When the scene switches, Hangfang is crossing the realm with a map in hand, slowly observing the details. It was a Quint Lake between two great mountains. It was here that he anticipated he would unlock the secrets of the 4000-year-old emotional seed and find the black seed. But just as he was climbing into the narrow mountain pass, his eyes were suddenly diverted.
Below, a sinister black mist swirled. Hangfang furrowed his brows, trying to tell what it was. Before he could think about anything more, a familiar voice rang in his head — his own voice, but not his own. The true Hangfang also spoke inside of him:
"Go down. Approach that thing."
He did not hesitate as he obeyed, taking a step down towards the black mist. As he approached, his eyes flared in disbelief. It was a fruit—black as the void, thumping as if it were alive—lying there. Its very form was an echo of a beating heart, and with each pulse, viscous darkness oozed from its surface to dissolve into the air around. A cold shiver crept down his spine.
However, just then, the true voice of the Hangfang was mental projected in his mind once again.
"Hmm… This might be the Black Heart Demon Fruit.
"Black Heart Demon Fruit?" "There is no friend!" Hangfang mumbled, killing the doctor very behind those words.
"Yes. It also grants its consumer have a special power," said the real Hangfang.
Hangfang's eyes narrowed. "An ability? How can one simply grant techniques to a fruit?"
"Just think about it," the real Hangfang said. The Smoke Path Technique you utilize… I attained it through a fruit exactly like this one."
Hangfang's breath hitched. "That makes no sense. I meant to ask what fruit are we inheriting this technique from? How is that possible?"
"In the olden days," the real Hangfang began to speak, "when great cultivators died, their souls and blood essence could sometimes give rise to this kind of fruit. A few even resulted in powerful monsters being created. Those fallen experts' techniques pour in and are sealed within them."
Hangfang was still digesting this piece of news. He clenched his fists. "So… should I eat it?"
"Not yet!" The voice of the real Hangfang mobsharp. "This is an unripe fruit, it's not ripe. If you eat it now, the technique inside is sealed in, and the side effects are catastrophic.'"
Hangfang gritted his teeth. "But we don't have time to wait until it matures!"
The real Hangfang chuckled. "Remember the Ancient Void Snake you killed?
Hangfang was suddenlyyy reminded of a battle he fought against the terrifying Ancient Void Snake. He had just escaped its coils. His body still felt the suffocating grip, the venomous fangs, the near death. "Forget?" he scoffed. "How can I forget? I almost died in its grasp."
"Well then," the real Hangfang said, a touch of mirth in his voice, "stop fooling around like Rudra and fucking listen. It will speed up the ripening process if a single drop of its blood is dropped onto this fruit."
Hangfang frowned. "And what relation does that beast bear to this fruit?"
"The Ancient Void Snake was born from an expert's remnant—this fruit, but the Ancient Void Snake has no intention of sharing it. Their natures are similar. It will tend the fruit to enable it to achieve its potential."
Hangfang paused for a moment, then acted. If there was no difference between the Ancient Void Snake's blood essence and his, he would not be able to change it. As he pulled the cork, the dark liquid inside shimmered at him. He released a single drop on the fruit with exacting control.
The reaction was immediate.
A drone-like rumble emanated as the fruit soaked up the blood. Black mist curled around it, thickening and swirling like a living thing. All of a sudden, the sky above darkened. The mountains shook with low rumblings as heavy black clouds swirled into being, blocking out the light. An ominous charge filled the air.
And then a few black arcs of lightning started dancing through the storm, crackling in a frantic way, as if announcing the coming of
something well beyond mortal understanding.
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