower. Isn’t that strange?”

The vice principal’s expression was exaggerated, clearly utterly shocked by Jiang Yan’s performance.

Lan Shuli’s reaction wasn’t as dramatic. He just smiled and replied: “That Blue Star kid does have some peculiarities. Perhaps his future prospects won’t be inferior to our Tianyuan Star’s Supreme Martial God.”

“If… he doesn’t meet an untimely end.”

“Pfft!”

The vice principal spat out a mouthful of saliva, looking at Lan Shuli incredulously.

“Not inferior to the Martial God? Old Lan, are you sick? Based on what? A Blue Star Person who only awakened one aperture?”

“Hehe… I mean, if it doesn’t get axed midway.” Lan Shuli’s smile held a deeper meaning as he continued. “Old friend, compared to the Jiang Yan you mentioned, I’m actually more looking forward to the performance of another little one…”