Yan Ruge was overjoyed, not expecting such an encounter.

In the instant the nightmare fruit appeared, the atmosphere among those who earlier intended to collaborate suddenly changed.

Roar!

Just as everyone began to fear each other, a stunning roar echoed.

The corrupt serpent whale of Peak First Grade strength opened its mouth with a roar, the powerful sound waves reverberating throughout the Dark World, causing everyone's Heart Spirit to tremble.

In the next moment, the beast shook its head and lunged at a First Grade pirate master.

The pirate's face turned grim, with a long blade in hand, he slashed out a dazzling silver line.

But only a crisp sound was heard.

The corrupt serpent whale was unscathed, the eyes on its scales opened, instantly extinguishing the dazzling silver blade light.

Its purple-red eyes carried a captivating force, radiating light, seemingly like numerous suns in such a dark world.

Clang!

The monster casually swung its fin, knocking the long blade from the pirate's hand.

In the clash, the pirate was pressed beneath the monster, the darkness flashed and the pirate disappeared.

The corrupt serpent whale's eyes showed a hint of satisfaction, it could clearly have advanced long ago, but due to world suppression, it couldn't advance at all for years, yet after swallowing two First Grade experts consecutively, its strength, stagnant for so long, slowly grew again.

Though unable to improve over the years, its massive body continued to be tempered.

Xu Guang stood on a distant boulder, his gaze landing on Yan Ruge far off as he pondered her intentions.

This monster wasn't impossible to defeat, at least he was confident that if he gave it his all, killing this beast wouldn't be difficult. Yan Ruge wielded Starlight Power, presumably drawing sunlight to her side, making slaying the corrupt serpent whale feasible as well.

Yet she stubbornly refused to strike with all her might.

He didn't think she was worried that fully engaging would see the treasure seized by outsiders.

Moreover, these people were mere cannon fodder sent towards Anan Star Beast in Yan Ruge's eyes, how could she let them all die?

This was rather strange.

Thus Xu Guang continued to walk along the perimeter, not making a move.

As for the nightmare fruit...

He wouldn't miss out.

He leisurely walked away, choosing to kill some Yin Ghosts from the perimeter to supplement Celestial Register with Celestial Merit while everyone was tangled up with the corrupt serpent whale.

These years have been somewhat neglected.

…

As the corrupt serpent whale went berserk, more people realized its prowess, their attacks became increasingly cautious.

But somehow, they were one by one killed by the corrupt serpent whale.

Yan Ruge stood in the darkness, her gaze directed at the distant Xu Guang, frowning slightly.

So cautious.

Recalling the trouble Xu Guang caused in Celestial Capital, she chose not to clash with him.

Rip!

A brawny man, naked from the waist up, roared in anger, condensing a tangible giant axe in the air, filled with rainbow-like momentum as it slashed at the corrupt serpent whale's neck.

However, the giant axe was swept by its shadow-like long tail while still three meters above the serpent whale's head.

Instantly, the tangible giant axe dispersed into a shower of blood.

Connected by Heart Spirit, the brawny man grunted, his face pale as a sheet.

Predictably, the brawny man was devoured by the corrupt serpent whale.

As the serpent whale devoured more people, its aura grew ever stronger.

Just when the monster was about to continue the slaughter, Xu Guang suddenly appeared amidst the falling blood rain, blocking in front of a woman.

"Yan Ruge, that's enough."

Xu Guang sighed, speaking softly.

Yan Ruge's silhouette slowly emerged from the darkness, she looked at Xu Guang with a smile.

"I didn't expect Brother Xu to fancy such women, the hero saving the damsel in distress is truly surprising."

Xu Guang's face turned solemn as he silently stared at Yan Ruge, "I believe people shouldn't be so indifferent."

Yan Ruge sneered, "I didn't expect Brother Xu to be such a righteous person."

The words "righteous person" were heavily emphasized, the tone full of mockery.

Xu Guang remained expressionless.

He understood Yan Ruge's mind, and bothered not to go in circles.

"I've long heard that among Qi Refiners, there's a Secret Technique to raise Fierce Ghosts, and I think this ghost is strong enough already."

Yan Ruge's face darkened, her smile slowly vanished.

"Brother Xu, are you trying to stop me?"

Xu Guang chuckled, "Miss Yan wants to kill me, Xu Mou can take the job, but Fierce Ghosts are heartless and easily turn on their master, better not to raise them too strong."

As his words ended, everyone's faces changed dramatically.

"Yan Ruge, you have such a cruel heart!"

"Wretch!!"

