Chapter 1139, A Promise

Translator: Silavin

 

As those two fruits appeared, the hall was instantly suffused with a fragrance so refreshing that a single breath of it cleared the mind and invigorated the spirit.

 

Even Qing Luan felt, within those few breaths, that every cell in his body had begun to tremble ever so faintly. Even some of the chronic ailments lurking within him were being gradually dispelled, and his entire body felt as though it had been reborn anew.

 

“This is…”

 

A look of profound astonishment surfaced on Qing Luan’s face. Simply from the scent alone, this sort of effect was already present. What on earth could these fruits possibly be?

 

“Elf Fruit.” Qin Yichen said, his tone completely calm.

 

Yet those two words struck Qing Luan’s ears like a clap of thunder.

 

Elf Fruit. Legend had it that this was the most potent longevity fruit produced by the Elf Race, and there were even rumours that it would only appear as a companion fruit at the birth of a Royal Elf.

 

Royal Elves, how extraordinarily rare were they?

 

Centuries, even millennia, might pass without a single one being born, so one could well imagine how precious such a fruit would be.

 

Even some Supreme Experts, upon sensing their end drawing near, had spent tremendous costs attempting to trade with the Elf Race for even a single Elf Fruit, yet without exception, every single one of them had been refused.

 

Thus, even for a Top Tier Race as formidable as the Heaven Devouring Green Marten Race, the Elf Fruit existed only in ancient records. Not a Soul had ever truly laid eyes upon one.

 

And now, this unremarkable-looking young man had casually taken out two of them.

 

How could Qing Luan not be astonished?

 

“So long as your Race’s Ancestor has not excessively consumed his own Blood Essence, these two fruits will be enough to allow him to persevere for another century.” Qin Yichen said, though deep within his eyes, a faint shadow of melancholy briefly flickered past.

 

After rendering such an enormous favour to the Elf Race and pestering them relentlessly, the Elf Queen had finally given him three Elf Fruits.

 

Moreover, the pained expression on her face at the time had been no act.

 

Had it not been for the restoration of the Tree of Life and Little Ling’er’s appearance, she would certainly never have given him something so precious.

 

The effects of this fruit were extraordinarily Heaven Defying. Even a Supreme Expert on the very brink of death could extend their lifespan by a century upon consuming one.

 

If he could have his way, he had actually intended to give the Elf Fruit to the Saints Heavenly Manor Master. However, from the very first time he had laid eyes on the Manor Master, he had understood that the latter’s time had long since passed. The fact that he had managed to hold on until now was already the absolute limit.

 

Even if the Manor Master consumed all three Elf Fruits, its effect would be negligible at best. Furthermore, the aura of death shrouding his body was quite likely to erupt prematurely, triggered precisely by the terrifying vitality contained within the Elf Fruit.

 

Once that death energy spread, the Manor Master would surely burn out completely.

 

The fact that he had endured until now was likely not solely due to longevity Pills. What mattered more, surely, was an obsession, a refusal to abandon the Human Race, that would not allow him to let go.

 

In truth, the situation of the Human Race was not so very different from that of the Heaven Devouring Green Marten Race. Both found themselves in the awkward predicament of a gap between generations.

 

Yet the specific circumstances of the Human Race were in fact worse than those of the Heaven Devouring Green Marten Race.

 

For beyond the territories where the Human Race multiplied and flourished, countless Races had long been lurking, and innumerable spies kept a watchful, covetous eye upon them at all times.

 

The moment news spread that the Human Race had no Supreme Expert left among them, countless Races would come swarming in, hungry for a feast.

 

Should things reach that point, even with the Saints Heavenly Manor standing guard, the Human Race would likely be unable to hold on.

 

“Brother Qin, these two fruits…” Qing Luan seemed to have keenly detected the shadow that had crossed Qin Yichen’s expression. He furrowed his brow, though his gaze still could not bear to leave the Elf Fruits resting in the latter’s hands.

 

“I can give them to you. However, I need you to make me a promise.”

 

Qin Yichen met Qing Luan’s gaze directly, his expression solemn.

 

“A promise?” Qing Luan’s brow creased. Elf Fruits were treasures whose value exceeded any price one could name. The promise to be traded for two of them would surely not be any simple matter.

 

“If the need arises, I wish to request your Race’s Supreme Expert to show himself.” Qin Yichen said plainly.

 

“This…” Upon hearing those words, Qing Luan could not help but frown.

 

Their Supreme Expert went by the name Qing Xuan. In his younger days, he had been a genius of legendary renown upon the continent. Yet even the mightiest of cultivators could not withstand the erosion of years, and today, he stood no more than a few decades from the end of his lifespan.

 

He was likely on a level comparable to Lord Mo Shang.

 

A few decades, to beings such as them, was perhaps no more than the snap of a finger.

 

During that span of time, they kept themselves almost entirely sealed away, resting within their Race. Were they to take action, it would very likely hasten the arrival of that final hour.

 

Although the Elf Fruit might extend his lifespan by as much as a century, that century’s worth of time was perhaps still no match for the consumption of a single act of intervention.

 

“Hehe, in a century’s time, I trust the Heaven Devouring Green Marten Race should be able to produce another Supreme Expert?” As though he had seen through Qing Luan’s worries, Qin Yichen smiled and said, “Moreover, I am only asking him to make an appearance. I would never compel him to take action and offer assistance.”

 

“Brother Qin, this matter is of great importance. I must report it to the Elders. I hope Brother Qin can wait here for a moment.” Qing Luan’s brow remained tightly knitted. He was, in truth, quite puzzled as to how Qin Yichen had come to know certain secrets of their Race.

 

However, at least on the surface, the fellow before him appeared to be a friend rather than a foe.

 

Having said his piece, Qing Luan strode briskly out of the hall. Evidently, somewhere within this outpost, there was a means by which he could communicate directly with his Race.

 

Seeing this, Qin Yichen settled himself into a chair draped with luxurious beast hide and began to wait.

 

He knew that were the Heaven Devouring Green Marten Race given a century or more, there was every likelihood they would give birth to a new Supreme Expert.

 

Back in those days, after Qing Xuan’s end, the Heaven Devouring Green Marten Race had faced invasions from all manner of Races and been driven back step by step. When they had been on the very verge of annihilation, they had suddenly broken free of the encirclement. Though they had ultimately vanished without a trace from the continent, it was certain that a Supreme Expert had arisen among them, and it was that being who had preserved a last thread of their Bloodline.

 

Thus, he did not worry that the Heaven Devouring Green Marten Race would refuse his request.

 

As for the Human Race, the situation at present was extremely grave. Although the Saints Heavenly Manor Master’s name carried great renown far and wide, he had long since ceased to walk openly upon the continent, and even within the Human Race, news of him was exceedingly rare.

 

At this moment, no Race knew for certain whether he had perished. Yet once the Manor Master passed on, this fact would certainly not remain concealed for long.

 

When that day came, what the Human Race would face was an overwhelming tide of Races that had been coveting them all along.

 

This was precisely why Qin Yichen was presently sparing no cost to win over the Heaven Devouring Green Marten Race.

 

Of course, the latter had certainly no idea of his identity as a member of the Human Race. Had they known, no matter how tempting the offer, the Heaven Devouring Green Marten Race would never have dared to make any promise to the Human Race.