The suppressive pressure bullied the struggling students, nearly crus.h.i.+ng their feeble body. They mustered everything in order to move forward and would crawl if necessary.
This had nothing to do with the supreme fruit. They only wanted to prove to others and themselves that they could still reach the top despite being from the insignificant Repentance Inst.i.tution.
Sweat poured like the rain, accompanied by unending agony. Nevertheless, they gritted their teeth and didn’t complain at all.
They finally made it to the top after a very long time, fully drenched in sweat as if they have just gotten out of a lake. They instantly fell flat on their b.u.t.t, paralyzed and didn’t have the strength to look at the supreme tree nearby.
“The ones from Repentance.” A few among the ma.s.s of students beneath the tree were surprised to see them.
“Not bad at all.” An older student nodded approvingly. After all, everyone could see their low cultivation yet they didn’t give up. This determination of theirs impressed some of the crowd.
“What what if they got up here? Just wasting their time and energy since all they can do is watch. You think they can knock down a fruit?” One student sneered.
“Then isn’t it the same for you?” Li Qiye retorted: “Go ahead, I’ll watch you pick one down to broaden the horizon of country b.u.mpkins like us.”
“You…” This student turned red and had no response. Li Qiye got him where it hurts since he was only here to watch as well.
“Okay, it’s no big deal. They are very impressive for coming up this far. None of us can claim to get these fruits outside of the emperors.” The personable older student said.
Many nodded in agreement. Only mighty emperors and Everlastings could perform this deed.
“Okay, catch your breath and take a break for a bit then we’ll go pick some fruits.” Li Qiye casually told the group.
“Haha.” The student who got shut up by Li Qiye found his opportunity: “What the h.e.l.l? Do you think these fruits are the ones grown in your backyard, that you can pick whenever? Go take a look in the mirror and be aware of your weak cultivation.”
He felt quite good with himself since he lost some face earlier, unable to retort. Now, he didn’t hold back at all in insulting the group.
“These fruits are no different from homegrown one at all, in fact, I don’t even want to grow this type of fruits in my yard.” Li Qiye smiled.
Virtually everyone who heard him turned around, thinking that this statement was too arrogant.
“Brat, that’s a bold statement. You think you’re a true immortal or something?” One student shook his head while the rest of the crowd burst out in laughter.
“He’s not just a true immortal, in my opinion, he’s a steaming immortal.” The student sneered: “He believes that he’s number one so he just runs his mouth without any self-awareness. Just a shameless n.o.body from Repentance.” [1]
“Steaming immortal, huh? That’s not a bad t.i.tle. I do think that when I catch an immortal in the future, boiling is an option. It will be a thousand times better than eating this supreme fruit.” Li Qiye smiled.
This comment was even more outrageous and astounded the crowd. A student from Repentance claiming to pick the supreme fruits was crazy enough. Now he said he would boil immortals too? Such fearless ignorance.
“You don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth.” This student snorted with disdain: “Run back to your academy and brag all you want, don’t embarra.s.s yourself here.”
“If you are as capable as you say, then go for it, show us what you got.” Another student laughed loudly.
“Yes, take one down now, show us that someone from Repentance can actually do this. If you can’t, then shut your mouth, you’re nothing more than a frog wanting to eat swan meat.” One more taunted.
Zhou Qius.h.i.+ and the others became very embarra.s.sed. They definitely couldn’t do it but Li Qiye had made this claim.
“Just getting one is pointless.” Li Qiye said: “Gotta get at least a few dozens since we’re parched after the long walk.”
