“Thunderfruit?” Leo raised an eyebrow.
Thunderfruit was a fourth-grade Spirit Fruit, primarily used to facilitate breakthroughs in cultivation levels. In other words, if a breakthrough typically took three years, consuming an Ascension Pill made with Thunderfruit could potentially reduce that time to two years or even a year and a half.
Arthur Watts continued, “My father has been stuck at the peak of the upper-level Spirit King realm for several years without breaking through. The heads of the other two major families in Zratol broke through to the Spirit Saint realm a year ago, putting our Watts family at a disadvantage. If my father could obtain a Thunderfruit and refine it into an Ascension Pill, he might break through to the Spirit Saint realm in a short time.”
Breaking through each major realm in spiritual cultivation was extremely difficult. On the Awakened Continent, countless cultivators spent their entire lives stuck at the Spirit King realm, unable to enter the Spirit Saint realm. Only by reaching the Spirit Saint realm could one aspire to touch the Spirit God realm. Reaching the Spirit God realm granted one a Spirit Core and significantly extended lifespan.
“If my father can break through to the Spirit Saint realm, I won’t have to marry Isla Morgan,” Arthur Watts added.
“Go to Lord’s Manor to inquire about the valley’s location?” Leo asked. Leo was also eager for a breakthrough in his cultivation level, so he was very interested in Thunderfruit.
“No,” Arthur Watts shook his head. “The message from Lord’s Manor mentioned that the Thunderfruit Tree is guarded by Stormfire Wolves. Lord’s Manor is currently summoning cultivators interested in Thunderfruit. As long as we can defeat the Stormfire Wolves, participants will each receive a Thunderfruit.”
Leo thought for a moment and said, “Is Lord’s Manor summoning cultivators because the Stormfire Wolves are very powerful?”
“A single Stormfire Wolf isn’t particularly strong, but if it’s a pack of Stormfire Wolves with an alpha, their combat power is terrifying,” Arthur Watts explained.
Due to their physical attributes, beasts were generally stronger than cultivators of the same level. If the pack guarding the Thunderfruit Tree included an alpha-level beast, even a Spirit Saint-level lord would find it challenging to kill it. Hence, Lord’s Manor decided to summon cannon fodder; the more cannon fodder, the more they could deplete the Stormfire Wolves’ strength.
“Leo, are you interested in Thunderfruit? Do you want to give it a try?” Arthur Watts looked at Leo expectantly.
Leo was indeed interested in Thunderfruit and nodded. “Let’s go together.”
“Great, follow me. I’ll take you to Lord’s Manor.” With a companion, Arthur Watts was very happy.
Lord’s Manor was located in the center of Clearwind Town, a large courtyard with extensive grounds. Four black-armored guards stood at the entrance.
“What do you want?” one of the black-armored guards asked.
“We’re here to sign up for the expedition to Thunder Valley,” Arthur Watts replied.
The guard nodded. “Gather at the training ground inside; we’re leaving soon.”
The guard allowed Leo and Arthur Watts to enter. Inside Lord’s Manor, there were pavilions, bridges over flowing water, and beautiful gardens. Led by servants, they quickly arrived at the training ground.
A considerable number of cultivators had already gathered there, around fifty or sixty people. Leo scanned them with his spiritual sense and found that most were at or below the Spirit Sovereign level, with only a few at the Spirit Sect level.
“Leo, I didn’t expect so many people to come,” Arthur Watts remarked, surprised.
Cultivators gathered in groups of three or five, discussing various topics in a lively atmosphere. Outside the training ground, three people watched from a pavilion.
In the center stood a middle-aged man in a purple robe with rugged features and sharp eyes that occasionally gleamed with cunning and deceit. This was Lucas Collins, the lord of Clearwind Town. Flanking him were an elder in green robes and another in red robes.
“Lord, quite a few have responded to the call,” the green-robed elder said playfully.
Lucas Collins nodded, a smile tugging at his lips.
“Lord, after we kill the Stormfire Wolves, do we really have to give each person a Thunderfruit?” the red-robed elder squinted and asked.
“Thunderfruit is extremely precious. The tree I discovered only bore thirty fruits in total; there’s not enough to go around,” Lucas Collins chuckled. “Elder Archie, how many do you think will return alive from Thunder Valley?”
Elder Archie understood immediately, his eyes glinting coldly as he fell silent.
On the training ground, Leo noticed the three men in the pavilion but quickly looked away after a glance. Just then, a tiger’s roar silenced everyone on the training ground as they turned toward the sound.
A Sabertooth Tiger with blue fur walked into the training ground, ridden by a young man with slicked-back hair and an arrogant demeanor. The young man rode through the crowd of cultivators with an air of superiority. The Sabertooth Tiger had reached the lower-level Demon General realm, its fangs sharp as knives and quite intimidating.
Though many looked displeased, no one dared complain because they knew who this young man was. The young man soon noticed Leo and burst into laughter. “Ha! A kid who got scared by my carriage dares to sign up for Thunder Valley…”
Many cultivators followed his gaze, unsure if he meant Leo or the chubby guy next to him. Leo met the young man’s contemptuous look with cold eyes.
The young man riding the Sabertooth Tiger was none other than George Collins, son of Lucas Collins. George Collins controlled his mount to get closer and pointed at Leo. “Kid, seeing my Sabertooth Tiger, are you going to wet your pants?”
Arthur Watts’ face darkened as he whispered, “Leo, this guy has his eyes on you.”
Leo remained calm. Although they were in Lord’s Manor, if George Collins pushed him too far, he wouldn’t hesitate to teach him a lesson he’d never forget.
Just as George Collins prepared to taunt Leo further, three figures flew from the pavilion outside the training ground and landed on it in an instant. They were Lucas Collins and Lord’s Manor’s Elder Noah and Elder Archie.