Chapter 1133 - 218: This Is the Charm Fruit! (Five Updates)

Chapter 1133: Chapter 218: This Is the Charm Fruit! (Five Updates)

"Have you ever heard of the World Tree?" Yin Jue turned his gaze to Mu Qingge and asked.

Mu Qingge’s eyes darkened, and she nodded with pursed lips. ’The World Tree again!’

Yin Jue said, "Since you’ve heard of it, then you can think of this tree as a miniature, simplified version of the World Tree."

Mu Qingge frowned; she found it hard to make such an assumption.

According to the Mountain Charm legend and the significance of this tree to the Demon Forest, it seemed more like a Tree of Life. In her view, the World Tree was the locals’ understanding of the universe, a worldview.

Seeing Mu Qingge’s expression, Yin Jue smiled and said, "Thinking of it that way, it is indeed somewhat complex. So consider it simply like this: if this tree ceased to exist, the Demon Forest, and everything living within it, would perish. This life includes not only those living in the Demon Forest but also those who have left. As long as their life originated here, they would also vanish together."

Mu Qingge was shocked in her heart; she never expected there to be such a connection within the Demon Forest.

But is this just a legend, or could such a thing really happen?

Mu Qingge couldn’t help but speculate inwardly.

Of course, she wouldn’t use this question to ask Yin Jue.

Yin Jue continued, "The Mountain Charm was born from this tree, so the responsibility of the Mountain Charm is to protect it, keep it from being destroyed, and ensure it continues to grow, so the Demon Forest can always exist."

"Why are you telling me this? Do you think we’ve come here seeking refuge to destroy this tree?" Mu Qingge asked, amused.

Yin Jue looked at her and asked again, "Do you know what the Charm Fruit is?"

Charm Fruit?

The smile at the corner of Mu Qingge’s mouth slowly faded away. Yin Jue’s repeated probing made her start taking it seriously.

"You’ve mentioned the Charm Fruit so often that I’ve become interested," Mu Qingge said with a squinting smile. "What is the Charm Fruit?"

The two gazes met in mid-air, sparking some tension. This tension stemmed from mutual probing and mutual vigilance.

"Do you really not know what the Charm Fruit is?" Yin Jue asked.

Mu Qingge smiled slightly, and said calmly, "This is my first time entering the Demon Forest. It’s my first time hearing about and seeing the Mountain Charm Clan. As for the Charm Fruit... I truly have no idea what it is."

She shook her head as she finished speaking, raised an eyebrow, lifted her gaze, and half-jokingly pointed to the ancient tree before them, saying, "Could it be that the Charm Fruit is the fruit borne by this tree?"

She had spoken casually, but to her surprise, Yin Jue seriously nodded in confirmation, "You’re right. The Charm Fruit is indeed the fruit borne by this tree. It bears fruit once every thousand years, with only ten at a time."

Mu Qingge showed a startled expression, then gave a self-deprecating laugh, "I didn’t expect my casual remark to be correct."

"Are you also aware that consuming this Charm Fruit can instantly increase one’s power by ten thousand years?" Yin Jue continued.

Mu Qingge’s smile faded, and her gaze turned serious.

She looked at Yin Jue, her voice calm, "Why are you telling me all this? Afraid that I had no designs on the Charm Fruit before, but now you hope I will steal them all?"

Yin Jue chuckled lightly. His smile was incredibly charming, especially with his dark green eyes, akin to gemstones, resonating with his deep green straight hair.

"Aren’t you curious why a Charm Fruit that’s been growing for a thousand years holds such immense divine power?" Yin Jue asked.

Mu Qingge honestly nodded, "I am very curious. But will you tell me the answer?"

"Why not?" Yin Jue raised an eyebrow.

Yin Jue raised his hand, pointing at the branches, "Look, those are Charm Fruits."

Mu Qingge’s eyes lit up. Following his fingertip, she indeed spotted a dark green little fruit amidst the overlapping leaves. The fruit was only the size of a finger, concealed by the leaves, making it hard to spot.

"Wasn’t it said that no more Charm Fruits were being produced? How come there are more now?" Suddenly, a voice interjected.

Mu Qingge and Yin Jue looked over simultaneously, seeing Hou and Yin Le approaching.

Hou came up beside Mu Qingge, saying this while sneaking a glance at Yin Jue. "I couldn’t leave you alone after being called out, so I came to see. I happened to run into Yin Le. She heard you were called by the prince and accompanied me here."

A soft smile appeared briefly on Mu Qingge’s lips. She looked at Yin Jue, "So, the Charm Fruit isn’t being produced anymore. Then the previous fruits were..."

"I did not lie to you," Yin Jue said.

At this moment, Yin Le spoke up too, "We indeed lied to the outside world, telling everyone there were no more Charm Fruits. We did this only to prevent everyone from being blinded by the allure of the Charm Fruit’s effects."

Hou said then, "A long time ago, the Demon Forest, and even the whole Divine Demon Continent, went crazy for the Charm Fruit. Not until the news that there were no more Charm Fruits spread did things gradually calm down."

"If that’s the case, then why are you telling us now?" Mu Qingge looked at Yin Jue puzzledly, her gaze shifting between him and Yin Le.

Hou also suppressed his playful expression, making his tattooed face appear a bit fierce and terrifying.

"Brother Kong," Yin Le called softly.

Her voice was so light and gentle it made Hou’s heart tense. For some reason, he subconsciously restrained his hostility.

"I just want to tell you what the Charm Fruit really is. Whether or not your purpose this time involves the Charm Fruit, I hope you abandon such a notion," Yin Jue said seriously.

"What is the Charm Fruit? Isn’t it just the fruit borne by the tree? What, you Mountain Charms can eat it, and we can’t?" Hou said bluntly.

Mu Qingge glared at him, and Hou immediately withdrew his head.

"We never eat the Charm Fruit!" Yin Le hurriedly explained.

But Yin Jue’s gaze darkened, "You indeed came for the Charm Fruit."

Being exposed by his words, Hou secretly cursed himself, blaming his loose tongue for jeopardizing everything. Now that the Mountain Charm Clan knew their intentions, what were they to do?

"Brother Kong, did you really come to see me just for the Charm Fruit?" Yin Le asked, hurt in her expression.

Hou’s expression turned odd upon Yin Le’s question.

Mu Qingge sighed inwardly, stepping forward to explain to Yin Le, "We were indeed being pursued by the Dragon Clan and had no choice but to take refuge here. As for the Charm Fruit, Hou doesn’t need it; he hopes to find it for me. However, I am not desperate to obtain it."

"Really?" Yin Le raised her eyes, looking at Hou.

Hou promptly nodded.

That head, nodding like pounding garlic, even he would find it surprising why he cared so much about a woman’s feelings.

Mu Qingge finished explaining and then looked at Yin Jue again. "Since we’re laying it all out, please tell me, what exactly is the Charm Fruit? Why does consuming it increase one’s power by ten thousand years?"

"The Charm Fruit is the Mountain Charm," Yin Jue gave a surprisingly unexpected answer.