Chapter 26: Creating Something from Nothing, Divine Methods!

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"Boss, are you sure you won't give it to me? Don't blame me later," the young man said, his words paired with those innocently pure eyes. The effect was harmless enough, so the fruit vendor simply waved him off once more, repeating, "Go cool off somewhere else. Don't get in the way of my fruit business."

Saying this, the vendor stood up. He was truly an imposing figure—broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, nearly six foot three and weighing three or four hundred pounds.

The young Taoist looked positively frail in comparison.

Yet, he wasn't angered. Instead, he chuckled softly, fanning himself as he moved to the side, then turned to a small child nearby.

"Hey there, kid. I saw you pick up a coin by the roadside just now. These days, a single coin doesn't buy much. Tell you what—take that coin and buy the smallest apple from that fruit stall, then I'll treat you to a big apple. How about it?"

Children are easily persuaded, and at the Taoist's words, the little one trotted over to the apple stall.

The fruit vendor, having overheard, considered all the people watching. Not wanting to harm his business, he took the coin and handed the child an apple.

The child returned, beaming, and began munching away until only the core remained.

As the child was about to finish, the young Taoist quickly stepped in, taking the apple core from his hands. He then walked, step by step, toward Murong Yueyao.

Murong Xingyao frowned, clearly displeased.

In these times, monks, Taoists, and those from various sects—people with formidable backgrounds—were not to be trifled with. Even though the Murong clan was prominent, with only Murong Xingyao and Murong Yueyao present and lacking their usual guards, it was wiser to avoid trouble. If things turned ugly, Xingyao could protect his cousin, but he feared Yueyao might still get hurt.

So Xingyao said nothing, merely trying to step forward.

Yueyao gently pulled him back, stopping him. She then addressed the Taoist, "Sir, I don't want an apple, nor anything else. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be on my way. Please, offer your apple to someone else—"

Before she could finish, the young Taoist grinned, revealing white teeth, and spoke in a gentle, almost affectionate tone. "But who else should I invite but a beauty like yourself? Don't go just yet—eat my apple first."

Now it was bordering on force.

As soon as the Taoist finished, Yueyao's gaze darkened with displeasure.

Xingyao could no longer restrain himself. Despite his casual demeanor when conversing with Lin Yi earlier, he was, in truth, a rather arrogant man.

He had initially avoided making trouble, not wanting to disgrace the Murong clan in public, and because he sensed that this Taoist, though young and slovenly dressed, might possess genuine ability. Most importantly, he hadn't expected the Taoist to persist after being clearly refused.

But now, the young Taoist was clearly overstepping.

So Xingyao stepped forward, his entire being erupting with a powerful aura. Muscles bulged instantly, making him resemble a Super Saiyan; a fierce, oppressive presence bore down on the Taoist.

Lin Yi's suspicions had been right—the Murong clan was anything but ordinary.

In a world where monsters and ghosts existed, where Lin Yi had once slain a tiger demon and even found two disciples of the Star Sect among its followers—and Star Sect wasn't even the most powerful sect—one could imagine just how many ancient martial families and extraordinary sects truly existed.

After absorbing the tiger demon's memories, Lin Yi now understood many hidden truths.

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The Murong clan was one such martial family, famed for their Murong Thunder Fist and Murong Lightning Kick.

These two martial arts had allowed the clan to endure through the tides of history and flourish anew. In these times, with supernatural events on the rise, their skills were more valuable than ever.

Over the past decade, the Murong clan had undergone a dramatic transformation.

Yet, despite their superb techniques, the clan lacked advanced internal energy cultivation methods, relying instead on the most common ones.

Now, Murong Xingyao was preparing to unleash the Thunder Fist, planning to send the young Taoist flying.

But his expression abruptly changed—his punch seemed to be restrained.

He had thought his aura would subdue the Taoist.

Why do people sometimes emanate a subtle, intangible pressure? Fundamentally, it's because of the way their energy alters the air itself.

Confident in his strength, Xingyao was certain he'd teach the Taoist a lesson about humility.

But the young man showed not the slightest reaction.

And his own energy had done nothing to drive the Taoist away.

How could this be?

Xingyao was inwardly aghast.

Worse, his body refused to obey. Just as he extended his fist to strike, the Taoist waved his fan at him.

Suddenly, it was as if he lost control of his own limbs—both arms dropped limply to his sides.

A surge of shock swept through Xingyao. He realized he was up against a true master, someone well-versed in the mystical arts.

The so-called mystical arts—spells and incantations—were the domain of only the most gifted.

Stunned, Xingyao opened his mouth but found himself unable to speak.

The young Taoist, satisfied, nodded and looked toward Murong Yueyao.

She, too, was frozen with shock. Like her cousin, she felt an odd lethargy, her limbs unresponsive.

Whether martial artists, spellcasters, or even those with psychic abilities, all paths ultimately led to mastery over energy.

So it was with monsters and spirits.

To so deftly immobilize her cousin and sap her own strength—this Taoist was undoubtedly powerful, easily the equal of a first-rate master.

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Moreover, the mystical arts were unpredictable and strange, rivaling the skills of demons and spirits.

Martial artists were at a disadvantage when facing such opponents.

Unless one could shatter the spell with sheer force—but clearly, neither she nor her cousin possessed such power.

The young Taoist laughed heartily, then placed the apple core on the ground.

The ground was paved with blue stone. The Taoist then fetched some soil from the nearby parking lot and covered the core.

He glanced at a puddle nearby, fetched a plastic bottle from a trash can, filled it with dirty water, and poured it over the soil.

By now, his actions had drawn an even larger crowd.

Many onlookers were bewildered, wondering why the handsome man and beautiful young woman stood motionless, like statues.

"Grow, grow, grow..." the young Taoist chanted, watering the soil with the battered bottle, waving his tattered fan.

To the crowd's amazement, a green shoot sprouted from the spot where the apple core had been buried, vibrant and full of life.

Before their eyes, the tiny sprout continued to grow!

A sapling appeared, and in what seemed like an illusion, it shot upward, soon as thick as a child's leg.

Moments later, it had become a young apple tree.

It was unmistakably an apple tree, as if the core had undergone reincarnation—germinating, growing, and transforming rapidly into a young tree.

As the Taoist continued to water it, the little tree grew larger, taller, until it stood about two meters high—a typical mature apple tree.

Soon, the tree began to blossom. The air filled with the scent of apple flowers, and bees buzzed into the scene, drawn by the fragrance.

A swarm of bees danced around the tree as the blossoms fell, and from the fading petals, tiny fruit began to form, swelling larger and larger until they became full-sized apples.

The apples varied in size but all looked fresh, juicy, and temptingly crisp.

The spectacle left even Murong Yueyao and Murong Xingyao dumbstruck.

The crowd was utterly stunned.

The children who had been singing earlier now stared wide-eyed at the apples, which looked so delicious—crisp, fragrant, and bursting with juice—that they could barely resist the urge to taste one.

Time itself seemed to freeze the crowd in place. For a long moment, there was only silent awe, until at last, one gasp after another rippled through the bystanders—they had just witnessed a miracle.