Chapter 45  : Chapter 045 Divine Fragrance Evil Fruit

“Everyone be careful, this altar is strange!” Wu Guang warned, staring at the altar deep in the forest.

Yang Zhen rolled his eyes. Even a fool could see that this place was definitely strange. It was not just any oddity, but a really creepy one—within the violent fluctuations of the Fire Elemental waves, something was concealed that could affect a woman’s heart.

There was a trace of embarrassment and anger on the faces of the girls like Lu Xueqing as they stared at the altar intently, yet they clearly showed signs of apprehension.

Some poisons specifically targeted women, and once infected, the end was terrifyingly bleak, even worse than death.

Seeing the hesitation of the others, Yang Zhen patted his chest and reassured, “Don’t worry, cousin. Even if the King of Hell came, I would kick him away.”

Although Lu Xueqing looked somewhat peculiar, she couldn’t help but smile, casting a thankful glance at Yang Zhen, and subconsciously moved closer to him.

The other girls also came to Yang Zhen’s side. A girl with a delicate appearance suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, it seems that when near Young Master Yang, that annoying feeling diminishes.”

“What?” The other girls were stunned, their faces filled with surprise.

Lu Xueqing also realized this and looked at Yang Zhen in disbelief, her body trembling.

Although Yang Zhen had no idea what the hell this was all about, he waved his hand grandly and spread his arms wide, “When I was fighting the blind bear in the big mountain, I ate a fruit, which according to the village chief, made me immune to all poisons. Ladies, come, come, get a little closer.”

“Bah, you rogue!”

“What nonsense are you saying? What do you mean by ‘get a little closer’?”

The crowd blushed and was embarrassed, both angry and shy.

Lu Xueqing stared at Yang Zhen for a moment, then huffed, “You should stay behind us later.”

Yang Zhen was shocked, “Cousin, are you worried about me?”

“Who’s worried about you!” Lu Xueqing glared at him, “I just don’t want you to die here for no reason. After all, you have to find your… cousin!”

Yang Zhen laughed heartily, “No problem. The village chief said I have a strong survival instinct. I’ll take the lead. Real men are not afraid.”

Wu Guang looked at Yang Zhen in astonishment. Although his words were rather crude, Lu Xueqing and the other girls looked at Yang Zhen in surprise, admiring him?

“No, no, no, Brother Yang, this task was originally mine. How can I let you risk your life? I will lead, and you can protect the girls in the back.”

“Okay!” Yang Zhen answered cleanly.

Wu Guang stumbled and almost bit his tongue.

Is… Is this even possible?

You were just talking about chivalry and bravery, but I just wanted to show that I am also a real man. How could you change your mind so quickly?

Wu Guang almost cursed. For some reason, he suddenly felt like he had fallen into a trap.

Yang Zhen slapped Wu Guang’s shoulder in an approving manner, “That’s what real men do, I support you!”

Wu Guang was taken aback, and then Lu Xueqing stepped forward and whispered, “Senior Brother, don’t worry, just go!”

“Yeah, Senior Brother Wu, go ahead!”

“Yes, yes, go, don’t worry about us, you’re great!”

The girls flocked to express their concern, leaving Wu Guang teary-eyed. With a bitter smile, he said, “I’m going!”

Yang Zhen almost laughed out loud. There was no chance he would take the lead, not in this lifetime. He’d rather follow behind and look for treasures.

If there was any danger, regardless of cousins or not, Yang Zhen was prepared to slip away from danger at a moment’s notice.

Wu Guang led a few male disciples towards the altar, followed by Yang Zhen, Lu Xueqing, a group of girls, and a few less powerful male disciples.

The closer Yang Zhen got to the ancient altar, the stronger the odd sensation he felt.

Lu Xueqing and the other women were pale, blushing on the temples, breaking out in a fine sweat on their foreheads, and edging even closer to Yang Zhen.

The altar looked ghastly pale. It was aged, and the entrance was damp and slippery, covered in all kinds of moss.

A muffled sensation permeated the air, and Yang Zhen watched, wide-eyed, as Wu Guang and others boldly entered. He was just about to tell Lu Xueqing and the others to wait for a moment when he heard a scream.

“Not good!” Lu Xueqing’s face changed color, and she was about to rush past Yang Zhen into the altar.

Yang Zhen quickly followed her, immediately finding himself in pitch-black surroundings.

Inside the altar was a vast underground world. The wet, damp heat was uncomfortable. The interior wasn’t dark, but rather bathed in a spectral green glow. The pale stone surfaces shone eerily, and deep inside, Wu Guang and the others stood frozen, their gaze filled with horror as they looked at the edges of a stone platform.

On the edge of the platform, about a dozen people were bowed in prayer toward the platform. There was no sign of life in them.

What was truly horrifying was that all the flesh on these people was gone. Loose clothing hung off their skeletal frames, skulls exposed, and their hair was scattered around them.

“These people haven’t been dead for long!” Wu Guang declared gravely. “It’s brutal. It looks like something sucked the flesh and blood right off their bones.”

Lu Xueqing and the other women’s expressions were unspeakable, their faces drained of all color. The clothes on the dead were immaculate, possibly belonging to the practitioners who had recently disappeared in the volcanic forest.

The platform seemed hollow. A surge of fiery essence erupted from beneath it, the heat unbearable.

“It looks like some sort of evil ritual. Have any of you heard of such a thing?” Wu Guang turned to the others and asked.

Everyone shook their heads in unison. Yang Zhen had never heard of such a thing either. But noticing a change in Lu Xueqing’s expression, he quietly observed her.

The terrifying eruption of fire essence persisted. Wu Guang and the others, despite the heat, stepped forward to peer inside the stone platform.

“What is this?” Wu Guang held up a fist-sized fruit. It was bright red and looked like a heart, with a strange allure.

Yang Zhen felt a tug in his heart and moved forward, picking up a fruit to examine it more closely.

It indeed appeared to be a fruit, excellently preserved, full of juice, and mouthwatering.

What struck Yang Zhen was the strong desire he felt to taste the fruit. He could sense a powerful and enchanting energy surge within it.

Suddenly, a scream from Lu Xueqing startled everyone. Wu Guang, alarmed, tossed the fruit away and turned to her.

“What’s wrong?” His face was serious as he followed her gaze, and he asked in surprise, “Did you remember something?”

Lu Xueqing blushed and nodded, “If I’m not mistaken, these should be Heavenly Fragrance Fruits.”

Everyone paused. Wu Guang even glanced back at the fruits inside the platform-there were over a dozen of them.

“What is a Heavenly Fragrance Fruit?”

“I came across the legend of the Heavenly Fragrance Fruit in an old book by chance. The fruit resembles a heart, it’s crispy and fragrant when eaten. It grows in demonic abysses and is considered the sacred fruit of the Blood Spirit Clan. Female members of the Blood Spirit Clan pick a Heavenly Fragrance Fruit for their beloved after they become adults. Once the man eats it, his body will emit a strange fragrance within half an hour and will drive the woman… into an uncontrollable frenzy…”

Lu Xueqing became more embarrassed as she continued. She blushed deeply and gritted her teeth as she continued, “and then… they mate, but the man usually loses his sanity. They continue for three hours until… until they die from exhaustion.”

Shh!

Everyone took a sharp intake of breath. A queer expression crossed their faces and silence enveloped the whole altar.

Crunch, crunch.

Just then, the sound of chewing echoed through the silence. Everyone turned in horror to see Yang Zhen holding a Heavenly Fragrance Fruit, eating it with delight, and occasionally wiping his mouth.

The mouths of the spectators gaped wider and wider with each passing

moment….