The fire poison spread rapidly through Mark Brooks's body, and at the same time, the pure and powerful medicinal effect of the Scarlet Flame Spirit Fruit raged within him. It was as if his body was filled with strength—his muscles swelled and bulged, and his bones crackled faintly.

In the midst of extreme pain and crisis, Mark Brooks's mind instead became even clearer and sharper. Sensing the surging power within him that did not belong to him, a feeling of being able to control his own fate welled up inside.

Without retreating or dodging, he let out a furious roar and counterattacked with a punch.

Fist and palm collided, and the violent energy exploded fiercely. The rocks beneath their feet shook from the impact.

But his body was like a green bamboo in a raging storm—resilient and upright, no longer retreating, no longer falling.

On the contrary, it was Edward Brooks who staggered back two steps, his eyes full of shock.

"Idiot, that's what you get for not studying." Mark Brooks's eyes were blood-red as he sneered and mocked, "Eating the Scarlet Flame Spirit Fruit raw may cause fire poison to attack the heart, but your strength will temporarily surge by a huge margin. For low-level people like us, that increase in power is enough to kill you. I told you, with intelligence like yours, you still dare to come out and rob people?"

"Kid, do you think eating the spirit fruit means you can beat me?" After being humiliated several times by Mark Brooks, this so-called loser, Edward Brooks was already furious to the extreme. Flames blazed on his right arm as he spun it in the air and then struck fiercely at Mark Brooks: "If I don't beat you to death today, I won't be called Chen!"

A mocking smile curled at the corner of Mark Brooks's mouth. Just a few taunts and he'd lost his reason—clearly, his plan had worked. But he had to be quick, had to seize the moment. Fire poison burning the body was no joke; he had to finish off Edward Brooks and leave the small cave heaven as soon as possible.

That way, the family elders waiting outside could treat him.

Before swallowing the Scarlet Flame Spirit Fruit, Mark Brooks had already calculated everything and was very confident.

Controlled by anger, Edward Brooks was like an enraged calf, not dodging or evading, matching Mark Brooks blow for blow—just as Mark Brooks wanted. The Scarlet Flame Spirit Fruit could give him a surge in strength, but it wouldn't improve his agility.

"Pa!"

A powerful palm struck Mark Brooks's shoulder, knocking him back two steps, his shoulder a bloody mess.

"Roar~"

With eyes cold as ice, Mark Brooks let out a furious roar, bent low, and charged, ramming his shoulder hard into Edward Brooks.

At this moment, the two of them were like two fighting cocks, battered and bruised, locked in a final struggle.

Unnoticed, the massive, world-destroying blood-red vortex was now suspended above their heads, almost within reach. Crimson lightning slashed down, as if to shatter and devour everything between heaven and earth.

Just then, another violent tremor shook the cave halfway up the mountain. As both men staggered, Mark Brooks, who had been waiting for an opportunity, flashed a glint in his eyes, feigned a stumble, and fell as if losing his balance.

"Mark Brooks, you're dead!" Edward Brooks, thinking he'd seized his chance, rushed forward with a vicious grin and struck down hard with his palm.

But Mark Brooks didn't retreat—instead, he advanced, meeting the blow with his chest. With a crack, several ribs broke as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

The blood, tainted with fire poison, splattered onto Edward Brooks's face, burning him so badly that he immediately shut his eyes and screamed in agony.

"Bang!"

A punch landed violently on his head, cutting off Edward Brooks's screams. He staggered backward. Mark Brooks, enduring the pain, dashed forward and unleashed a flurry of punches, each one slamming into Edward Brooks's head.

After several blows, Edward Brooks's head was a bloody mess, and he collapsed backward like a dead dog.

Suddenly, a wave rippled through Mark Brooks's sea of consciousness, and for no apparent reason, a strong sense of danger surged in his heart. Almost instinctively, he summoned the last of his strength and leapt backward, rolling away as he landed.

At the same time, the small cave heaven trembled violently again. Suddenly, like bamboo shoots after a rain, countless stone pillars shot up from the ground, sharp as the claws of death.

One particularly sharp stone pillar shot up from a crevice, piercing Edward Brooks from foot to head, skewering him like a human kebab straight into the blood-red vortex.

With a "puff," Edward Brooks instantly turned into a cloud of blood mist, mixing with the dust, vanishing without a trace, and churning into the vortex. Only a jade box fell from his arms.

It had taken a bit too long—the entrance to the small cave heaven was about to close.

Mark Brooks grabbed the jade box and shot away like an arrow from a bow. After a quick calculation, he realized he still had time to escape before the entrance closed completely.

Just as Mark Brooks breathed a sigh of relief, another change occurred.

Boom—a thunderous crash.

The small cave heaven shook violently. A collapsing boulder smashed down in front of him with a loud crash, blocking his way.

Damn...

Mark Brooks's heart sank to the bottom. This... this was truly a case of man proposes, heaven disposes.

Pa—a small falling stone struck him on the head.

His vision went black, and he fainted.

In the blood-red vortex in the sky, countless dazzling red bolts of lightning exploded, cascading down like torrents, forming crimson ribbons.

They pierced through all obstacles, blasting everything to dust. Amidst the boiling smoke and dust, they surged like giant waves straight to the heavens.

Chapter Two: The Divine Tree of Light