Chapter Eighty: The Mountain Valley, Old Man!

  There were actually three trees. Looking at the dazzling fruit, Xiao Yun's mouth watered and he unconsciously wanted to go pick some, but in the next second, he stopped himself.

  Although Xiao Yun was eager to get the Zuoyin fruit, he hadn't forgotten that it was said that there were ferocious beasts guarding around the Zuoyin fruit. If they encountered an ambush while picking the fruit, that wouldn't be good.

  Xiao Yun carefully observed the surroundings, Hong Ke Xin also looked around everywhere. In the valley, except for the three ancient sound fruit trees on the cliff, there were only withered grass and fallen leaves, it could be said that nothing was missed. The two people carefully searched in a circle, but didn't see any signs of ferocious beasts.

  Xiao Yun put his mind at ease, perhaps the three fruit trees had not been discovered by the demon beast, or perhaps the demon beast guarding the three fruit trees had gone out to forage for food. After all, this valley was quite desolate and couldn't find much food.

  Seeing the opportunity, Xiao Yun immediately walked towards the slope, preparing to go up and pick some fruit. Hong Ke Xin didn't stop her, but instead helped Xiao Yun keep watch around them, in case of any unexpected situation.

  "Hum, what a big nerve, even daring to snatch my fruit!"

  Xiao Yun was just about to jump off the cliff when a loud shout suddenly came from beside his ear, and a gray figure burst out from behind the waterfall.

  He floated down in front of Xiao Yun like a withered arrow, if he wasn't wearing clothes, Xiao Yun would have taken him for a savage, disheveled and unkempt, his face almost invisible, only two eyeballs could be seen moving between the messy hair and beard, his height was about the same as Xiao Yun's, his figure slightly hunched, judging from his voice, he should be quite old.

  Xiao Yun subconsciously took a step back, her face still wary and surprised. Hong Kexin also immediately walked over, subtly on guard.

  "Your fruit?"

  Xiao Yun's face showed confusion, and then another shock. Mu Tian'en had said that the surrounding area of Zuoyin Valley might have powerful demon beasts guarding it. Could it be that the person in front of him was a demon beast? A demon beast that could transform into human form, how powerful would that be?

  At this point, Xiao Yun carefully sized up the man, who was wearing a snow-white long gown with extremely long hair and beard. His eyes fell on the old man's waist, where a long flute hung. Xiao Yun was stunned - although the demon tribe found it difficult to awaken their wisdom, they had a unique gift that allowed them to directly absorb the primal energy of heaven and earth, a talent that human cultivators could not possess.

  Unlike humans, the innate talent of the demon clan can only be used to refine their physical body and advance in rank. If they want to cast demonic spells, they also need to use the power of music to communicate with heaven and earth. All demons who can cast demonic spells are powerful existences, at least they should be demons who have transformed into a higher form. However, by that level, it is already unnecessary to carry a musical instrument to cast battle songs, so why would they still hang a long flute from their waist?

  Is this person really a powerful demon cultivator? Xiao Yun was somewhat unclear, strong people have a natural air of oppression towards the weak, and the person in front of him had an oppressive feeling towards Xiao Yun, but it absolutely didn't reach the point where he couldn't bear it.

  The sixth-order bird encountered two days ago flew over from a distance, and Xiao Yun was intimidated by its aura, trembling all over. However, the person in front of him did not give Xiao Yun this feeling, and even, Xiao Yun did not feel any danger.

  "Elder, we didn't mean to offend you, we just wanted to pick a few fruits."

  Hong Kexin's boundary was higher than Xiao Yun's, so she could see more clearly and didn't have as many doubts in her heart. This person wasn't a demon cultivator, but a real human music cultivator. His strength was comparable to hers, even if he was stronger, it wouldn't be by much, and he definitely hadn't reached the level of a music master.

  "Little girl, can't you understand? The fruit is mine, none of your business. Leave quickly, lest you get into trouble." The man glanced at Hong Ke Xin with a very unpleasant tone.

  Hong Kexin's expression stiffened, and she turned to look at Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun gritted her teeth, "I need this fruit urgently, I hope you can make an exception for me, senior."

  "No! Leave quickly, otherwise don't blame me for taking action." The man said in a low voice.

  Xiao Yun furrowed her brow and Hong Ke Xin said, "You're really strange, there's no name on the fruit, what makes you say it's yours?"

  "Huh?" The old man's anger turned into a laugh. "I've been guarding this place for a whole hundred years, they're not mine, but yours, isn't that right?"