Someone's companion died at the hands of a Fierce Ghost, and hearing Xu Guang's words, they were furious, but ultimately resisted the impulse. Yan Ruge was not someone these people could provoke.

Yan Ruge's gaze turned gloomy as it swept over the face of the speaker.

Those people met his gaze, instantly lost their courage, and their curses quickly vanished, followed by streams of light shooting upward, swiftly fleeing into the distance.

"Xu Guang, I have treated you well, haven't I? Yet you ruin my plans like this; isn't that wrong?"

Xu Guang sneered.

"I had always thought you seemed very knowledgeable about this place, yet you still came to find me to share the Anan Star Beast core. Now I see it was all a delaying tactic. You want to kill me?"

He stared sharply at Yan Ruge, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes. This woman had deep, calculating thoughts and was an enemy of great cunning.

"You're clever, but overly so. My target is not you, but if you seek death yourself, don't blame me."

Yan Ruge's voice turned cold and fierce, and immediately the ground cracked open. The decayed snake whale dared to join her in attacking Xu Guang.

The yellow sands spread, and the whole world grew increasingly dark, with darkness and sand almost obscuring everything.

Xu Guang had no desire to engage in a death battle with Yan Ruge at this moment. Residual rain scattered, blood rain shrouded the skies, eerily bringing no moisture to the sandy ground, making no sound as it landed.

In a blink, he appeared behind the decayed snake whale, and a bloody sun appeared in the sky as if he had walked out of it.

Divine Technique - Return of the Hidden.

A punch!

Terrifying power accompanied by the intent of age-killing, it crushed against the head of the decayed snake whale.

The ghostly creature's life force was too vigorous, leaving it undead.

But it was heavily damaged.

This was power Xu Guang had gathered for a long time.

After one strike, Xu Guang appeared next to the Nightmare Fruit, reaching out to grab it.

"Xu Guang!!!" Yan Ruge's somewhat frantic voice cried out.

Not only did he ruin her plan, but he also severely injured the ghost she had painstakingly subdued, and even sought to seize her treasures.

In her heart, the Nightmare Fruit was already hers.

Starlight suffused; Yan Ruge didn't make a seal, instead casually flicking out a stream of light, above it endless Yin Qi gathered as if she had thrown out a Fierce Ghost.

This was the talisman treasure within her.

The bloody sun condensed by the Return of the Hidden was instantly suppressed by the talisman treasure, ultimately intersecting with Xu Guang's true intent of age-killing martial dao, diffusing in the void, forming waves of Qi spreading outward.

Xu Guang, quick-eyed and skillful, during his figure's swaying, collected all three Nightmare Fruits.

Letting the talisman treasure with pervasive Yin Qi explode on him.

Golden light dazzling, Xu Guang looked as if nothing had happened, smiling.

"Miss Yan, you and I will meet again."

Even though he was smiling, the murder in his eyes, Yan Ruge could see clearly.

She chased forward angrily, but Xu Guang's speed was quicker than she imagined.

She could only watch helplessly as Xu Guang transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the distance.

...

Moments later.

A dune area in the Dark World.

Xu Guang landed softly, calming the slight injuries from resisting Yan Ruge's attack.

That woman truly was troublesome; her talisman treasure should be the legendary Celestial Grade.

Wealthy and powerful, with a strong background.

Offending such a person wasn't wise, but Xu Guang didn't regret it, as the other might have planned to kill him already, he couldn't offer his neck for slaughter.

He became aware of Yan Ruge's intent only when she repeatedly sent people to their deaths.

Though the decayed snake whale was strong, it wasn't strong enough to instantly kill so many First Grade experts; among these First Grade were some at high levels, though none at Peak First Grade, but there were top-tier existences.

Yet they still couldn't resist.

Especially several people in a row, as if impacted by something, didn't completely block at the last moment.

This had to make him suspicious.

He wasn't sure if it was related to Yan Ruge and could only test a bit.

It turns out, indeed. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

As for whether Yan Ruge intended to kill him, he didn't want to gamble, letting Yan Ruge feed people to the decayed snake whale.

He flipped his palm, looking at the three Nightmare Fruits within it.

No matter what, entering this time was a harvest, the martial dao intent related to Red Lotus Karmic Fire was close to comprehension, these fruits would make understanding easy.

Three true intents, Peak First Grade, not knowing if they're a match for Yan Ruge.

Xu Guang thought to himself, stretching his hand into the dune, Red Lotus Karmic Fire surged forth, burning a cave, and he walked in calmly.

Time for seclusion.