Chapter 1077
The Ghost Woman
He was "seriously ill" and also had a wife who was somewhat mentally unstable.
"Why did you come down again? You need to rest now."
The woman, wrapped in a thick shawl, had an expressionless face covered in bandages. She was thin and leaned against the wall.
But her gaze involuntarily fell upon the Fire Calamity Fruit placed in the center of the basement, a hint of undisguised heat and greed flashing deep in her eyes.
"I can't sleep, but how is Ying'er doing now?"
The fake Jiang Feng, or rather, the "ghost woman" disguised as Jiang Feng, had a gentle voice with just the right amount of worry.
"Sigh, that child just can't figure things out right now. Lock him up for a few days, and he'll be fine once things calm down."
Zhao Yulin sighed.
"But don't worry, the fruit will ripen soon and will definitely cure you, and our family can go back to what it was before."
"Yes, let's go back to the way things were."
The ghost woman's lips curled into a sinister smile, but her eyes were as cold as a venomous snake.
What he was really thinking about was how to increase his own power after the fruit ripened.
Outside the manor, a few streets away, on the top floor of a high-rise apartment building, there is a wide view.
Fu Ye and Lingling stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, the curtains half-drawn.
Fu Ye didn't hold any conspicuous observation tools, but deep within his pupils, a faint golden light flowed, and his gaze seemed to penetrate distance and ordinary obstacles, taking in the energy flow and personnel distribution of the Zhao family manor.
Lingling, meanwhile, was on the side, her fingers flying across the tablet, accessing a map of Xibo City, information about the Zhao family's businesses, and bits of information she had gathered through special channels about the wanted criminal "Ghost Woman."
"The manor's defense level is very high, and the Fire Calamity Fruit is nearing maturity, which will take approximately 72-96 hours."
Fu Ye withdrew his gaze, his face full of indescribable ease and comfort.
Lingling nodded and pointed to the tablet.
"That 'ghost woman' has a high bounty level. She is skilled in disguise, curses, and mind manipulation. Her true face and origins are unknown. Her last recorded whereabouts were ten years ago, after which she disappeared without a trace until now."
She paused, her little face full of seriousness.
"Fu Ye, shouldn't we go in and rescue them? Or expose that ghost woman?"
"Not urgent."
Fu Ye shook his head.
"The Fire Calamity Fruit is not yet ripe, so the Ghost Woman won't leave. Besides, do you really think Zhao Yulin will listen to only our side of the story? Any external stimulus could cause him to overreact, potentially harming others who are unrelated to this matter."
He turned his head slightly to look to his side.
Jiang Feng's gaze was also fixed on the direction of the main building of the manor, where her blood-related daughter was, as well as the enemy who had usurped her place and caused her to this point!
The flames of fury burned silently in her soul. If it weren't for Fu Ye's contractual constraints and rational dissuasion, she would have already rushed in regardless of everything, even if it meant mutual destruction.
Fu Ye could clearly feel Jiang Feng's overwhelming hatred and heart-wrenching pain through the contract.
With a slight thought, he conveyed reassurance and instructions.
"Calm down. Now is not the time. The fruit is ripe, and her schemes are reaching their peak. That will be the moment when her weaknesses are greatest. I will let you see her exposed and let you end this feud with your own hands."
Jiang Feng's soul fluctuated violently, eventually turning into a suppressed response.
"I apologize, sir. I was being presumptuous."
Three days passed quietly in a tense and oppressive atmosphere. Xibo City, Zhao Family Manor.
Inside the underground chamber, the Fire Calamity Fruit shone with unprecedented brilliance, and the surging fire elemental energy flowed like the tide.
The fruit's skin gradually becomes transparent, and a pure, vibrant flame spirit can be vaguely seen taking shape inside.
Zhao Yulin held his breath, staring intently, his face a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and barely concealed exhaustion.
For the past three days, he has been almost constantly by the manor, keeping an eye on the fruit's condition, comforting his daughter who is under house arrest, and dealing with the increasingly suspicious gazes from outside the manor. He is exhausted.
But when he thought that all of this was for the sake of curing his wife, he felt it was all worth it.
"Yu'er, look, we're almost there!"
Zhao Yulin's voice trembled slightly as he spoke to his "wife," who was also watching him with equal "nervousness."
The ghost woman's face, wrapped in bandages, shone with an eerie glow in the firelight.
She gave a soft "hmm," but her gaze was fixed on the fire sprite that was about to hatch, her greed and impatience almost overflowing.
She could sense that the pure flame essence contained within the newly born Flame Princess was an excellent supplement for her to advance further!
Years of lying low and meticulous planning have all been for this moment!
"Snap—"
A crisp cracking sound rang out, and the outer shell of the Fire Calamity Fruit finally cracked completely!
"Wow—!"
A clear and vibrant cry echoed throughout the secret chamber!
A tiny Flame Princess, no bigger than a palm and made entirely of pure golden flames, floated above the broken fruit shell with innocent curiosity as she spread her fiery wings.
The fire element emanating from it is pure and powerful, carrying the joy of new life and boundless potential.
However, Zhao Yulin was completely stunned when he saw this scene.
He had no idea that the Fire Calamity Fruit would transform into a juvenile Flame Princess after it matured.
However, while he was still in a daze
A sudden change has occurred!
His "delicate" wife suddenly changed her demeanor!
The facade of frailty receded like the tide, and a cold, eerie, decaying, and malicious dark aura suddenly erupted!
"Ghost Claw Soul Stealer!"
The ghost woman's originally pale hand instantly turned black and withered, her five fingers forming claws. With a shrill sound of tearing through the air and a chilling ghostly howl, she grabbed at the unsuspecting newborn Flame Princess with lightning speed!
At the same time, he slapped his other hand against Zhao Yulin's chest, who was standing close by. Black energy swirled in his palm, revealing the power of a sinister curse!
"Yu'er?! You—!"
Zhao Yulin's face was filled with shock and disbelief.
He never expected that the "wife" he had given everything to save, at any cost, would turn on him like this!
The distance was too close, and the change was too sudden!
Zhao Yulin's cultivation level was not top-notch, and he was completely unprepared. He was about to be hit by the palm that contained the curse, and the newborn Xiao Yanji was about to fall into the clutches of the ghost woman!
At the critical moment.
Boom!!!
A thunderous roar, seemingly from the heavens above, exploded without warning over the Zhao family manor!
The entire manor, and even half of the southern district of Xibo City, was shaken by this terrifying sound wave!
Immediately afterwards, to everyone's horror, the sky above the entire lush mountain range behind the Zhao family manor was suddenly dyed an endless crimson! Boundless fiery clouds gathered and swirled, forming a terrifying vortex of fire that covered the sky! (End of Chapter)