  "One hundred years?"

  "This person has been guarding this place for a hundred years? Are you kidding me? Both of them were stunned, and looking at his expression, he didn't seem to be lying. Xiao Yun thought carefully, if this person was a demon cultivator who had already transformed, what would be the use of taking the Zuoyin fruit? If it was a human, a hundred years... Xiao Yun seemed to have thought of something."

  Hong Ke Xin said with a strong tone, "Even so, the Zu Yin fruit is a heavenly and earthly spirit species, naturally it's for those who are destined to have it. There are three whole plants of Zu Yin fruit here, you can't just occupy them all by yourself, right?"

  "Senior, you alone can't finish it, we'll just take one of the fruit, won't take too much."

  Most of these people are not demon cultivators, otherwise Hong Kexin would not have been so bold as to argue with him. Xiao Yun's confidence has also increased a bit. After finally finding the Zuyin fruit, even if it already had an owner, Xiao Yun would not give up just like that.

  "It sounds nice, I've been guarding this place for a hundred years, and you think I'll give you a fruit just because of your words? Do you take me for a fool?" the old man said.

  Xiao Yun's face stiffened.

  Hong Ke Xin furrowed her brow, "How can you be so stingy? We only want one fruit from you, not the whole thing. Why are you being so miserly? This fruit is naturally grown and nurtured by the earth. Just because you've been guarding it for a hundred years doesn't mean it's yours. If you keep this up, you might not even get to keep one fruit."

  "What's with this tone of yours? Are you planning on taking it by force?" The old man's voice became heavy.

  "Bang!"

  As soon as the old man's words fell, Hong Ke Xin directly took out the Dahuang Bell. "If you're willing, we can have a spar. Your realm isn't much higher than mine. With two against one, our chances of winning shouldn't be low."

  Xiao Yun heard this and felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders. This old man was indeed just a mortal musician, and his abilities had not yet reached the realm of a music master. With Hong Ke Xin's help, it should be easy to obtain Zuyin Fruit.

  The old man heard this and his eyes widened, turning to face Xiao Yun, "Hmph, little fatty, this kid hasn't even reached the realm of Le Gong, yet you're so confident?"

  "Is it confidence? Try it and you'll know. I just need to hold you back for a moment, enough for him to pick all these fruits!" Hong Kexin said.

  "How dare you!" The old man was somewhat indignant, "Are you threatening me?"

  "Elder brother misunderstood, we just wanted to discuss with you. With so many fruits, one person can't finish them all, why occupy them alone? We'll only take one plant, absolutely not picking more!" Xiao Yun hastily smoothed things over, he could see that Hong Ke Xin's threat had taken effect.

  The old man's face relaxed slightly, and he furrowed his brow in thought for a moment. He looked up at the fruit tree on the cliff and asked, "Was it because of you that the fruit just now emitted such an extraordinary fragrance?"

  Seeing the old man's tone relax, Xiao Yun hurriedly nodded, "It is said that Zu Yin likes to listen to beautiful music, just played a piece of music, and finally found this place."

  After hearing Xiao Yun's words, the old man fell silent again, his eyes repeatedly sizing up the two of them, seemingly lost in thought.

  After a while, he said to Xiao Yun, "This fruit, I can give you one plant, but you have to bring something to exchange."

  "Huh?"

  Xiao Yun and the other person were both stunned, exchanging things, their bodies clean and smooth, what could be worth more than the ancestral sound fruit.

  "What is it that you want?"

  Xiao Yun asked somewhat nervously, the only thing on him that could be compared to Zu Yin Guo in value was perhaps Jiu Xiao. That was a rare and precious instrument of great merit, using it to exchange for Zu Yin Guo would probably still be a loss, but now Xiao Yun couldn't care about anything else. If Jiu Xiao could be exchanged for Zu Yin Guo, then it would be worth it for Xiao Yun.

  Before the old man could speak, Hong Kexin seemed to see what Xiao Yun was thinking and immediately pulled Xiao Yun's sleeve, saying in a low voice, "Don't waste your breath on him, this person is not very powerful, I'll hold him off, you go get the fruit."

  Xiao Yun gently shook his head, although he really wanted the Zu Yin fruit, but a man has things that he will and won't do. These three Zu Yin fruits are someone else's property, this old man has been guarding them for a hundred years, if he were to take them by force, what would be the difference between him and a thief? Unless absolutely necessary, Xiao Yun wouldn't resort to such a lowly tactic.