The people below looked at each other in bewilderment and then turned their gazes to Wang Chengyang.
"What's wrong with that fruit?" asked a slightly plump woman with a snake coiled around her wrist.
The leader of the alliance looked at the crowd below and spoke slowly in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough to reach every corner of the main hall. "That fruit is the Rebirth Fruit that appeared in the martial world once three years ago."
The people below were greatly shocked. Like they had learned some earth - shattering secret, they all lowered their heads.
"Do you all still remember the Hundred Families?" the leader continued.
The crowd looked up, their faces changing slightly.
"The Hundred Families have always wanted the Rebirth Fruit. Three years ago, Hall Master Xiao He lost his life because of this fruit," the leader said, looking at the crowd with his star - like eyes showing no ripples.
The people below were extremely surprised.
"This..."
Hall Master Xiao He had died miserably at the Broken Soul Langya Pass a few years ago, and it was because of the Rebirth Fruit?
Everyone knew that Xiao He had died at the Broken Soul Langya Pass, but no one knew that his death was related to the Rebirth Fruit.
An old man wearing a bamboo hat looked at the leader and asked, "Was Hall Master Xiao killed by the Hundred Families?"
The topic suddenly returned to the key point, and everyone shifted their gazes back to the leader.
The leader let out a soft laugh, but there was no real amusement in it. He said, "The Hundred Families not only killed Hall Master Xiao, but they also ransacked the Valley of Ten Thousand Withered Plants."
People still remembered that the Valley of Ten Thousand Withered Plants used to be full of blooming flowers and lush grass, so beautiful that it was beyond description. Moreover, it wasn't originally called the Valley of Ten Thousand Withered Plants. It was called the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers. But later, no plants grew there anymore, and people gradually forgot this name.
When the Hundred Families make a move, there will surely be a great calamity.
Everyone knew this saying, but no one expected that the Hundred Families, who had been silent for three years, had appeared again!
"I also have a request for all of you when I summoned you here this time," the leader said, looking at the crowd.
The two rows of people below looked up at the leader, looking respectful.
"Please tell us, Leader."
There was no trace of emotion in those star - like eyes. He said calmly, "Retrieve the Rebirth Fruit and at the same time... capture the Hundred Families."
The people below were greatly shocked. An old, thin and dark - skinned man looked up at the leader and said excitedly, "Leader, this is too risky!" Not to mention retrieving the Rebirth Fruit, capturing the Hundred Families was simply a pipe dream!
Chang He looked at the people below, sneered coldly and said, "The leader has already made public the reappearance of the Rebirth Fruit in the martial world. The only ones who dare to oppose the leader are the Hundred Families. Those who capture the Hundred Families will be rewarded with the Rebirth Fruit!"
The crowd was stunned. Three years ago, the martial world had been in turmoil because of the Rebirth Fruit. Three years later, the Rebirth Fruit had reappeared, but the leader's goal had changed to capturing the Hundred Families.
What kind of background did the Hundred Families have?
The people below all fell silent, each with their own thoughts.
By the green pond, a hand was gently stirring the water. A flower petal floated over and stuck to the fair, pink fingertips.
Su Xiaoliu was stunned for a moment, then withdrew her hand, removed the petal and held it in front of her eyes to observe carefully.
What kind of flower was this?
After a while, Su Xiaoliu came back to her senses. She put the petal back into the water, sat by the pond and hugged her knees with both hands.
The fatal weakness, the weakness...
What was that person's fatal weakness after all?
Suddenly, a golden light flashed across the pond.
Su Xiaoliu looked up at the pond, frowning slightly.
Another golden light flashed by.
This time, Su Xiaoliu saw clearly. She stared blankly at the water and slowly widened her almond - shaped eyes...
In the green pond, a phoenix with flames all over its body swam through. Its tail left a trail of golden light. In an instant, the pond was illuminated. The phoenix leaped gently, and the golden light scattered. Its gorgeous tail was like a delicate totem, coquettish and arrogant.
"Pho...enix?" Su Xiaoliu stared blankly at the pond and murmured involuntarily.
Su Xiaoliu suddenly remembered that this phoenix was the one on the lantern. She slowly stood up, looking completely incredulous.
Did the phoenix really exist?
She took a step back bit by bit. The phoenix swam around the pond, scattering golden light everywhere.
Su Xiaoliu was retreating blankly when she suddenly bumped into a human wall. Before she could turn around to look, a pair of hands wrapped around her from behind. A pleasant voice slowly sounded above her head.
"It's a phoenix."
Su Xiaoliu bit her lower lip tightly. She struggled hard to break free from the hands around her waist, then turned around. Her almond - shaped eyes stared calmly at that extremely coquettish face and said, "The phoenix doesn't exist, right?"
Feng Yufei tilted his head and looked at her. Then he suddenly let out a soft laugh. His long eyelashes fluttered on his charming phoenix - like eyes as he said, "Go and touch it, and you'll know."
Su Xiaoliu looked up at him, then slowly turned her head to look at the phoenix in the pond. She pursed her lips, then turned around and walked bit by bit to the edge of the pond. The hem of her red silk dress dragged on the ground. Su Xiaoliu slowly squatted down. The phoenix was still swimming around in the pond. Su Xiaoliu looked back at Feng Yufei. Feng Yufei was smiling gently, looking at her calmly. Su Xiaoliu turned back, lifted the hem of her dress and carefully stepped into the pond. When she was not far from the phoenix, Su Xiaoliu stretched out her hand, staring intently at the phoenix and observing its swimming direction. When the phoenix swam in front of her, she quickly reached out to grab it, but to her surprise, she grabbed nothing. The phoenix rippled away with the water waves in the pond and gradually disappeared...
A pleasant soft laugh came from behind.
Su Xiaoliu clenched her fists and turned around angrily. Looking at Feng Yufei with smiling phoenix - like eyes, she shouted, "You lied to me!"
Feng Yufei stood up straight and looked at her calmly, smiling softly. "I didn't lie to you." He hooked the corner of his mouth, and his long, fair hand gently stretched out. A golden - glowing fire phoenix suddenly leaped out of the water. Su Xiaoliu was stunned for a moment and turned to look. The phoenix was flying in the air, scattering golden light. The phoenix flew towards Feng Yufei and gently landed on the back of his fair hand.
Feng Yufei stretched out his hand and gently tapped the phoenix's head. His fingertips were illuminated by the firelight.
Su Xiaoliu stared at it with her almond - shaped eyes wide open.
This... How was this possible?
Feng Yufei turned to look at her, then lowered his head and said softly to the phoenix, "Go."
The phoenix flapped its wings and flew up again. This time, it flew towards Su Xiaoliu.
Su Xiaoliu stared blankly at the phoenix flying towards her. The golden light fell in the air. The phoenix slowly landed on Su Xiaoliu's hand.
Su Xiaoliu looked down at the phoenix. Her small diamond - shaped lips curved slightly. She reached out to touch the phoenix. However, as soon as her fingertips touched the phoenix's body, the phoenix turned into a golden light and disappeared into the air...
Su Xiaoliu was stunned. She slowly raised her head and saw Feng Yufei standing not far away, smiling with a hooked lip. His phoenix - like eyes were even more charming. Only then did Su Xiaoliu gradually realize that she had been deceived again!
She pursed her lips, stood in the pond and turned her head away, not looking at him anymore.
Feng Yufei slowly walked over. His long eyelashes fluttered gently. Looking at her, he said softly, "Come out."